Ngumiti lang siya ng tipid bago umupo sa may sulok at kinuha ang gitara na naroon. While i'm enjoying the city lights and puffing my cigarettes. The silence helps us from avoiding the heavy atmosphere. We are both drowned and busy in our little world here on the balcony.
“All I want is nothing more, to hear you knocking at my door” Lumingon ako sa kanya nang magsimula siyang kumanta, nakasandal ako sa may railings habang pinapanood siyang tumugtog nang nakapikit.
“When you said your last good bye, I died a little bit inside
I lay in tears in bed all night
Alone without you by my side”
Napakagat ako sa labi ko nang pinapakinggan ko ito. I know this song because my friends let me watch the music video and the interview about him and how he made the song. It’s all about his experience in life, it was based on real life.
Nilunok ko ang tila nakaharang sa lalamunan ko bago ko sinabayan ang chorus. Napamulat siya dahil doon pero tumango lang ako, signalling him to continue strumming his guitar.
“But if you love me, why do you leave me? Take my body, take my body”
I was smiling while singing that part, thousands of memories were flashing back but I continued singing.
“All I want is, and all I need is, to find somebody, to find somebody.”
Tumigil siya sa pagtugtog bago humarap sa akin ng may munting ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Amused that I know the lyrics of his song.
“Harper made me watch your music video.” I explained, I don’t know why I am doing this but I am just conscious with the look he is giving me.
“So did you also listen to Buwan?” Tanong niya habang inaayos ang gitara. Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagkibit balikat.
“No. You know I am not really into that kind of thing. I don’t have time to listen to music or any movies.” I said, Ken just nodded his head before licking his lips. Bumuntong hininga siya bago tumayo at tumabi sa akin.
Ipinasok niya sa bulsa ng jacket niya ang kanyang kamay at sabay naming tinanaw ang kalangitan. For how many years, we’re now standing again on a balcony watching the stars and the city lights. It was our favorite kind of bond when we were still a kid.
“How are you?” He asked using his usual voice. Pinatay ko ang sigarilyo bago ito itinapon sa may basurahan sa tabi.
“I heard you just won an award as the Architect of the Year. Congratulations, Erin.” Bati nito, tumango ako bago nagpakawala ng mahinang tawa. Ganun ba kalaki ang event na pati siya ay alam ang natanggap kong award?
“Don’t get me wrong, I was about to perform on that event but some things happened at pinalitan ang msgpiperform.” Pagiexplain niya kaya tumango ako. I guess, he’s really now an icon huh? Performing everywhere, accepting gigs and concerts? He really did achieve his dreams.
Tumahimik ulit ang paligid, walang nag-abalang magsalita. Siguro, he’s also contemplating what is he going to say. It’s really our first time to meet again after what happened in the past.
Nahimasmasan ako nang biglang magring ang phone ko. It was Harper, she’s calling, probably asking if where I am. Narealize na siguro nilang hindi nila ako kasama.
“Pabalik na ako.” Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang magsalita dahil pinatay ko na agad ang tawag. Nagpeke ako ng ubo bago siya tiningala, mas matangkad kasi siya sa akin.
“It was nice seeing you, Ken. I hope, this will be the last.” Tumango ako nang tumango ito sa sinabi ko.
Meeting him is the last thing I want to do. Both of us know that because it will not give us a good result. We’re just fooling ourself by acting that everything is fine and good with each other.
Nang makarating ako sa table ay agad akong napatigil nang makita ang isang pamilyar na lalaki. Ngumisi ito nung makita ako habang sina Rebecca ay ngumiwi. Probably expecting our little banter with this annoying guy since the last time we saw each other, I slapped him.
“Girl, this is Stell, Justin, Pablo, and Josh.” Pagpapakilala niya sa apat na lalaki na kasama namin sa table. Kumaway yung itinuro niyang Justin habang ngumiti lang sina Stell at Pablo. While Josh, tumayo ito sa pagkakaupo at inalok ang kamay for a handshake.
“I didn’t expect to meet you again in this kind of place, Architect Buenavista.” Nakangising sabi niya, tinanggap ko naman ang alok nito bago siya nginitian ng malapad. Leche.
“As if we hadn’t met in a place like this, Engineer Andrade. I slapped you, remember?” Sagot ko dahilan para mawala ang ngisi nito sa labi. Nagtawanan naman ang tatlong lalaki habang nagtataka akong tiningnan ng mga kaibigan ko.
“This guy, barged in my office giving me a new project as a payment for what I have done. Ikaw dapat ang gumawa nun Rebecca eh, leche ka.” Mabilis na sabi ko pero tinawanan lang ako ng bruha. Umupo ako sa bakanteng sofa bago kumuha ng beer at diretso itong tinungga.
“By the way, where’s your rapper?” Tanong ni Elle. Nagkatinginan ang apat na lalaki at sabay-sabay na umiling at kanya-kanyang sagot ng 'hindi ko alam' at 'i don't know'.
“Probably somewhere in the corner, that guy loves to be alone.” Sagot ni Josh, tumango lang si Elle at hinarap kami.
“Girls, remember what I had told you? That I am going to have a project here?” Nakangiting tanong niya. Hindi kami sumagot at nagpatuloy lang sa pag-inom dahilan ng pagkasimangot niya.
“We have a collaboration!” Masiglang sabi niya, nagpalakpakan naman sina Harper kaya natawa sa amin ang mga lalaki. Ang weirdo talaga ng mga kaibigan kong to. Hindi ko alam kung papaano namin natatagalan ang isa’t-isa eh.
“Because of that, may nakuha akong ticket! Kaya next week, we’ll attend their concert!” Agad winagayway ni Elle ang ticket, tuwang-tuwa naman ang dalawang bruha.
Iniisip ko pa lang ay nahihilo na ako sa sobrang ingay. Nagpeke ako ng ubo at magsasalita na sana pero umepal na tong si Harper. Probably aware of what I am going to say.
“Bawal ang humindi, Erin. Kelangan mong lumabas, wag puro trabaho inaatupag.” Nagtataas-baba ang kilay nito dahilan para mapairap ako. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? As if they’ll let me sleep at peace kung tatanggi ako.
“Okay, final na! We’re going to attend the concert of SB19!”
