CONFESSIONS TO BENJAMIN [COMPLETED]

Thirty-one

"GOOD day, ladies and gentlemen. This song that I'm going to play is entitled "With A Smile". I would like to dedicate this to a really special girl who once hurt by the insensitivity of some guy." turan ni Benj sa may mikropono habang matamang nakatitig kay Marifa. "Hindi man nito tuluyang mapawi yung sakit na naramdaman niya noon ay sana magawa nitong mapangiti siya ngayon."

Pagkasabi niyon ay nagsimula na itong mag-strum. Marifa couldn't even speak. Kahit ang paggalaw ay hindi niya magawa. Basta't nakatitig lamang siya sa binata sa may gitna ng entablado. Ilang sandali pa at nagsimula na itong kumanta.

"Lift your head. Baby, don't be scared, of the things that could go wrong along the way. You'll get by, with a smile. You can't win in everything but you can try."

Naalala bigla ni Marifa yung college days na parang walang tamang nangyayari sa kaniyang buhay ngunit sa tuwing titingnan niya ang binata ay nagagawa niya uling ngumiti.

"Baby, you don't have to worry 'cause there ain't no need to hurry. No one ever said that there's an easy way. When they're closing all their doors and don't want you anymore, it sounds funny but I'll say it anyway..."

Napahikbi si Marifa. Until now, he has that power over her. The power to make her smile as if the world is a ball of cotton candy and that she has nothing to be worried about.

"Girl, I'll stay, through the bad times. Even if I have to fetch you everyday. You'll get by, with a smile. You can never be too happy in this life. 'Cause in a world where everybody hates a happy ending story, it's a wonder love can make the world go round..."

Ang gusto niya lamang naman noon ay magkaroon ng happy ending ang kanilang story. Subalit ending lang dahil hindi iyon naging happy. Sa pagkakataon kayang iyon, may pag-asa pa kayang makamit na niya ang tunay na happy ending para sa kanila?

"Doo doo doo, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo. Let me hear you singing! Doo doo doo, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo."

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi na napigilan ng iba pang delegates na makisabay sa Eraserheads classic song na iyon. Si Marifa naman ay hindi na napigil ang sariling hindi maluha. Pakiramdam niya ay nawala ang lahat ng bigat sa kaniyang dibdib sa isang iglap. Sinulyapan niya si Benj sa may entablado at ngitian niya ito. He smiled back, and all of a sudden, Marifa felt as if everything is right again between them.