Hard to Handle

Challenge # 08

Two

Leina's

Nagising ako dahil sa malamyos na tunog na sigurado akong galing sa isang instrumento. Hindi ko alam kung may nagpapatugtog, pero kung oo, bakit naman abot sa bahay ko? But then, I realized that I am not in my home. Napabalikwas ako nang bangon nang maintindihan kong hindi ko ito silid. Lahat rito ay black, white at gray, hindi naman ganito ang kulay ng silid sa unit ko. Kabang – kaba ako. Anong nangyari? Nasaan ako. I closed my eyes and I tried to recall what happened earlier.

"There are two of them..." I said after recalling that phone call and the fact that Jorge was standing in front of me.

Patuloy kong naririnig ang tugtog na iyon. Bumaba ako ng kama para sundan ang tunog, saan ba iyon galing? Nakalabas ako ng silid, naririnig ko iyon mula sa isa pang silid. Pumasok ako roon, bukas naman kasi ang pinto. The first thing I noticed inside that room are the walls full of mirrors. Sa bandang gilid, malapit sa bintana kung saan kitang – kita ang lahat ng ilaw sa buong siyudad ay naroon si Jorge – nakaupo sa tapat ng isang piano. He's the one playing that familiar song, hindi lang iyon, he started singing. His back was against mine, hindi ko alam kung nakikita niya ako. I just stood there.

I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me...

This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy.

I need somebody to heal

Somebody to know

Somebody to have

Somebody to hold...

I was mesmerized. I didn't know he could sing. He told me once that he plays the guitar but he never got the chance to show it to me because everything just started fucking up. Napakalungkot ng boses ni Jorge. Pakiramdam ko napakatahimik ng mundo niya, pakiramdam ko, ako ang gugulo sa mundong iniingatan niya, pero... ako nga ba?

Now the day bleeds

Into nightfall

And you're not here

To get me through it all

I let my guard down

And then you pulled the rug

I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved...

Bigla siyang huminto sa pagtutog. I noticed that he moved his head and sat up straight. And then he continued playing the melody. Napakalungkot ng tinig niya, na para bang tanggap niyang tulad sa kanta ay mag-isa na lang siya. Dahan – dahan akong lumapit sa kanya, naupo ako sa tabi niya at pinangkinggan lang siya.

I am not scared right now. Hindi ako nasasakal dahil nandito siya, all I can feel is his loneliness.

And I tend to close my eyes when it hurts sometimes

I fall into your arms...

I'll be safe in your sound 'till I come back around...

He stopped again. Inayos na naman niya ang sarili niya. He, then looked at me.

"What is it, Eleina?" He asked. I almost – almost made a face. He knew how much I hate being called that pero nanadya talaga siya. Pinalagpas ko na lang iyon kasi tinulungan naman niya ako dahil sa anxiety ko kanina.