Ludic Selcouth #2: This Song Saved My Life

Chapter 3

“Who are you looking at?” Napabaling ako kay Iris at tumikhim. I just shrugged and continued eating. Suminghal siya nang hindi ako sumagot. Siya na mismo ang timingin sa tinitingnan ko kanina.

I was starting to panic on the inside. She can’t see the two band members of Ludic Selcouth. She’s a die hard fan, baka lapitan niya pa!

Naningkit din ang mata ni Iris at mukhang kinikilala kung sino ang mga taong nasa may hindi kalayuan. “Is that Zemira?” she whispered. It looks like a lot of people really knows Zemira because of her closeness with Ludic Selcouth.

Bigla niyang nabitawan ang hawak na kubyertos at umawang ang labi. “With Paesyn and...Rush?!” nagugulantang niyang ani. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. She saw them, and I don’t want to think of what she’ll do next.

She immediately stood up and left me. Napangiwi ako nang makitang papunta na siya sa table nina Zemira. Goodness...ako na ang nahihiya sa gagawin niya. Not that I’m looking down to the fans that’ll approach their idols in public... but knowing Iris, she’s aggressive!

Nag-angat na ng tingin ang tatlo sa kaniya nang tuluyan siyang makalapit. She’s all smiles and and her cheek is flushed. Mukhang may sinasabi at bigla na lang naglabas ng sharpie mula sa kaniyang shoulder bag. She handed the marker to Rush, the man took it and smiled. My eyes widen when Iris lift her croptop to reveal her belly even more.

Napainom ako ng tubig nang pumirma si Rush don at kalauna’y muling napangiwi. What the hell... We are in a restaurant! On a public place!

Kita ko ang pagngiti-ngiti rin nina Paesyn at Zemira. Sunod naman na inabot ni Iris ang marker kay Paesyn pero sa kamay niya lang ito pumirma.

Mas kita ko ang lalong pagpula ng pisngi ni Iris nang bumaling siya sa’kin at bahagya akong ituro. The group turned to me. Biglang kumabog ang puso ko kaya nag-iwas agad ako ng tingin.

What was that?

I felt my hand suddenly turned cold as I continued eating, I suddenly felt conscious of my own existence.

Hindi na ulit ako lumingon sa gawi nila at in-enjoy na lang ang pagkain kahit na hindi ko alam kung bakit medyo nakakaramdam ako ng kaba.

Ilang minuto pa ay ngiting-ngiting bumalik si Iris sa table namin at medyo namumula pa rin ang pisngi. I noticed the signature on her hand as she sat across me. “Damn... Rush and Paesyn are so handsome! I even smelled their scent! God... they smell so good,” she suddenly said dreamily.

Hindi na lang ako kumibo at hinayaan siya. What should I say anyway? It’s so unlike for us to have a friendly conversation. Natigil ako sa pagsubo ng huling steak nang bigla niyang hampasin ang isang kamay ko na nakapatong sa table. I looked at her with my forehead creased. What the hell is her problem this time?

Pinanlakihan niya ako ng mata at tinaasan ng kilay. “Where’s your reaction? We just ate on the same restaurant with the two members of Ludic Selcouth!”

“So?”

Suminghap siya at inirapan ako. “Don’t tell me you don’t feel giddy or intimidated at all? Weren’t you a die hard fan? You sneaked out last night for their gig,” maarteng aniya. Me? Die hard fan? I don’t think so. I would rather call myself a simple citizen who enjoys their music. I support and appreciate their talent individually and as a whole band. I will never do what Iris and their other aggressive fans are doing.

“I like their music but I’m not a die hard fan, Iris,” I clarified. Her eyebrow raised even more that I think it will reach the restaurant’s ceiling anytime now.

“Oh come on, Alectrona, don’t deny it. Siguradong katulad ka lang din ng ibang crazy fans nila na gagawin ang lahat para lang mapansin nila.” You mean, you? Pinigilan ko ang sariling mapairap. Maybe what she said was really meant for herself.