Just The Benefits (PUBLISHED)

Kabanata 27

#JustTheBenefits

Kabanata 27 

You know our love would be tragic. So you don't pay it, don't pay it no mind. We live with no lies. Hey, hey. You're my favorite kind of night. I'm so used to being used. So I love when you call unexpected. Cause I hate when the moment's expected.

I almost got lost in the moment habang kumakanta siya. Dahil sa boses niya, unti-unting nawawala iyong kabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa text ni Quin. As much as I wanted to answer his call and ask him kung ano ang nangyari kay Parker, I restricted myself. It would just open my endless pit of what-ifs na matagal ko ng iniwasan.

And maybe this was a good thing. This just goes to show na kaya kong tiisin si Parker—isang bagay na akala ko hindi ko kayang gawin. Alam ko kasi na mahal na mahal ko siya kaya naman kaya kong gawin ang lahat para sa kanya... Pero dumating din kasi iyong panahon na tama na. Pagod na ako. Sarili ko naman ang aasikasuhin ko.

On that lonely night. You said it wouldn't be love. But we felt the rush. It made us believe it there was only us. Convinced we were broken inside, inside... Cause girl you're perfect. You're always worth it. And you deserve it. The way you work it. Cause girl you earned it. Girl you earned it.

When the song ended, I couldn't help but give him a round of applause. Ang galing niya pala talagang kumanta. His voice was so soothing and it was like you're being lulled by the angels. Wow. He's so freaking good!

Hindi lang ako ang humanga sa pagkanta ni Shiloah, pati na rin iyong mga tao na nasa bar ay napapalakpak din. We were in awe with his voice and the way he got lost while strumming his guitar. Siya naman, namumula dahil sa kahihiyan. He'll never get over his fear of attention. He's still so adorable kahit na physically, hindi na siya iyong Shiloah na una kong nakilala.

Kinausap muna niya si Celine bago siya pumunta sa table ko.

I grinned. "Ang galing mo!" puri ko sa kanya. It was true! For someone who doesn't like the attention, he surely knew how to own the stage. He was a natural and it would have been a huge mistake kung hindi niya tinanggap ang gig na 'to.

He just gave me his sheepish smile before he settled down in his chair. "Nagugutom ka?" he asked and I shook my head. Kakakain lang namin, at isa pa, hindi ko yata kayang kumain dahil isang makulit na parte ng utak ko ay na kay Parker... at iniisip kung ano ba ang nangyayari sa kanya.

Shiloah motioned for the waiter. He looked at me. "Kakain lang ako. Nagutom ako bigla," he said at hindi ko maiwasan na matawa. Sa sobrang kaba niya, nagutom siya. Para siyang bata minsan talaga. Pinabayaan ko na lang muna siya na kumain. Nakatingin lang ako sa phone ko... Gusto ko talagang buksan ito pero natatakot ako sa kung ano ang maririnig ko.

Pero paano kung may masama ngang nangyari kay Parker? Hindi yata kakayanin ng konsensya ko kung may nangyari siya at wala man lang ako roon para sa kanya!

So I grabbed my phone and turned it on. Bahala na!

"Sandali lang, ha?" I excused myself at saka lumabas. Malamig sa labas kaya naman yakap ko ang sarili ko habang hinihintay ko na sumagot si Quin sa phone. "Come on," I said while waiting. Naka-ilang ring na pero walang sumasagot. Mas lumalakas lang ang kabog ng dibdib ko sa bawat segundo na lumilipas.

When he didn't pick up on the fourth try, I decided to compose a message, instead.

To: Quin

Ano bang nangyayari? Nasan ka??

I bite my nails when I am worried and that moment, I was damn worried. Kinakabahan na talaga ako! I even tried calling Parker pero walang sumasagot! Gods! Kung ako ay pinagtitripan lang talaga ng mga tao na 'yun, humanda sila sa akin! Hindi ko na talaga sila kakausapin kahit kailan!