Forgotten Heartstrings

Chapter 12

"Pauwi ka na? Hatid na kita."

Wow, gentleman.

I shook my head. "Hindi na, magcocommute lang ako."

"Sure ka? I mean, I have with me my car, pwede kitang idaan sa inyo," Hugo said, his voice full of determination.

I smiled. "Salamat, Hugo. Ayos lang talaga, may dadaanan pa kasi ako."

Wala talaga akong dadaanan, ayaw ko lang sumabay sa kaniya kasi nahihiya ako. Baka naaabala ko siya kaya ako na lang mag isa uuwi, sanay naman na ako. Kahit na iniisip kong baka abangan ako ulit ni Ender sa sakayan eh wala akong choice kundi lumaban na lang.

"Alright, mukhang hindi kita mapipilit. Ingat ka na lang sa pag-uwi mo," he said.

"You, too. Ingat ka, Hugo."

I waved goodbye to Hugo, who was heading off with a group of friends. "See you tomorrow, Hugo," I called out, my voice blending with the hum of students leaving the campus.

As I turned to leave, I suddenly remembered that Eris had his audition for the school band today. Baka hinahanap na ako no'n, nauna kasi silang umalis ni Sasha kanina. Eh, hindi naman siya nagtext or tumawag, hindi rin alam kung saan sila pumunta.

Hindi pa naman puwedeng hindi ako umattend ng audition niya kasi nag promise ako sa kanya. Gusto ko rin mapanood siyang magperform kaya kailangan ko siyang ichat.

I fished my phone out of my pocket to check the time, just as it started ringing. It was Eris.

"Hello, boss. Nasaan ka?" Tanong ko.

Ilang sigundo itong hindi sumagot kaya kinabahan na ako. Ano nanaman ba trip ng lalaking 'to?

"Boss?" Tawag ko ulit. Hindi parin siya sumagot.

Puto naman.

"ERIS?"

I heard him chuckled.

"Look behind you," Eris's voice came through the phone, warm and familiar.

I turned around and saw him standing tall, his smile bright and infectious. He waved, and I felt a thrill of excitement rush through me.

"Eris!" I called out, smiling back at him.

He walked over, and I could feel the excitement bubbling up inside me. "Nag-alala ka ba?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

"Oo naman, boss," I replied. "Parang tanga kasi eh!"

"Sorry na, bub, " sagot nito.

Hindi na ako kumibo pa. Bigla ko kasing naalala 'yong scene kanina sa library. Daming sweet moment no'n. Tsaka, parang halata rin sa mukha ni Eris na nag enjoy siya. To be honest, bagay sila ni Sasha, hindi na ako magugulat kung one day, ligawan ni Eris si Sasha.

She is almost perfect.

"Antahimik mo, ayos ka lang?" Takang tanong ni Eris sa kalagitnaan ng aming paglakad.

"Yeah, may iniisip lang," sagot ko.

"Ano ba 'yon?"

Huminga muna ako ng malalim. Alangan namang sabihin kong iniisip ko 'yong kanila ni Sasha kanina 'di ba?

"It's pretty personal," sagot ko.

Pareho kaming natahimik.

We headed to the Audio-Visual Room or AVR together. The corridors were quieter now, with most students having left for the day. As we entered the AVR, I noticed a few other students milling about, likely other auditionees or members of the Celestial Band.