Could Have Been Us ✓

CHBU 02

I thought the most challenging part about love was the end of the commitment itself. I didn't know the most challenging part was to unfold when every memory of you started to haunt me each day. From the last memory, I had with you, up to the first we had when I met you at the club.

Neon lights. Upbeat music. Live bands. Great drinks. That was the place where I needed to find myself to loosen up. I needed a water hole to quench my longing and get hammered with hard drinks, so I decided to go to an unpopular bar to save myself from a crowded place like that of overrated nightclubs.

Pagpasok ko pa lang amoy na amoy ko na ang alak. Rinig na rinig ko na ang malakas na hiyawan ng mga tao. Agad na hinanap ng mga mata ko kung may live band bang tumutugtog. To my dismay, wala. I love music, and I fancy underrated bands. Iba kasi ang dating. Malalim. Ang sarap ipagdamot 'pag napakinggan.

I sat on one of the bar stools in front of the barista and asked for a shot of tequila.

Four shots of my preferred liquor, and I heard a man's voice speak from the stage, the microphone being centimeters away from his lips.

"Good evening, everyone!" he exclaimed with total energy. "Tonight's live band would be, the 'The Messiah'! They'd be here any minute from now, so keep your hypes up and enjoy your drinks!"

What a coincidence that your band's name was the same as my first name, I thought to myself back then while waiting for you and your bandmates to arrive.

The man, being true to his words, your group emerged from the stage after a short while. Both your bandmates were flaunting their overflowing kind of animal magnetism. The girls couldn't help to squeal. So was I, who couldn't help to ogle at them.

But other than the screams caused by the dashing men at the center stage, I heard multiple whistles from different men when you claimed for the microphone. You were wearing an oversized black shirt and loose faded jeans. You tied your hair into a bun, with a few strands falling on your cheeks. Though it was hard for me to catch a perfect view of your face—from a distance, I could still say that you looked like a model in the magazines.

Ilang minuto lang matapos niyong mag-ayos, tumugtog na rin kayo. And damn that husky voice of yours. I felt shivers down my spine. I couldn't help myself to sit somewhere nearer so I could make fanboy bigtime.

The moment I sat at one of the nearest tables next to the stage, you cast a glance on me as you curled your lips, unveiling your pearl white teeth.

Inangat ko lang ang basong hawak ko bilang pagbalik sa ngiti mo. The song you were singing was one of your striking compositions I so love to hear before drifting off to sleep.

The women, especially the men from the crowd, started squealing when you took the microphone off its stand and went off the stage. Kumakanta ka pa rin kahit na hinahatak ka na ng iba. In comparison, the others remained on their seats, settled themselves from taking pictures of you.

Nagulat na lang ako nang lumapit ka sa table ko. You were smiling from ear to ear as you mouth every lyric of your song. From up close, I was able to visualize your face clearly.

You have the kind of face that stops men and even women in their tracks. The depth of your eyes was enthralling like they've got this magnetizing effect that made me hold your gaze. Though we're in a dark litten area, I could still clearly visualize how you sported a devilish womanish look. A head-turner, as they say, easy on the eyes.

Matapos ang ilang sandali, umalis ka na rin sa harapan ko at bumalik sa stage. I did the same. I went back to where I was seated earlier kahit na hindi pa kayo tapos tumugtog—nakinig na lang ako from afar.