Melodious

Third Chorus

paynali, lastly;

***

RJ woke up from his slumber abruptly when he heard the footsteps come into the common room.

It was Valeen, obviously freshened up. Maga ang mga mata nito pero RJ knew better than to point that out. Hello, mahal niya pa buhay niya. Napaupo ng diretso si RJ at inihilig ang ulo dahil sa ngawit na leeg.

"Si Maine?" Valeen casually asked. "Tsaka 'yung iba?"

Tinignan ni RJ ang phone niya at napasimangot ito nang mapansing wala pang text ni reply si Maine. "Kasama ni Maine si ano..."

He watched her expression carefully. "... Si Je. 'Yung iba, naghanap ng kakainan na."

"Bakit hindi ka pa sumabay sa kanila?"

"Sabi ni Maine hintayin kita magising eh. May nakahain na pagkain sa kusina, kung nagugutom ka na."

Valeen pursed her lips and nodded afterwards. "Sige, ako na—"

"TAO POOOOOOooooOOOOOO!"

Valeen and RJ turned towards the ungodly sound and found Jerald slumped against the doorframe, his face completely red and a little cross-eyed. "Hello, hello!"

"Jusko Napoles," RJ shot to his feet and helped Jerald from the door and onto the long couch. Jerald sprawled himself and grunted, chuckling to himself a few times. RJ slapped his face lightly, his eyebrows furrowed. "Si Maine, asaan?"

"Malay ko! Gerlpren mo tapos ako 'yung tinatanong mo?"

"Napoles! Kayo magkasama eh! Uminom ba kayo?"

"Halata ba?" Jerald grinned lazily at him. "Lakas nga ng gerlpren mo eh! Nilibre niya ko maraaaaaaming-maraming bote!"

Valeen walked in on them bringing a basin with water and a face towel. Jerald immediately shut up when he saw her, following her movements with his gaze. Valeen scowled at him throwing the wet face towel at his face. "Tigilan mo nga kakatitig sa'kin! Kinikilabutan ako!"

"Jerald," RJ tapped his arms repeatedly, trying to shake him back to senses. "Si Maine, nasaan? Nakainom din ba siya? Bakit mo iniwan? Jerald, wag mo ko tulugan!"

"Ugh, paps naman eh ang ingay ingay! Hanapin mo sa labas! Nung naglalakad kami pabalik dito sabi sa'kin mauna daw ako at may dadaanan lang siya saglit!"

"What? May dadaanan lampas alas siete na ng gabi?!"

Valeen worriedly frowned at the sober guy. "RJ, tara hanapin natin si Meng, baka kung mapa—"

"Vaaaaaal!"Jerald suddenly pulled Valeen before she can even turn away—he clung on to her arm, pulling her towards him so she fell completely on top of him, and he wrapped around her waist tightly. "Wag ka aalis, dito ka lang!"

"Napo—hmm—ano ba! Argh! Bitawan mo koooo! Argh!"

"Ayaw. Dito ka lang. Akin. Dito."

RJ sent Valeen a sympathetic look, but Jerald was far too stronger than her to get out of his grip, so all her efforts were futile. "Ina naman eh!"

"Val, si Maine—"

"Sige na paps! Hanapin mo na si Menggay mo! Dito lang kami ni Valeen, di ba labs? Gusto mo ba labs? O honey? Kaya lang baka sabihin ni Aaron gaya-gaya tay—"

RJ shook his head at Valeen's scream of frustration and hurried out of the villa, already sending out messages to their other friends if they saw Maine.

Maine, saan ka na nagpunta?

***

Hindi na maalala ni Maine kung paano siya napadpad sa may pampang. Parang kanina lang magkasabay pa sila ni Jerald maglakad, tapos alam niya pupunta siya sa... pupunta siya sa...