Eternal Tune (Haunted Series 1)

Chapter 9: Vanilla Twilight

tw: mentions of sexual assault.

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Feeling the sweat drop on my neck, from the fifth position, I did pirouettes, my breath catching as I tire myself out.

"Gabriel... you might not want to go to her right now." Napahinto ako at napailing nang marinig ang boses ni Hana galing sa backstage. Kaya pala walang tao dito sa stage, 'di nila pinapapasok.

"Bakit? Galit nanaman ba? I'll talk to her—"

"No. It's... her mother's death anniversary." I heard Rotcehlei whisper. Pero whisper pa ba yun?

Nag uusap pa ata sila pero hindi ko na narinig dahil pinasak ko na sa tenga ang earphones kong dala at napahiga sa stage sa pagod at tiningnan ang ilaw sa taas.

After a couple of minutes, "Hey..." napatingin ako kay Gabriel na umupo sa tabi ko. Tinanggal niya ng marahan ang suot kong earphones.

My eyebrows arched at him. "Pinapunta ka ba nila?"

"Ayaw nga nila akong papasukin, pinilt ko lang." Umiling siya at inikot ang tingin sa paligid, dumaan 'yun sa puting keyboard na katabi ko and he played a key before setting his eyes on me. "Why are you here?"

My lips pursed at tinuro ang keyboard. "I wanted to work."

"But you're not working." Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at napalakas ang buntong hininga ko.

"Wala akong maisip. Hindi ako makaisip ng matino." I'm not even inspired to play a melody, so I danced.

"Kaya ka ba nakahiga?" He knows whenever I'm sad, confused or frustrated, nasa gilid lang ako at tahimik. Pinaglaruan niya ang nakakalat kong buhok, spreading it around my head like it's a crown.

I looked at the dimmed lights. The soft, orange lights embrace anyone who's in here. "The stage... it gives me some sort of peace." It's where I can freely express my pent-up feelings without anyone judging me.

Tahimik lang siya habang pinaglalaruan ang buhok ko at ilang minuto ang lumipas nang magsalita siya. "Do you want to go somewhere? Come on. Let's go somewhere. Anywhere you want to."

I looked at him and arched my left brow. "Why?"

"Isipin mo nalang ito ang birthday gift mo sa'kin." He smiled. Ilang araw na ang lumipas pero wala parin akong naibibigay sa kanya, and he knows how stressed I am about it.

"But it's not a birthday gift kung ako ang makaka benefit." I shook my head. He can't use the birthday card for that!

"Hmmmm." He hummed while playing with my hair, ang kulit.

Tumitig ako sa kanya nang ilang sandali. Finally deciding, I stood up and offered my hand. "Let's go to my house."

Gulat siyang tumitig sa'kin.

On my way home, Gabe was the one driving while my guards were tailing us. Dumaan kami sa gate ng village at ngumiti sa'kin si ate Gina, she's the one currently guarding. When I was a kid palagi kong dinadalhan ng snacks ang mga guards dito because I find them so cool.

"Are we lost?" Napatingin ako kay Gabriel nang tanungin niya 'yon. He was looking around the tall trees kaya natawa ako.

"We're not. Don't worry." Hindi na siya nagsalita, kahit na dumaan kami sa napakahabang pader. "Umm our security's a bit strict. So wag ka magulat ha?"

Tumango siya sa sinabi ko, he didn't look at me but I was staring at him the entire time kaya naman kitang kita ko ang paglaki ng mata niya nang nasa harap na kami ng bahay. "Wow, this is the real definition of heightened security."