The Way I Hate You

Chapter 18

"Ate, sa'n nakatago 'yung walkman natin?" tanong ko kay Ate Maica nang pumasok ako sa kwarto niya.

"Nandiyan sa drawer ko. Hanapin mo na lang," sagot niya nang hindi ako nililingon.

Nasa study table siya at mukhang maraming aaralin dahil sa mga librong nakapatong sa mesa niya. Hindi ko na siya ginulo pa at hinanap na lang ang kailangan ko sa drawer na tinuro niya.

"Teka, saan mo naman gagamitin 'yon?" biglang tanong niya at lumingon na sa'kin.

I bit my lips. I can't tell her about the cassette tape. Hindi rin naman niya alam ang tungkol kay Mavy. I never told her about him. Hindi naman kasi kami ganoon ka-close sa isa't isa para sabihin ko sa kanya ang mga ganitong bagay. At mas lalong wala akong balak na sabihin sa kanya dahil baka isumbong lang niya ako!

"Ah... May hiniram lang akong cassette tape kay Lori..." I lied.

I think she took the bait because she just nodded and didn't ask anymore. Bumalik na rin ako kaagad sa kwarto ko dahil excited na akong mapakinggan kung ano man ang laman ng tape.

Dinala ko sa higaan ang paper bag na naglalaman ng mga regalo at dumapa ako sa mas komportableng posisyon. Kinuha ko ang tape at doon ko lang napansin ang listahan ng mga kanta.

All of the songs were composed by Mavy!

Malaki ang nakasulat na 'My Endgame' sa itaas na sa palagay ko ay ang title ng limang tracks sa tape. Sumunod na nito ay 'yung title ng limang track.

My Endgame
by mav

•Magiging Akin
•Liligawan
•HER
•Masterpiece
•Giselle

I immediately placed the tape inside the walkman and placed the headphones on my ears. Then, I pressed the play button.

"To my most favorite person in the world, Nadia Giselle... this one is for you.." I heard Mavy's voice.

Sunod kong narinig ay ang pagtugtog niya ng gitara.

I rolled over my bed and stared at the ceiling as I listened to Mavy strumming the guitar. I imagined him playing the guitar in his room just like how he looked when he performed on stage.

"Staring at her picture on my phone. Smiling like I'd never done it before. How could such a lady be this beautiful?" I smiled when he started singing HER.

"I ain't be the type who will risk it all. Never been in love like this before. Will I ever have a chance to have her heart?"

"And whenever I see her, I could feel my heart beating. Something that no one has ever did.
Only her."

Para akong tangang nakangiti mag-isa. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi mapapangiti kapag may taong nagsulat ng kanta para sa'yo?

"The one that I love, it's her. The one that I kiss, is her. The one who can break my heart, but I'd still choose, oh it's her."

"The reason I would change. The reason why I stay. The reason why I wrote this 'cause I love her... oh, it's her."

And just like that, Mavy had his way to make my heart beat so fast. Ramdam ko rin ang pag-init ng pisngi ko habang nananatili ang ngiti sa aking labi.

The song was perfect! Unang kanta pa lang ay ganito na ang epekto sa'kin. Pano pa kaya kapag napakinggan ko na lahat? And I would only find out if I do it, so I did.

I spent the night listening to his songs. All of it on repeat. Kaya naman nung magising ako kinabukasan ay hindi mawala ang ngiti ko. Halos nasaulo na 'yata ng utak ko ang lyrics ng mga kanta.