T'was a Friday night. Kakatapos lang ng finals and it means, after submitting all the requirements and completing your clearance, summer has officialy arrived.
The barkada decided to hang out at Cafe Racer to de-stress. The place was packed with students from different universities and schools here in Bohol. I guess they just wanted to forget all the hassle and pressure and just enjoy themselves.
One more thing we love the most about Cafe Racer, aside from the food, is their live bands. Every Friday night, a live band performs here and they just hype up the crowd to the point that the place is still packed till 2 in the morning. Tonight, we're expecting one of the usual bands to play but we'll never know what the night brings us.
"Guys, how was the examinations for ABM?" Dominique asked. She took up HUMMS kasi as a strand because she wanted to be a lawyer and all of us don't study on the same school. Dominique and René, who took up HUMMS, studies in Bohol Wisdom School. Jax and Brandon, who took up ABM, studies in the University of Bohol. While Madi and I, who took up STEM, study at the Holy Name University. Nagkataon lang talaga na nagkasabay-sabay yung schedules ng mga exams namin kaya we were able to get to spend our night together.
"It was hell, I tell you. If I stayed there for one more minute, I swear, I'd be seeing floating numbers," Jax exaggerated. She has this tendency of over-exaggerating things which we find funny at times but causes us trouble most of the times. We turned to Brandon to hear his answer.
"T'was fine. It's not that hard but not that easy. I guess I can pass? How 'bout you Dominique?" Brandon asked and they soon dived in to the conversation about law. That's how Dominique's mind and mouth works. Once you give her an opportunity to talk, she won't keep her mouth shut.
They lost me when they started talking about theater and arts as my eyes started to wander the whole restaurant. As I've said, the place was packed. I saw familiar faces from the university who were getting wasted and was just having fun. And then, my attention was caught when a girl climbed up the stage. She wore a simple white v-neck shirt, paired with black ripped jeans and some old school Vans. Nakalugay ang medjo kulot niyang buhok na hanggang sa dibdib niya lang. She was checking on the microphone while there were guys who were busy assembling some instruments at the back.
And then, it suddenly happened. Our eyes met each other and for a second there, I was pulled to a void. Everyting around us blurred and the noise lessened. It's as if we are the only people in here. Is this possible? Even though you're surrounded by a lot of people, bigla ka na lang mawawalan ng pake sa paligid mo at nakatuon lang ang atensyon mo sa isang babaeng ngayon mo lang nakita?
"How 'bout you Delphine? How was your test?" I was suddenly pulled out of the trance when someone poked my shoulder. I broke our eye contact and diverted my attention back to my friends.
"What was your question again?" I drank the acohol offered to me by Jax.
"Naka-shabu ka ba Phin? Kanina ka pa namin tinatanong pero nakatanga ka lang diyan. Has Chemistry finally use up all your brain cells at di ka na nagfufunction ng tama diyan?" Madi ranted. That earned some chuckles from my friends including me.
"Maybe, di natin alam. Ano nga ulit yung question niyo?" tanong ko ulit.
"How was finals?" they chorused.
"Talagang sabay pa kayo? It was fine. Suprisingly, Chemistry was not that hard. It got rocky on some parts but eve-"
"Good evening everyone!" I was cut off when the girl I was having a staring contest a while ago spoke in to the mic. Immediately, she grabbed everybody's attention.
"I'm Happy and these are Choi, Lim and Rex and we are here to entertain you for tonight. I hope you enjoy it," and with that, they started playing. A familiar tune enveloped the place.
"Ilang awit pa ba ang aawitin, O giliw ko?"
Oh, Eraserheads. Everybody got up from their seats and went near the stage to jam with the band. Even my friends got up to join them. I was left with no choice but to leave my seat and go with them.
"Ilang ulit pa ba ang uulitin, O giliw ko," she continued singing. The crowded sang with her too. The place was getting livelier by the minute. Pero it seems like my ears blocked out everyone's voice and I can only hear Happy's.
"Walang humpay na ligaya,
At aasahang iibigin ka,
Sa tanghali, sa gabi at umaga,
Huwag ka sanang magtanong at magduda,
Dahil ang puso ko'y walang pangamba,
Lahat tayo'y mabubuhay ng tahimik at buong Ligaya!"
At habang lumalalim ang gabi, mas lalo akong nahihila ni Ligaya sa kanya.
Ligaya.
