Chapter Five

Whispers of Winter

It was almost late in the afternoon, the messages were done, the dances—eighteen roses and eighteen gifts, the food, the games and charades that were so fun, the pictures—I and the team were slightly exhausted after that, and the pool party.

Of course, right after Minny's class, sinundo na s'ya ni Manong Dad. Hindi ako makasama dahil kailangan kong tugunin ang pagiging photographer ko. Si Minny ngayon ang nakaupo sa aking upuan at s'ya naman kumukuha ng litrato saakin gamit ang polaroid. That way she might not get bored.

Maraming kausap ang debutant, mula sa mga relatives nito na pumarito galing malalayong lugar hanggang sa mga kaibigan nito mula noong primary days, how did I know? Angelo. What else did I miss? Inulit-ulit ko talaga sa aking isipan ang mga nakakahilong pangyayare, na para bang nagre-review ako para sa aming exam.

These are all for you to know.

Someone grabbed my hand and pulled me, pilit na inilagay sa gitna ng banda at binigyan ng stand mic, nilapitan ako ni Kay Lin at bumulong, "Do you know the song 'Terrified' by Katharine Mcphee?"

Umiling-iling ako, kaya naman mabilis nito akong inawitan ng pahapyaw, "You said it again, my heart's in motion~"

Tumango-tango naman ako dahil naalala ko ang tono nito, "Pero hindi ko memorized and lyrics." Sabi ko at aalis na sana nang inilabas nito ang kan'yang phone, "Thought so." Aniya.

Ibinigay nito saakin ang kan'yang phone at kita ko dito ang lyrics ng kanta na iyon, "Let's practice."

Ganun nga ang ginawa namin, sinabayan ko s'ya sa kan'yang pag-awit at doon ko naisaisip ang mga tono nito, "Remember, pagdating sa bridge, magba-back up kana at magbe-blend tayo." Paalala nito, tumango na lamang ako bilang tugon, nasa akin pa rin ang cell phone para makita ang lyrics.

Lahat ay kinuha ang atensyon ng emcee, "Alright! Everyone, please stand by at mayro'ng special intermission ang isa sa mga guests natin! Aniya dito sa letter na binigay saakin, 'Relaisa Hanginan, you're the most beautiful and wonderful lady I have known, I am enchanted by your beauty, your soul, and your own true self. This part is all just for you.'—huwaw! Ladies and gents! Let's hear from them!"

With that signal, the instruments start playing, and all the lights were on us—or on me. Nasisilawan ako kaya naman dali-dali kong inalis ang aking salamin at yumuko ng bahagya. Then I started singing when it was my cue.

'You by the light is the greatest find~'

'In a world full wrong you're the thing that's right~'

'Finally made it through the lonely to the other side~'

Everyone clapped and cheered, I smiled as it warmed my heart. Going through the chorus, sumabay saakin ang banda.

'You said it again, my heart's in motion~'

'Every word feels like a shooting star~'

'I'm at the edge of my emotions~'

'Watching the shadows burning in the dark~'

'And I'm in love, and I'm terrified~'

'For the first time and the last time in my only life~'

Nilingon ko ang debutant and I couldn't clearly see her expression from where I am, pero sumasabay ito saamin. Ngunit ang umagaw ng aking pansin ay ang pag-unahan ng isa saamin habang kumakalabit ng kan'yang gitara.

At sa iisang mikropono kami'y kumakanta.

'This could be good, it's already better than that~'

'And nothing's worse than knowing you're holding back~'

He was looking deep into my eyes, that verse was his cue, but it felt like the way he sang the lyrics was for me. His familiar eyes, the stares that brought my heart to running for miles.

'I could be all that you needed if you let me try~'

'You said it again, my heart's in motion~'

'Every word feels like a shooting star~'

'I'm at the edge of my emotions~'

Sabay kaming umaawit. He was smiling, so, I smiled with him. It felt like it was just the two of us, ngayon ko lang namasdan ang magandang larawan nito. He had this sharp eyebrows na bahagyang makapal, matangos na ilong, mala-singkit na bilog na mata, mapuputi nitong ngipin, at mapupulang labi.

I could feel my knees shaking, I could feel my face burning, I could feel my eyes glimmer as I looked into his eyes that were intently focused on me aside from strumming.

'Watching the shadows burning in the dark~'

'And I'm in love, and I'm terrified~'

'For the first time and the last time in my only...~'

Hinawakan ako nito sa aking kamay at inalalayang pumunta sa gilid kung nasaan ang kan'yang stand mic at doon kami tumayo, lumabas mula sa likod ng aming banda ang isang matangkad at mala-prinsepe ang datingan hawak ang isang mic at malaking bouquet of red roses with three sunflowers between.

Maraming naghiyawan mula sa mga nanonood, siguro'y kilala nila ito, habang umaawit ay paunti-unting nilapitan ng lalake ang debutant.

'I only said it 'cause I mean it, oh, I only mean 'cause it's true~'

'So don't you doubt what I've been dreamin~'

'Cause it fills me up and holds me close whenever I'm without you~'

Nang makalapit, ibinigay nito ang mga bulaklak at kami'y nama'y patuloy na umaawit. As I watched them dance, this dude beside me kept staring at me while singing, I did not bother staring back.

Pero nakakapanghina ng tuhod! Lord, sana mag-brown out!

'You said it again, my heart's in motion~'

'Every word feels like a shooting star~'

"Every word feels like a shooting star~" I second-voiced.

'I'm at the edge of my emotions~'

'Watching the shadows burning in the dark~'

'And I'm in love, and I'm terrified~'

'For the first time and the last time in my only life, life, life...~'

Some of the spotlights were still on us but they were mostly on the debutant and her suitor. I don't know what they're talking but I can see them smiling at each other, mumbling word after word.

Nakakakilig sila, I mean it. Parang silang mga artista dahil sa umaapaw nilang kagandahan, it's as if they were meant together, and the lady's lucky for having him, a very thoughtful man.

Ako nga, bente anyos na, na-friend zoned pa. I couldn't even forget about that situation!

Bababa na sana ako mula sa stage nang pinigilan ako ng lalakeng ito, "Hey."

Sabi na nga't--! "Hey."

"You're Nallouis, right?" Tanong nito, I feel like I'm being cornered by his stares, I couldn't avoid them! "Yeah."

"I'm Brann, nice to meet you." Pakilala nito, itinaas nito ang kan'yang kamay upang makipagkamayan. Ayaw ko sana pero nakakahiya naman, 'no? "Nice to meet you, too, Brand."

"Ikaw yung nag-audit kahapon 'di ba? Ikaw yung sinabayan ni Kilen." Aniya nito, tumango-tango na lamang ako sa kan'ya, "The song was random." Sabi ko naman.

"You're beautiful." Bulong nito na hindi ko gaanong narinig nang mag-humirit muli ang emcee, "Huwaw! What a show, Mister Gary!"

"Ano 'yun?" I asked and tilted my head making my ear the nearest to him, "Wala, the song was beautiful." Sagot nito habang nakangiti, "You haven't shot us some of your pitiks."

Ay! "Oo nga pala! Teka lang." Bumaba ako at humarap sa kanila, hawak ko pa rin ang aking camera kaya naman ay itinutok ko iyon sa kanila: full view.

Matapos ang ilang mga pitik, isa-isa ko naman silang kinuhanan ng litrato. They posed very well and some it were funny kaya nakangiti ako habang ginagawa ko iyon.

"You have a beautiful voice." Biglang sambit ni Angelo na tumabi saakin, "I didn't know na sumali ka pala sa kanila." Komento pa nito.

"I didn't, actually, musical theatre yung pakay ko noon. Nataon lang na nandoon sila." Sabi ko naman. It's true, the unexpected events were, of course, unexpected.

The end of the party soon came after, naiwan ang mga gusting maiwan lalo na sa pool party. We, the hired ones, started packing, kita kong nakahiga si Minny sa hita ni Manong Dad, maaring napagod kakapanood at kakakain ito.

This day was exhausting, and I never thought na magagamit ko ang talent ko sa iisang event, sa isang araw. It was new for me, and I hoped that Manong Dad took a shot of me so that I would remember this day, with such weird interactions. Lalo na kay, kay...

Brendo?

Inilagay ko sa mesa malapit kila Manong Dad ang mga gamit na aming dala at binuhat si Minny, mabilis itong yumakap at nahiga saakin. Si Manong Dad na ang bibitbit ng mga gamit na dala namin maging ang maliit na bag ni Minny.

Nang ginagawa namin iyon, lumapit saamin si Angelo, "Hey, she's a cutie." Komento nito kay Minny na mabilis humimbing sa tulog.

[A/N: So much for making 'the best of the afternoon'.]

Sabihin mong anak mo ito! "Oo, ganito talaga ang anak ko."

Narinig kong bahagyan natawa si Manong Dad kaya pasimple ko itong sinipa sa kan'yang paanan. Please, Manong Dad! Sumabay ka saakin!

"Wait, sabi mo pamangkin mo s'ya?" Taka at nalilito nitong tanong habang hindi malaman-laman kung ngingiti.

Nasabi ko ba? "Ay..." Anoooo?! "O-Oo, pamangkin ko nga."

"S'ya 'yung model mo nang binigay mo saakin ang folder mo, sabi mo pamangkin mo s'ya." Ngumisi ito saakin, "Ikaw ha."

I awkwardly smiled at him, nakakahiyaaa!!

"M-Mauuna na kami." Paalam ko naman, we bid our goodbyes and went on our separate ways. Nalaman ko lang kanina na pinsan pala ito ni Angelo. Tinawag ba naman ang pangalan sa mga magbibigay ng message at eighteen roses.

Magkapatid ang Mama nila. No wonder ampogi rin kung tingnan si Sir Angelo. Kung angganda ng pinsan, gwapo rin ang pinsan.

Ha?

"Hey, Nallouis!" Tawag nang halos baritonong boses mula sa aking likuran kaya naman nilingon ko ito, sino nga itong lalakeng ito?

Leeland? Lino?

"Lan..ce...?"

"Leo!" Natatawang sabi nito nang nasa harap ko na s'ya, "'Di mo man lamang ako pinansin kanina, and as expected from you! You have an outstanding voice!" Puri nito kasabay ng mahinang pagpalakpak. Napansin siguro ang natutulog na si Minny na karga ko.

"T-Thanks, I'm sorry pero parang kinawayan naman kita, ah?" I frowned at him, ambilis naman magtampo!

"Yeah, but it was not enough!"

"Hey—!"

"Hi, Nallouis." Biglang sumulpot mula sa likuran ni Lee si... si Bradly? At takang napatingin sa karga kong si Minny, "What a cutie, who's she?" Tanong nito.

"Si Minny, anak ko." Pakilala ko sa seryosong tono, para makatotohanan kung pakinggan. Kung alam na ni Angelo kung sino ito, pwes sila hindi pa. Maaaring maloko ko pa ang mga ito to believe that I have a daughter.

"A-Anak?" Parehas nilang sambit na dalawa, nabigla sa aking sinabi.

"Iniwan na sila ng ama nito, kaya nakakaawa naman." Biglang lumutaw si Manong Dad mula sa likuran ko at dahan-dahang kinuha mula saakin si Minny para maihiga na ito sa backseat ng kotse, "Wala nang kontak, wala pang suporta." Huling aniya nito na may pa-iling-iling pa bago naman ako iniwan na pinagtaksilan.

Why, why, Manong Dad? Why did you do that? Why did you tell them that?

I just want to cry, "Actually—"

Hindi ko na natapos ang aking sasabihin nang magsalita si, si... Bradpitt? "That irresponsible trampoline son!"

"Hey, kalma." Lee said.

"Actually—"

"What's his name? Where did you last saw him? What—"

"Bye." Umalis na ako't hindi na pinatapos si Bradpit sa kan'yang mga sinasabi, I don't wanna hear anything of it. Even from the stares he always gives.

I sat in the passenger seat, and with that, we drove our way home. I can't believe Manong Dad gave that ridiculous speech!

"Sorry na, Nala, nakakatuwa kasi kayong tingnan." Natatawang paumanhin ni Manong Dad. I rolled my eyes and smiled at him. Gusto kong tumili!

"Manong Dad! Why!?" I mumbled, "I can't believe that!"

Natawa na lamang saakin si Manong Dad, "It's going to be a big problem for me." Saad kong huli.

It is going to be a big problem for me.

~~~

Song: 
Terrified by Katherine McPhae

Spotify link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/573EXMFHsEKPRSy08G91Sr?si=ce60ff0031214a9c