Rhythm to My Chaos

Chapter 9

#NewClassicRTMC

Chapter 9
Song

Before Ike left, he made sure that the song I wrote for the contest was polished. While waiting for him to come back, I had been spending my time practicing. However, he advised not to push myself too much because I might strain my throat and lose my voice on the contest. He had a lot of reminders because he had no time to supervise me.

I never thought how much Ike meant to me until I couldn't feel his presence after he left. I was used to having him around all the time. I looked forward waking up every morning to spend time with him for the rest of the day. Because of that, I couldn't even recall how I was before I met him. He didn't just come into my life but he even became a part of it.

Kaya naman hindi ako mapakali habang hinihintay ang kanyang pagdating. I had a hard time sleeping the night before his scheduled arrival. Maaga rin akong nagising, hindi dahil sa kaba sa contest nang gabing 'yon kung hindi dahil sa pagdating ni Ike.

Not seeing him and talking to him for a week made my heart beat with unusual excitement, knowing that I was going to meet him again. Gaya ng sabi niya sa akin ay hindi na ako nag-ensayo sa mismong araw na 'yon upang mapahinga ang aking boses. I didn't do anything else aside from waiting for him.

Hindi ako mapakali. My hands were sweating. He told me his plane was estimated to land at three in the afternoon, but it was almost five and he still had not arrived yet.

Ang dami kong iniisip na mga posibilidad kung bakit hindi pa siya dumadating. Posibleng nadelay ang eroplanong kanyang sasakyan o kung hindi naman ay malaki rin ang posibilidad na traffic papunta sa Roxas mula sa Puerto Princesa. Halos dalawang oras o mahigit ang biyahe rito mula sa airport.

"Hindi pa rin ba dumadating si Ike?" Iyon ang bungad na tanong sa akin ni Auntie Divina pagkagaling sa trabaho.

She was allowed to get off work earlier because of the contest. Nagpaalam siya upang makapanood ng contest na aking sasalihan. Every staff at the resort was very supportive. Agad nilang pinayagan si Auntie Divina para sa akin. They even gave me words of encouragement last night after my gig.

While shaking my head, I sheepishly smiled.

Napakunot ang noo ni Auntie Divina. "Bakit hindi mo siya itext o tawagan para malaman mo kung nasaan na siya?"

"Hindi ko po alam ang phone number niya..." nahihiya kong pag-amin.

Mukhang hindi iyon inaasahan ni auntie. Napaawang ang kanyang mga labi.

It didn't cross my mind to know his number when he left for his work back in Manila. He also didn't ask for mine. Naisip ko rin na hindi siguro siya nagbibigay ng number niya lalo na't artista siya. It was for his privacy.

"Jusmiyo!" bulalas ni auntie. "Araw-araw kayong magkasama pero hindi ninyo pa pala alam ang number ng isa't isa. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kayong mga bata kayo."

Napakagat ako sa aking ibabang labi. Bukod sa mga naisip kong dahilan. Siguro ay kaya wala rin sa aking isip na kuhanin ang kanyang numero ay dahil na rin magkasama kami araw-araw. I didn't feel the need to know his number until that moment.

I thought of asking it from Gian through their guest information, but that would be unethical. They vowed to keep the confidentiality of their guests' personal information. Tingin ko rin ay hindi magugustuhan ni Ike na ganoon ang gagawin ko para kuhanin ang kanyang numero. I wouldn't be any different from those fans who try to invade his privacy if I'd resort to that disrespectful option.

"Paano 'yan kung hindi siya makaabot? Hindi ba't alas-otso ang simula ng contest?" problemadong tanong sa akin ni Auntie Divina.

That was the worst possible scenario I could think of that I chose to throw it on fire and burn it away from my thoughts. I didn't want to think about that.