The Playlist // Ricci Rivero Fanfiction (On-Hold)

Kabanata 14

Pagkatapos ng lunch namin, dumiretso na ako sa locker area diretso sa aking unit. Once I opened it, may nahulog na green paper.

Pinulot ko yun at ang nakalagay dun ay mga kanta. Love songs specifically and besides sa songs, may letter pang nakasulat.

Tugtugin niyo itong mga kantang to. This tells your relationship together; as best friends. Keep this playlist tapos lagyan niyo ng iba pang mga songs.

Kasi, hindi na kayo magtatagal pa. Huwag ka nang mag sayang ng oras and don't tell him about this letter. Just go and find your best friend. Sulitin niyo na ang mga natitirang araw.
                                     ~anonymous.

Napakunot ako ng noo and turned my attention sa isa pang paper. It's the Playlist that person is referring to!

The Playlist

Sa Isang Sulyap Mo
Ngiti
Getting To Know Each Other
Long Way Home
Passenger Seat
Statue
Pangarap Lang Kita
Best Friend

"Ina, ba't di ka pa pumasok? Diba may  klase ka pa?" Lumingon ako and saw Ricci walking towards me. 

I immediately hid the green paper sa aking locker. Ricci's face looked confused, pero bumalik naman din sa dati na as if alam niya kung anong nakasulat doon.

Well, does he? Hmm, I think not.

"Umm, meron kasi akong kukunin and nakita ko 'to. It's an anonymous playlist. Tugtugin daw natin."

Kinuha niya yun and he smiled. Luh nabaliw na ata!

"Sakto, may naghahanap ng singers dun sa bar na aming pinupuntahan. You should join, alam ko maganda boses mo."

"Luh, ayoko no! Nakakahiya Ccing and besides, I don't sing infront of people. I have stage fright."

"Kaya nga. I'm telling you to join para naman mawala yan. You should let your inner singer out Ina. Stand tall and be proud."

Ngumiti siya and stared at me for a while, waiting for my answer.

"I don't know eh, pero.. I'll give it a try."

His face lightened up when I said that.

"That's the spirit. Oh sige na, pasok na tayo baka ma late ka pa. I know mahal mo grades mo. Hahaha!"

I rolled my eyes at sumama na sa kanya papuntang St. La Salle Hall.

• • •

Nung nagtapos ang klase, pumunta ako sa classroom nila Ricci and I found out na hindi pa tapos yung class nila. So I waited.

Nakita niya ako and agad na nag excuse sa kanyang professor. When his professor nodded, agad siyang lumabas ng room.

"Ina, anong problema?" Rinig na rinig ko yung hiyawan sa loob and napangiti lang ako. Kuya's is probably there too.

"Hmm, I was just thinking about your offer kanina. Pero di pa tapos klase niyo. Mag aantay nalang ako mamaya. Sounds great?"

After what I said, his lips curved.

"That's so great! I'll catch up with you late okay? Sasabihin ko yan sa may ari. Taga dito lang din siya."

I nodded and smiled. Bumalik narin siya sa klase tapos nag wave na nag resulta sa muling paghiyaw ng mga ka klase niya.

Napailing lamang ako at nag antay Marian Quadrangle, dito naman talaga ang antayan namin ni Ccing.

Lumipas ang ilan pang minuto, may lalaking nakatayo sa aking harapan. I am wearing my earphones kaya di ko siya namataan.

Nung inangat ko ang aking ulo, I found Ricci carrying his school stuff.

"Oh hi!" I greeted him with a hug. Kaso ang hirap, kailangan ko pang mag tiptoe to reach him. Tangkad niya!

"Let's go? Mga 5 siguro nandun na siya kaya you can prepare a song sa drive tapos doon, you'll sing."

"Agad agad? Ba't ko ba to pinasok? Omg. Kinakabahan ako Ccing!"

"Sus, huwag kang kabahan. I'll be there with you."

I smiled at sumama na sa kanya papunt sa parking lot. I swear I'm very thankful he's my best friend.

Nang nakarating na kami sa bar, nakuha ang atensyon ko sa isang neon sign. Nakalagay dun love and music, so basically this is all about love and music. Huwaw! Mas lalo pa akong kinabahan.

Best Friend ang napili kong kanta, alay kay Ccing. He's the one who pursued me with this, he's the one who said na ipagpatuloy ko ang aking pagkanta. Kaya ito ang i p-perform ko mamaya.

Nakapasok na kami sa bar and it looks super fancy. Yung booths kulay pink, violet at black. Neon lights below the chairs and counters.

Tapos yung stage. Lighten up with fairy lights, may isang black stool doon and a mic stand. Walang na p-perform pero mellow music is playing.

"Oh Ricci! It's Wednesday, I thought you're here on Fridays? Anyare dun bro? And is this Czarina?" Napalingon ako sa lalake. He's tall, black haired and has a fair complexion.

"Yes Dash. Sinamahan ko lang yung best friend ko dito, she wants to be a part of our band." Ay char! May band pala tong si Ricci? Wow ha!

"Oh, I see. Of course! Sabihin mo lang song mo and the DJ will handle it. Pwesto kalang dun sa stool tapos pakilala ka, dito lang kami manonood and after niyan, I'll tell you if you're accepted. Or not."

Medyo kampante ako nung kami palang ni Ricci, pero nung nakaharap ko na si Dash, bumaba confidence ko.

"Kaya mo yan. Trust me." I nodded at Ricci. Pumwesto na nga ako sa stool and people are now looking.

"Um, good evening po! Ako nga pala si Czarina Montalbo. I'm here to perform a song by Jason Chen. Title po nito ay Best Friend."

Do you remember when I said I'd always be there?
Ever since we were ten, baby.
When we were out on the playground playing pretend.
I didn't know it back then.

Now I realize you are the only one
It's never too late to show it.
Grow old together,
Have feelings we had before
Back when we were so innocent

I pray for all your love
Noy, our love is so unreal
I just wanna reach and touch you, squeeze you, somebody pinch me
(I must be dreaming)
This is something like a movie
And I don't know how it ends, boy
But I fell in love with my best friend

After my performance, the audience applaud and I thanked them. Dumiretso ako sa pinaroroonan ni Dash.

"Congrats, you're in." I squealed in joy and I can't describe how happy am I now.

Pero nung pag lingon ko sa kabilang side, nakita ko si Ricci nakasandal sa isang counter. I saw a tear escape from his left eye.

Left eye means sadness. Why does it affect me so much?