Trapped to the Beats

Chapter 12

Days have passed, I would often see Migs in front of our apartment waiting for me early in the morning to usher me to school. Feeling ko nagbalik kinder ako na may service palagi. Or sometimes he would fetch me outside of our school along with his honda motor. Na madalas tuloy ay pagbulungan siya ng ibang kababaehan mula sa campus namin. They would often murmur if he's my boyfriend or what! Pero deadma lang ako.

We're friends I guess. Friends with mutual understanding.

Never naman kase naming napag-usapan ang tungkol sa amin.

"Hindi mo naman kailangan 'tong gawin," I said to him always. But at the back of my mind, I'm smiling! I'm touched. Kinikilig! Nagtatanong kung bakit niya yun ginagawa? Kung parehas rin ba kami ng nararamdaman?

Base sa action niya, we're on the same page.

"Bakit naman? Are you worried? Please, don't. I volunteered . . . 'coz I feel like I'm needed." and he would always respond to me that made my system tingled every time I hear it.

I feel like I'm needed.

Yeah. I need you in my life.

Sometimes, we would go for stroll; watching sunsets at the Parola Dike and he would bring me to their headquarters for me to watch him playing drums or sometimes singing while playing guitar.

And, sometimes we would exchange banatan words thru messenger whenever I had a chance to sneak during my duty on 7/11 or bago matulog. And, sometimes when their band from school has no sched for practice he would accompany me to my work, helping me to re-organizing things inside the store acting as if he also works there sa tuwing wala iyong boss namin.

Katatapos lang naming pumunta sa headquarters nila ng Meraki Band. Ginawa namin dun? We just hang out there, me— the usual watching him playing drums and singing along with him whenever he's playing guitar and singing some familiar songs to me.

We were now walking at the street of plaza that filled with tall skinny trees while watching the place with different christmas lights. There were kids playing around, laughing, and screaming because of fun together with their family. There were also some couples who are sitting silently on the dark side of plaza. Some took pictures and some were eating at the food stalls.

"Malapit na battle of the bands, almost one week! Yung deal natin ha," I gawked at him

"Mukha kang deal!" baling ko sa kanya.

He laughed. "Ano bang meron dun? What if you don't win? 'Coz you know I really have a bad feeling na you all gonna go home crying." I joked.

He, then softly chuckled again.

"Wow! Frea! I love your confidence!"

"As I should right? Not just because I'm with you hanging out doesn't mean that I'll forget about my school. Asa ka, Migs! Sa school parin ang boto ko 'no," biro ko sa kanya. Nakangisi lamang siya sa akin. Ang mga mata ayhindi inaalis sa akin at tila ba ineenjoy nya ang pagmumukha ko.

"You may be standing in the crowd along with your schoolmates during the battle, screaming for your school name but I swear to heaven, your heart is with us."

My heart is with you? Pwede!

"How do you say so?"

"Nah, Migs is there!"

My lips parted. I feel my cheeks suddenly reddened.

"Ang kapal," I managed to say. "Hindi carry ang kayabangan mo. Masyado kang mahangin!"

Maya maya pa ay marahan niyang ipinuwesto ang kanang kamay sa balikat ko at inilapit sa kanya noong dumaan kami sa isang grupo ng kalalakihan. I stiff as I felt his warmth. I even saw how his chiseled jaw clenched when one if those guys stared at me.