Now That I Have You

Chapter 5 - Quit

MAINE'S POV

"Maine, what is this email all about?" tanong sa akin ni Miss Shasha pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko pa lang sa office niya.

"I quit. I'm leaving the band." simpleng sagot ko sa kanya. Matagal ko nang napag-isipan 'to, dati si Mark na lang ang dahilan kung bakit hindi pa rin ako umaalis sa TE.

Pero iba na ngayon.

Nandito ako ngayon sa office ni Miss Shasha. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit niya ko tinatawagan. Last night I sent her an email about my decision to quit the band.

"Why? Just because of Mark? I thought we've made this clear? Wala namang issue diba? Hindi naman siya lumalabas sa media. Why?"

"I'm so sorry, Miss Shasha. Pero matagal ko na 'tong gusto. Even before our break up. Si Mark lang ang dahilan kung bakit nagtagal pa ko dito, ayaw niya akong paalisin. But I'm quitting not just because of Mark, I have my own reasons."

"Like what?"

"This is not the path I'd like to take. Noong high school pa kami, noong nagsisimula lang ang banda namin, it was just for fun. But then biglang may nakadiscover samin, and that's when everything got serious. I feel like I'm doing this just because I have to, and not because this is what I want. I know it won't work out kung wala na 'yung love ko sa ginagawa ko."

"I completely understand what you're going through right now, Maine. But please don't make decisions when you're upset. You'll be fine. Maybe this is just a phase---"

"No, I'm so sorry Miss but you don't understand me. My reason for quitting is not Mark. As I've said earlier, yes, he was the reason why I chose to stay, but trust me, I've been wanting to leave for so long."

"Okay, then. If that's what you want. But please, 3 months, Maine. That's all I'm asking for. Just please, for the music video and for your album tour."

Tumango lang ako kay Miss Shasha. Three months. Kaya ko namang tiisin 'to diba?

"Have you told your bandmates?"

"Not yet."

She just sighed at my answer.

"Okay. Pero Maine, wala na ba talagang makakapagpabago sa isip mo? Paano na lang 'yung pinagsamahan niyo ng bandmates mo? You've been friends for years!"

"Wala naman pong kaso ang pag-alis ko sa friendship namin eh. Besides po, simula noong sumikat kami at naging busy sa pag-aaral din, tuwing magsasama kami, para lang naman talaga sa banda eh. Parang nawala na rin 'yung friendship namin."

"How about Lara?"

"We're still best friends. Nothing will change."

Pero parang hindi naman totoo 'yung sinabi ko eh. Best friend ko pa rin ba si Lara?

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Miss Shasha sa sagot ko.

"Okay. But can you please help us look for another drummer?"

"Sure po."

---

"Bakit naman aalis ka sa TE?" tanong ni Alden.

Nandito sila sa bahay ngayon kasi nag-invite si Nanay na dito na lang sila mag-dinner. Inaayos pa nila Tita at Nanay 'yung table kaya nandito muna kami sa living room.

"Kasi Tisoy ayoko na rin eh."

"Baka naman gawa lang ni Mark 'yan ha."

Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay.

"Okay. Sorry. Kilala kita, Meng. Alam kong hindi mo susukuan ang isang bagay sa ganung kababaw na dahilan lang. Bakit nga?"

"Hindi na ako masaya eh. Matagal ko na talagang gustong umalis pero ayaw ni Mark. Siguro kasama siya sa reason kung bakit ayoko na talaga, pero matagal ko nang gustong umalis."