All or Nothing [Fin]

Prologue

Nakayukyok lang sa lamesa si Ailee at hinayaan ang sarili na malunod sa alak. Okay lang iyon dahil kasama naman niya ang mga kaibigan niya. Alam niyang hindi siya pababayaan ng mga ito.

"Ails, ano ba nangyayari sa'yo?" Tinignan niya ang nag-aalalang mukha ng kaibigan niyang si Elisha na ngayo'y pinupunasan ang basa niyang pisngi. Mas lalo tuloy siyang napahagulgol.

"Shit siya! Pakyu siya! Tangina niya!" paulit-ulit niyang sabi habang nilalagyan ng alak ang baso niya. Hindi naman siya pinigilan nina Michelle, Adam, Elisha at Dami na kasama niya sa table. Ngayong gabi, hahayaan niyang umiyak ang sarili dahil sa kagagahan niya.

Donald Quinto did this to her! She wants to salvage that guy! The nerve! Matapos siya nitong pahulugin sa bitag nito bigla-bigla nalang siyang ibe-break?! Shit! Noone does that to Ailee Dane Montello! Dapat siya ang unang makipag-break! Jerk! Asshole!

Donald courted her for the whole year. Siyempre ayaw niya rito ng una dahil, hello, mataas ang standards niya sa lalaki at unang tingin palang niya kay Donald she already felt that something's off with him. She rejected him many times but that twat made impossible things possible! She just found herself falling for that scumbag! Tapos kanina nga she overheard him and his friends talking about her. Turns out, they're getting revenge at her for what she did to his other friends na pinahiya niy daw!

She remembers dumping Kane and Mario last year but she has no clue na friends pala ang mga ito! Kaya ayun, kanina she was about to break-up with Donald when he dropped the bomb first! She saw how his friends laughed at her! It was so humiliating lalo na't hindi niya maisip na nagkaroon siya ng katiting na feelings for Donald! Yes, katiting nalang dahil tingin na niya ngayon rito ay laging may target sa ulo nito na anytime gusto niyang paputukan ng baril!

"Fuck him! He'll be sorry for doing this to me!" galit na sabi niya pagkatapos inisang lagok ang tequila ni Dami na walang asin-asin o kahit man lang lemon.

The next thing she knew she was already sprawled onto her bed, the light coming from outside irritted her and she's been suffering a massive pain of headache. She groaned and let sleep take-over her once again.

Nagising siya na medyo okay na ang pakiramdam niya. Pasado alas-singko na pala ng gabi. Naligo siya at bumaba para kumain. Sobrang gutom na niya. As usual, wala ang asungot niyang kapatid na si Marky pero ang loko nagsumbong sa parents nila kaya ayun, hindi siya nakatakas sa panenermon ng Mommy at Daddy niya about drinking responsibly, blah blah blah.. She just said sorry and promised never to do it again. Takot niya lang sa parents niya.

Nagpaalam siya na magliliwaliw lang siya sa Metro streets at pinayagan naman siya ng parents niya. Nag-park lang siya tapos ay naglakad-lakad lang while her hands are inside her hoodie's pockets. Tamad siyang mag-ayos kaya hoodie at shorts lang ang suot niya.

She smiled when she saw one of her pictures displayed at one of Tita Colyn's clothing store, Glambition. She is a part-time model exclusive only for Tita Colyn's line. She went to Cobo to fetch herself something to drink. She's bored to death and still pissed at Donald but it's bearable naman na.

She saw a small crowd kaya naman nacurious siya at lumapit. May isang babaeng kumakanta habang ang kasama nitong lalaki ay tumutugtog ng gitara. May mga babae namang namimigay ng flyers at binigyan siya ng isa.

Freedom Night

Come and jam with us.
7pm at The Quartell.

Napakunot ang noo niya. Where the hell is 'The Quartell?'

"Excuse me, saan 'to?" tanong niya sa babaeng katabi niya na pinag-uusapan ang pagpunta sa Quartell.

She turned to her and smiled friendly. "Underground bar iyan. You want to come with us?"

Siguro bored na talaga siya sa buhay dahil nakita nalang niya ang sarili na sumasama sa mga babaeng hindi naman niya kilala tapos sa isang underground bar pa! Who knows kung ano'ng meron doon? Marami silang eskinitang dinaanan, hanggang sa may isang staircase na parang patungo sa isang basement. She hesitated but just went through it.

"Is this supposed to be a secret?" tanong niya sa babaeng kasama niya na hanggang ngayon pala ay hindi niya alam ang pangalan. "Ano nga palang pangalan mo?"

"I'm Red. To answer your question, hindi naman sa sikreto. Let's say, discreet? Kakaunti lang ang may alam nito, namimigay kami ng flyers para sa benefit ng acts, siyempre ang mga makakaalam lang lugar nito ay iyong mga katulad mong nagtatanong." she answered chuckling a little bit.

Nag-ikot siya sa kabuuan ng bar. Ayos lang naman. Not the typical high-end bar she used to go, but it was not bad. Medyo rugged ang dating ng bar na medyo old-school.

"And now, give it up for the HighGrand!"

People started screaming and applauding. Some girls squeeled. Hmm, mukhang sikat itong HighGrand ah.

She was in awe when she saw four handsome guys went to stage but what caught her the most was the vocalist. He got this smug look in him. He instantly smiled at the audience. Flirt, she thought. He looked back to the drummer and nodded. Hinampas ng drummer ang mga drumsticks ng tatlong beses at nagsimulang paluin ang drum. Sumunod ang dalawang lalaki na parehas may hawak ng mga electric guitar. Then the vocalist sang and then suddenly she was dumbstruck.

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you..
Been here all along, so why can't you see, you belong with me
You belong with me

She got goosebumps when she heard his singing voice. Mas lalo siyang nanginig nang magtama ang mga mata nila habang kinakanta ang huling mga salita sa kanta. Ilang segundo sila nagkatitigan nang umiwas siya ng tingin at nagmadaling umalis ng bar.

Niyakap niya ang sarili habang pabalik sa pinagparkingan niya ng kotse. Habang pauwi na siya, hindi niya makalimutan ang bigat ng titig nung lalaki.

Did she just got struck by a stranger's stare?

---
Listen to You Belong With Me - The Summer Set version.