Our Last Dance

Melancholy

"Paint your scars into a new shade."

💋
Seven months had passed now he was back in the country. The world tour concert was a huge success. He was forever grateful for all the Filipinos all over the world that took time and paid money to see the show. The producers believed in him and the rest of his team.

He ran away for months but he is now ready to face the music. To face her.

"After seven months, I can feel the familiar heat of the Philippines," Pancho exclaimed.

"Akala ko nasanay ka sa lamig ng ibang bansa, kuya Pancho." Pambubuska ng kapatid na si Tsiko.

"This is home." Ria smiled at them.

"Home is not a place but a person." Lahat sila tumingin kay Kakoi. "What? I read that somewhere." And they all laughed.

"Saan ka namin ihahatid, Bambs?" Tanong ni Tsiko sa kanya.

"In Alabang, Tsiko, the kids are there with mom. It's their summer break." He explained.

They bid farewell to each other. All were excited to go home and see their loved ones.

Bamboo's eyes were on the road, looking at nothing particular. Only to regret it a few seconds later. What a warm welcome! He thought to himself.

One of the biggest billboards bears the face that haunted his waking and sleeping hours. It was a billboard from a toothpaste company. The woman was smiling broadly, exposing pearly white teeth while showing her not so visible dimple.

"How are you, love?" He asked in his mind. He chose to close his eyes to block the memories that are threatening to play in his mind. "I've been moving in circles for the last seven months. Trying my hardest not to think about you. But every song I sang and every melody I made were about you. I missed your sweet smile, your giggles, and your bungisngis laugh. I missed you so much that it hurts." He continued to talk to her in his mind. "I'm a lunatic talking to myself about you."

He chuckled out loud that earned a questioning look from Pancho and Tsiko. "A private joke guys, can't share."

"Baliw." Bulong ni Tsiko.

"'I heard that!"

The two of them just laughed at him.

...
Sarah was in deep concentration while selecting the songs to be part of her new album. She had been at it since 8:00 this morning. She glanced at the clock on the wall. 8 hours. She spent eight hours selecting songs but she only chose five. The album will be composed of 13 songs as she wanted it to be. She had worked with the composers of these songs in the past. Some songs in the album are from her past albums, the ones that didn't get the recognition they deserve. Namely, Misteryo, Bulletproof, This Fight, Ako'y Para Lamang Sayo and she'll do everything to have the song "214" be part of the album.

"This is tiring, sir Louie." She told her musical director. Sir Louie had been her MD ever since her first solo concert in Araneta Coliseum eighteen years ago. "Ang gaganda nila lahat."

"Hay! I agree, Sars. If only we can put these songs in one album. This one is a good song to collaborate with Regine." Sir Louie proceeded with helping her in choosing the songs.

It was ten in the evening before they finalized the thirteen songs that will be part of the album. Right on cue, her ever-doting husband went knocking on the door. He was smiling ear to ear. Everyone looked teasingly at her.

"Hay! Sana all, may sumusundong asawa!" Biro ng isang kasama nila.

Mateo went inside the conference room.

"Hi guys, are you done na? I'm here to pick up my wife."

"You're just in time, Mat. We're all done." Sir Louie told him. "We were about to go."

"Good!" Lumapit ito sa kanya at humalik sa pisngi niya. "Hello, bubba."

"Ang sweet!"

"Ayiieieee"

"Kayo talaga." She remarked. She had no choice but to cling into his arms. "Ready to go?" She sweetly asked him.

"Yes."

"So, paano ba 'yan. Mauuna na kami sa inyo at mukhang may date pa kayong mag-asawa."

"Thank you for today, Sir Louie." She said and kissed him on his cheeks.

"Thanks sir Louie." Wika ni Mateo.

"We'll go first, lovebirds. Be safe on your drive home." Paalala nito sa kanila.

"Sure will, Sir Louie."

When everyone was out of the room. Sarah let go of her hands around him. She arranged her things on her bags, including the sheets of the songs.

"I'm excited with this album of yours, Sarah." He started talking. "The last one was entitled "The Great Unknown" which was solely for the love of your life."

She let out a long sigh. She was so damn tired! She had no time to listen his taunting.

"I'm all set. Let's go." She dismissed his side remarks.

"Not so fast, Sarah." He sat down on the chair. "Let me finish my story first then we can go."

"Please, Mat. Spare me with your words. It has been a long day. I badly needed rest." She begged him.

"If only you've found it in yourself to love me, Sarah. We would have been the best couple like what everyone is saying. This would have been real but you are cruel, Sarah. So cruel."

"I can't tell my heart who to love, Mat. And even if I can it would never be you." She coldly said to him and walked towards the door. She can go home on her own. She brought her car.

She was silently praying to God that Mateo will not follow her. A ride in the elevator alone is much better than talking to him and his whims. This album is her what if's and could have been's with Bamboo. She can't vocally tell him all the feelings inside, her reasons for not staying five years ago, the broken promises, and her controversial marriage. But she will use her advantage as a singer to express the unsaid words, the lyrical truth, and her ode to her lover. Almost lover. She heard the beep of her phone.

One message
He is back

She laughed her heart out. Smiling like a fool.

"I'm sorry, Francisco Gaudencio but I will be selfish with you this time. I will do everything in my power for you to say yes."

She touched her heart. Oh! After seven months, it's beating again.

☺️
1992