For some unknown reason, the background music started playing. I had a hunch that everyone in the backstage are doing their best to control the situation. "Go, I will wait for you." Bulong ko kay Paulo saka siya bahagyang itinulak. Humiwalay siya sa akin saka umiling. He held my face and brush his right thumb onto my left eye to wipe my tears. He's hesitating because I am crying. Ganito naman siya palagi... nothing can stop him if everything's about me.
"Let's talk after this, okay?" Bulong ko saka hinawakan ang kamay niya na nasa pisngi ko. "They are all waiting for you. They needed you right now." Ayaw niyang umalis at iwanan ako but he eventually left, running. Seconds later muli siyang bumalik sa harapan ko, nakangiti. Before I could even ask him kung may nakalimutan ba siya ay mabilis niya akong hinalikan sa noo saka muling tumakbo palayo. Nag-sorry pa siya bago pumunta sa backstage dahil kailangan siya doon. I'm sure nagkaroon na naman sila ng pagtatalo sa likod.
As I was staring at the staffs to get an idea about the situation, napunta ang atensyon ko sa upuan ng VIPs. I caught both of our families staring at me but I just smiled at them, telling I am fine. I'm sure mayroon na silang hint pero hinayaan lang nila akong mag-isa. Walang nagtangkang lumapit sa akin dahil alam nilang makakagulo sila sa event.
It was less than one month before our wedding. I hadn't gone to any appointments regarding that. I even heard Pau talking on his phone, trying to convince them to push it for another date. I'm sure ilang pagtatalo na ang nangyari sa pamilya namin pero hinayaan ko si Paulo mag-isa. He dealt with them alone without even having a proper defense.
Nang lumabas ulit silang lima ay awtomatikong nagpunta ang mata ni Paulo sa akin. He checked my situation. Naglipat-lipat siya nang tingin sa kanan at kaliwa ko... ganoon din sa likod ko. Mukhang ngayon niya lang naisip ang crowd. I smiled and showed my thumbs up to tell him that I was doing fine. Dahil naka-wheelchair ay nakalayo rin naman ako sa karamihan. For safety purposes siguro.
"Ate. Tubig po, gusto mo?" Tanong ng katabi ko.
"Eto po, tissue."
"Pagkain po, baka nagugutom kayo?"
Those were the questions from people beside me. They are fans. Napangiti ako. Pau is surrounded by good people. I'm glad he wasn't alone.
Before the concert ended I'm sure families will be called for a family picture. So, before it happens, I decided to leave the venue. Tinulungan naman ako ng isang staff sa paglabas tapos sinalubong ako doon ng isang bodyguard ko sa exit. I texted Pau and everyone in the family to go to our family house before we leave and head there.
Ilang beses akong nag-practice kung anong sasabihin ko pero nang marinig ko ang sasakyan na isa-isang nagdadatingan ay parang umurong ang lakas ng loob ko.
"Elle!" Parang mga zombie na nagtakbuhan ang mga kapatid ko papunta sa akin at nag-unahang yakapin ako. Kung hindi nga lang mabigat ang couch na inuupuan ko ay baka magkakasama na kaming natumba.
"What happened to you?"
"Are you okay?"
"Do you need any help?"
"Do you have something to tell us?"
"What about the wedding?"
I couldn't follow to the questions of my family. I was so out of it.
