In the Midst of the War

Kabanata 40

KABANATA 40.

Will You.

KINAKABAHAN AKO. Hindi ko alam kung maganda pa iyang panimula o hindi. Totoong kinakabahan ako.

My friends, Vale's friends and band mates planned this out in five minutes. Bago pa man makabalik si Vale sa couch namin ay wala na ako roon.

Mariin kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko at kinuha ang electric guitar ni Vale na nasa backstage. Isinuot ko ang lace niyon.

“Maayos na ang tunog niyan, tutugtog ka nalang,” Marlon, Vale's band mate, said. Huminga ako ng malalim.

“Salamat sainyo,” I said sincerely to them. Kasama ko ang band mates ni Vale sa backstage.

Tinapik ni James ang balikat ko. “Wala iyon, Raf. Alam naman namin na kayo talaga ang end game, kahit noong simula palang,” aniya.

What he said made me smile. The fear I'm feeling is slowly fading away. Besides, I'm doing this for Vale. He deserve this. We deserve this.

“Kaya na ba? The lights will be out in a minute,” ani Charlie. Tumango ako.

Kaya ko ‘to.

Tulad ng sinabi ni Charlie, nag-off nga ang lahat ng ilaw. Huminga ako ng malalim.

“It's time? Rafa.” Ani James.

Sabay sabay kaming pumunta sa stage. They settled on their respective instruments at ako naman ay tumayo sa harap ng microphone kung saan kumanta si Vale kanina.

In a flash, all the lights turned to me. Only dim lights are lighting on the whole bar while the spotlight is on me.

My eyes found Vale's. Puno ng pag-aalala roon pero bigla iyong nawala nang makita niya ako sa stage. Nakita ko kung paano napalitan ng gulat ang pag-aalala sa mata niya.

I also saw my friends and Vale's on the same couch. They all gave me a thumbs up. I smiled and turned the mic on.

“You must be wondering why I'm here,” panimula ko. I saw curiosity on the crowd's faces but none of them talked nor interrupted me so I continued.

“I'm here to confess my feelings to my boyfriend,” bahagya akong natawa, the crowd too. “Babe, ‘wag kang iiyak, ah?” I said to Vale.

Napakurap-kurap pa siya kaya lalo akong natawa. Pati ang mga nanonood ay natawa rin sa reaksyon niya.

“I know the years apart did great for the both of us. We've grown so much but it did not change how we feel for each other. I won't talk long or say cheesy words. But right now, I just want to sing for you. You're the one who's always singing for me either when I'm down or you just feel like it. I hope that this song will tell you how much I wanted this, how much I wanted us, and how much I love you,”

I started strumming the guitar. I don't know how to play electric guitar before. Siya rin ang nagturo saaking tumugtog ng acoustic. When he was away, I learned to play electric guitar too.

The strumming of the guitar was accompanied by the band. I smiled. I'm glad that they all agreed to my idea. Vale's lucky to have friends like them.