THE DAY HE BECAME RUTHLESS: The Metaphorical Series #2

TWENTY SEVEN

Tilian ng mga tao ang humila sa akin paalis sa nakaraan. A group of girls with their signed merch like cd's are shrieking and jumping their way out of the arena. One of the hundred more testimonials that the euphoric buzz is still humming around the air blessing every audiences the night of their lives.

Mahirap nga namang kalimutan dahil hindi lang mga VIP holders ang naka-avail sa meet and greet. Even those who are at the lower box got the chance for an upclose and personal encounter with the band.

Pero kahit yata ako ang kauna-unahang nag-purchase ng VIP ticket ay tila bawal akong makita sila. Lalo na siya.

Tumingala ako. The night is at its prime and how this kind of night always brings me back to that night to where the tower guides with light. Ang mga hampas ng alon nang gabing iyon. At the back of the pick-up, the ring, the plead in his eyes...

"Did you try to talk to him after that?"

Inabutan ako ni Jude ng flavored beer para pamatay sa uhaw ng two hour event. Mas matagal pa iyong pagpila namin kesa sa oras na itinagal ng concert.

Tumango ako sa tanong niya at uminom. Medyo hirap sa paglunok dahil sa sakit ng lalamunan galing sa pagtili. Sa likod ng kamay ko'y pinunasan ko ang aking bibig at nilingon ang iba ring umuupo sa hagdan. Dinadaanan kami ng mga nagtitilian at tawanan na fangirls.

They were talking how Cash kissed them in the cheek and shriek about it. How Skylar held their phone for a selfie and Wilmer smiled and said thank you.

At hindi mawawala kung paano nakipag-interact si Dean sa kanila. Well, I guess he went back after knowing I'm gone.

Iyon ang akala niya. You don't know me very well, Dean. I'll let your head cool for a moment pero babalik ako sa loob.

"Metaphoricals! Metaphoricals!" A group of girls cheered.

May mga lalake rin akong nakikita na ginagaya ang signature style ni Dean na pulupot ng red bandana sa ulo. Making their hair strands stand up. They even dyed their hair sand brown, too! Ang daming impersonators.

More people scattered outside the arena, not ready to go home yet. Tila kulang pa ang dalawang oras sa kanila. Dahilan kung bakit mabagal ang usad ng linya ng mga taxi na nag-aabang sa mga uuwi. I could already feel the after effect of the concert. Post-concert depression. Where you relive every second of that memory.

In my case, hindi lang iyon ang laman ng damdamin ko. Longing dominated more than it should.

"Bakit siya galit? He should have waited for you, girl," maarteng komento ni Jude saka nilagok ang beer niya.

Nagbukas pa siya ng chichirya. Iba rin sikmura ng baklang 'to. 'Di nakukuntento 'pag walang ningunguya.

"He's not a patient man." Pait ang nalunok ko. Don't know if that came from the beer though.

Ngumiwi siya, hindi kumbinsido. "Bakit hindi ka niya tinawagan? If I were him, I could have called you to hurry."

I'd thought about that, too. Sa pagkakakilala ko kay Dean ay tatawag siya o magte-text kung nasaan ako. And when I don't respond, he goes to where he thinks I am. But finding answers to those questions woud just be an abortive attempt. From his reaction a while ago, he still doesn't want to see me.

Alam kong masyadong mababaw ang rason ng inaakalang hindi ko pagsipot upang magtanim siya ng galit. Hindi naman kasi tungkol doon ang dahilan.

I hugged my knees for comfort as I was brought into thinking the real reason. I've been keeping my vow of silence alive for it. Bakit ko pa babanggitin kung ang karamihan ay iyon ang pinag-usapan nang araw na iyon? Walang saysay ang pangangatwiran ko lalo na't nakita nila ang pinaniwalaan nila at hindi ang katotohanang hindi nila nakita.