Meet Me In Mabini (City Series #2)

Chapter 26

#MMIM26

"Oo, nandito ako! Kailangan kong umalis!" I spoke to Yve through the phone as the crowd sang along to Vale's songs. Naka-tayo na ako sa dulo ng barrier pero ayaw ako palabasin nung body guard!

"Ang daya mo naman! Tinry ko bumili ng tickets jan, sold out na agad!" sagot naman ni Yve. "Diba magpeperform si Vance Enrique jan? Hoy, ayan na! Ibigay mo contact number mo para sa photoshoot at interview!"

Umirap ako sa kawalan at lumingon sa stage. He looked so good. Naka-puti na t-shirt lang siya pero.. God, I cannot be fangirling over this. I'm a grown woman.

Bago pa ako makasagot kay Yve ay nagulat ako nang may yumakap sa akin. Mukhang kararating lang ni Alice at pinapasok naman siya nung guard.

"Are you kidding me?!" sigaw ko sa guard.

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Bastos talaga!

"I didn't know you'd be here!" sabi naman ni Alice sa akin sabay hila patungo sa harapan. Marami siyang kakilalang mga artista kaya bineso niya sila. Ako naman, pakiramdam ko mahihimatay na ako sa sobrang init ng lugar na 'to.

Mainit ba? Allergic reaction ba 'to? Cardiac arrest?

I looked over at the stage and Vale was singing with his electric guitar. It amazed me how much has changed. He's so.. confident. He was even interacting with the crowd. May strap yung gitara niya kaya nilagay niya 'yon sa likod niya habang nag-cclap along with the beat. The crowd already knew all his lyrics and the louder they sang, the wider he smiled.

Is this the same man I loved?

Ibang iba siya. He really followed his passion. And it amazed me. It left me starstruck. I guess when he was studying his pre-med, he was suppressing this version of himself. It was like he came out of hiding.

The lights were crazy, and everyone else was jumping around. He looked like a star. Kitang kita ko pa ang kagandang katawan niya dahil sobrang lapit namin sa stage.

"Oh my gosh!" sigaw ni Alice sa akin. "Grabe si Vale! Pang international na talaga! Parang dati we were just with him sa Ilocos 'no?!"

I forced a smile and nodded. They all sang alont and jumped around. Nakakatuwa rin makita yung mga artistang sumasabay sa kanta niya. I couldn't believe it. I knew he was famous but.. wow.

Nang may lumapit kay Vale para kunin ang kaniyang electric guitar at binigay sa kanya ng acoustic guitar ay tumahimik na rin ang mga tao. Others were still screaming, at mukhang ibang kanta ang kakantahin niya kaya nagpalit siya ng gitara. He was already sweating, but he looked at the crowd in awe, as if the sight of them took his breath away.

"Grabe." He laughed and scratched his head. "You guys are amazing."

Mas sumigaw yung mga tao. Humalukipkip ako at tumingin sa paligid ko. Even the famous actresses I'd watch on TV were taking videos and photos of him on his phone. All eyes were on him.

"So this next song, it's a song by one of the guys I met in New York. One of my inspirations, actually." He laughed. "It's basically a song about.. not being over a girl."

Hindi ko alam kung paano mas lumakas ang sigaw ng mga tao, but it was possible. I heard so many cries from the back, telling Vale na mahal nila siya.

"Hey," Ngumiti si Seven sa akin pagkabalik niya. "Sorry, I had to receive a call."

He stood beside me as everyone looked at Vale up on that stage.

"I can't write a song that's not about you, can't drink without thinkin' about you, is it too late to tell you that everything means nothing if I can't have you?"