Hiraya Marahuyo

1 ▷ Musmos na Walang Laman

HIRAYA MARAHUYO
KABANATA 1
haninapolen || wp

        I was struck frozen from where I was standing. My gaze just focused on one person. Hindi ko alam pero hindi ko matanggal ang tingin sa kaniya. Kung hindi lang dahil kay Maki, baka 'mas mapahiya ko pa ang sarili ko sa harapan nila.

"Yo, guys, quick commercial," Maki interrupted. Inakbayan niya ako at ipinakilala, "This is Shoebe. A close friend. I already told you naman na I'm bringing someone today, right? So, ta-duh."

There were three people inside the room when we came inside. One on the keyboards, one on the microphone and one playing the guitar.

"Hi! I'm Archie, Archibald Lu." He was the one with the friendliest face. Tumango ako at ngumiti.

He looks chinese to me. I bet he is because of the surname and those pair of chinky eyes. He's fair and has a brown hair, too. He looks so cute.

"Daryll Basas," pakilala naman 'nung nasa keyboard. Tumayo siya at umalis sa kaniyang kinauupuan para lamang lumapit sa'kin at kumaway. Mabilis ko itong inabot at tinanggap. "You have a unique name," sabi niya sa'kin.

"I think so too. It's a russian name," I replied.

This one looks like an athlete. I could see the circles forming whenever he flex beneath the white shirt. I bet he spends a lot of time at the gym, doing weights. He's a moreno unlike these other guys. Medyo nangingibabaw tuloy siya para sa'kin.

"And right there is Joachim, our soul, our vocalist," turo ni Maki sa kanina kong tinitignan.

His face wasn't familiar, but his voice was and the song..

Kitang pilit ang kaniyang ngiti. Mabilis niyang binalik ang atensyon sa hawak na cellphone, para 'bang masusunog ito dahil sa tingin niya. Anong mayroon? May kausap siguro siya sa phone niya na hindi niya nakakasundo?

He has this odd brooded eyes. I feel like matutunaw ako kapag nagtagal ang tingin niyang 'yun sa'kin. Kaya 'mas ayos na 'rin sigurong binalik niya ang tingin sa ibang bagay. He was tall, more like 6ft tall. He has a mole right beneath his left eye. I think it's cute, it's not that big, but you can notice it agad. He looks so masungit with how he eyed his phone.

Inaalala ko 'yung lalaki kahapon sa campus. I could not see him clearly, but I do recognize his hair. It was the same with Joachim's. Bagsak and clean trimmed.

"You can sit here, Shoebe," dinala ako ni Daryll sa isa sa mga bean bag na nasa gilid. Hindi ko 'yun napansin kanina. Nilibot ko ang tingin sa kwarto, maganda ang studio. Modern and minimal lang ang design at may monotone na white and shades of brown. Mukhang mamahalin 'din ang kanilang mga equipments.

"So, you play too? What are your music interests?" usisa n Daryll sa'kin. Nakita ko namang nakikinig si Archie sa'min sa gilid habang si Joachim... nanatili pa 'ring nakatitig sa hawak na cellphone habang nakakunot ang noo. He looks so problematic.

"I have a wide taste. I listen to some lofis, pop punk, metal rock and indies."

Daryll was quite surprised. "You are a girl with a great taste!"

"We're more of an indie pop band, Shoebs," imporma ni Maki sa'kin na nasa tabi ko.

Kita ko sa mukha ni Daryll na marami pa siyang mga tanong ngunit 'nang pumasok si Enoch, itinago na ni Joachim ang cellphone sa bulsa at nagsabi ng, "From the top. Balik na sa pwesto." He seems strict and serious about this.

"Okay, dudeparechong," sabi ni Archie habang isinisukbit ang gitara.

I smiled. They were cute. Mabilis silang sumunod sa utos ni Joachim.