THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 45

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

MINI CONCERT FOR ELISSE

❥ ELISSE GARCIA ❥

NORMAL na sa akin na ako ang nauunang magising sa amin Hope. Pero ngayong umaga, hindi ko ramdam ang presensya niya sa tabi ko. The bed feels strangely empty. Kaya kahit inaantok pa, I force my eyes open, blinking to clear my vision. Malabo pa ang paningin ko, pero may naaninag akong bulto ng tao sa bandang paanan ng kama. Nakatayo. Pero malayo ito sa kama.

Is that... Hope?

Nakasuot siya ng black pants na putot, white socks paired with sleek black leather shoes. 'Yong pang-itaas niya naman... is even more confusing—he's wearing a white T-shirt layered with a black blazer, and atop his head is a black fedora hat tilted at an angle.

Michael Jackson?

I blink again, hard this time, trying to shake off the confusion. Am I dreaming? Or worse—nasa impyerno na ba ako? Bakit nakikita ko si Michael Jackson? May napanood kasi ako sa Youtube na interview na napunta siya hell at nakita roon si Michael Jackson.

Aba, may kagat pang isang pirasong rose sa bibig niya. What on earth is happening?

I sit up slowly, rubbing my eyes for good measure, hoping this odd vision will disappear when I open them again. But no. He's still there, standing like he's about to break into a moonwalk.

My heart skips a beat in disbelief, pero may parte sa isip kong sumisigaw na hindi si Michael Jackson ang nasa harap ko kundi si Hope. At nakumpirma ko pa 'yon lalo nang iangat niya ang mukha sa akin.

"Hope!" I manage to blurt out, my voice still hoarse from sleep. "What the hell are you doing?"

Imbes na sagutin ako, kinuha niya sa bibig ang isang pirasong red rose at hinagis sa 'kin. Kasunod no'n ay biglang may nag-play na music. Intro pa lang, and I knew exactly what it was.

Billie Jean.

And there he was, Hope, moving in perfect sync with the beat. His hand was placed over his crotch, thrusting in time with the rhythm.

Natulala ako habang pinanonood siya. I never imagined he could replicate Michael Jackson's moves from that iconic Billie Jean live performance. Every footwork, every pop and lock—it was like he had been practicing for months, gayong ni hindi ko siya nakitang nag-practice mapa-opisina man o dito sa bahay. Hindi ko nga rin narinig na tumugtog ang Billie Jean dito kahit minsan.

"She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene."

But what really blew me away was when he started singing along while dancing.

"I said, "Don't mind, but what do you mean, I am the one."

Kung kanina ay hirap akong imulat ang mga mata ko dahil sa antok—ngayon ay halos hindi ko magawang kumurap dahil ayokong may ma-missed sa bawat galaw niya. Hope was really giving it his all, and it was impossible not to be impressed.

Nagpatuloy siya sa ginagawa niyang pagsayaw at pagkanta. His voice blended with the music, hitting every note, while his feet effortlessly glided across the floor. Ako naman ay wala sa sariling napaangat ang kamay at marahan 'yon pumapalakpak habang pinanonood siya.

He spun around, did the signature moonwalk, and I couldn't help but let out a quiet gasp, my clapping getting a little faster. He looked like he was having the time of his life, his fedora tilting slightly as he moved, and the way he thrusted his hips in time with the music had me both amused and amazed.