Short Stories

ONE-SIDED

Shaun Ezekiel Loyola

I don't know why, but this guy has my heart entirely.

Baka noong una, best friends lang kami ng lalaking 'toh. But in my case, best friends became something more.

I call him Zeke, we met when I transferred to our high school in freshman year. We immediately clicked as best friends because we had almost everything alike; we both like art, eating chocolate ice cream, and reading books. We're both academic achievers and pretty well-known sa school. Most importantly though, we both have the biggest passion for music, pareho naming ito minamahal.

Si Zeke rin yung una at ang kaisa-isang lalaki na naging ka-close ko sa buong buhay ko. Everything with him was easy, kaya siguro nahulog loob ko sa kanya, ehh.

The only thing is... ako lang 'ata ang may feelings sa aming dalawa.

I started liking him in the eighth grade.... well actually, maybe in the seventh? I'm not certain... but the thing I'm certained of is my feelings for him. Sigurado ako that I liked him, pero ang 'di ko alam is if gusto rin ba niya ako.

"Mei... Huy, Melanie! Nakikinig ka ba sa'kin?" Pagtawag sa akin ni Zeke habang sinusubukang kunin ang atensyon ko.

"Oh! Sorry, hindi kita narinig." Pagsagot ko naman rito.

Eto nanaman sarili ko, nakatunganga nanaman sa kaiisip sa kanya.

"Hay nako! Ano ba kasing iniisip mo?"

Malamang ikaw, tinatanong pa ba 'yan?

"Wala, wala... may naalala lang." Pagpapalusot ko.

To change the topic, I asked Zeke about his upcoming performance sa Valentine's Day, which was happening next week. Ang banda niya kasi ang tutugtog sa school event and I can't wait to hear him sing again.

If you're wondering... bakit hindi ako sumali sa banda nila? The answer to that is I didn't want to.

Actually noong una, Zeke was persistent in asking me to join his band, and I think that was the first time I declined a request from him. I'm not the type of person kasi who likes performing to a large group of people, doon kami nagkaiba ni Zeke.

Because Shaun Ezekiel Loyola loved music and loved sharing it to the world. While I, Melanie Gaile Lopez loved it as well, but only love sharing it to my world; Zeke.

"So, anong songs kakantahin niyo?" I asked curiously as I was preparing my things to leave.

"Hmmm... medyo marami so I'll just give you the list of the songs." He replied as he took out an invitation from his bag ang handed it to me.

I opened the invite as we were walking to the cafe that we were suppose to go to. It was actually a pretty good setlist, I mean... alam ko na 'yun since Zeke and his bandmates have pretty good taste when it comes to music. Most of the songs were from Coldplay, Arthur Nery, Jason Mraz, and some where even from Djo. May iba rin artists sa listahan that I wasn't as familiar with pero familiar naman yung mismong kanta nila.

Nang maka-order na kami, he then asked me if may gusto raw akong idagdag sa listahan ng mga kanta.

"...something meaningful, Mei. 'Yung tipong punong-puno ng emotions." He added, making it harder for me to choose.

I thought of many songs, both OPM and international ones pero they don't feel like their the perfect one.

As I was in deep thought, a song started playing in the cafe and I immediately knew that it was the one that I was looking for.