Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 54

My jaw dropped. "Y-You're threatening his life again? Is this a piece of a joke, Stacy?"

Nagsisimula ko nang maramdaman ang mga butil-butil kong luha na nagsisibagsakan na ngayon, idagdag pa 'yong pangangatal ng bibig ko dala ng sinabi ni Stacy.

I'm hoping she's fvcking kidding me!

"Do you think I have extra time to mock you, Irene? Seryoso ako, okay?" She pursed her lips as if she was trying to kill me in annoyance. "I will really kill him if you don't break up with him." 

"N-No." Kadesperadahan man ay agad akong lumuhod kay Stacy kahit labag ito sa loob ko. "Please... not him. Hindi ko kayang makipaghiwalay kay Eli. Don't kill him-"

"Naisip ko kasi na 'pag nakipaghiwalay ka kay Eli, mas magiging maayos ang buhay nating dalawa." Pointing her eyes at me, she smiled sheepishly. "You'll do me a favor, and eventually I'll return it to you."

"Isipin mo na lang, Irene... sakaling hiwalayan mo si Eli, edi wala na akong pagdidiskitahan na patayin. Hindi ka na mag-aalala na may magtatangkang patayin siya sa mismong araw ng concert niya. Magiging malaya na ang isip mo para hindi na siya alalahanin the moment you broke up with him."

"At sakaling hayaan mo siya na mapasakin, dapat lang na may pakinabang ako. I will use him as my perfume to all his fans. Mas mapapadali na lang din ang pagsikat ko kung mali-link ako kay Eli, 'di ba?" She arched her brows. "So, pareho tayong may pakinabang sakaling hiwalayan mo si Eli. What are you waiting for?"

Tikom lamang ang bibig ko. I couldn't utter a single thing. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang sasabihin ko... kung papayag ba ako sa gusto ni Stacy o hindi? But none of you couldn't blame me if I ever chose to end the ties between us. As long as Stacy's around, our life wouldn't be safe. 

"Do you mark your words?" I asked in my monotone voice. 

"Marunong na akong tumupad sa usapan, Irene. Once you act in accordance with our agreement, I can assure you and Eli a peaceful life."

If this is what I meant... costing everything I have para lang wala nang tao na mahalaga sa buhay ko ang mawala, then I think this is really the sign to cut my connections with Eli. And maybe those tears I have shed during the taping earlier was really meant to happen during this time. That those tears were meant because of this heartbreak.

*****

I was just watching Harris playing his piano while Dylan sang. In his restaurant with no one has eating, nag-jamming na lang 'yong dalawa dahil wala raw silang magawa.

Anyway, sarado lang talaga 'yong restaurant ni Harris kaya walang kumakain dito ngayon.

I was craving for Harris' cook foods that's why I went here, pero dahil hindi naman na ako iba sa kanya, nakakain pa rin ako with special drinks pa---soju. Eli's not here, anyway. So, I will drink just two glasses of soju... to ease my pain.

"Alam mo bang doble sa sahod ng teacher ang pwede mong kitain once na mag-singer ka?" Pagtuon ko kay Dylan ng atensyon. "By just releasing a song, concert tours, selling merchandise and to feature your song in different media, you can earn more than the money you need in a month." 

"Bakit hindi mo sa akin ialok 'yan, Corrine? Maganda rin naman boses ko at gwapo rin ako." Naningkit ang mga mata ni Harris sa akin bigla. "Huwag mong sabihing hindi mo ako nakikitaan ng potensyal na maging singer o kaya naman ay artista?!"

"Bro, ayan ka na naman. Kumalma ka lang-"

"No, I couldn't calm down. Nakakainsulto ka, Corrine-"

"Wala akong sinasabing ganyan. Kung gano'n man ang naging dating sa iyo ng sinabi ko, pang-unawa mo na ang may problema, hindi ako." And I was like getting surprised by how I delivered my lines to Harris. Bakas na bakas 'yong frustration ko with my tone of voice.