Biglang hinawakan ni Aria ang kamay ni Jaron at tumigil sa paglalakad.
"Ria?" sabi naman ni Jaron ng nagtataka.
Pero hindi siya sumagot.
"Is it them?" He asked, frowning.
"Chyna..." Sabi naman ni Aria ng pabulong.
Jaron laced their fingers. "It's okay." Sabi naman niya at nagstart siya hilahin si Aria.
Sumunod lang sa kanya si Ria, not really knowing what else to do.
As they passed, tumigil mag-usap sina Chyna at mga kaibigan niya at tumingin lang sa kanila.
Umiwas ng tingin si Ria. Alam naman niya na masama nanaman ang tingin sa kanya ni Chyna at ayaw na niya itong makita uli.
Nung nakalayo-layo na sila, nagbuntong hininga naman si Ria. Sa totoo lang, sobrang kinakabahan pa rin siya.
Pero nagulat naman siya nung bigla na lang kumanta si Jaron.
"Lift your hands
Baby, don't be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You'll get by with a smile
You can't win in everything but you can try..."
Aria looked up at him and smiled.
And for the next few lines, they sang together.
They laughed after they finished their little duet. Narealize naman ni Aria na hindi pa rin binibitawan ni Jaron yung kamay niya. She didn't really mind, though.
Matagal-tagal na rin silang magkakilala ni Jaron, at lalo lang silang nagiging close. Sobrang komportable na nila sa isa't-isa ngayon, at maliban kay Jaron, malapit na rin si Ria kayla Melody at Harper.
"Hey, Ria." Tawag naman bigla ni Jaron.
"Hm?"
"You're a big fan of Elysium, right?" Tanong naman niya.
"Yeah. Hindi mo naman sinabing tatay mo si Zimri Clarke!" Reklamo naman ni Ria ng pabiro.
"Hindi mo tinanong?" Jaron said sheepishly.
"Anyway." Sabi naman ni Jaron tapos may kinuha siya from his pocket with his other hand. "I've got VIP tickets for the next concert... Gusto mo ba pumunta?"
Aria gasped. "Oh my God! Of course I'll come! Kaylan??" Aria asked excitedly.
"Sa Saturday." Jaron said grinning, feeling like the luckiest man on earth.
—————————————————————————————————————————
"Tignan mo oh," Sabi naman ni Rina na isa sa mga kaibigan ni Chyna. "It's her." May tinuro naman siya sa baba. Nasa rooftop kasi sila ngayon.
Tumingin naman si Chyna sa tinuro niya, sa ground floor, understanding who she was talking about.
Napasimangot naman siya kagad nang nakita niya si Aria.
"May hinihintay yata siya." Sabi naman ni Chantal isa pa sa mga kaibigan ni Chyna.
"Well, do you want to do something?" Tanong naman ni Rina kay Chyna nang nakangiti. "Medyo namimiss ko na siya. Haven't seen her alone for a while."
Napasimangot naman si Chantal kay Rina pero wala siyang sinabi.
Hindi rin sumagot si Chyna at tuloy lang niyang pinanood si Aria. Kitang-kita ni Chantal yung hatred sa mga mata ng kaibigan niya.
"She isn't alone anymore." Sabi naman ni Chantal nung nakita niyang may lumapit na isa pang babae kay Aria. She felt somehow relieved. Hindi naman talaga niya gusto yung mga ginagawa ng mga kaibigan niya. She supposed she was also equally guilty. Hindi naman siya nagtry na pigilan or pagsabihan man lang sila.
Napansin naman niya na mas lalong sumimangot si Chyna.
"Chyna, bakit di na lang natin siya pabayaan?" Chantal tentatively said. "I mean, wala naman siyang ginagawa sa'tin." Dagdag naman niya.
"She killed my sister." Chyna said coldly. "Tell me how I can forgive her. Halika na, Rina."
—
"Ria!" Narinig naman ni Ria na may tumawag sa kanya.
She turned to see Melody running towards her.
"Mel!" Sabi naman niya.
"Sorry, nag-extend yung prof ko eh. Epal." Sabi naman ni Mel, rolling her eyes. Tapos nagsmile uli siya. "Ah, this is so refreshing~!" Sabi naman niya habang ini-stretch yung arms niya.
"Refreshing?" Tanong naman ni Aria as they start to walk to the bus stop. Nagkayayaan kasi na mag-mall and maybe manood ng sine, so dun sila pupunta ngayon.
"Going out with a girlfriend." Sabi naman ni Mel. "Lumaki kasi ako around boys. Maliban kay Kuya, meron pa kong younger brothers, si Lark and Ranim. Tapos siyempre yung banda, and I have lots of guy cousins..."
"Wow..." Sabi lang ni Aria. "But it kinda explains why you're a little boyish."
"Am I?" Melody pouted.
"Medyo lang." Sabi naman ni Aria ng nakangiti. "But you're really pretty, too."
"I'll take your word for it." Sabi naman ni Melody while grinning. She looked at Aria once and then stopped walking.
Aria blinked, "Bakit, Mel?"
"Ang ganda mo ngayon, Ria." Sabi naman niya bigla, not turning her eyes away from Aria.
"Huh??"
Melody looked closer, smiling. "You look happy. Blooming ka ngayon."
"Oh. I.. I guess I am happy." Sabi naman ni Aria. 'Di naman niya mapigilan ang blood rush.
Napangiti naman si Melody at tumingin kay Mel nang nang-aasar. "Is it a guy?" She asked.
Aria, if possible, turned redder.
"It is! Oh my god! At any progress??" Sabi naman niya nang kinikilig.
"Uhm, ininvite niya ko manood ng concert bukas." Sabi lang ni Aria.
"Oh, this is wonderful! Change of plans. Hindi tayo manonood ng movie, we're going for a make-over!" Sabi naman Melody.
"No, Mel. Hindi naman kaylangan nun." Sabi naman ni Aria.
"Syempre kaylangan! It's your first date, isn't it?" Tanong naman ni Melody.
"Well, yeah... but... well, he wouldn't see anyway." Sabi naman ni Aria ng mahina, suddenly looking sad.
"SI JARON?!?! OH MY GOD!!!" Sabi naman ni Melody na kulang na lang, magtatalon. Aria didn't know if what she said just didn't register or just didn't bother her.
"Kaya nga di na kaylangan na—"
"Nonsense!" Melody said, cutting her off. "You dress up in a date for yourself and no one else. Don't believe the other way around." Sabi naman niya.
"O... kay." Sabi na lang ni Aria dahil nagulat siya sa kung gano kasiryoso si Mel.
"So, I know this salon. Let's go there first." Sabi naman ni Melody nang nakangiti na uli.
Just then, the bus arrived.
BINABASA MO ANG
Music Lovers (AU)
FanfictionGenre: Friendship, Romance, Slice of Life Rating: PG? AN: - inspired by Quest for Camelot. ^^ -Para maiba naman, serious JaDine story kung saan introvert si Nadine Lustre (as Aria Charisse Castro) na may tinatagong nakaraan at mas introvert pa si J...
