Steal Your Heart

Chapter 24.2: Secret

ADDIE

"...let us give a round of applause for Xscape!" pahayag ng dalawang emcees bago sila bumaba mula sa stage para sa band performance nina Axel, Julian, Dane, Stefan at Kevin.

We just finished our five-course dinner meal, and this is an intermission number before the dancing starts. Excited ang lahat dahil matagal na ring hindi nakapag-perform ang Xscape sa school.

"Good evening," nakangiting bati ni Axel sa lahat. "So, we're going to try something new for today. But before that, let us do our introductions first."

Itinuro niya si Kevin na nasa dulo ng right side niya. Nakaupo ito sa ibabaw ng beatbox niya habang sina Axel, Dane, Julian at Stefan naman ay nakaupo sa metal stool.

"I'm Kevin on beatbox," pakilala niya. Sinundan siya ni Dane na nakaupo sa kaliwa niya.

"I'm Dane on rhythms," pakilala niya naman at agad na sumunod si Julian. Nakaupo sila ni Stefan sa left side ni Axel.

"Julian here, bass," nag-peace sign pa siya at nag-lip bite. Classic Julian.

"Stefan, lead," maikling sabi naman niya bago siya ngumisi.

"And I'm Axel, your vocals for tonight," ngiti niya at ikinagulat naman ng karamihan ang sinabi niya. Nobody expected the exchange of roles between Julian and Axel for tonight.

"I'm not a singer, obviously, that's why I am the bass player of this band. But I will try not to be a disappointment tonight," nakatawang dagdag ni Axel. "But no, seriously... I will be singing tonight because I composed a song for someone special. And I promised her that I'll show this to her when it's done," paliwanag niya at nakita ko ang mga tingin ng karamihan sa akin.

"Ang haba ng hair!" tukso naman sa akin ni Joyce. Ngumisi pa sina Tristan, Nash at Karl habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin. Sila ang mga kasama namin ni Axel sa table assignment. We're also with Kelly and Lacey, Tristan and Karl's partners for tonight.

"Guys, let's just watch their performance," pag-iwas ko sa panunukso nila at muli kong ibinaling ang tingin ko sa stage.

"So, here it is. And I hope everyone will like it as well," duktong ni Axel bago siya bumaling do'n sa apat. "Once again, we are Xscape," sabay-sabay nilang sabi at nagpalakpakan kami bago sinimulan ni Kevin ang pagtapik sa beatbox niya.

"1... 2... 3..."

"The first part of this song I guess should start with something sweet ♪" panimula ni Axel sa pagkanta. "'Cause love songs often do and you know me, I'm such a geek ♪"

"Woah, Axel can sing!" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Lacey habang pare-parehong nakatuon ang atensyon namin sa stage.

"He should sing more often," dagdag pa ni Kelly at proud akong ngumiti. He finally did it and he never fails to amaze me.

"For songs that I could sing to you and I'm hoping this could be one ♪" pagpapatuloy niya at ibinaling niya ang tingin niya sa direksyon ko. "And I hope that you would like me este... like it when I'm done ♪"

Nginitian ako ni Axel at napangiti na lang din ako sa direksyon niya. Hindi namin inalis ang mga tingin namin sa isa't isa.

He's still the same Axel—the same Axel who is still stubborn and snobby at times. The same Axel that I still like after all these years. The only difference this time is that he's finally smiling at me. And I don't have to assume anymore because I know for a fact that it's for me, only for me.

"The second part is easy to mess up with something cheesy. So I better choose my words 'cause I don't want it to be mushy ♪" Nagpatuloy siya sa pagkanta at agad akong nagtaka nang tumayo sina Julian, Dane at Kevin para bumaba sa stage. "'Cause that's the thing with love songs and that is the tricky part. It's hard not to sound corny when you're singing from the heart ♪"