Subway of Cyberspace (a love beyond internet) ✓

16

Chapter 16

THE RUNAWAY PROM ATTENDEE was seen running with the bassist of a college band with no name. When I met, Solitaire outside, he got acoustic guitar around his body. I immediately hold his hand and run somewhere far from that place.

Nadaanan pa namin ang mga taong busy sa kanilang buhay pero nagawa kaming tingnan. He's wearing tux and I'm wearing ball gown. Runaway prom dates. The busy street and honk of cars everytime na magpapalit kami ng side to walk to. I am just laughing and Solitaire just looking at me, smiling. Until I got tired and realize, nakarating kami sa plaza kung saan maraming tao ang nagtinginan sa amin. We were surrounded by the blinding lights of the town, the trees and lights. The mystical vibe of fairy lights hanging in the trees because it's February 14 and it's the night of love. I took out my phone from the gown and took photos of the scenery before my eyes.

Tumayo s'ya mula sa inuupuan n'yang bench at inagaw ang cellphone ko.

"I'mma take photos of you." Sabi n'ya para tigilan ko s'yang pandilatan sa ginawa n'yang snatching incident.

Agad akong nakaramdam ng hiya at kaba sa katawan.

"Sige na...sayang outfit mo. Lika na, picturan kita." Pag oofer n'ya uli saka pumuwesto na sa pagpipicture.

So what I did is pose and pose.

"Twirl like I wasn't here." He summoned.

"Ha?" Hindi ko makapaniwalang sabi.

"Twirl. Yung parang aesthetic blur low quality photos. Candid shots. Sige na please." Pagmamakaawa n'ya.

Wala naman akong nagawa kundi sumunod. May pahawak pa ako sa ball gown at nahihiya ako kase pinagtitinginan talaga ako ng tao kaya tumigil ako agad. Then, he gave me the phone back and smile. He offer me a seat beside him. Sa pag-upo ko, nakita n'ya ang sapatos ko na ikinahagikhik n'ya.

"You're not serious about your shoes? Prom tas chuck taylor?" Hindi n'ya makapaniwalang sabi habang nanggigigil sa hawak n'yang acoustic guitar.

"I am." Sabi ko.

"It's cute..." Tumingin s'ya sa akin, "...dang! You are a weird one."

Tumawa lang ako. Umayos s'ya ng upo and starts to strum the guitar. I just listened to the rhythm the strings are making that matches the beautiful dress of the night.

"Asan pala sila Clark? Ba't mo iniwan?" I asked him between the strumming.

"Ah, andoon sa resto. Nag-uusap-usap kase nakakita ng friend from high school. Zoren and Jackson was on the other table. Kausap nila yung bokalista ng banda ng pinsan mo. May problema yata. So iniwan ko kase OP ako. Sakto naman na ang text ka." Paliwanag n'ya.

I nodd and stare at the people passing by. Matao sa plaza kapag gabi because of teenagers. Sa medyo dulo kami pumuwesto dahil konti lang ang tao. Nakakatakot naman kase hakot attention kami kapag nasa unahan kami. Kaya dito kami pumuwesto. Then, I turn my gaze on him. Now, I caught him on the act. I look at him looking at me in my eyes also. Nahihiya akong ngumiti.

"Thank you." Sabi n'ya habang nagstrumming.

"Para saan?" Tanong ko.

"For making this happen. Exposure. Thank you for supporting me on playing instruments though minsan, nagskip school ka just to see me play. Your efforts are deepest and most appreciated."

Then, the rhythm of his strumming turn into something familiar that my head start to sing. It's the first song he told me to listen to when I'm starting to like bands way back a year ago. Sabi n'ya he's artaanging it into a smoother one because the notes are too high to reach.