Be the First

32 : Twist and Turn

DANI's POV

SOMETHING IS not right. I can feel it.

Ramdan ko na 'to kanina pa mula noong pagpasok ko sa loob ng theater room para mai-cover namin ang first stage play ng Drama & Music Club ngayong taon.

Lalo ko pang naramdaman na may mangyayaring hindi maganda nang batiin ako ni Phil. Nakapwesto siya sa harapan namin ni Izrajel.

"Hi." I greeted back with hesitation. Naalala ko ang narinig kong paguusap nila ni Stella sa library noong nakaraan. "Kamusta ka na, Phil?"

I threw a meaningful look at Izrajel. Pero hindi niya napansin kasi busy siyang i-set up ang camera niya.

"I'm good." Phil laughed awkwardly. "Masaya naman palang mawala sa Pilot Section. You should try it sometimes." Pabiro niyang sabi, I took it with a meaning.

Hindi ko na lang siya pinatulan.

"What works for you don't actually work to some people." Narinig kong sabi ni Izrajel. He seemed annoyed at what Phil said. "You're smart enough to know that."

"Izrajel." I said his name with a warning. "Izrajel, this is Phil, he was my classmate from grade seven to eight. And Phil, this is Izrajel--"

"I know." Pamumutol sa akin ni Phil. "The current rank one. Nice meeting you." He offered his hand for a friendly shake.

Tinignan lang 'yon ni Izrajel at tumayo na siya. The lights in the theater room suddenly dimmed. At hudyat na 'yon na umpisa na ang play. Everybody went back to their seats at parehas kaming pumwesto ni Izrajel sa gilid, bandang harapan.

Doon ko na umpisang mapansin na panay ang tayo ni Phil sa upuan mula nang mag-umpisa ang play. Para siyang hindi mapakali.

"Huy, naiihi ka ba?" I decided to approach him and pointed to the restroom at the right side of the room, malapit sa dressing room ng mga performers. "Kanina ka pa tayo nang tayo."

"Y-yeah. Thanks." Nagmamadali siyang umalis at tumakbo papuntang restroom. Binalikan ko si Izrajel na pumoporma nang kumuha ng pictures.

Bukod kasi sa kailangan namin ng photos for the feature article, inatasan rin kami ni Miss Mendez na kumuha nang marami for documentation at para may kopya rin ang school.

"Need any help?" Tanong ko kay Izrajel nang magumpisa na siyang pumitik sa camera. Hindi niya ako pinansin kaya kinalabit ko siya. I leaned in to whisper to him. "Kung may kailangan ka, let me know."

"Just stay here." Sabi niya. "With me."

Seryoso ang mukha niya nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. "O-okay." Pumwesto na lang ako sa unahan bandang gilid ng stage. Paminsan-minsan naiiwan ako dahil kailangan ni Izrajel kumuha ng picture sa ibang anggulo.

Ang ganda ng production ng play. Mula music, effects, choreography, at casting talagang pinag-isipan at pinaghandaan ni Mrs. Javier.

Titig na titig ako kay Winona nang sumalang siya sa stage bilang si Eponine. She really deserves this spotlight.

I wanted to cheer and and clap so loud every time na lalabas siya sa stage, kaso alam kong wala na akong karapatan. I could still feel the words we exchanged. I could still feel my heart broke for the last time when I read her last post before blocking me on everything.