Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 10

"Air, yung food mo nilalangaw na."


Naputol ang aking pagkatulala nang magsalita si Harriet sa aking harapan. Awtomatiko namang bumaba ang tingin ko sa pagkain na aking in-order pero hindi ko pa pala nababawasan o nagagalaw man lang magmula kanina.


"May allergy ka ba sa shrimp? Gusto mo bang mag-order ako ng iba para sa'yo, Solaire?" Queenie, Harriet's friend from the fandom asked. Umiling ako kaagad at kinuha na ang kutsara at tinidor.


"No need, Queen. This is fine. May sumagi lang sa isip ko..."


I don't want them to think that I don't like the food. Libre na nga ako ito mula sa mga admins na katulad ni Queenie na nag-imbita sa aming dalawa ni Harriet na kumain muna sa plaza bago umuwi. May kasama rin kaming Helios at masayang nagkukuwentuhan ngayon sa nangyaring gathering kanina.


"Sumagi sa isip, huh? Nakatulala ka kaya magmula kanina," Harriet grumbled and took a huge bite in the tempura.


"Medyo inaantok lang," pagdadahilan ko at nagsimula na ring kumain.


"Ayan, sabi ko kasi sa'yo umuwi na tayo kanina pa dahil siguradong hindi tayo makakatanggi sa libre," pabulong niyang saad at sinikap na hindi iparinig iyon sa mga katabi naming mga fans.


I frowned. I'm not into free food. That's why I convinced her to stay for a while here in Plaza Guerrero after we got the autograph. I can't find the strength to go home without talking to Alexius in private.


Alam kong pwede naman na sa susunod nalang at gabing-gabi na pero hindi ako mapakali kung maipagpapaliban ko ng panibagong araw. My apology is so delayed. Saka nakalimutan kong ibigay ang portrait. Kung hindi kami makakapag-usap, basta maiabot ko lang ayos na.


"Akin nalang ito, ah. Tsk, ang bagal mong kumain."


Hinayaan ko si Harriet na kainin ang mga side dishes ko na hindi nagagalaw. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako nakakaramdam ng gutom kahit pasado alas-dose na. Kaninang alas-sais pa ang huling kain ko. I should be hungry. I lost my energy in that event.


But I can't feel anything aside from the eagerness to meet Alexius so this mind will be at peace. Tapos na kanina pa ang meet and greet pero ang Heliocentric ay nakikipag-usap pa ngayon sa mga committee at coordinators.


I can see them clearly. The food chain where we are eating right now is located on the third floor. Kitang-kita ko sa ibaba mula sa aking pwesto ang kaganapan na nangyayari. I can spot Zyris and Xandro, busy organizing all the presents they received in the cart.


"Kung kayang kumain ka muna? Heliocentric is just there. Sila lagi ang pinakahuling umaalis dahil may babalik pang fans niyan panigurado," paalala ni Harriet nang mapansin akong nakadungaw muli sa ibaba.


"Huling umaalis? But they're packing their things already?" I asked when I saw Devan called for help.


Tatlong lalaki ang lumapit at isa-isa nilang binuhat ang mga sandamakmak na regalo na natanggap ng kanilang banda.


After that, the four of them gathered together in the center and talked about something. Then, they laughed and gave each other a high five and a manly hug. My lips parted from what I witnessed. Their friendship is genuinely admirable too. They're congratulating each other for another memorable journey.


Pumalumbaba ako sa mesa para mapanood kung gaano sila kaaya-ayang tingnang magkakaibigan. All of them have almost the same height. They all looked good together. The looked very close.


"Baka uuwi na siguro? Pagod na pagod sila for sure," sabi ni Harriet na dumudungaw din sa kanila sa ibaba.


"Oh, bakit ka nagmamadali? On the way palang si Mang Gerry. Take your time, Air..." nagtatakang tanong ng aking kaibigan nang makita akong inuubos na ang pagkain sa aking plato.


I need to hurry up.


Alexius already picked his keys in his jacket's pocket. Isinukbit na rin ni Devan ang case ng gitara sa kanyang likuran. Mas binilisan ko ang aking pagkain nang makita nga na aalis na sila. Kausap na ni Xandro ngayon ang isang coordinator at mukhang nagpapaalam na.


"Saan ka pupunta? I'm not yet done eating!" my friend confusedly asked when I stood up from my seat. Sinuot ko na rin ang bag ko kung saan naroon ang portrait.


"Kumain ka muna. I'll just text you. I'll just give this portrait to Alexius," pagpapaalam ko at tumingin kay Queenie.


"Thanks for the treat, Queen!" I exclaimed.


Hindi ko na hinintay pa na makakuha ng tugon nang tumalikod na ako at nagmamadaling lumabas para makababa sa hagdanan.


I was catching my breath when I reached the first floor. Kung kanina punung-puno ito ng tao, ngayon ay iilan na lang. Tanging mga cleaners at committee ang halos natira para sa pag-aayos ng mga sound system at iba pang kailangan iligpit.


"Saan po ang Heliocentric, Ma'am?" tanong ko sa nag-aalis ng mga lighting at dekorasyon.


I can't find them anymore here. Where did they go?


"Huh? Kakaalis lang. Naku, ngayon ka lang ba magpapa-autograph? Bakit hindi ka pa humingi kanina..." umiiling niyang sagot sa akin.


I roamed my eyes around and search for the parking space area. Kung kakaalis lang, siguradong hindi pa sila nakakalayo kung sakali. Nang makita ko na kung saan ang parking lot, hindi na ako nagsayang pa ng oras at tumakbo para maghanap ng pamilyar na sasakyan.


Hindi ako nagkamali at nakita ang mga lalaking tinawag ni Devan kanina para magbuhat ng kanilang mga gamit. They are putting those inside the van. Gabing-gabi na at kaunti na lamang ang mga sasakyan na narito kaya agad kong nahanap.


I walked nearer to peeked inside the van but I didn't see anyone. Mga gamit din ang naroon. Punung-puno ang loob ng regalo at pr packages. Wala ng mauupuan bukod sa driver's seat.


Ngumiti ako ng tipid sa naglalagay ng mga gamit nang nagtataka siyang napatingin sa akin. I hope he doesn't think I'm weird.


"Solaire? You're still here?" gulantang na tanong ng isang boses sa aking likuran. Agad akong napaharap sa pinanggalingan ng tunog.


My hope arose when I saw Zyris. They're still here! Kasunod niya ang tatlo niyang kaibigan. I couldn't hide my smile when I saw Alexius, who was still staring darkly and... coldly at me. I thought I'd miss this chance tonight to talk to him.


"Hmm, may nakalimutan akong ibigay kanina kay Alexius. I also want to talk to him," I announced and looked at Xandro to ask for help using my eyes. He noticed me right away and smiled. Then, he put his arms on Devan's and Zyris' shoulders.


"Sure, you two can talk. We'll just fix our things," aniya at hinila ang dalawang kaibigan para makalapit sa van.


Napangiti ako nang nakuha niya ang nais kong ipahiwatig. He knew that I'm here to apologize to his friend. Gladly, he understand my meaningful stare right away.


"What do you want to talk about? Can't it be done next time we meet? Do you know what time is it already?" Alexius asked consecutively.


I can't figure out if he's pissed or just concern about me for staying outside at this hour. Hindi ko alam kung anong una kong sasagutin sa mga tanong niya.


"Uh, I just want to give something," pabulong kong sabi at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi habang binubuksan ang zipper ng bag.


Dahan-dahan kong nilabas ang portrait na pina-frame ko at nahihiyang inabot sa kanya.


Crossed arms, slowly raising one of his eyebrows; Alexius' eyes bubbled in hazing darkness when they darted at the portrait. I can't read what he's thinking. He's still cold, coaxing with so much indulgence. I exhaled when he was only looking at it, and he had no intention to get it from me.


"This is my peace offering and also a gift for you on your fifth anniversary."


Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. I smiled and walked nearer until we are only few inches apart. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay at pinahawak ang portrait sa kanya. Iyon din ang ginawa ko sa kabilang kamay niya para mahawakan ang portrait nang maayos.


"I want to say sorry from what I said and from the way I acted on that day..." I voiced out as a preamble of my apology.


"I was mean. I shouldn't judge you and conclude everything —"


"Okay, I accepted that apology. Thanks for this present. That's all?" He chuckled.


I paused and blinked from what I heard. I remained silent. Is he accepting my apology? That fast? Without even listening to everything I want to say?


Alexius shrugged.


"You know, I'm too tired of hearing something like that. So it's fine, Solaire. If that's only what you want to say, we can end it here. You should go home, it's really late," malamig niyang saad at nilagpasan ako.


I swallowed. My vision became blurred. Bumigat ang dibdib ko at hindi na nakayanan pa kung paano niya ako pakitunguhan magmula kanina. It feels like he doesn't want to see nor listen to what I'm going to say.


Agad akong sumunod sa kanya na naglalakad ngayon patungo sa kanyang sasakyan. It is his black Maserati. Binuksan niya iyon at nilagay sa backseat ang portrait na binigay ko.


"I'll smoke, so don't come near. I need this. Don't stop me if you're planning to..."


I gasped from the coldness of his tone again. Dinahilan niya pa ang paninigarilyo niya para paalisin ako. He doesn't really want to see me! Is he hating me that much?


"I said I'm sorry. Why are you talking like that to me?" I uttered in distress.


"Talking like what?" matigas niyang tanong.


"Like you want me out of your sight!" I exclaimed like an untamed lioness.


He scoffed and put the end of cigarette in between his lips. Sumandal din siya sa kanyang sasakyan. Pinanood ko gamit nang matalim na mata ang bawat galaw niya mula sa pagkuha ng kanyang lighter, pagsindi ng sigarilyo hanggang sa magbuga siya nang nakakasulasok na amoy ng usok.


I coughed when I inhaled the smoke.


"If you don't like it just stay away. Pinapahirapan mo pa ang sarili mo," natatawang sabi niya at pinagpatuloy ang paghithit ng sigarilyo.


I gasped and looked at his car beside us. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip pa na umikot at binuksan ang pintuan na nasa passenger seat. I'll wait for him here. I don't care if it's already late or what. I won't go home until I don't talk to him properly.


Ako:


Mauna ka na pauwi. I'll go home by my own.



I texted that to Harriet.


Nakakuha ako ng reply sa kanya at nagtanong pa siya ng kung anu-ano kung bakit uuwi ako ng mag-isa. Sabay kasi kami dapat na uuwi dahil alam ni Daddy na siya ang kasama ko kaya pinayagan akong gabihin. I told her not to worry because I'm with Alexius. I know he'll drop me home.


"Solaire, why don't you just go?"


"I won't!" agap ko nang pumasok na rin siya sa sasakyan at iyon ang unang namutawi sa kanyang bibig.


Damn. He smells cigarettes, but I can't entirely hate it. His manly addicting scent dominated the horrible smell of tobacco. Sumandal ako sa upuan. I also put on the seatbelt and hold the strap tightly.


"Get off and don't be stubborn. If I start this car right now, I'll not stop driving even a second. Get out while you still can. You might regret it," nagbabanta niyang sabi.