The Magnetic: Loving the Ice Man

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: "The problem with love is; You can love who you want.. But so can they."

I wonder what he's doing right now. I sighed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about Calem. He and his band members are abroad for a series of international concerts. Lagpas isang buwan pa lang siyang wala pero pakiramdam ko ay ang tagal ko na siyang hindi nakikita. 

Huminga ako ng marahas at inabot ang cellphone ko. Ilang beses kong pinag-isipan kung magp-pm ako sa kanya o hindi. Sa huli ay tinalo ako ng kagustuhan ko na makausap siya kahit sa chat lang. 

Me: Heard you had an amazing and successful concert there. Congrats!

I bit my lower lip and sent it. Inilapat ko pa ang cellphone sa dibdib ko at humugot ng malalim na hininga. Hindi ako umaasa na sasagot siya sa pm ko sa kanya. Alam ko naman na busy sila ngayon. I was about to turn off the lights when my phone suddenly rang. 

Muntik ko na iyong nabitawan ng makita na tumatawag si Calem sa akin. A videocall, no less! Natataranta na sinilip ko ang itsura sa salamin bago iyon sinagot. My heart skipped a beat as I saw his beautiful face. Isang gray hooded sweatshirt ang suot niya sa pang itaas. 

(Hey,) he said with a small smile. 

"H-hi!" Huminga ako ng malalim para pakalmahin ang puso ko. "I saw some video clips of your concert there. You guys were amazing!"

(Thanks.) 

"Hmm. Buti gising ka pa?" 

He just shrugged his shoulders. (What about you? How come you're still awake?)

"Can't sleep. Siguro may nag-iisip sa akin. Diba sabi nila kapag hindi ka makatulog it could be because someone's thinking about you," I said with a chuckle. Totoo na hindi ako makatulog pero hindi naman ako naniniwala may nag-iisip talaga sa akin. Bahagyang tumagilid ang ngiti ko ng isang seryosong tingin lang ang ibinigay niya sa akin. "Uy, joke lang! Masyado ka naman seryoso, kuya."

(Sorry.)

Tumaas ang mga kilay ko. "Sorry saan?"

"Sorry you couldn't sleep."

"Ano ka ba? Hindi mo naman kasalanan iyon!" natatawang sabi ko. 

"I think it is." Napahinto ako sa pagtawa. "You see, I've been thinking about you. A lot."

Pakiramdam ko ay huminto sa pag-inog ang mundo sa sinabi niya. Nangalumbaba siya at huminga ng malalim habang nakatitig pa rin sa akin. Ilang sandaling hindi ko alam ang isasagot. Iniisip ko rin kung nagbibiro ba siya? But he's not the kind of person who jokes around. 

Then I just found myself smiling softly. "Ako rin. I've been thinking about you." I swallowed hard and bravely admitted, "A lot."

His mouth slowly curved into a tender smile. 

Oh boy. I don't think I'll ever recover from this feelings I have for you.

I plopped down on the couch in our room. We've just finished our recording. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata at isinandig ang ulo. Pakiramdam ko ay nasaid ang enerhiya ko. Itinagilid ko ang ulo at inabot ang bag. I took out my phone and checked my messages. 

Calem Imperial: As I walk down Bourbon street, all I could think about is how great it would've been to explore New Orleans with you. Perhaps, one day?

My lips automatically formed into a sweet smile as I saw his message together with a picture of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Inilapat ko ang palad sa aking dibdib at humugot ng malalim na hininga.