FALLING 2 YOU

THIRTY

Napamulat nalang ako nang ako'y maalimpungatan.

Fuck.

I hurriedly stood up and looked around.

The film was done and they left me here alone.

Wala man lang bang nakapansin sakin at hindi ako nagising.

Malas naman oh.

I check my phone and it was already six pm.

How the fuck is this happening?

I roamed around and hoping to see someone but nothing.

I went to the main door and tried to opened it but it was locked from the outside.

I took a deep breath as I don’t know what to do.

“Gising ka na pala” a familiar voice I heard.

I turned around and saw Ivan.

I noticed the guitar he was holding.

“Ivan, you’re here” I uttered.

“Yeah, and we got locked up” sagot niya.

“How come that you’re here?” I asked him.

“I was at the back stage the whole time. I was supposed to perform the ost song of our film after showing, but then short na daw sa oras kaya they cancelled it” sagot niya.

“Then, how did you got locked up?”

“Nagpaiwan muna ako dito saglit, but I guess the guard didn’t know that someone’s inside kaya he locked us up. Then, I thought I was alone not until I saw you sleeping”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” I asked seriously.

He chuckled softly. “I chose not to. It seems like ang sarap ng tulog mo eh”

Napailing-iling nalang ako.

“Anyways, do you have your phone?” he asked.

“Try calling Jinni”

"Wala akong pantawag eh" I answered.

"Call her online. Try messenger"

I grabbed my phone from my pocket and opened it, then went to my messenger app.

"She's not active" I said.

Napakagat nalang siya sa kanyang pang-ibabang labi at napa-isip.

"I'll try to call Dustin. Baka naka-online siya ngayon" he said.

Of course, that name again.

He called Dustin and di hamak na sumagot naman agad siya.

They talked on the phone while I’m just casually waiting.

"Problem solved" he said after he hung up the phone.

"He's coming. He'll get us out here soon. We just need to wait"

Tipid ko lang siyang nginitian at napa-sandal nalang sa pintuan tsaka napaupo.

Tinabihan niya naman ako at inayos ang gitara nito.

Malalim akong napabuntong-hininga at ipinikit ang aking mga mata.

“How’s the film? Did you like it?” he suddenly talked.

Napamulat ako at tiningnan siya.

“You’re seriously asking me that kind of question eh nakatulog nga ako” I said and we both slightly laughed.

“But even though I didn’t saw the whole thing, I know it was good” sabi ko sa kanya.

“Thank you for the support. I’m so nervous kanina kasi baka hindi nila magustuhan ‘yong ginawa namin”

“I doubt it. Didn’t you saw how many student were here just to watch your film? Hindi na ako magtataka na marami ng fans balang araw”

He just smiled at me and then continued fixing the chords in his guitar.

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya nang sinimulan niya itong patugtugin.

(Treat you better by Shawn Mendez)

“I wont lie to you. I know he’s not just right for you” he started singing.

I really love listening to his voice lalo na’t kumakanta siya.

It just gives me the feels that wrap me in warmth and make me fall even more in love with him.

“And you can tell me if I’m off, but I see it in your face when you say that he’s the one that you want, and you’re spending all your time in this wrong situation and anytime you want it to stop”

The way he sang the song gave butterflies in my stomach.

I don’t know how to explain it but hearing and looking at him right now, everything in me feels so perfect.

“I know I can treat you better than he can, and any girl like you deserves a gentleman. Tell me why are you wasting time on all your wasted crying when you should be with me instead. I know I can treat you better, better than he can”

The song ended and I was too stunned to talk or move.

“That was the song I was supposed to perform” he uttered.

“It was nice. Pero sayang hindi mo na-perform kanina” I said.

Malalim naman siyang napabuntong-hinga.

“It’s fine. Atleast I got to perform it to you”

Nabigla ako sa kanyang sinabi.

Nagkatinginan naman kami sa isa’t-isa na parang ayaw na naming umiwas ng tingin.

He was staring at me like there was a tension between us.

I swallowed hard as my heart was palpitating.

To be continued.