Chasing Sunsets

Chapter 11:

♪♪ I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth. But if it's true, it's you, it's you they out of to. I'm in love with you...

Nikos Caprielle

She started playing the piano after giving her thanks to us. Then I suddenly shifted a bit in my seat. Hindi ko alam pero sobrang excited akong makinig syang kumanta ulit. I'm getting goosebumps in every key she plays, maybe because I don't know how my system would react if I hear her voice again.

The last time was amazing, I felt sparks and saw fireworks. I don't know why. Hindi ko lang sya na-hire kaagad dahil hindi nya nasimulan yung start of classes nila kaya pinatapos ko muna yung recital para makapagsimula na sya sa next batch.

Then she started singing.

♪♪ You don't need a lot of money. Honey you don't have to play no games.
All I need is all your loving to get the blood rushing through my veins.
I wanna say we're going steady like it's 1954.
It doesn't have to be forever just as long as I'm the name on your tattooed heart. ♪♪

It's her own piano version of Tattooed Heart.

My heartbeat stopped.

How could someone sing so angelic and sexy at the same effin' time?

I'm so sure she was looking at me because we are locking stares the whole time.

♪♪ You don't need to worry about making me crazy 'cause I'm way past that.
So just call me if you want me 'cause you got me and I'll show you how much I wanna be on your tattooed heart.♪♪

She's singing so passionately. Lahat kami dito ramdam na ramdam yun. We're all quiet and our mouths are hanging open.

Then I remember my mom and how passionate she is about music. She had a recording company na ipinamana nya sa 'kin. She'll be teary-eyed right now if she hears Serenity.

Lahat kami nagpalakpakan pagkatapos nyang kumanta. She looked at me pero biglang naagaw ang pansin nya ng mga estudyanteng umakyat sa stage to congratulate her.

Pumunta ako sa office ko. I think I needed a time to breathe before congratulating her. I don't effin' know why! I think I'm attracted to her.

Pag balik ko sa music hall, nakaalis na sya.

Shit. Now I can't talk to her. Bakit kasi naisipan ko pang pumunta sa office?!

*****

I went home after fixing some things sa Lyric. Hindi na sya bumalik, ininvite daw ng parents ni Shane na kumain sa restaurant nila.

I was busy practicing a new song on my guitar nang may nagdoorbell. It's already 8o'clock, who would pay me a visit at this time? Not that 8pm is too late for me, it's just that nobody visits me at night because that's when I usually practice, answer emails or make business calls.

I put down my guitar and headed to the door. I opened it and I was so surprised to see a beautiful lady standing in my front door.

"Anong sasabihin ko sa kanya? Shit. Tama bang pumunta ako dito?" I heard her talking to herself while looking at her side.

"Hey." I called her attention.

"Hey! Hey Nikos!" Nanlaki ang mga mata nya ng makita ako. "K- kanina ka pa ba dyan?" She asked, stuttering.

Cute, I thought. I couldn't help but smile at her.

"No. Kabubukas ko pa lang ng pinto. What brings you here?" I asked her pero mukhang nagulat talaga sya sa akin.

She's looking at my face with wide eyes but instead of looking pale, her face is in a shade of red. Then I realized that she's blushing. My heart is flattered knowing that I have that effect on her, or maybe not. But still, I couldn't help but smile even more.

"I... I...I brought you something! A thank you gift!" Sabi nya. Sabay pinakita nya ang dala nyang box at isang maliit na paper bag.

"Mocha cake and white wine. Yung restaurant na pinuntahan namin ng parents ni Shane has them and I thought you might like it so dinalhan kita." She smiled sheepishly.

"Thanks! How thoughtful of you." I smiled once again. "Would you like to come inside for a bit?"

"No!" Madaling sabi nya while waving her hands in front of her. "No, I mean, pumunta lang talaga ako to give you that. Hindi na ako nakapagpasalamat sa'yo kanina e."

"Come on, just join me for a while." Sabi ko. "Hindi ko kayang ubusin 'to mag-isa. And you like mocha cake too, right?"

She nodded.