His Favorite Song (Completed)

Chapter 33

My Only Exception
Paramore
1:02 ─|─────── 4:27
|◁          II          ▷|

PAUL

The weather is cold.

Ely was busy sipping his hot Choco while watching the scenery outside the glass window. Kahit na nasa harap na niya ako ay halatang iniiwasan pa rin niya ako ng tingin for almost an hour. I was trying to talk but it seems that I don't know to initiate a conversation anymore. But, I do think he's enjoying the moment. 

At the same time, I could feel the awkwardness between us.

"Ely-" I called his name pero bigla na lang niyang nilayo kaunti ang cup na iniinom niya. Mukhang napaso ata siya, so I handed him a tissue from the tissue box beside our food. "Ayos ka lang?"

"Yeah, a-ayos lang ako," sabi niya but he keeps on touching his lower lip.

I held his hand just before he could touch his lip again. Nagkasalubong ang mga mata namin, and he gave me a strange look. His beautiful almond brown eyes are luring me.

Binaba ko ang aking tingin sa labi niya. I was trying to check it kung napaso nga ba pero nagiging magulo na ang takbo ng isip ko, kaya agad kong binawi ang kamay ko. My hands were shaking. Buti na lang, hindi niya nakita.

It's getting more awkward now. Sh*t. 

This time, ako na ang umiwas ng tingin at dumungaw na lang sa glass window. Through my peripheral view, he stared at me for a minute, and look outside the window again.

Unti-unti akong lumingon sa kanya. I think he's more comfortable on being quiet than having a conversation with me. He was just simply enjoying the scenery outside, with a smile painted on his face. 

"Do you have any family?" I randomly asked and he turned to me.

"Of course, I do! Bakit mo naman natanong?" he grinned.

"I just feel you're alone in life. Sorry, my bad." 

Nilagay niya ang kanyang cup sa table, and he turned again to me. "Gano'n ba? Uhm, actually nasa probinsiya sila at ako lang andito sa city. Sobrang miss ko na nga sila. Buti na lang may bestfriend ako na palagi ko kasama sa university, hehe," he explained. 

"Siya nga pala, thank you sa treat. I really appreciate it. Hindi ko alam na may ganitong lugar pala just outside the city. Thanks for bringing me here."

"You're welcome," I replied.

Naalala ko si Chesca sa kanya no'ng magkasama pa kami. Chesca would really say she appreciate my treat sa mga date namin, just like Ely,

...but Ely sounded more genuine than her.

"Mukhang mamaya pa ata titigil ang ulan," Ely murmured at may kinuha sa bulsa niya.

His earphones.

A simple black wired earphones.

Kinabit niya 'yon sa phone niya saka nilagay ang earbuds sa mga tainga niya. Sayang 'di ko rin dala yung akin.

He turned to me once more, and gave me a smile. Kinuha niya ang isang earphone at inalok sa akin. "Napaka-selfish ko na naman kung ako lang nag-eenjoy sa music ko," sabi niya habang hawak ang earphone.

Napangiti ako tsaka kinuha ang earphone at nilagay sa tainga ko pero sa paglagay ko ay nahila ko yung sa kanya at natagal mula sa tainga niya. "Oops-"

"It's okay. Lapit ka lang nang kaunti para 'di natin mahila yung earphones," sabi niya saka kami umusog paharap sa isa't isa mula sa kinauupuan namin.

I put my arms down on the table and leaned forward, just the same way that he did. I can see his face much closer, with his eyes closed.

Then, a music played through my earphone.

It's been a long time since I heard this song. I never thought that I would be listening to this today, in front of a stranger that became my friend for a short time.

I sang this song for Chesca when we were celebrating our 1st monthsary being together. Now, I'm listening with Ely, and he doesn't know how meaningful this song is for me.

Hindi ko napansin na nakatitig na pala ako kay Ely, at saktong idinalat niya ang mga mata niya. Nagkasalubong ulit ang mga tingin namin, pero ngayon, may kakaiba na akong nararamdaman.

Mas lalong lumakas ang kabog ng puso ko.

Sh*t.

It's the same feeling that I've felt when I was with Chesca...

No, it's something different from it. It's a strange feeling. Something was ignited in me, and then I was letting it burn while my eyes on him, the reason why I was feeling like this. I shouldn't be like this, knowing he's not a girl but something I found in him that keeps me falling.

Am I falling in love with Ely now?

"Ely?" I called his name. 

Lumingon siya sa akin. "Paul?" sabi niya saka ko hinawakan ang kanyang kamay habang nakatitig pa rin sa kanya.

Nakita kong nagtataka na siya sa ginagawa ko, pero hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko. Gusto ko nang sabihin nang diretso ang nararamdaman ko, pero parang umuurong ata ang dila ko.

This is my chance now...

...pero ang daming what-ifs.

What if false feelings lang 'to?

What if he rejects me?

What if may chance ako?

What if mag-stay na lang kami as friends?

What if iwan ko na lang siya dito-

Sh*t, naguguluhan na ako.

But I know, one thing's for sure, I shouldn't let this chance slip away. "Ely..."

"Paul, is there something wrong? Miss-" sabi niya at tatawagin sana ang isang staff pero pinigilan ko siya.

"No, I'm okay, Ely..." sabi ko at tumigil siya. "May sasabihin lang ako sa'yo..."

Tumingin siya sa akin at naghihintay sa susunod kong sasabihin, but there's something in me that holds me back- no, sasabihin ko na talaga ang nararamdaman ko para kay Ely. "Ely, I think I'm falling in lo-"

Kring! Kring!

We looked together at his vibrating phone, flashing a name that is familiar to me.

"Uhm, I think I have to answer this call. Sorry," sabi niya sabay unplug ng earphones at hinayaan ko siyang umalis muna para sagutin ang tawag ng kapatid ni Gerald.

Sh*t, wrong timing.