Hindi na ako nakasagot sa sinabi ni Agnes at naramdaman kong umiinit nanaman yung mukha ko. Buti na lang talaga at malapit na rin kami sa studio. And since busy na kami for rehearsals, hindi na namin masyado napag-usapan yung tungkol sa sinabi niya. The thing with Agnes kasi is you'll never know if she's serious or not. At sa sobrang gullible ko, feeling ko papaniwalaan ko whatever she has to say.
Nung hapon na, nagbyahe na rin kami papunta dun sa venue. At habang nasa backstage, nag-chuddle kaming banda as suggested by Keifer tapos umakyat na rin kami sa stage.
Habang nagso-soundcheck kami, Agnes was standing beside me at nagtotono ng bass niya. Since medyo outdoor yung venue medyo nilalamig ako. Hindi ko alam kung sa panahon o sa kaba. Kinakabahan talaga ako dahil hindi na ako sanay magperform in front of a crowd.
"Nervous?"tanong ni Agnes.
"Slight. Hindi naman kasi lahat kagaya mo na performer."sabi ko sa kanya.
"Sino ba may sabing hindi ako kinakabahan?"sabi niya. "You just need to relax and take a deep breath. You'll be fine wifey. You got this."sabi niya tapos kumindat siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit but somehow I felt my anxiety slowly fading. Pero nung napatingin ako sa audience at napansin ko na sobrang daming tao, kinabahan nanaman ako.
"Wifey."
"Hm?"
"If it's overwhelming for you, just look at me. Isipin mo na lang na you're just playing for me. Okay?"sabi ni Agnes tapos ngumiti siya.
There really is something about her smile that I can't pinpoint. But meron siyang smile na whenever I see it, I feel like I'm automatically mirroring it and I sometimes feel as if I've missed a step.
"Alam mo naninibago ako sayo."
"Why?"
"Wala you just seem so kind lately. It's like getting a different version of you."
"Really? And what version of me would you fall in love with?
"The version of you that does not exist."sabi ko sa kanya.
Napakamot na lang sa ulo si Agnes at nag-ayos ng amp na na gamit niya. But to be honest, I don't even know which version of her I prefer. Siguro it just boils down to the fact na maybe there really are multiple facets to her.
"Agnes."
"Hm?"
"I'd probably take whatever version of you anyway."sabi ko.
And when I realized na parang mali ang sinabi ko, binawi ko rin agad.
"Wala naman akong choice."dagdag ko.
And I was taken in by surprise nung ngumiti siya. I hope she keeps that smile of hers. Nagcue na sa 'min si Pao at nagstart na rin kaming tumugtog. Nung nagsisimula na kaming tugtugin yung Ride Home, I feel as if I've already found my footing and that I'm feeling more at ease.
"Kinakabahan ka pa nyan ah."sabi ni Agnes sa 'kin habang inaayos niya yung buhok niya kaya ako natawa. Nakita ko na natawa din siya. But our interaction was very brief kasi kailangan namin magfocus sa pagtugtog.
Grabe. Sobrang fun nung crowd at kahit yung band. Iba yung energy nila at sobrang nakakahawa. Napatingin ako kay Agnes and I saw her doing this mini dance while playing the bass and for some reason, I was magnetized by her presence.
I realized how Agnes is looking so... hot? What is the right term to describe her? Pero whenever she starts playing her bass, she's just on fire. And tama si Paolo, there is a reason why many people like her. Kasi when she performs, sobrang ma-aattract ka sa kanya. It's like seeing a different Agnes whenever she plays. Kanina sinabi niya na I'm ten times more beautiful behind the steering wheel, I could probably pass on the same compliment to her whenever she plays. I smiled and biglang nagtama yung mata namin.
And for the first time...
I finally allowed myself to admit it.
I like this Agnes.
This is the version of her that I'd probably fall in love with.
Sana lang palagi siyang may hawak na bass.
