Let's Play Pretend

Need You Always

When it seems like there was nothing left to do, and there are no more options left to choose from... Wala ng nagawa ang binata kung hindi makita nalang ang kanyang sarili. Mag-isa. May dinadala na pagsisisi at kahihiyan.

Tama nga si Anne, mas lalaki pa sya nung bakla pa sya. Nasaan na ang kanyang paninindigan? Yung katulad nung dati na kayang kaya nyang ipagsigawan na kaya nyang ibuwis ang buhay nya para sa taong mahal nya. He misses that version of him.

Maybe that's what misery teaches everyone who felt it in the most wretched way. To be left with no emotion to spare.

His car is still parked on the parking lot. He can call for help and ask for a better assistance from the police, it's safe that way. It'll guarantee their safety... His safety, at least.

Gustong-gusto na nyang umalis at tumakas dito, but something inside won't let him.

She was never mine to protect anyway.

Patuloy na pang-gugulo ng isip nya. Tama naman na pakinggan ang isip diba? It's the most practical thing to do. But when the heart decides, it won't stop until whatever it desire is followed.

Kaya naman maski hindi nya maintindihan kung bakit, he was walking straight towards the dressing room with his heart on his sleeves and his mind focused on getting her back.

"If she's not mine to protect, then I'll make her mine to be able to protect her." Bulong nya habang naglalakad kung saan nakarinig sya ng malakas na sigaw.

*****

"Karylle, Anne, hintayin nyo ako jan." He gritted through his teeth as he paces along the dim lighted hallways. He threads silently, nakikiramdam kung marami bang nakakalat na tauhan ni Yael ang nagbabantay sa madilim na lugar. Ng makarating sya sa kanyang dressing room. Hinawakan nya ang doorknob at dahan-dahan na binuksan ito, and as he predicted... walang naiwan. Tila dinaanan ng dilubyo ang kwarto marahil na rin sa sobrang pag-papanic ng mga bakla sa paglabas. He ask himself a couple of times kung kaya nga ba talaga itong gawin mag-isa, and of course the answer is the same from the moment he decided to run off and save the woman that he loves.

Hinalughog nya ang dressing room para humanap ng kahit anong pwedeng gamitin pang-laban kay Yael, but it's still a fools chance. Where is his taser gun when he needs it? "Fuck! Tangina talaga!" He screamed again and again after making a bigger mess in the room and still found nothing. Until... "Ay kabayo!" Napamura sya ng makarinig sa ng mahinang tunog.

"Psst..." He heard a desperate call coming from the bathroom. "Psst!"

Napahinga sya ng malalim ng mabosesan nya ang bulong-bulungan sa banyo, agad nyang binuksan ito at nakita ang mga baklang nag-kumpulan at nagtatago mula sa gulo.

"Meme naman!" Hiyaw ni Buern na tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pag-iyak dahil sa sobrang takot. Ganun din si Archie na naninigarilyo para lang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili. "Kakatakot naman yung pagdadabog mo! Mamatay na kami sa takot sa dami ng barilan at sigawan na nangyayari, sumasabay ka pa. Ano ba yun ha, sound effects nyo lang o totoo na?!"

"Tumahimik ka ngang bakla ka!" Pabulong na sigaw ni Vice dito. "Wag kang maingay, baka marinig ka ng tauhan ni Yael." Seryosong babala ng binata dito na syang dahilan kung bakit mas naging uligaga ang dalawang bakla.

"Diyos ko po! Anong nangyayari?! Mamatay na ba---"

Bago pa matapos ni Buern ang kanyang sasabihin ay tinakpan agad ni Vice ang bunganga nito at pinatahimik. "Wag kang maingay!" Vice hushed him for the nth time habang patuloy naman ang paninigarilyo at pananahimik ni Archie. "Mamaya ko na sa inyo ikwekwento kung anong nangyayari, for now... I need your help."