Missing Melody (COMPLETED)

Missing 10: A night with you

SINJI'S POV

Gusto kong maiyak sa sobrang pagkamangha. My chest felt tight with a mix of joy and disbelief sa surprisang ibinigay sa akin ni Kuya. As in, hinding-hindi ko inakala ang mga kaganapan ngayong gabi. Looking around, I saw faces I recognized—karamihan sa mga miyembro ng HuPoFEL ay narito sa school, celebrating with me.

"This is my first time to have a dance with you," Thud murmured while we were swaying to the music.

Pinalo ko ang balikat niya. The way he said it, parang ipinaparating niya sa akin na hindi ako worth it kasayaw. "As you can see, my brother wanted me to have my eighteen roses, even though I already reached nineteen tonight," pagtataray ko sa kanya.

"Parang pinagsisihan mong nandito ka, ah?" puna ko nang mapansin ang mukha niya.

"To tell you honestly, yes. Napilitan lang ako because it's your brother's request," he admitted with a smirk. "Minsan talaga gusto kong suwayin si Boss, lalo na kung siya ang magiging dahilan para hindi ako makapangbabae ngayong gabi."

"Ang kapal mo naman! As if may papatol sa'yong babae?"

"Why not? Guwapo naman ako, ah."

Nagbabangayan lang kami ni Thud sa gitna ng dance floor habang nakapaligid ang iba. It was supposed to be the eighteenth roses, pero may mga nakisayaw na rin para hindi raw masayang ang gabi. Everyone was in high spirits, partly because of my birthday and partly because of the successful event we had ths week.

"Change partner na, gagu!"

Napalingon kami ni Thud sa lalaking bagong dating. Without warning, basta na lang niyang itinulak si Thud palayo sa akin. It was Gun, looking as mischievous as ever.

"Tangina mo, tanda. May araw ka rin sa akin," Thud hissed as he stumbled back.

Gun just smirked at him before he possessively snaked his arms around my waist to lead the dance. "Magpatuli ka muna, boy, bago mo ako angasan."

Inambahan ni Thud ng suntok si Gun habang ang lalaki naman ay tumawa lang, dedma sa inis ng bata.

"So, what do you say about your surprise birthday?" Baling ni Gun sa akin, his eyes scanning my face.

I pouted my lips as I looked around the elegantly decorated venue. "Okay naman."

"Okay? Meaning you're not happy?"

I heaved a sigh, feeling the weight of the gown and the emotions of the night. "Actually, I wasn't expecting this. Akala ko may importanteng lakad si Kuya ngayong araw kaya tinanggap ko ang role na maging speaker tonight. It turns out na may pasabog pala kayo."

Gun smiled at me wickedly, a rare glint of softness in his gaze. "Of course. Hindi naman pwedeng maging kaawa-awa ang Prinsesa namin, 'di ba?"

He led me gracefully across the floor before continuing, "To tell you honestly, for the past years I've known Aqueros, that was the first time I saw him truly happy—nung nahanap ka na niya. Binuo niya ang HuPoFEL para lang mahanap ka. Noong una, I doubted his capability to rule that kind of organization, especially the mafia. Lalo na at binatilyo lang siya nung makilala ko siya."

Gun paused, his voice turning serious. "Pero unti-unti, nakilala ko siya at kinilala ko siya bilang Boss ko. From that time, I saw his genuine smile whenever he was talking to you. I already set my mind that Aqueros needs my support—our support. So, I gave him the trust he wanted."

My lips twitched. I wanted to say something, but the lump in my throat prevented me.

"Akala ko nga nangtitrip lang si Aqueros nang lapitan niya ako noon at tinanong kung gusto ko raw bang sumali sa grupo niya," Gun chuckled, reminiscing. "Agad ko namang tinanggap, tutal patapon naman ang buhay ko noon."