Straight as Guitar Strings

chapter 6 [tag/fil]

"Pwede mo ba 'tong ipasok after n'yan?" tanong ni Leo sa'kin and it was like naging kulay green ang left and right side of my brain pati medulla oblongata ko yata nadamay.

Naibuga ko ang bula sa bibig ko kahit hindi pa satisfied sa pag-brush sa ngipin ko dahil sa gulat. Humarap ako bigla sa kanya, only to know that he was just pertaining to his earrings he got from his pocket.

"Oh," sambit ko with realizations na abot hanggang outer space.

"Oh!" he replied then pinahid niya gently 'yong naiwang toothpaste sa bibig ko. He slowly shook his head, tsk-tsking while looking at me. "Bakit anong nasa isip mo kapatid?"

"Gagi, wala." Tumalikod ako, pinihit ang faucet, sinahod ang kamay sa tubig at nagmumog nang mabilis.

After that, I faced him again. Kinuha ko ang earrings at sinabing ikakabit ko na. Pinaalalahanan niya rin ako na dahan-dahanin ko lang dahil masakit pa 'yong butas ng tainga niya dahil kahapon lang daw siya nagpakabit ng hikaw for the first time.

"Aray, aray, wait... dahan-dahan lang sabi ko, 'di ba?" Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko kaya napigilan niya ako. Trust me, sinubukan ko ipasok 'yong pakaw ng hikaw gently pero sobrang nerbiyos ako ngayon. 'Di ko alam.

"'Wag ka nang magulo, malapit ko na maipasok." Pagkasabi ko no'n ay niluwagan niya na ang hawak sa kamay ko as if I earned his trust. He even joked that it wasn't hurtful at all and he was just pranking me. Sus, acting strong pa nga ang atake."Bakit ka ba kasi nagpabutas?" I asked.

"May upcoming modeling something... you know, like fashion event kasi ako na pupuntahan by this month, para astig lang gano'n." Not his thing daw but one thing he's looking forward to experience. Well, I told him that's good and I support him.

Nakailang daing pa siya na masakit daw at dahan-dahanin ko raw pero habang dinadaldal ko siya, hindi niya na rin naman namalayan na naikabit ko na earrings niya.

"Engot ka talaga, mamayang uwian ipapatanggal lang din ulit ng guard 'yan 'pag nakitang suot mo." Tinawanan ko siya at napailing na lang.

"Bibilisan ko na lang lumabas sa exit gate mamaya," sagot niya and then after that we go down na dahil nasa second floor ng building namin ang comfort room na 'to.

Pagkababa namin napansin naming may idinikit sa bulletin board at kaaalis lang no'ng mga student na part ng councils na nagpaskil. Dali-dali naming nilapitan ni Leo ang bulletin board para sumulyap lang sana saglit pero hindi namin namalayan na napako na ang tingin naming dalawa sa isang audition poster kasama ng iba pang posted doon.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa, "Ano, audition tayo?" tanong niya sa'kin. "Gusto ko, gusto mo ba?"

"Oo naman!" sambit ko. Ako? Aayaw sa gan'yan? Malabo. Napatingin ako sa kanya at nahuling nakangiti siya sa'kin habang nakatitig lang. "Bakit?" tanong ko.

"I was just amazed how universe does it."

"Like what?

"This!"

"This? 'Yong student council lang nag-print n'yan, e. Anong universe ka d'yan?" Napansin kong naningkit ang mga mata niya dahil sa sinabi ko.

Napakamot siya ng ulo at napahilamos ang palad sa mukha. "The heck! I mean, come to think of this... who would've thought that we will join in the same band when we were rivals before?"

"I didn't see you that way before, it's just you who looked to me as one." I raised my one brow in confidence.

He seemed not to argue and just said, "Yeah, I'm guilty for that. You're so fucking innocently-looking, calm, like man you're so chill and you have all the potential! And that made me a fan!"

I was trying to balance the mood, so I would be like responding in neutral mode. "You hated me first, let's not forget that."

"I was just envious that time, okay? It's not that I'm not admitting it 'cause I really am." He's so adorable... and cute when he's defending himself. What did I just say? Nevermind.

"Okay? So, are we gonna film our audition video now?" tanong ko sa kanya nang mapansin kong lumalayo na ang topic.

"Siyempre naman. Wait, dito ka lang. I'll be right back."

Nanatili ako sa kinapupwestuhan ko while watching Leo walking away as quick as he can from my distance. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya pupunta or kung anong gagawin niya. He didn't say naman kasi so I'll just wait here.

While I remain standing, one of my classmates bumped into me. She's Laura, one of the coolest woman inside my class, we're kinda close and almost a part of their circle. She's lesbian, by the way.

"Hey! Nasa'n si Leo? Bakit 'di mo kasama baby mo?" There she is, always the good one when it comes to jokes.

"Anong sabi mo?" Grabe 'yong bungad niya sa'king tanong, a! Saan nanggaling 'yon?

Aside from her, hindi ko nasabing kasama niya rin si Elfin, her friend, we're classmates, and he's openly gay. His index finger played some of the strands of his short hair, "Right! Why aren't you with your husband? Oh, don't tell me... you two got divorced?" then he burst out in laughter.

"Elfin, you don't get to make a joke about divorce!" yelled Laura to Elfin. Laura is always that kind of friend. I envy her for always having the balls to stand up for someone even if she's literally doesn't have the balls. Well, I could give one of my balls. Kidding.

"Oops, sorry, my bad." Elfin was kind of sarcastic gaya ng usual na kurba at pinta ng kilay niya so I didn't give any response to him or her or whatever the pronouns he prefers. Then he suddenly asked nang mapatingin din sa tinitingnan ko, "You're joining the band?"

Not to be rude, I answered. "Yeah, me and Leo."

"Interesting!" His eyes grew bigger, pretending to be shocked. Yeah, always the best actor. He scanned me by his eyes, from head to toe before he turned and rolled his eyes, "Good luck to the both of you! Bye!"

"Thanks!" That was the most awkward 'thanks' I've ever said. I want to wash my mouth 'cause it cringed me!

"Sorry about that," said Laura softly with a flying kiss before she was totally dragged by Elfin away from me. She said that because she knew about my parents being divorced.

Well, Elfin is kinda frank and straightforward. I perfectly get that, not against with his behavior. But if he's gone too far, I will speak up for myself, I guess? He just spoke truth, though. Fair enough for me to not make it a big deal.

But then, before they even have their distance totally far from where I'm standing right now. I heard him saying, "Aray, aray, wait... dahan-dahan lang sabi ko, 'di ba?"

Laura pulled her hair and sinasabihang mag-stop na and then Elfin said, "'Wag ka nang magulo, malapit ko na maipasok."

I heard Laura screamed Elfin's name, cursing it and how disgusting he was as a person. But those words, I knew that. That was the conversation that me and Leo had in the comfort room a while ago. I mustn't be wrong... I remember it all too well.

My feet started sweating, I'm having a slight panick attack, or so I thought. What if Elfin's make a made-up stories about it? What if he's gonna take it against me? My reputation is ruined! Oh, no!

Ngunit bago pa ako kainin tuluyan ng mga thoughts na wala namang kasiguraduhan, isang boses ang aking narinig that turned every chaos inside my mind into peace.

"Hey! Look! I got a guitar!" It was Leo with a wide grin, carrying an acoustic guitar on his right hand and wanted to make sure I'm seeing it so he raised the instrument up.