Three Steps To You ✔︎

Chapter 15

HAPPEN AGAIN

“Okay ka na, Leonardo?” tanong ni Adrian. Napatingin ako sa suot ko dahil nakakapagtaka ʼyung tanong niya. I was wearing the proper clothes! What is questionable with it?

“Of course.” I rolled my eyes on him.

I watched Bliss sat beside my brother, Calvin who was beside Crystal now. Yeah, Iʼm feeling the awkwardness.

I turned to Adrian again before we step into the mini stage that Calvin and others prepared.

“Heʼs going to be fine, trust me.” I gave Adrian an assurance as I winked my eye. Thatʼs effective. My charm has always been effective, it never fails.

He only responded with a sigh and then we stepped into the mini stage.

Marcus Zachary was here with us. Siya ang DJ namin ngayong araw. Well, hindi naman kasi pwedeng kami ang sasayaw, kami pa ang mag-aayos sa sound system. Of course we need someone to take charge of it. Gratefully, nag-e-exist si Marcus.

Nasa back stage pa ako dahil si Adrian, Andy at Cyrus muna ang sasayaw. Nanood na lang muna ako sa inuupuan ko ngayon.

Nang mapagtanto kong malapit na ang parte ko sa sayaw, nag-warm up ako para hindi ako magkaroʼn ng injury if ever.

And now, itʼs my time to shine!

I made a grand entrance for myself. At sumulyap muna kay Bliss na tahimik lang na nakaupo. Nang mahuli ko ang tingin niya, kinindatan ko siya.

Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagsayaw sa patimpalak. Tutal naman ay kaarawan ko ngayon, gagawin ko ang gusto ko.

“Swimming in emotion
Got me overdosing
I canʼt tell if you still feel the same
Weʼre not the way we once were
Tell me is this over
I gotta know”

Pinikit ko ang mata ko kasabay ng pagkanta sa mataas na nota. Singing will always be my favorite and no one can tell me otherwise.

“Cause youʼre the best damn thing that Iʼve ever had
Youʼre the best damn thing that Iʼve ever had
And I donʼt know what Iʼd do
If Iʼd ever lose you”

I continued singing as I feel the rhythm. Sinabayan ko ang pagsayaw. I was quite enjoying doing both dancing and singing.

Akala ko nuʼng una, hindi ko kayang pagsabayin iyong dalawang ʼyon. Kagabi ko pa binabalak na kumanta kasabay ng performance ko kasama ang Aces.

“Cause youʼre the best damn thing that Iʼve ever had
But I canʼt do much if youʼre over it
So tell me what to do
Cause I wanna be the best damn thing that youʼve had too”

And our performance ended according to our expectations. It ended perfectly. It was the best performance that Iʼve ever done in my whole life. The people around me clapped their hands for us, the performers. I smiled and bowed to them in exchange.

Though, pakiramdam ko tinatawanan na ako ni Calvin sa isip niya ngayon habang sinasabing uto uto ako.

Bumaba ako sa stage at pinuntahan si Calvin sa table namin. Uminom agad ako ng tubig at inabutan naman ako ni Crystal ng tuwalya para punasan ang pawis ko. I thanked her for that.

Lumapit ako kay Calvin para kausapin siya saglit. Pakiramdam ko babatukan niya ako sa sasabihin ko sa kaniya. “Hoy, mag-emcee ka roʼn.” utos ko kay Calvin.

“Anong hoy?!” tanong niya at saka binatukan ako. Sabi na nga ba.

“Pumunta ka ng stage!” nagmamadaling utos ko sa kaniya.