Right Here Waiting

Part IV: [4/4]

"What? Are you out of your freaking mind? What if you passed out during your performance, huh?"

HALOS mapatakip ako ng tenga sa tinis ng boses ni Ali. Naka-pamewang pa ito at nakataas ang kaliwang kilay. Kung iba siguro ang kausap nito ngayon, ang takot na nila. Dragona rin e.

"It's now or never, Ali." I gave her an assuring smile. I have to do this.

She heaved a sigh that seems to help to soften her expression. "Alright, you have my full support then," Ngumiti ito nang malapad at nag-thumbs up. "Basta hindi ka magpa-passed out ha. Sira plano mo nito." Pahabol niya at may paghampas pa sa braso ko.

"I know, I won't." Natatawa kong sagot saka kinuha ang duffel bag ko sa table.

Dinaanan ko kasi siya rito sa office nilang mga student council officers para humingi ng permiso sa gagawin kong solo performance mamaya. Originally, I'm not going to perform talaga but I've changed my mind. I decided to do a solo performance instead.

"Hoy. Are you serious about the piano thing? Never kita nakitang nag-play ng piano ah."

Ngumiti naman ako nang malapad. "Of course I am," Cool kong sagot at lumabas na ng office nila.

They need to prepare for the event plus she still needs to talk to her co-officers to cooperate with my plan. Hindi madaling i-convince 'tong pinsan ko lalo na kung hindi ko siya bibigyan ng magandang rason. Kaya sa huli ay pinaliwanag ko kung bakit gustong-gusto kong mag-perform mag-isa. I told her that I want to dedicate my song to someone.

S'yempre hindi ko na sinabi kung para kanino at mabuti na lang din hindi siya mapilit pero samu't saring panunukso ang natanggap ko sa kaniya.

Ilang araw ko ring pinag-isipan 'tong gagawin ko at ngayon ngang intrams namin, I already made up my decision.

Right after my game, I will prepare for my performance naman. Oo, ang exhausting ng binabalak ko kaya nga nag-aalangan si Ali kasi akala niya sa ibang araw ko gagawin. I just really want to do this before I leave.

Remember the time when our coach told us if we won the Division, sa Ilocos na gaganapin ang Regional namin? Well, that's why. Yes, I won the Division round kaya proceed to Regional na ako to train.

Naglalakad na ako papunta sa training ground namin nang may humila sa'kin. Muntikan pa akong matisod sa biglaang paghila nito.

"Freen?" I uttered, forehead creased. Nagulat kasi ako na bigla na lang itong lumitaw sa harap ko at hinila ako sa sulok.

She didn't respond. She's just looking intently directly into my eyes as if she's seeing what's beneath my hazel orbs. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay nalulunod ako sa paraan ng pagtitig niya. But there's something in her eyes that I can't decipher-- sadness? longing? misery?

My eyes widen when she suddenly hugged me, tightly. I feel like a million voltages run through my whole body. My heart's throbbing. My nervous system went ballistic because of her.

Nagsitayuan ang balahibo ko when I felt her warm body on me. Her scent enveloped both my notrils. She smells so good, it's intoxicating. Para akong kinukuryente sa pagyakap niya. Nagwawala na ang mga paru-paru sa tiyan ko.

Ilang segundo rin bago nakakilos at niyakap siya pabalik. I can feel like there's something that she wants to tell me but she's too preoccupied right now so I just kept my mouth shut and seize this moment.

"What's going on?" I asked and gently caress her hair. "Why are you being clingy all of sudden?" I chuckled. Sumiksik pa kasi ito lalo sa kili-kili ko. Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi pa kami nagsisimula sa training. Fresh at mabango pa ako.