Take A Chance With Me (Bada Lee x Audrey Lane x Chocol)

[TWENTY SEVEN]

Chocol's Pov

“Oh buhay kapa pala? Kupal 'to! You disappeared from us for 2 days tapos ano? bigla kang susulpot dito?” gulat na sabi ni Yeni nang makita niya ako sa loob ng bahay ni Haechi.

“Saan kaba nanggaling?” nag-aalala namang tanong ni Haechi saakin at nilapitan ako.

When I saw how worried they are, I feel like I'm gonna cry. Kitang kita mo sa mga mata nila yung pag-aalala at ramdam na ramdam ko yun. Yes after my conversation with Audrey, I disappeared. I went back to my grandma's hometown and unwind cause I felt like I needed that.

“Sa bahay ng lola ko.” matipid kong sagot at naupo.

“Kakabalik mo lang?”

“Kaninang umaga lang ako bumalik.”

“Oh saan ka galing ngayon?”

“Pinanuod yung finals. I was there too.” sagot ko sakanila at pilit na ngumiti.

Balita ko may dinner party daw after the show pero hindi na ako sumunod. For sure kakauwi lang din nila galing dun at sakto lang dating ko sa bahay ni Haechi.

Napagdesisyunan ko ring bumalik agad para panuorin yung finals. Ayoko namang 'di masaksihan lahat nang dahil lang sa nangyari. Walang may alam na nandun din ako kasi hindi ko naman sila nilapitan and after the announcement, umalis din agad ako.

“Kami kinukulit ni Audrey eh! Nag aalala rin yung tao sayo. If you are curious what she's up to, Audrey is fine. She's in a good hands. If you are worried about her, you don't have to. Chocol, let her go.” payo ni Yeni at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat.

I have to let her go. I need to.

“Hindi dapat tumigil yung mundo mo dahil lang sakanya. You have to stand still and be strong for yourself. Marami pang babae dyan at for sure mahahanap mo rin yung babaeng para sayo.” nakangiting sabi ni Haechi.

“At baka si Haechi na pala yung babaeng para sayo.” pabirong sabi ni Yeni at automatic siyang napalo ni Haechi na ikinatawa ko naman.

“Tangina mo talaga!!!” at ayun nagbangayan nanaman silang dalawa.

Tama sila. Hindi dapat tumigil yung mundo ko dahil lang she turned me down. Maraming reason kung bakit nangyari yun. Ang mahalaga nilaban ko, sinubukan ko at kinaya ko.

—

“Anong say mo sa performance nila? Ang gagaling talaga nilang lahat! Walang tapon at alam mong pinaghandaan talaga ng final 4.” tanong saamin ni Yeni na nakaupo sa sahig at pinapanuod replay ng finals.

“Ayos lang pero sa unang performance, Jam Republic talaga umangat! Kuhang kuha si Beyoncé tapos medyo hawig pa ni Kirsten diba?” Haechi amazingly said na sinang-ayungan din ni Yeni.

“Ikaw Chocol?” tanong nila.

“Jam ano putcha kasi panay tanong eh basta lahat sila magaling!” natatawa kong sagot sakanila.

“Ayan si Chocol!!! Wag masyadong malungkot at itawa mo lang lahat. Yung alak? kami na bahala ni Haechi.” sabi ni Yeni at nakipag apir pa saakin.

“Kaya sainyo ako eh!” pabiro kong sagot at inakbayan si Haechi na nakaupo sa tabi ko.

“Oh tara shot na agad.” aya ni Haechi at tumayo para kumuha ng alak. Si Haechi talaga galante pagdating sa alak like mayroon talagang space mga alak sa ref niya at di nauubusan.

We gathered up and opened each bottle of alcohol. Siguro naman paggising ko nito magiging okay na ako, diba?

Nakita ko kanina si Audrey at masayang masaya siya. I don't want to take that away from her because happiness looks good on her. If that happiness means Bada, I'll let go my feelings and move on.

She deserves to be happy after all the shits she's been through. I hope she finds her peace and way back home. I wish her the best. I really mean it.

Time passes by and we've had too much alcohol. Lasing na lasing na yung dalawa at nakahilata na sa sahig habang ako naman nakasandal lang sa pader.

“Weakshit talaga mga 'to.” natatawa kong sabi habang nakatitig sakanila.

“Naririnig kita!!!” sigaw ni Yeni habang itinuturo ako.

“Itulog mo na 'yan.” asar ko sakanya.

“SSSSH QUIET!!!” sigaw naman ni Haechi.

Marahan kong ipinikit mga mata ko at nag-isip isip. Sa dami ba namang alak na nainom ko, feeling ko buhay na buhay pa rin ako at wala man lang naging epekto saakin.

“Right.” I said, pulling out my phone and scanned through my contact list.

“Where's her number?” bulong ko sa sarili ko at ayun nakita ko rin. I dialed her number and in just a few rings, Audrey immediately answered it.

“CHOCOL!!!”

“Ouch you are hurting my ear. Lower down your voice.”

“Where have you been?! Bakit bigla kang nawala ha? Alam mo bang alalang alala ako sayo ha? Kahit friends mo hindi alam kung nasaan ka.” walang preno na sabi ni Audrey sa kabilang linya na ikinangiti ko na lang.

“I'm with them. You don't have to worry because I'm fine. I just needed time to reflect and unwind. I'm feeling better now, Audrey.”

“I'm really sorry for—”

“Stop apologizing. It's not your fault. I have to own up my own feelings kasi ako naman talaga yung nagkagusto sayo. Audrey, wala kang kasalanan and thank you for being honest with me.”

“Chocs... you are making me cry.”

“Ssssh don't. Wala ako sa tabi mo para patahanin ka as your friend. I just called you para alam mong safe ako at kasama ko sila Yeni. She told me na kinukulit mo raw sila at hinahanap mo ako sakanila.”

“Baka kasi may nangyari na sayo that night kaya pati sila Yeni binubulabog ko.”

“I'm safe.”

“Sayang di mo napanuod finals. You should've been there para nakita mo yung mga performance.”

I was there...

“Busy kasi eh. Don't worry sa susunod bibisita ako sa studio niyo.”

“Promise yan ha? Don't break your own words.”

“I promise.”

“Chocs, I have to hang up na. Aakyat na ako sa apartment ko haaaaay kakauwi ko pa lang.”

“Ngayon kapa lang nakauwi?”

“Yup haha medyo matagalan kasi pumunta kami sa bahay ni Ling.”

“Ah kaya pala. Sige na, I'll let you rest and see you around.” paalam ko sakanya.

“Okay, see you around—”

“WAIT!” I cut her off and took a deep breath before I speak again.

“......” Audrey was taken aback and on the other line puro paghinga niya lang naririnig ko.

“Please be happy... Audrey, be happy with Bada. I know you guys love each other and I'll be cheering your relationship. Don't hold back and follow your heart. You deserve her, you both deserve each other.” I added.

“Chocs...”

“Basta huwag ka lang niya papaiyakin at sasaktan ha? If she do that, I'll step up and get you back. Sige na, magpahinga kana. Good night.”

“Thank you and good night, Chocol.” Audrey softly said and I ended our phone call.

Step 1: I have to move forward and look for the brighter side.

That's right. Kakayanin ko at magpaparaya na lang ako. Para kay Audrey—para sa ikasasaya niya.