Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 48 The Night

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
The night was filled with excitement as students filled the sports field. Each students has glow sticks that lighting up the air like stars. Mabuti na lang at naka-secure kami ng magandang spot malapit sa stage. The stage was already set, instruments gleaming under the colorful lights, while everyone waited for the Crimson & Heartbreaks to perform.
 
"Excited na ako mapanood ang asawa ko!" Nagtatatalon na sigaw ni Jenna habang winawagaywag ang glow sticks nito. 
 
Nakakahawa ang energy ng magkaibigan, kaya pati ako hindi maiwasan makaramdam ng excitement.

"Galingan nila dahil first time kong makakapanood ng live band," biro ko sa kanila.
 
"Don't worry, hindi ka magsisisi!" Singit ni Dylan na may mas mataas na energy kumpara sa'ming dalawa ni Jenna.
 
And then, the lights dimmed suddenly. The crowd roared as the Crimson & Heartbreaks strode onto the stage. Slate, with his effortlessly messy hair and confident grin, waved at everyone, making the crowd scream even louder.

Plutus followed, his black button-up rolled at the sleeves, his guitar slung casually over his shoulder. And of course, it's the same with their two co-bandmates, who look very dashing with their rock-n-roll outfit.
 
Ngayon ko lang nakita si Plutus na ganyan ang ayos, mukhang famous rockstar ang datingan ng maarteng prinsipe. Kahit ngayong gabi lang, aaminin ko na napakagwapo niya, badboy na badboy ang atake. 
 
He had that devil-may-care smirk plastered on his face right now as his eyes scanned the crowd. And when his eyes landed on me, my stomach flipped because of how shining he is right now. Slate, however, waved directly at us, grinning widely.
 
Then the band took their places, si Slate sa drums, si Stephen ang bassist, habang keyboardist naman si Jeff. Nakapwesto sila sa magkabilang gilid. Samantalang sa gitna naman si Plutus, ang vocalist ng banda.
 
"Alright, alright," Plutus called out into the mic, his deep voice cutting through the noise.

Agad naman na natahimik ang crowd sa napaka-gaspang na boses ni Plutus. Nasa mga labi nito ang mga mapaglarong ngiti bago ito nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"We’re Crimson & Heartbreaks, and if you think you can handle it, let’s see how loud you can get tonight."
 
The roar of approval boomed in the air, even Jenna screamed her head off. Being their vocalist really suits him well, bagay na bagay sa arogante niyang pag-uugali, pffft. 
 
"I’ll take that as a yes. Let’s kick things off with a song you definitely know. Don’t pretend you don’t."

He gave a teasing wink, and the band launched into What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.
 
The field turned into a sea of energy as everyone sang along, waving their glow sticks in time with the beat. Syempre hindi din ako papahuli, nakisali din ako sa pagwawala nila Jenna at Dylan.

Plutus’s voice was magnetic, deep yet playful, and his guitar riffs made the song even better. My heart is pounding so fast just watching him perform. Anong panggagayuma ang ginawa sa'kin ni Plutus at nagkakaganito ako sa kan'ya? Malala na talaga ang tama ko sa mayabang na prinsipe na 'to. 
 
When he reached the chorus, he leaned closer to the crowd, motioning with his hand. "Come on, sing it louder! Let me hear you!"
 
The band shifted seamlessly into the iconic chorus. 
 
"Baby, you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground, it ain't hard to tell
You don't know, oh-oh, you don't know you're beautiful
If only you saw what I can see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know, oh-oh, you don't know you're beautiful, oh-oh
That's what makes you beautiful"
 
As the band wrapped up their performance, Plutus stepped back from the mic, grinning ear to ear as he saw the crowd still singing loudly.
 
"Alright, alright. Now we’re going to slow things down a bit. I know, I know, you’re all ready to jump around, but you’ve got to feel the music too. Let’s take it easy, yeah?"
 
The crowd gets wild thay made Plutus’s grin grew wider. "Good. Now, sing this one with me, alright? If you know the words, don’t be shy. Let’s make it even more beautiful than the original. What do you say?"
 
The first soft notes of Stereo Hearts began. Plutus held the mic up to the crowd. "If you know it, sing along! And if you don’t, just pretend you do and look real cool about it."
 
Napuno ng tawanan ang madla dahil sa sinabi ni Plutus. Nakakamangha na ganito si Plutus sa ibabaw ng stage, halatang-halata sa kan'ya ang saya habang nagtatanghal. Kung tutuusin, iba ang hatak niya kapag ngumingiti siya ng gan'yan, tila hinahatak maging ang puso ko papalabas dahil sa ganda nito ngumiti. 
 
Nang umalingawngaw ang first chord ang kanta, napapikit ako sa lamig na dala ng boses ni Plutus. Bagay na bagay sa boses niya ang kanta kaya hindi mapigilan ng madla na mapa-sway habang sinasabayan ito sa pagkanta. Maging kami ni Jenna at Dylan ay napapasabay dahil sa ganda ng awitin. 
 
Then came the iconic part, and Plutus didn’t miss a beat:
 
"I only pray you’ll never leave me behind (never leave me)
Because good music can be so hard to find (so hard to find)
I take your hand, hold it closer to mine (yeah)
Thought love was dead, but now you’re changing my mind."
 
The crowd joined in effortlessly, their voices soaring into the night. The atmosphere felt electric, magical, even. People were swaying to the rhythm, glow sticks held high, the lights flashing in time with the beat.
 
"My heart's a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every note
Make me your radio
And turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo."
 
The lyrics seemed to take on a life of their own as the crowd sang together, our voices blending into a powerful harmony. The glow sticks waved in the air like constellations, and the whole field was united in the music. Plutus, caught up in the magic of the moment, looked out over the crowd with a satisfied grin. He stepped back from the mic, letting the crowd take over, and the roar of our voices filled the air. 
 
Until the song reached its climax, and the crowd’s energy was like a wave, crashing and echoing in time with Plutus’s playful head bang. His grin never faltered as he leaned into the mic once more, his voice calm but filled with the same excitement that had fueled the crowd from the start.
 
"See? Told you guys you had it in you," he said, giving a wink to the audience, the lingering words hanging in the air as the final chords of Stereo Hearts played out.
 
"Oh my gosh! Mahihimatay na ako sa sobrang angas nila!" Madrama na turan ni Jenna habang pinapaypayan ang sarili. 
 
"Ang cool niyo, wohoo!!" Hyper na sigaw ni Dylan na nagpahalakhak sa'kin. 
 
Nagpatuloy ang pagtatanghal nila Plutus sa stage, naging instant emo agad ang crowd ng sunod nilang patugtugin ang The Reason ng Hoobastank. Grabe, iba talaga ang dating ng kanta na 'yon, lakas makahatak ng audience.
 
Next on their playlist was the song entitled 'Like we used to by A rocket to the moon,' na nagpangawa sa crowd. Kahit ako na hindi naman heartbroken, ramdam na ramdam ang bigat na dala ng kanta. 
 
"Does he watch your favorite movies?
Does he hold you when you cry?
Does he let you tell him all your favorite
Parts when you've seen it a million times?
Does he sings to all your music while you dance to Purple Rain?
Does he do all these things like I used to?"
 
Slate drummed played the final beat, and Plutus gave one last wink, calling out, "Alright, we’ve had an amazing time with you all tonight, but we’re not done yet! You ready for the final one? This is Marry You, and if you’re not dancing to it, what’s wrong with you?"
 
The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers as the band played the opening notes. Plutus, taking center stage, slid the mic closer to his lips.
 
"Before we kick this one off, I gotta do something," he said, the crowd quieting, waiting. "I want to dedicate this song to someone who’s been nothing but trouble for me. Someone who keeps giving me grief... but, surprise surprise! I ended up liking her anyway."
 
When Plutus paused for dramatic effect, his smirk widening as he glanced toward the crowd. Napuno ng bulungan ang audience. May iba na humagulhol ng iyak, may iba na hindi matanggap ang sinabi ni Plutus. Sari-saring komento ang pumuno sa gabing ito. 
 
Then, his eyes briefly swept over us all before landing on one particular spot, my spot. 
 
I froze. 
 
My heart skipped a beat.
 
His voice lowered playfully. "She’s stubborn, always acting like she’s got it all figured out... and honestly, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t like me half the time." The crowd laughed again as I felt my cheeks burn.
 
"But," Plutus continued, his grin turning a bit softer, "I think she’s pretty great, despite all the trouble she gives me. So, this one’s for her."
 
There was a pause before he added with a teasing wink, "You know who you are, don’t you?" The crowd looked around, some pointing, and I quickly ducked my head, trying to hide myself.
 
Animal talaga 'tong asungot na 'to! 
 
"Kyaaaaaa!! Ikaw na talaga, Ottilie!" Jenna shouted while jumping with excitement.
 
"I'm proud of you, Ottilie," Dylan added while patting my back. "Imbitihan mo na lang kami sa kasal niyo." 
 
Suddenly, a playful strum of Plutus guitar caught our attention. "Alright, enough teasing. Let’s do this!"
 
As the music swelled, Plutus’s voice rang out, filled with the same playful charm. "It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do..." 
 
His gaze met mine once again, that knowing smirk still tugging at his lips, "Hey, baby, I think I wanna marry you."
 
The sudden confession from Plutus had caught me completely off guard. My heart was racing in my chest, my pulse a drumbeat that mimicked the rhythm of the song. I had never expected something like this from him. Plutus, always the arrogant and the irritated one, had just made a public statement about me. It felt surreal, a whirlwind of emotions crashing over me all at once.

I felt a warmth spread through my chest, a sense of happiness I couldn’t quite explain. I had never realized how much I’d longed for this kind of attention, for someone to notice me in such a way, especially him. 
 
Until the song ended, and the night erupted in a burst of fireworks that lit up the sky, their vibrant colors reflecting off the sea of students who cheered in awe. Everyone around me was caught up in the spectacle, their faces lit by the fireworks as they pointed and gasped. 
 
Ngunit sa kabila ng magagandang paputok, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong mapatingin kay Plutus. Sa palagay ko, mas maganda pa si Plutis kumpara sa nagkikinangang mga paputok sa langit.
 
And there he was. He was still on the stage, catching his breath after the performance, but his eyes... his eyes were locked onto me. His gaze was burning, almost intimate, in a way I’d never seen before. It felt like he was looking right through me, and it sent a rush of warmth to my cheeks.
 
In a panic, I quickly turned my focus back to the fireworks, trying to hide the flush creeping up my neck. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him again, not with that look in his eyes. 
 
Oh boy, I think I'm madly in love to the most arrogant demon prince I've ever met.

 
To be continued...

A/N: this chap is worth 2 chapters, pinag-isa ko na lang para hindi kayo mabitin.

Pasensya na kung late lagi ang update ni  ottor. Busy po kasi kaya minsan wala na 'kong time magsulat. Sana po hindi kayo magsawa na suportahan ako.