Steal Your Heart

Chapter 35: Martyr

AXEL

"Good evening. May I ask for everyone's attention, please?" nakangiting panimula ni Ethos nang magsalita siya habang nakatayo sa gitna ng stage.

Lumingon ang mga tao sa direksyon niya at pansamantalang nagkaro'n ng katahimikan. Sa isang events place ginanap ang birthday ni Addie at nasa huling parte na ng program para sa birthday niya. Nandito ang mga relatives, family members at mga kaibigan niya kaya punung-puno ang venue.

"Before Addie's party ends, I want to give her my last surprise," nakangiting duktong ng pinsan ko at nagpalakpakan naman ang karamihan. Some even cheered loudly because they already know that Ethos is Addie's boyfriend. He's been introduced a while ago, I saw it.

"And since I'm a bad singer, I asked my cousin to help me out," pagpapatuloy niya. "So, I'm not going to prolong this anymore and I'll let the music do the talking. Here's Axel Pangilinan for you, my cousin and the bass guitarist from the famous band Xscape, to sing us a song tonight. This one's for you, Addie. Happy birthday again. I love you," pahabol niya habang nakatingin siya kay Addie na nakaupo sa kabilang side ng stage. Muli akong nakarinig ng mga sigawan habang pinapanuod ko silang dalawa at napailing na lang ako.

There is Addie's bright smile again and it's no longer for me, it's for my cousin. And here I am, looking like an idiot as I wait on the other side of the stage. Why did I even agree to this? Fucking kill me now.

Umakyat ako sa stage nang bumaba si Ethos at inayos ko ang microphone sa stand nito bago ako naupo sa stool na naka-setup sa gitna. Hawak ko ang acoustic guitar at halos hindi ko na maaninag ang mga tao sa harap ko dahil sa mga ilaw na nakatutok sa akin.

The only one that I can see is her. I can see her clearly because she's just sitting on the other side of the stage. She's just inches away from me and yet she seems so far.

"Um... good evening," I awkwardly greeted the audience. "I'm Axel and I'm going to sing my own arrangement of Can't Help Falling in Love. This song is chosen by Ethos as a dedication for Addie. So... here it goes and I hope you'll like my rendition."

"1... 2... 3..." mahinang bilang ko at sinimulan ko ang pag-strum sa gitara na connected sa amplifier para mas marinig ang tunog nito.

"Wise men say, only fools rush in ♪" panimula ko at do'n na nagsimulang mag-play ang video na ginawa ng pinsan ko para kay Addie. "But I can't help falling in love with you ♪"

"Hi hi hi! I'm with Ethos and he's currently filming me right now."

I heard her giggles in the background and I looked at her direction as she watched the video. She's giggling, too. And she's beautiful. And I just missed her so much.

And I'm still missing her even though she's near.

"Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? ♪" Sinubukan kong pumikit at mag-concentrate sa pagkanta ko para matapos na. "If I can't help falling in love with you ♪"

"Hey, what do you like more? Vanilla ice cream or... me?"

"Like a river flows, surely to the sea ♪" I'm trying to block their voices but it's not working. I can't fucking do it, I'm hearing everything from the video. Shit. "Darling, so it goes... some things are meant to be ♪"

"Of course, I like vanilla ice cream more. Nah, I'm kidding. I like you more, Ethos. Even though you hate vanilla ice cream, you monster."

What's currently playing is a two-minute video montage of their memories together while they were in New York. I know that because Ethos told me about it.