The Tale of the Non-Celebrity Girlfriend (ONGOING)

95: The New Gio

INAAMIN ko, I had a few moments of weakness. Okay, fine. Not just a few. It was quite a lot. Pero determinado ako. Becoming one of the people who forgot their priorities just because they're in love was never part of my plan.

Maraming beses na muntik na akong bumigay at payagan si Gio na puntahan ako. Muntik lang naman. Hindi ako ganoon karupok. Slight lang. Pumayag naman akong makipag-video call sa kanya minsan. But other than that, I was determined to finish my exam without other distractions.

@hellic0ppeRsX: I miss you, babe.

My smile was automatic.

@HellionFairy16: I miss you, too.

@hellic0ppeRsX: Ibig bang sabihin niyan pwede na akong bumisita sa condo mo mamaya?

I almost said yes. Last day na ng exam ko today. But I'm not exactly fit for company.

@HellionFairy16: Not yet, Gio. Babawi muna ako ng tulog. Ikaw din kailangan mong magpahinga. Alam ko ang schedule niyo kaya alam ko din na ilang araw na kayong kulang sa pahinga. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?

@hellic0ppeRsX: Fine.

@HellionFairy16: Good boy.

Sinundan ko pa yan ng mga memes at heart emojis.

@hellic0ppeRsX: Why do I suddenly feel like a dog?

I automatically giggled.

@HellionFairy16: You would be the cutest dog.

@hellic0ppeRsX: Hay, buti na lang mahal kita.

My heart rate kicked up a notch. Minsan talaga basta-basta na lang akong tinatablan ng mga ganyang banat ni Gio. Which made me ask why I was even feeling insecure just days ago. Ewan. Hindi ko alam. Wala akong mahanap na dahilan sa momentary insanity na na-experience ko last week. Oo, last week lang 'yun. But it already felt like ages ago. I don't even remember anymore how and why it started. Kaya nagdecide ako na i-surprise si Gio mamaya.

My last exam will be finished by 2 o'clock. I have enough time to make it to their last schedule for the week.

Oo nga pala, dahil maganda ang naging response ng fans sa kantang sinulat ni Gio, they had to rush with the production and release of the song. Mamayang gabi ang first live performance nila sa kantang iyon. Mag-ge-guest sila sa isang evening show. I will just go there directly to surprise Gio.

Pero instead na siya nag ma-surprise, ako pala ang masu-surprise.

"Lhianne."

"Hello, Kuya Caloy."

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito? Akala ko may exam ka pa?"

"Maagang natapos ang exam ko, kaya naisipan kong pumunta." I was all smiles.

Ngumiti din si Kuya Caloy. "Well, first live performance nila ng 'Sa Tagpuan.' You really shouldn't miss it. Tara sa dressing room."

My ID can only take me this far. Mabuti na lang at nakasalubong ko si Kuya Caloy. Hindi na ako magpapakahirap na hanapin kung nasaang dressing room sila Gio.

Pagtapat namin sa isang pinto, dere-derechong pumasok doon si Kuya Caloy. Dahil nakasunod ako sa kanya, bumunggo ako sa likuran niya nang bigla siyang tumigil.

"Kuya Caloy, bakit bigla kang huminto?"

"Lhianne?" I heard Dom's voice.

I looked inside from behind Kuya Caloy. "Hel--" I didn't get to finish my greeting.

Nandilim ang paningin ko. Well, not literally. Pero totoo pala yung idiomatic expression na yan. Parang dumilim kasi yung paligid, and all I can see is that delicate-looking hand that doesn't have any business touching my Gio.

In that split-second moment, parang lahat ng mga insecurities at issues ko nung isang linggo ay nagsilabasan. As in front and center. Lalo na at hindi man lang tumingin sa direksyon ko si Gio. He didn't even remove that girl's hand from his arm. Ahm... yeah, there's a girl who's taking a picture with Gio. Teka, kulang pa pala. There's a pretty girl standing too close to my boyfriend and holding onto his arm.

Damang-dama kong nakatutok sa akin ang mga mata nila Dom at Xander. Si Kuya Caloy lang yata ang chill pa rin sa harap ko.

"Alright, tama na muna ang picture taking, guys. Kailangan na ang boys sa studio." Gets ko naman na kailangang maging professsional ni Kuya Caloy. Pero bakit parang ang saya ng tono niya. Hindi ko tuloy napigilang tignan siya ng masama. Which he just ignored.

And guess what? Hindi lang si Kuya Caloy ang dumedma sa akin. Kahit sina Dom at Xander ay parang walang nakita na tumayo lang. As for Gio, he didn't even look at me. He just seriously excused himself from the group of girls before following his bandmates.

Ano'ng meron? I'm almost inclined to just shout and ask "is this a joke?" Buti na lang nagvibrate ang phone ko.

@hellic0ppeRsX: Trust me, babe?

I sighed. Isang text lang kumalma na agad ako. Pero hindi ako nagreply. Siyempre gusto ko munang magpaka-petty at gumanti. Sure enough, bago pumasok sa studio ay lumingon sa akin si Gio. Sisimangutan ko sana siya. Kaya lang naunahan ako ng kindat niya. Kainis. Napangiti na lang tuloy ako.

Pumwesto ako sa tabi ni Kuya Caloy para manood. At this very moment, hindi na nag-e-exist sa mundo ko ang konsepto ng time at space. Habang pinapanood ko ang performance at pinapakinggan ang kantang sinulat ni Gio, tumigil na ang oras ko at ang buong mundo ko ay binubuo na lang ng iisang nilalang: iyong matangkad na nakasuot ng baseball cap kahit na laging sinasabihang wag magsuot ng baseball cap tuwing may interview kasi natatakpan yung maganda niyang mata. Yung mata kasi talaga niya ang asset niya eh. Sabi ng mga haters, puro papogi at porma lang daw ang alam niya at wala naman siyang tunay na talent. Sabi ko naman dati, puro yabang lang siya.

But I didn't know him then. Pero ngayon alam ko nang nagsusuot siya ng cap kapag may interview kasi sobrang iksi ng attention span niya. He didn't want the interviewer and viewers to see that his mind is flying elsewhere during the interview. Alam ko na din ngayon na kahit hindi niya sinasabi ay nasasaktan siya kapag nakakarinig siya ng comment na siya lang ang walang ambag sa kanilang tatlo, na puro papogi lang ang alam niyang gawin. Most of all, alam na alam kong defense mechanism lang niya yung pagyayabang.

"...the name is Lhianne?"

Ah, wait. Did the interviewer just call my name?

"Come on, Gio. Sobrang curious kaming lahat," pagpapatuloy ng host. "Ito ang unang kantang isinulat mo para sa Night Hellions. And you mentioned a girl's name. Can you tell us more about it? Is she a real person? If not, bakit ito ang napili mong pangalan para ilagay sa kanta?"

"Kuya Caloy," but I couldn't formulate a question.

"Don't worry, Lhianne."

Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Gio. Hindi siya nakatingin sa akin. As a matter of fact, he looked like he doesn't want to look at anyone. Kung hindi pa siya siniko ni Dom ay hindi pa siya magsasalita.

"She's a real person."

The host looked excited. "...and? Can you tell us more?"

"She's my girlfriend and that's all I'm going to say about it." Pagkatapos niyan, parang sinaniban na si Gio ng ugali ni Xander. Puro tango at ngiti na lang ang sinasagot niya sa kahit na anong tanong. Iyong mga tanong na nangangailangan talaga ng sagot, sinasalo lahat ni Dom.

Needless to say, it was a different Gio that everybody saw on that interview. As for me, parang bigla akong nangating mag-edit ng social media profile ko.

Lhianne Olivares, NCGF. As in non-celebrity girlfriend. Period.

*****

Surprise! I hope you like this update :))