Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 51 Talent Show

OTTILIE VIRSES POV


It felt like the backstage is the longest and loneliest place in the world. Mas lalo lang nagpadagdag sa kaba ko ang hiyawan at palakpakan ng mga manonood sa labas. Lahat ng contestants ay halata mong pinaghandaan ang patimpalak na ito. Naggagandahan at nagkikinangan silang lahat maliban sakin. Naka-tracksuit lang ang lola niyo, ang tanging maayos lang ata sa'kin ngayong araw na ito, ay ang buhok kong nakasuklay ng maayos.

"Ottilie Virses Lang?" The coordinator called out. "Stand by, please."

When the coordinator called my name, my heart jumped into my throat. I swallowed hard, trying to force down the lump of fear that had settled there. Pinapwesto ako ng coordinator sa gilid ng stage, kung saan matatanaw ang isang estudyante na katatapos lamang kumanta.

"You're up next," the coordinator reminded me gently as the curtain began to fall.

Kinakabahan akong tumango bago dahan-dahang naglakad patungo sa gitna ng entablado. Tanging ang makapal na kurtina na lang ang pagitan ko sa lahat ng manonood ngayong araw.

And then, the piano introduction of my song began to play. It was soft and sweet, its notes filling the space and calming the restless whispers of the crowd. I positioned my violin and took a deep, shaky breath.

As the curtain slowly rose, I closed my eyes and let the first note sing through my strings.

"Wise men say, only fools rush in..."

The melody wrapped around me like a warm embrace, and I poured everything I had into it, the nervousness, the self-doubt, and the strange new emotions that had been stirring in me ever since Plutus appeared in my life.

This song is for you.

Sana maiparating ko ng maayos sa kan'ya ang nilalaman ng puso ko.

"But I can't help falling in love with you..."

The room fell silent. I could feel it, the weight of every gaze locked on me. My bow glided across the strings, each note trembling with the emotions I couldn't say aloud. It was as though the music was speaking for me, carrying my heart's unspoken words.

"Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you..."

The piano accompaniment swelled, and I let myself get lost in the crescendo. For a while, I forgot where I was, forgot about the audience, the stage, everything. But then, as the music softened, I opened my eyes, and there he was.

Plutus.

Ang prinsipeng hindi ko inaakala na magugustuhan ko, sa kabila ng mga pangyayari na dumating sa buhay ko. Ang prinsipe na nagpagulo at nagpaikot sa tahimik kong mundo. Siya lang ang lalaking nanatili sa tabi ko sa mga panahon na hindi ko kayang labanan ang mundo. Siya ang naging sandalan ko sa tuwing nanghihina ako. Sa bawat araw na kasama ko siya, lahat ng mabigat ay tila gumagaan. Siya lang ang nagpa-intindi sa'kin na hindi ko kailangang mag-isa sa tuwing nakakaramdam ako ng kalungkutan.

Sa pamamagitan ng awitin na 'to, tinatanggap ko na ang pagmamahal ng isang prinsipeng demonyo.

Plutus stood near the back, tall and unmoving, but his eyes...

Oh, his ocean blue eyes.

They weren't cold or distant like they usually were. They were soft, tender, and filled with something I couldn't name. And then he smiled, not the usual smirk or half-hearted grin. It was a real smile, sincere and warm, and it made my chest tighten in a way that was both terrifying and wonderful.

"Like a river flows, surely to the sea, darling so it goes, some things are meant to be..."

My heart raced as I played those notes for him. Every emotion I'd hidden spilled out in the melody.

"Take my hand, take my whole life too..."

Yeah, I wanted Plutus in my life. Gusto kong maranasan kung paano mahalin ng isang Plutus Curse. Ang demonyo na mukhang anghel sa paningin ko.

"For I can't help falling in love with you..."

The final note lingered in the air, creating a soft and aching whisper. The silence that followed was heavy, almost reverent, before it was broken by the eruption of applause.

But in that moment, none of it mattered. Not the cheers, not the judges, not even my performance. All I could think about was Plutus and the look in his eyes. For the first time, I saw him not as an arrogant jerk but as someone who could see me, really see me. And it left me breathless.

All I can say is that I'd surrender to a demon's embrace, as long as his love for me is as relentless as the fires of damnation.

~~~

"Wala, luto talaga ang laban," reklamo ni Jenna habang naka-upo kaming dalawa sa harap ng isang malaking salamin.

Inaayusan na pala kami dito sa salon ng pinsan ni Jenna. Kanina pang tanghali natapos ang talent show, pero itong si Jenna mukhang hindi pa din maka get over sa result ng competition. Hindi man lang kasi ako nakapasok sa tatlong itinanghal na winner.

"Ano ka ba, ang mahalaga wala akong minus points," pagdadahilan ko sa kan'ya na nagpatango naman dito.

"Sabagay, pero kahit na! Ikaw lang ata ang may pinaka-matinong talent sa mga sumali."

Ay anak ng, akala ko tatahimik na ang babaitang 'to. Mukhang hindi pa ata siya tapos sa hinanaing niya. Kontento naman na na ako sa kinalabasan ng resulta, ang mahalaga tagumpay ko na naiparating kay Plutus ang mensahe ko.

Ayun nga lang, pagtapos ng talent show, wala na kaming oras ni Plutus para makapag-usap. Basta na lang kasi kami hinila ng magbestfriend upang makapag-ready na para sa Crimson Ball mamayang gabi. Sa school na lang kaming apat magkikita-kita mamaya.

"Ottilie, paano mo inalok si Plutus maging escort mo?" Tanong ni Jenna. "Napakahinang nilalang ko talaga, huli na ng yayain ko si Slate! May nauna nang bruha ang nagyaya sa kan'ya!"

Kinabahan naman ako sa biglaang tanong nito. "A-ano, basta ko na lang inabot sa kan'ya ang singsing," sagot ko. "Wala naman kasi akong ibang kakilala sa school natin."

"Same! Ang aarte naman kasi ng mga estudyante sa school na 'yon!" Naiinis na singhal ni Jenna.

Ang ending, si Dylan ang naging partner niya.

"Ayan mga inday! Tapos na ang inyong make over!" Masayang turan ng nag-ayos sa'min. "Paniguradong lahat ng boys sa school niyo ay mabibighani sa taglay na ganda ninyong dalawa!"

Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ako o inookray lang kami nito eh. Pero kung sabagay, nag-iba nga ang itsura namin ni Jenna, nagmukha kaming mga royal princesses sa ayos namin.

Nakasoot nga pala ako ng isang burgundy satin A-line long dress na may V-neck, pleats at slit sa binti. Ang hairstyle ko naman ay inayon sa naman sa soot kong damit. The stylist made my hair a kinky bun updo with face framing curls. Pakiramdam ko tuloy para akong may kurtina sa mukha ko.

Habang si Jenna naman ay napiling magsoot ng isang navy blue one shoulder split thigh, with sequin long dress. Makinang ito dahil sa mga sequins na nakadikit sa dress niya. Bagay na bagay sa buhok niya na naka high ponytail. And lastly, for our footwear, parehas kaming naka 2 inch high heels.

"Ottilie girl! Alam mo ba na may legend sa Crimson Academy tuwing Enchantment Ball?" Pagtawag ni Jenna sa atensyon ko habang magkatabi kaming nakaharap sa malaking salamin.

Agad naman na nakuha nito ang interes ko. "Legend?" Pag-uulit ko.

"Yup. Usap-usapan sa school natin ang much-awaited ball dance!" Kinikilig na panimula nito.

"During the dance, partners didn't stay the same. The magic will make everyone rotate partners, switching every few moments. It was fun but tricky, especially if you wanted to stay with someone you liked.

Then, at the very end of the dance, the staff will turn off all the lights for exactly one minute. They will turn it off to show the magic of the ring as it fades. They said, the ring will turn into a golden dust that will make the night more magical and enchanting."

Napapatango-tango ako habang mataman na nakikinig.

"Sa gano'ng paraan pala mahuhubad ang singsing," turan ko habang inaayos ang soot kong damit sa harap ng salamin.

"But here's the major twist of the event! Kyaaaa!" Nagulat ako sa biglang pag-tili ni Jenna habang nag-aayos ng kanyang buhok.

"The legend says that if a boy found the girl he truly loved in the darkness and kissed her before the ring vanished, their souls would be bonded forever. No matter where they went or what happened, they would always find each other! Kyaaaa!"

"Parang napakahirap naman no'n," napapangiwi na ani ko kay Jenna. "The darkness will make it impossible to move around, and with all the partners switching, for sure many will miss the chance."

"That's what makes it exciting, gurl!" Jenna beamed. "Unfortunately, only a few succeeded, and when they did, they glowed faintly with golden lights. That was the mark of their eternal bond."

"Ang tanong, makaka-tsamba kaya tayo mamaya?" Natatawang tanong ko sa kan'ya na ikinahagikhik niya.

"I wish, hahaha!" Sagot nito. "Let's go, Ottilie. Andyan na ang service natin sa labas."

To be continued...