Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 22

"Ang tiyaga mo naman," komento ko habang pinapanood si Deion sa kanyang ginagawa.


We are here at our kitchen and he brought Ate Solene's cravings. Whenever she's having a period, she likes chocolate cake from Snickerdoodles. It's a famous cake shop downtown. Kaso ay sold-out kaya binili na lamang ni Deion ay 'yung may cashews. Hindi mahilig si Ate sa nuts kaya ngayon ay tinatanggal niya.


Deion smiled. Napangiti rin ako nang ilapit niya sa akin ang platito na may isang slice rin ng cake. I didn't expect he's this nice and thoughtful. Kumuha ako ng tinidor at umupo sa counter top.


"You know what, I think... you're the nicest among them all," sambit ko at tinikman ang cake. I nodded when the sweetness didn't fail me. Wala namang pinagkaiba sa pure chocolate pero mas gusto lang talaga ni Ate ng walang cashews.


"Among them all? What do you mean?" Deion asked, still removing the cashews.


Pagkatapos, pumunta siya sa may refrigerator. Tinuro ko naman kung nasaan ang strawberries dahil siguradong iyon ang hinahanap niya. It was Ate's cravings too. Chocolate and strawberries are the best combinations for her. She's upstairs, by the way, suffering from menstrual cramps.


"Hmm, from all the guys she dated. You're the nicest for me," sagot ko at hindi maiwasang obserbahan ang bawat kilos niya. I think I should call him Kuya from now on.


He looked reserved and pure-hearted. A good guy in specific. I wonder why he's dating my sister. I mean, yeah, Ate has the out-of-this-world kind of face and has a good heart as well, but my sister is a playgirl. Alam ng lahat na hindi siya nagtatagal sa relasyon. She doesn't like commitments too. So why would you take a risk if you knew she'll dump you in the end? Heartbreaks are no jokes.


"Really? I'm the nicest? I guess not. Her first boyfriend is a religious guy, right?" He chuckled while slicing the strawberries. Napasinghap ako ng hindi makapaniwala. Paano niya nalaman 'yon? It was years ago. Maybe, my sister told him.


"Hmm, si Vincent?"


"Yup."


"Mabait siya pero bata pa ako noong pinakilala siya sa akin ni Ate kaya hindi ko masyadong napapansin. But still, you're the nicest for me..."


He smiled. Napaawang ang bibig ko sa ginawad niyang ngiti. He looked exactly like Devan but Kuya Deion's smile is too charming and contagious. It screams comfort and safety. Na parang kapag nariyan siya, ligtas ka sa lahat. He's transparent and you can't see any evil intention.


"Dei, you're taking so long. Okay na kahit may cashews," pagpapagitna ni Ate Solene na malamya pang naglalakad patungo sa kitchen. I shook my head when she didn't even change her clothes to look more presentable.


"Oh, my baby sister is still here. Akala ko ba aalis ka today?" malambing niyang saad at pinatakan ako ng halik sa pisngi nang makalapit.


I scrunched my nose and wipe the part of my cheeks where she kissed me. Kuya Deion smirked when he saw my reaction. I'm not disgusted at her kisses or what, I simply don't like it because I'm not a kid anymore.


"Mamaya palang. Sasabay na ako kay Kuya Deion 'pag aalis na siya," wika ko dahil sa tagal naming nandito sa kusina, nasabi ko na rin na aalis ako ngayon.


He volunteered to drive me at Xandro's house. Doon nagpa-practice ang Counterclockwise para sa performance na ipapakita sa Pavillion. I need to take risk again. Baka napangunahan lamang ng emosyon sina Aubrey kaya nasabi ang mga iyon. Paano kung hinihintay lang nila ako na unang makipag-usap sa kanila?


"Hmm, okay. Pero baka mamaya pa siya aalis. Aside from this cake, I'm craving for him," Ate Solene giggled and walked happily in Kuya Deion's direction.


Nakangiti niyang pinasadahan ang mga hinandang pagkain ni Kuya para sa kanya bago umupo sa upuan na nasa counter. Ate Solene took a bite in the cake first. Then, she picked a strawberry and placed it between her lips. Napailing ako nang humarap siya kay Kuya Deion at ngumiti nang mapaglaro.


"Solaire is here, Callista..." Kuya Deion whispered and it sounds like a warning.


Ate Solene blinked cutely and batted her eyelashes. Bumuntong-hininga na lamang si Kuya at mabilis na yumuko. Lumapit siya sa mukha ni Ate para pagbigyan sa gusto. I gasped when he took a bite in the strawberry in her mouth! Damn? They kissed! Their lips brushed against each other.


"Much sweeter." My sister chuckled. Nginisihan niya ako habang si Kuya Deion naman ay nagsisimula nang mamula habang nginunguya ang strawberry.


"Sanay na si Solaire sa akin. No need to be shy infront of her," she teased. I sighed. Yeah, sanay na sanay na talaga. I've seen more than what they did. What a naughty girl. Bumaling na rin ako sa cake na nasa aking plato para ubusin.


"Solaire, I'm sorry for what I did earlier..." Kuya Deion spoke when he stopped the engine. Kumunot ang noo ko habang inaalis ang seatbelt. Nasa tapat na kami ngayon ng bahay ni Xandro.


"Sorry? Para saan?" I asked in confusion. Kinuha ko na rin ang aking gitara na nasa backseat habang naghihintay ng tugon.


"Hmm, at the kitchen. You know... the strawberry," nangangapang pahayag niya kaya natawa ako dahil mukhang hindi niya masabi ng diretsahan na hinalikan niya si Ate kanina.


"It's okay. Ate is really playful. Dapat ako ang mag-sorry dahil inabala ka pa niya ngayong araw."


Pwede naman kasing nagpabili nalang sa mga kasama namin sa bahay para hindi na kailangang tawagan ang iba para sa mga gusto niyang kainin. Kuya Deion is from Sebastian. Halos isang oras din ang binyahe niya para makapunta rito sa siyudad Escalante. Tapos isang oras din ang pabalik. Can't you imagine how tiring it was?


Kuya Deion shook his head.


"It's fine. I like to do these things for her."


I smiled. That's good to know.


"Thanks for taking good care of my sister, Kuya. Uh, una na ako," I announced and opened the door beside me.


"Sure. My brother is inside too. If you want, I'll tell him to drive you home later," aniya ngunit umiling ako.


"Hindi na. Salamat. Te-text ko nalang si Mang Pablo," I uttered and gave Kuya Deion a smile before stepping out in his car. Kumaway ako bilang huling pamamaalam bago niya paandarin ang sasakyan palayo.


Kinalma ko ang sarili nang makatayo na sa tapat ng gate. Buo ang loob ko kanina na sumama sa practice pero ngayong nakatitig sa doorbell, parang gusto ko nalang umatras. I breathed in. You can do this, Air. You just need to pressed this button.


I released an exhalation one more time and finally pressed the button. Tumunog iyon kaya napalunok ako sa kaba nang marinig na agad ang pagbubukas ng pintuan sa may front door. Kasabay rin no'n ang paglakas ng yapak ng paa patungo sa gate.


I smiled at Zyris who opened the gate for me. Ngunit napawi ang ngiti ko at napaubo nang malanghap ang nakakasulasok na amoy ng sigarilyo na hawak niya. I held my breath to prevent myself to inhale more smoke. Aish! He's a smoker too? The hell. Kaya naman pala hindi kayang itigil ni Alexius dahil pati kaibigan niya naninigarilyo.


"Oh, I'm sorry pretty girl..." he playfully said and dropped the cigarette. Inapakan niya iyon bago luwagan ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. Pinagdampi ko lang ang aking labi at hindi nagsalita.


"Na-late ka yata? Kanina pa sila nagpa-practice," aniya habang tinatahak namin ang daan papasok sa bahay.


Unang bumati sa akin si Xandro na nasa sala. Like what Kuya Deion said, Devan is here too. Naglalaro silang dalawa ni Xandro ng PS5. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang bahay. The other one is missing. No one greets me with a playful smirk. Wala rin sa kusina at sa terrace. Baka nasa babae niya. It's Sunday, a perfect time to flirt.


"Nasa studio sila. Kaaalis lang ni Marahuyo. You should help them fix their misunderstandings, Solaire. Aubrielle and her are having arguments lately," paalala ni Xandro habang nasa laro ang atensyon.


I bit my lip. Paano ko sila matutulungan? I don't have any idea how. Siguro, hindi pa nila alam na may hindi rin kami pagkakaintindihan nina Aubrey.


"Sige, akyat lang ako..."


Xandro nodded. Zyris smiled at me before I walked at the studio. Bumalik ang kaba ko habang papalapit doon. Pero wala namang mawawala kaya susubukan ko na. Whatever the results may happen this day, I should accept it.


Pinunasan ko muna ang namamawis na palad nang matagpuan ang doorknob. Dahan-dahan ko iyong pinihit para mabuksan. Hindi ko pa lubusang naibubuka ang pintuan nang marinig na ang mga tinig sa loob. I think they were having a short break. The clasped I had in the doorknob contracted when I heard my name.


They're talking about me?


"Ah, kumakanta rin si Solaire? Hindi halata." It was Iori's voice.


I gulped when Carly chuckled. Narinig ko ang bahagyang tunog mula sa gitara at base sa ritmo at tempo, siya ang gumagamit no'n. It was her favorite song — Photograph by Ed Sheeran.


"Oo. Marunong din siya sa sports at arts. Wala lang sa hitsura. Gano'n talaga lagi ang first impression sa kanya," Carly said.


"Anong first impression?" Iori asked again.


"Puro pagpapaganda lang ang alam," Carly laughed.


I gasped from what I heard. Mas dumiin ang hawak ko sa doorknob. That's... true. Iyon naman lagi ang first impression sa akin pero ngayong nanggagaling sa kanya? It has a different impact.


"Pero maganda naman talaga siya kahit 'di mag-effort," Iori asserted. I don't know if I'll be happy from the compliment I heard. Pero sa huli, nanaig muli ang inis ko sa kanya.


"Tsk. That's why most of our fans were fakes. They only like us because we have a mini Soledad Agcaoili. Mostly, ang habol lang talaga nila ang mukha," iritableng sabi ni Aubrielle.


"True, buti nga ngayon nag-iba. We are genuinely appreciated now and it's because of you. You gave us the exposure we deserve," giit din ni Sydney.


"Hmm, noon ba hindi niyo feel na na-appreciate kayo?" It was Iori again.


"Ako, hindi. But I never complained. Silang dalawa lang lagi. Marahuyo is the most talented one. Expected na nasa kanya lahat ang spotlight. While Solaire's beauty is undefeated so she'll also get the recognition."


"Kahit tumayo lang siya stage at walang gawin, may fans na kagaad. It's so unfair," Aubrey chuckled and bitterness is evident from her tone.


My eyes watered from their statements. That's what they feel?


I have no idea. I'm too unaware. I should have noticed. I should've paid attention. They keep it from us too. I have no intention to make them unappreciated and unseen. I thought everything is fine until Iori came. I'm so selfish to think I'm the only one who's struggling here. Matagal na palang may problema na hindi nasasabi at napag-uusapan.


I cried silently while listening to my bandmates' laments again. They endured this kind of feeling too — the feeling of not belonging but for the sake of the band... they stayed. And at this moment, they've had enough from all of this.


"Solaire?"


Naisara ko ang pintuan ng may magsalita sa gilid ko. I turned my back at Alexius and quickly wiped my tears but it has no use. Sa tuwing pinapalis ko, mas lalo lamang rumaragasa ang mga bago.


"What happened, hmm?" he asked softly and walked in front of me.


Hindi ako nakapagsalita at nanatiling nakatingin sa dibdib niya na abot ng paningin ko. I panicked when he hold the doorknob beside us. Pero bago niya mabuksan, agad ko nang hinawakan ang kamay niya para pigilan. He stared at me with confusion when I shook my head.


"What is it? How can I help you?" nag-aalala niyang tanong kaya sinikap kong tumahan para makapagsalita nang maayos.


"G-Gusto ko nang umuwi..." I stuttered. Iyon lang ang magagawa ko ngayon. I want to go home. I need to sleep and rest from all of this. Siguro, kapag may lakas ng loob na muli ako, doon ko sila kakausapin para maayos ang lahat ng ito.


"Sure, I'll drive you home. Wait for me here. I'll just get the keys in my room," aniya.


I bit my lip when I remember something. Akmang tatalikod na siya para pumunta sa sinasabing kwarto nang agad kong hawakan ang damit para pahintuin sa anumang kilos.


"Hindi na. You have a girlfriend. Kapag nakita tayo —"


"I don't have, Solaire. I told you already about it. No girls and cigarettes from now on," pagpuputol niya sa sinasabi ko.


I sighed.


"Okay... I'll wait for you here."


Alexius smiled. However, it was so different. It's not his usual grin that was full of naughtiness. It was warm and sweet like Kuya Deion's smile; so pure and has no other motive but to comfort me as if he's saying he'll always be right here for me.