Si Torpe at Si Feeling

Chapter 13: Unpredictable

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Chapter 13: Unpredictable

Kagat-kagat ko naman ang kuko habang pine-playback ni Scarlet ang performances ng each bands sa laptop niya. Kinabahan kasi ako noong nakita ko na sila. Ang gagaling ng mga bagong bands... parang matatalo kami sa kanila, but I push that aside and think that we have a chance because we did our best to charm the audience with not only our music but as well charisma . May chance kaming manalo, tiwala lang.

"Noona," lumapit sakin si Gab. "Pinapabigay ni Jared."

Kinuha ko ang supot sa kamay niya, na may chocolate donut at iced tea. Tapos may note pa, "Huwag kang kabahan, mananalo kayo kasi ang gagaling niyo kanina. xoxo -J"

Ngumiti ako sa sarili ko habang kinukuha ang donut. Comfort food talaga ang pinapabigay niya sakin, ang sweet niya. Sayang hindi ito nakita ni Aleiah sa personality ni Jared.

"Kayo, Noona ah, nagdududa na ako sa inyo. Magkaibigan lang ba kayo o magka-ibigan na?" Biro sakin ni Gab.

Namula ako sa sinabi niya at kinagat ang donut. "H-hindi ah, wala lang to."

"Hindi ka namin maintindihan, puno yang bibig mo eh." Tawa ni Scarlet. "Gusto niyo ba ang isa't-isa?"

Nagkibit balikat lang ako pagkatapos kong uminom ng iced tea. "I don't know... Depende sa kanya yun..."

"Eh mukhang nililigawan ka na niya eh!" Sabi ni Scar at sumang-ayon lang si Gab.

"Wait, sandali lang, are you guys teaming up on me?" I chuckled, face flushed and mouth hanging open. "You are! You're trying to get a reaction from me!"

Well, whatever they're doing, it's working.

Umakbay sakin si Gab at pinisil ang cheeks ko. "Alam mo noona, sinusubukan ka lang namin eh, baka pinaglalaruan niyo lang kami, na peke ang pag-ibig niyong dalawa."

I gulped to myself.

"But the way I see it. Malala ang tama niyo sa isa't-isa. Well done sis! May lovelife ka na!"

Binatukan ko siya. "Ah so ganun, ginaganyan mo na ako dahil may so called 'love life' na ako? Ang harsh mo! Bakit may pinagkaiba ba noong wala pa akong lovelife?"

"Mas blooming at palangiti ka na ngayon.. Parang may hearts sa mata mo tuwing dumadaan siya... Do I need to list it down?" Biro ni Scarlet habang kumukuha ng chalk at parang maglilista sa board.

"Huwag na, Scar. Parang pinapahiya niyo lang ako eh." I dismissed both of them and sat down at the front row of the empty classroom.

Muntik nang mabuking ang deal. Oh shet, that was a close one.

Naubos ko din ang pagkain na bigay ni J at bumalik ako sa festival, where the party is on full swing. Akalain mo, nakuha nila si Donnalyn Bartolome para magconcert dito. shet, I don't think I appreciated how privileged ako sa school na ito. Mga sikat na artista labas pasok lang dito eh.

I hear the dean speak from the stage. "Okay, students.. It's time for the most awaited moment. The winner of the Battle of the bands..."

Ngumiti ako at tumakbo papalapit sa stage, nakatayo na doon ang buong class namin, ang EL, at si Jared. Nakangiti siya habang kinawayan niya ako. Lumapit ako sa kanya. "Thank you sa pagkain ah." I nudge his arm.

"You're welcome. Halika na, sasabihin na ang mananalo..." He ushered me beside my bandmates and stood beside me.

"The second runner up will receive..." Mahina akong huminga at hinawakan ang kamay ni Jared, and surprisingly, he held it back.

Parang di ko kakayanin ang tensyon, sobrang sikip ng pakiramdam ko at sobrang kabado na ako this time. I can feel my hands shaking and getting cold kaya pinasok ko ang isang kamay ko sa pocket. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko then anticipated for the worst.

Just deep breaths then I'll be fine.

This wasn't like last year. Back then, noong natalo kami, sure I was down, but I didn't feel like its a big deal.

But now, since that Jeanna isn't here to lead us or "take responsibility" as the lead vocalist, I feel like the responsibility is on me. And if we lose, it's basically my fault. Of course it's a big deal. My brain is not going to let me live it down, cause it's my failure, and I fear failure.

"...Avy?" I hear a muffled voice, which sounded like Jared. "Hey, are you okay?"

I managed to speak out, considering that my thoughts are starting to take over. I try to open my eyes, pero nakayuko parin ako. "I'm f-fine..."

Teka, parang namimingi ako... Mas malakas pa yata ang kabog ng puso ko sa stereo ng school... Ayokong matalo kami sa mga bwisit na boyband rival namin... Please naman...BODY, PLEASE COOPERATE! Hands, stop shivering... Dammit.

I'm not sure of what was happening for that matter, but for a second, I vaguely hear the dean say."...And the winner is, The Boyz!! Give them a round of applause!"

My world crashed and I shut my eyes once I heard it. Did I actually hear it right? Or namimingi na nga ako?

Suddenly I felt like someone was shaking me back to reality. At hindi ako nagkamali, si Jared nga iyon. Nang naimulat ko ang mata ko, malaki ang ngiti niya at sinambit, "Nanalo kayo!" Sabay yakap sakin.

"Yes, you all heard it right, girls, Electric Love won..." The dean chuckled from her position and motioned us to go up the stage.

Nanlaki ang mata ko, dahil sa hindi ko inaasahan, kahit one member short kami, nanalo kami. At yakap-yakap ako ni Jared ng mahigpit. It was all unpredictable to me and maybe that's because I'm a pessimist.

Napayakap ako sa kanya ng mahigpit at umiyak. We actually won!

Humagulgol ako sa shoulder ni Jared, nanginginig na ako sa sobrang pag-iyak. Niyakap niya rin ako ng mahigpit habang mahina na tumatawa. He rubbed circles on my back as he escorted me to the stage alongside my other band members, or friends, actually...

Kinuha ni ate AJ ang trophy at nag-speech ng konti sa harap habang nasa likuran kaming dalawa ni Louisse, hidden but still exposed. He wiped my tears habang napatingin ako sa kanya. "J, totoo ba ang lahat ng ito? I mean, this is all so unpredictable..."

Napatawa ako ng mahina sa sinabi ko sa kanya, and he placed both his hands on my shoulders, the exposed skin feeling shivers that overtook my body. He had that smile that made all my plans on moving on from him feel so futile. "Totoo nga ang lahat, Avy. Magaling naman talaga kayo, lalo na ikaw, You lead this group to success... And you deserve all of this...."

His voice trailed, a hint of hesitation on them, before shrugging, as if he doesn't care anymore, and planted his lips on my chapped ones.

Many things had rushed on my mind at that moment, pero isa ang nangingibabaw.

Nag-aacting nga ba kami o totohanan na ito?

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