THE DAY HE BECAME RUTHLESS: The Metaphorical Series #2

THIRTY FOUR

Kung hindi lang kami natagpuan ni Patrick ay hindi kami aalis ng dressing room. Tahimik kami nang sinundan siya palabas. Dean couldn't look at me as he went out his way to the stage with his still tensed shoulders. Kita ko pa ang pagbukas sara ng kamao niya. Dumadaloy pa rin ang panginginig ng mga tuhod kong piniga ng lakas ng loob.

His reaction soften the cushion of my hopes. If he's going to push me away with his words, his action and expressions are doing otherwise. At doon ako kumakapit sa mga kilos niya. They are more honest than his mouth even when they are not all the time reliable. We can always lie with our actions.

Unfortunately for Dean, he may be a man of many talents but none of them is acting.

"Listen to your friends and leave me alone...I'm just a boy, I'm drunk, I'm 24..."

The followspot is on Dean as he sings a sad song with only his piano. Nanonood ako mula rito sa backstage katabi si Sky. The dark sea of crowd were so wrapped up by his signature whiskey-filled rasp and piano skills. Phones in bright screens were lifted, recording him for sure.

"I don't want to hurt you anymore. Don't waste your tears on me now pretty girl..."

Tipid ang ngiti kong malungkot.

Really, Dean? Patatamaan mo pa talaga ako niyan? Classic act. You were able to create some masterpiece from being brokenhearted, I see.

We judge pain too much that we overlook the fact that they can be indeed a disguised motivation for creativity. Truth be told, those who have been hurt the most tend to have the ability to be poetic.

Hinawakan niya ang nakakabit na mic sa piano at nilapit sa kanyang bibig habang tumutugtog ang isang kamay. At the top of it, the whiskey in a Riedel glass is almost empty. He's saying something to the people and they responded with ardor.

I smiled at the exchange. Oh, the way they look up to him. At heto ako, pantay ang entabladong inaapakan namin ngunit tinitingala ko pa rin siya. Katulad ng iba.

Success in any ways creates an awareness of the change. Siguro normal itong pakiramdam na ang kilala mong tao noon na naging malapit sa'yo ay naglaho na at nahalinhinan ng katangiang hindi na pamilyar lalo't nakikita nating mas angat sila.

One day we were equals. The next, we are strangers.

Tila nagdidiskubre ako ng bagong nilalang. It's not enough information from what I've read in the internet articles, interviews and blogs. I'm not even sure if some of them were true given that they came from an indirect source and others just loves to sensationalize for it to be an issue.

It's going to be starting all over again. Me, going to know him like we've just met. Alam kong marami na talagang nagbago.

"As if a plane crash were timely. There's no good time for bad news. These four words don't come easy...

I don't love you..."

Pinaglalaruan ko ang pendant ng aking kwintas. Ngumuso ako at mapait na umiling.You're only fooling yourself, Ortigoza.

"Sumabay ka na sa 'min, Ruth!"

Hinilamos ni Skylar ang tubig na inabot ko sa kanya at pinunasan ng basang kamay ang mga braso. Isang punas sa basa niyang mukha ay sa akin agad ang mga mata, hinihintay ang aking sagot.

Humihikab akong umiling. "Magtata-taxi na lang ako. Out of way iyong uuwian ko."

Alas onse natapos ang show. May naganap pang meet and greet kanina at signing ng mga merch kaya inabot kami ng madaling araw. Sa papa-payapa nang paligid ay hindi ko mahanap si Dean. I can only hear laughters and satisfied talks about the show.