Arts of Heart (Compilation of OSS)

ART 96

SHE WANTS ME TO PLAY A SONG FOR HER

Princess is my classmate since highschool. Typical na magkaklase lamang kami noon ngunit hindi ko akalain na muli kaming pagtatagpuin, hindi dahil sa aming mga trabahong napili kun'di dahil sa isang kasunduan.

"Kian..."

Napatigil ako sa pagtugtog ng gitara nang marinig siya. Lumapit ito at naupo sa aking tabi.

"You're still the Kian I've met 5 years ago. Ang hearthrob ng Crystal University. Sino ba namang hindi magkakagusto sa lalaking bukod sa magaling ng kumanta ay magaling pang maggitara," nakangiti niyang wika habang nakatigin sa langit.

I placed the guitar beside me and stared at her. Wala pa akong nasasabi pero siya halos may isang istorya nang naikwenyo. Unti-unting kumunot ang aking noo. "Matulog kana."

"Can I request, again? Can you play a song for me?" she said as she turned her gaze on me.

And like what I always say, "I'll never do that. Mauna na ako matulog."

Princess and I are a victims of fixed marriage though we're not yet pero sa ganoon na rin papunta.

Our parents want us to be together kaya ngayon ay nasa iisang bahay na kami nakatira. Hindi kami kasal pero nagpasya na silang magsama kami.

To be honest, napaka-typical na babae lang ni Princess. She's very simple at parang hindi anak mayaman. Madali lang siyang mapasaya at saksi ako doon. When she's with her friends, a simple joke can make her smile and laugh. Masyadong mababaw.

Princess is sick. She must not feel too much emotion brcause it'll affect her or worst it may lead to death.

"Hey, are you tired? Gusto mo bang kumain? Ipagha--"

I cutted her off."No need. I'll sleep."

I don't want to be rude to her but i have to. Hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa niya. These past few days she became sweet to me. She's too concern to me and acting like my real wife.

"You don't have to do this kung napipilitan ka lang," iritang wika ko sa kaniya nang minsang mabungaran ko ang mga pagkain na nakahanda sa lamesa.

"Magiging asawa na rin naman kita. And I know soon, you'll finally play a song for me," masiglang wika niya.

Saglit akong napatingin sa kaniya. Sa kahit anong usapan namin ay hindi niya nakakalimutang isingit ang usaping 'yon. She always wants me to play a song for her na kahit kailan ay hindi ko gagawin.

Marahil ay ginagawa niya lang ito para makantahan ko siya na hindi ko rin naman alam kung bakit napakahalaga no'n sa kaniya. Hindi naman niya ako mahal para hilingin ang bagay na 'yon.

One time, I brought a girl to our house. Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa kaniyang mukha. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang kami ng babae sa paglalampungan. I know it'll not affect her. I just want to satisfy my thirst as a man dahil hindi ko maatim na galawin si Princess.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mabilis ko siyan dinaluhan ng makitang hawak nito ang dibdib at parang nahihirapang huminga?

"C-can I ask a favor?" Nahihirapan nitong tanong na nakapagpakunot sa akin. She's pale  and her tears are keep on falling.

"What is it? Hold on, I'll take you to the hospital." Bubuhatin ko na sana siya nang pigilan niya ako.

"C-an you play a song for me? I'm in pain. I wanna hear your voice," she mumbled that makes me weak. This girl, mamamatay na siya pero 'yon pa rin ang nasa isip niya.

"No. I won't do that. Come on, cess. We don't have time para sa mga walang kwentang bagay," anas ko bago siya isinakay sa kotse.

My knees are trembling. Even I wanted to sing for her, I can't. Not with someone anymore.

"Looks like we made it" I strum my guitar  and started singing her favorite song.

"Look how far we've come, my baby"

I smiled and look at her beautiful face. Observing every part of it.

"We might a took a long way
We knew we'd get their someday

They said "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together, still going strong"

Hindi ko napigilan at niyakap si Princess. I finally play a song for her... but it was too late.

I was being rude to her because dahil alam kong wala siyang mararamdaman but I was totally wrong! She's hurt. I've hurted her many times without knowing it.

Princess loves me. She always wanted to hear me playing guitar while singing because she admires me a lot. She was been hurt because she thought I don't love her. That's what her mom told me and I fucking regret everything.

Bahagya kong hinaplos ang kaniyang mukha. She was peacefully sleeping. Her face looks very tired. Her heart didn't make it.

I regret everything. Kung bakit hindi ko naiparamdam agad sa kan'ya na mahal ko siya.

"Itutuloy mo pa ang kasal, anak?" My dad tapped my shoulder.

Naluluhang napatingin ako sa aking ama. The truth is, I was the one who asked a favor to my dad na ikasal kay Princess through fixed marriage. But we ended up here.

"Yes, Dad. I will marry the cold body of Ms. Princess Carandang," sagot ko bago muling niyakap ang malamig niyang katawan.

This is the reason why I don't want to play a song for her. Because the last time I played, it was in my mom's burial.

It's a curse for me. Playing a song means losing someone who is very important to me.