Heiresses to Gangsters

Chapter 32: Panaginip

CHRIS

"Hello po! Nandito po kami ngayon para kantahan ang aming best, best, best friend na ang birthday girl!" Maligayang bati ni Jaz.

"And now we'll be singing 'Oath,'" sabi naman ni Sohe.

Si Bea ang unang kumanta. Hindi kagandahan ang boses nito pero mapagtatyagaan na.

"Yo, my best friend, best friend 'til the very end
Cause best friends, best friends don't have to pretend"

Sunod si Sohe,

"You need a hand, and I'm right there right beside you
You in the dark, I'll be the bright light to guide you"

Si Jaz naman,

"'Member the time, time, times sneaking out the house
All of the time, time, times that you had your doubts
And don't forget all the trouble we got into
We got something you can't undo, do"

Kinawayan nila ako. I was surprised that they saw me. Binigyan ko sila ng tipid na ngiti.

"Wherever you go, just always remember
You're never alone, we're birds of a feather
And we'll never change, no matter the weather
This is my oath to you. "

Tinapos nila ang kanta at lahat ay nagpalakpakan.

Pinatigil ni Bea yung mga audience sa pagpalakpak. "Hep! Before that, I have something to say to the birthday girl."

She looked at my direction, "Chris, happy birthday. Ang ganda ng boses namin ano? Haha! Alam mo, maraming salamat dahil pinilit mo'ng magbago kahit alam ko'ng mahirap. You've changed for the better. Sabi ko sayo mas maganda ka kapag nangiti eh. Ayiee, flattered!" Umubo siya ng bahagya, "Ehem! Anyway, You know, you're the best thing that has ever happened to us. Wo ai ni," nag heart sign siya.

Napatawa ako. They're the best. Really. I'm so lucky to have them.

Tumalon sila pababa ng stage at sabay-sabay akong niyakap. Except Jaz. Nagtataka namin siya'ng tinignan.

"Medyo tampo parin ako sayo pero sige na nga. Psh," bulong ni Jaz at nakiyakap din.

Napatawa na lang kami.

"Bruha ka," kinalbit ni Sohe si Bea.

Kumunot yung noo ni Bea, "Ano'ng sinabi mo? Bruha ka? Originality please." She rolled her eyes.

Pumameywang si Sohe, "Yung deal natin."

"Anong deal?" Tanong ko.

Binalingan ako ni Jaz, "In exchange for singing at your birthday, itetreat daw ni Bea si Sohe sa Candy Land next week." Candy, of course. Its Sohe.

"Isip bata," iiling-iling na sabi ni Bea.

Nagtawanan kami pagkatapos.

-

Idinilat ko yung mata ko. I wished I hadn't. I didn't want to wake up because sometimes, dreams are better than reality and I'm not talking about nightmares here.

Bumuntong-hininga ako.

Panaginip.

Nakarinig ako ng katok.

"Chris! Lumabas ka na, please. Ayokong nagugutom ka, Chris! Open the door!" Halos magiba na yung pinto sa lakas ng katok ni mommy.

Hindi ako sumagot, instead, binalot ko yung kumot sa katawan ko.

Ayoko.

For three months nothing changed. It was all my imagination. I can't do it. Everytime I try to smile I remember my mother's dying face. I remember the time we spent together, when we were happy. It's killing me.