The Unexpected Romance

Chapter Twenty Three - Mason Tolentino

Athena is on her way to the library. She and Corrine decided to check some old thesis books dahil pinag iisip na sila ng topic for their thesis. Corrine already went ahead of her dahil dumaan pa si Athena sa faculty room.

Athena hugged her books as she passed by the long corridor. But she stopped in her tracks when she heard someone playing a song nearby.

Hindi niya namalayan na dinadala na pala siya ng paa papunta sa isang classroom. She looked inside and saw musical instruments. She didn't know na may music room pala sa building nila.

She stared at the person who's playing the piano. It's Mason Tolentino, ang bassist ng Zeroth band.

Somehow, he's also skilled in playing the piano. Athena was stunned when he started singing.

(Just a Dream)

I was thinking about you
Thinking about me
Thinking about us
What we gonna be
Open my eyes
It was only just a dream

'Oh, he's good at singing too' Athena thought and she leaned on the door jamb.

Travel back down that road
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize
It was only just a dream

I was at the top
And now it's like I'm in a basement
Number one spot
Now you find you a replacement
I swear now that I can't take it
Knowing somebody's got my baby

Now you ain't around
Baby I can't think
I shoulda put it down
Shoulda got that ring
'Cause I can still feel it in the air
See your pretty face
Run my fingers through your hair

My lover, my life
My baby, my wife
You left me, I'm tied
'Cause I know that it just ain't right

I was thinking about you
Thinking about me
Thinking about us
What we gonna be
Open my eyes
It was only just a dream

Athena closed her eyes. She didn't realized na napasabay na pala siya sa pagkanta. When she opened her eyes, she saw Mason staring at her.

She thought he would stop playing pero hindi nito ginawa, so Athena continued singing.

So I travel back down that road
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize, it was only just a dream

Athena sang the next part and Mason shifted his gaze to the piano.

Riding I swear
I see your face at every turn
I'm trying to get my usher on
But I can't let it burn
And I just hope you know that you're the only one I yearn for
No wonder I'll be missing when I learn

Didn't give you all my love
I guess now I got my payback
Now I'm in the club
Thinking all about you baby
Hey you were so easy to love
But wait, I guess our love wasn't enough

I'm going through it every time that I'm alone
And now I'm wishing that you'd pick up the phone
But you made a decision that you wanted to move on
'Cause I was wrong

Mason sang with her at the chorus.

I was thinking about you
Thinking about me
Thinking about us
What we gonna be
Open my eyes
It was only just a dream

So I travel back down that road
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize, it was only just a dream

If you ever loved somebody put your hands up
If you ever loved somebody put your hands up
And now they're gone and you're wishing you could give them everything

[Athena:] If you ever loved somebody put your hands up
[Mason:] If you ever loved somebody put your hands up
[Athena:] If you ever loved somebody put your hands up
[Mason:] If you ever loved somebody put your hands up
[Athena and Mason:]
And now they're gone and you're wishing you could give them everything

[Athena and Mason:]
I was thinking about you
Thinking about me
Thinking about us
What we gonna be
Open my eyes ([Athena:] Open my eyes)
It was only just a dream ([Mason:] It's just a dream)

So I travel back down that road ([Athena:] Travel back, [Mason:] Travel back)
Will you come back? ([Athena:] Down the road, [Mason:] Down the road)
No one knows ([Mason:] No one knows)
I realize, it was only just a dream ([Mason:] No, no, no, no)

I was thinking about you ([Athena:] Woo)
Thinking about me
Thinking about us ([Mason:] Woo)
What we gonna be ([Mason:] Yeah)
Open my eyes... ([Athena:] Open my eyes, [Mason:] Open my eyes)
It was only just a dream ([Athena:] just a dream)

So I travel back down that road (Mason:] Woo)
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize, ([Mason:] Realize)
It was only just a dream
[Mason:] baby, it was only just, was only just a dream

[Athena and Mason:]
No, oh
It was only just a dream

When the song ended, Athena saw Mason smiled a little but then his expression changed fast and returned back to normal.

"You have a great voice" he praised at tinakpan na ang piano.

"I'm sorry kung naabala kita." Hinging paumanhin ni Athena.

"Nah, it's okay." Mason stood up. He remembered this girl. It was the girl who caught Ace's interest. He's also the same girl he saw at the hospital before.

"Mason Tolentino" Mason offered his hand and Athena accepted it.

"Athena Garcia." Athena said and smiled.

Mason was mesmerized for a while because of that smile. He cleared his throat and looked away.

"Nice meeting you. About what happened last time in the hospital, I am sorry too" he said and without waiting for her reply, he hurriedly picked up his bag and went out of the room, leaving Athena. Pinagmasdan na lamang niya ang palayong pigura nito.

'What happened to him?' she thought and looked at her phone nang bigla itong mag ring. She immediately answered when she saw Corrine's name.

"Athena, nasaan ka na?" Malakas na bungad nito. Athena even heard someone na sumaway kay Corrine from the background.

Athena looked at her wristwatch. It's already past 5.

"Papunta na" Athena answered at nagsimula ng maglakad.

"Okay! Nasa pinakalikod ako ng library, right wing" she said and hung up.

'That girl' napailing na lamang si Athena at diretsong naglakad papunta sa library. She didn't notice Mason who looked back in her direction.