AVS 1: Catching Flights

XIX

Chapter 19 : Thank You

"Kayo na po," pag-iinform sa akin ng organizer matapos ang naunang performance. "Miss, nag-change po pala ako ng song, I hope that's okay," I informed her. Tumango lang ito at ngumiti for approval, kaya naman ay lumawak lalo ang ngiti ko at nilingon si Clay bago naunang lumabas papuntang stage.

Rinig na rinig ko ang sigaw nng mga tao, at talagang nangibabaw ang boses nina Liya at Doll sa pag-cheer. Kinawayan ko sila ng konti dahilan ng lalong pagwawala nila. Nakita ko rin ang iritadong tingin niya sa kanilang dalawa dahil magkakatabi ang mga ito. Napatawa nalang ako at sinenyasan si Clay na lumabas na. Agad namang lumakas ang hiyawan lalo na ng mga babae nang makita siyang lumabas at may bitbit na gitara.

"Woah! Grabe ang hiyawan, Mr. Cole ba naman ang maggi-gitara para sa inyo, sinong hindi mahihimatay do'n 'di ba?" Gatong ng host sa lumalakas na tili at sigaw.

"Okay guys, kalma! Here is Ms. Aisling Grace Mendes and Mr. Claeg Yael Cole for their performance."

I inhaled deeply as I heard Clay strumming the first chords of the guitar. I looked at him while he was busy looking between the mic and his guitar and started to sing.

"I don't think that passenger seat has ever looked this good to me..."

I smirked inwardly. Of course bagay sa akin ang passenger's seat, lalo na kung sa sasakyan niya. Nakita ko ang gulat na expression nina Doll sa 'di kalayuan. 'Di siguro nila inaakalang magche-change song ako the last minute since iba ang prinactice ko the whole time.

I shifted my gaze from them before I closed my eyes.

"He'll never fall in love, he swears as he runs his fingers through his hair. I'm laughing 'cause I hope he's wrong..."

I opened my eyes, it was the exact words he told me back then sa garden nina Liya, and at that moment, I wished nothing but for it to be a joke.

"But I know all his favourite songs..."

I looked at him again. He seemed lost with the music, now I seemed more excited for him to hear the whole song.

"And I could tell you, his favourite colour's green, he loves to argue, born on the seventeenth..."

Of course, from the moment I saw him, I was already eager to know him. And the more I interact and know him, the more I want to love him. Well, I deeply like him, and I am already at the very thin line between like and love.

"Doesn't he know that I've had him memorised for so long?"

I saw his expression getting more and more serious. Perhaps, he is now trying to understand the song. He's smart, so I totally believe that he is starting to figure things out now. Nevertheless, that did not stop him from playing.

"I don't let nobody see me wishin' he was mine..."

Well, I have never really let anyone see how much I wanted him to be mine. They can see how much I like him, and how much I chase him, but no one ever realises how serious I am and how badly I imagined being with him. This is never a simple crush.

I wholeheartedly opened my heart for everyone to see when I started to sing the bridge of the song.

"He stands there, then walks away my God, if I could only say ..."

I hope he realises how serious I am whenever I confess to him back then.

"..."

Now, he is seriously looking at me. I stared back at him and smiled a little in the middle of the lyrics.

"First thought when I wake up is, "My God, he's beautiful." So I put on my makeup and pray for a miracle..."

Everyday, I have been wishing and praying that maybe a miracle would happen and finally, he would see me.

"Yes, I could tell you his favourite colour's green, he loves to argue, oh, and it kills me. His sister's beautiful, he has his father's eyes and if you asked me if I love him..."

I intently stared at his beautiful green eyes as he stared back at me with all seriousness.

"...I'd lie."

I broke off our eye contact after singing the last line. I stopped myself from looking back at his direction when I felt his piercing gaze staying on me as he played the last chords.

We finished off the performance with a loud cheer from the audience. Pati ang host ay tumitili na rin.

"What a wonderful performance of 'I'd Lie' by Taylor Swift! Nako, grabe makatitig si Clay, kung ako 'yon, kanina pa ako bumulagta sa stage at nalagutan ng hininga," pagbibiro nito na siyang ikinatawa ng mga manonood. Nakita ko ang maliit na ngiti ni Liya at Doll habang grim naman ang expression ni ate.

I smiled at them and mouthed that I will talk to them later before taking a bow and leaving the stage with Clay.

Hindi na kami nagkausap matapos bumaba galing sa stage. Kani-kaniya kami sa pag-aayos ng sarili at gamit. Nakatayo lang ako sa gilid, wala din naman akong maraming dala kung hindi iilang water and towel lang. Nang makitang tapos na si Clay at akmang lalabas na sa backstage ay agad ko siyang nilapitan.

"Clay..." I called him out. He stopped and looked at me.

"Thank you pala kanina. Hindi ako makakapag-perform sa PATTSikatan kung hindi mo sinalo ang pag-guitar."

He nodded. "You're welcome. You should also thank Liya, kung hindi niya ako pinilit I wouldn't have been here."

The smile that I was to give him stiffened. So that was the truth. Pinilit siya ni Liya, and not because he was concerned when he heard na 'di matutuloy ang guitarist ko. For a moment, I pitied myself and laughed bitterly inwardly. Oo nga naman, sinabi na niya sa 'yo ng paulit-ulit na ayaw niya sa 'yo, Ash. ikaw lang itong delusional at pinipilit ipagsiksikan ang sarili mo sa kaniya.

"Gano'n ba," humina ang boses ko.

"Sige, mauna ka na sa paglabas, hintayin ko pa rito sina Liya, para na rin makapag-thank you ako sa kaniya, gaya ng sabi mo."

He nodded again and turned his back on me when I called him again. He didn't face me like the first time, so I gained a tiny bit of courage while facing his back.

" 'Yong kanta pala, kaya binago ko bago mag-start ang performance kanina kasi gusto kong mag-alay ng kanta para sa 'yo. You might want to listen to it again. After all, it's for you, Claeg."

Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad at wala man lang sinabi tungkol doon sa confession ko about sa kaniya. Well, what's new, right? It's not the first time that he outwardly rejected me.