ABDUCTED, AGAIN

Kabanata 6

"Manood na lang tayo doon sa bandang pinagkakaguluhan nila. Malay mo! Baka doon, makalimot na tayo." Sinabayan iyon ng malakas na halakhak ni Ryzel habang naglalakad sila ni Athena papunta sa auditorium sa eskwelahan.

She just followed her. All throughout the day, that's just all that she did, follow her around. She felt like herself is far out of her grasp, she can't seem to hold it. Like her soul is slowly slipping away from her body, she felt empty, she just feel so lost, exhausted, her mind is all hazy.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Ryzel dahil sa pang-ilang beses niya nang pagsubok na pangitiin ito ngayong araw, hindi pa rin ito nagtagumpay. Hinawakan niya na lamang ang kaibigan sa kamay upang hindi ito mawala sa pagdadagsaan ng mga tao papasok sa auditorium.

His face from yesterday, that all the same face she has been yearning to see and touch for so long. That's all that Athena could think about. Didn't I waited for so long to see him again? Didn't I wanted so bad to talk to him? Didn't I missed him so much I've almost gone crazy when he left?

But why couldn't she look at him last night? Why couldn't she run to him and embrace him like the good old days? Why couldn't she tell him everything she wanted and have yet to say?

On that night, the moment her eyes met his gaze, she felt the rage slowly crawling from her temple down to her toes. Ang tanging nangibabaw lamang noon sa kaniya ay ang ginawang pang-iiwan nito sa kaniya. But despite that rage, she still wanted him. So much.

That's why instead of facing him last night, she chose to walk away. She can't just handle the weight of both of her love and anger for him battling against each other. Kung haharapin o kakausapin niya man ito, gusto niya ay kung kailan kalmado na ang puso niya nang sa ganoon wala siyang gagawin o sasabihing pagsisisihan niya.

Ginising ito ng nakakabinging ingay nang makapasok na sila sa auditorium. Libre lang naman ang mini-concert na ito kaya malaya silang nakapasok, kaya rin napakaraming tao sa loob.

Puno na ang buong auditorium, nagsisiksikan ang mga tao at halos hindi na sila makadaan. Ganoon nga marahil ang kasikatan ng banda at pati taga ibang eskwelahan ay dumayo pa rito. Mabuti na lamang at may kakilala si Ryzel na isa sa mga student council kaya nakapagpareserba ito ng upuan.

"Ayan! Bongga! Kitang-kita natin dito oh." Naupo sila sa gitnang parte, walong hanay ng mga upuan mula sa entablado.

Nakababa pa ang kurtina at patay lahat ng ilaw sa buong auditorium. Tanging mga ilaw ng mga cellphone lamang ang nakikita at ang mga hawak na maliliit na glow sticks ng mga tagahanga ng banda. Ang iba ay may mga winawagayway pang mga tarpaulin at mga cartolina.

Kung bakit dinadagsa ang banda, iyon ay dahil mula nang unang tumapak ang mga ito sa entablado, they have never shown their faces to anyone. They remained the biggest mystery to all the fans. Nakatulong din iyon sa paghakot nila ng mga tagahanga bukod sa ganda ng kanilang musika.

But right now, this big mystery will finally come to a closure. The band will finally reveal their true identities and the fans will never let this opportunity slide.

Mayamaya lang ay isang pagkalabit na ng gitara ang narinig at kahit iyon pa lang ay nagwala na ang buong manonood. Sigawan ng kaniya-kaniyang mga paboritong miyembro sa banda ang yumanig sa buong auditorium. If this whole place was just made of glass, broken crystals would have been scattering everywhere now.

"You're just too good to be true
I can't take my eyes off you
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off you"