Every Missing Piece

EMP44

EMP44

She's beautiful.

That's what I first thought when I saw her one night in our favorite club's stage, owning it like she's meant to dominate the whole crowd with her lovely angelic voice.

She has this long wavy brown hair that feels so soft if I would run my fingers into it. She's white, just like me. Brown-eyed, small nose, red lips... out of the world. Especially when she closes her eyes, put her hands on the top of the microphone, and serenade the crowd.

She's glowing in the dark place that we are in. If she would just come to me, I don't know... maybe I will just go and kneel down, put her in a pedestal, put a carpet on her directions, and give her a crown... like a goddess she is.

"Miss?" tanong ko.

Nagulat ako noong bigla siyang lumapit saamin. Every time, I just satisfy myself watching her from afar, in eighty-nine, mostly. I silently adored her because even if I don't know her and she doesn't know me... I'm so drawn to her.

"I just..." tumigil siya habang nakatingin saakin. Mas lalong tumaas ang pagtataka ko ngunit hindi ko iyon pinakita. "I just wanna say hi..."

"Hi, Rash..."

My lips parted. Rinig ko ang reaksyon ng mga kaibigan ko sa gilid ngunit hindi ko agad na-intindihan ang nangyari. Did she just said hi to me?

Bago pa ako nakabawi ay mabilis na siyang naglakad palayo saamin. Halos doble ang bilis ng kanyang hakaw pabalik sa kanyang mga kaibigan na kahit malayo ay halata kong tinutukso siya.

"Natulala!"

"Ampota, kinilig ata!"

Pinaulanan ko ng masamang tingin ang dalawang gago kong kaibigan na minsan lang sa buhay nilang naging matino.

"Isn't she the girl in the club?" tanong ni Six noong nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad.

"That sounds off, dude." natatawang saad ni Hezekiah habang abala na muli sa kanyang cellphone. Malamang si Santh nanaman iyon.

Narinig ko ang halakhak ni Theodore sa gilid na ikinais ko agad kaya binato ko sa kanya ang bote ng tubig na nahagip ko lang sa bakanteng lamesang nadaanan namin.

"Gago, ano bang ginawa ko!"

Hezekiah laughed and Six chuckled.

"You breathe, bro."

I thought there could be some changes that can occur. I anticipated it but it never came. Muli akong naging estranghero para sa kanya. She proceeded in her life, just like I do... watching her still. Kaya naman noong naabutan ko siyang mag-isang nakatingin sa mga bituin sa langit at tila may kinakausap kahit wala naman siyang kasama ay hindi ko na sinayang ang aking pag-kakataon.

"I'm Rashad Craig Auxiere." pakilala ko sa kanya.

Tandaan mo na... hayaan mo na akong makapasok sa mundo mo...

"Cascade Quinn Ruan."

I finally got to know her whole name... Kin? Is that her second name?

"Kin? How does it spell?"

Tumawa siya, mukhang hindi inaasahan ang tanong ko. I was so fazed while looking at her giving me her first laugh because of me. It's so addicting...

"It's Q-U-I-N-N. Actually, Queen talaga ang basa don pero sabi ng Mama ko, Kin daw ang gusto niyang basa. Syempre, sinunod ko yung gumawa ng pangalan ko..."

I chuckled. Really huh? Yeah, Kin is nice. But her name is also good with a Queen on it. Because she is one.

I learned that it's her dad's birthday so I forced her to celebrate it with me... of course with a little personal intention. Gusto kong tumatak sa buhay niya. Gusto kong makapasok katulad ng pagiging parte niya saakin kahit hindi niya pa alam.