ELEVENTH
Uncomfortable. Irritated. Embarrassed. Those are just some of the feelings XZ is feeling right now. Everyone’s smiling but she doesn’t think this is funny. She doesn’t like this. Why are all the attention on her? If she could, she’d just make herself disappear at this very moment.
“Tatlong oras na akong nagpapa-cute sa’yo🎶”
“‘Di mo man lang napapansin ang bagong t-shirt ko🎶”
XZ looked at Damien and when their gaze met, Damien winked at her. The crowd teasingly squealed when they saw Damien’s wink.
Damien’s voice is good, there’s no doubt about that, and his guitar skill is exceptional—XZ is certain as she was able to watch some videos of him playing the guitar when she got curious about him. But XZ doesn’t like the spotlight she’s getting right now and the worse part is XZ’s really not interested in him anymore. She waited for him to come to explain to her what they were before she lost her memories but she was done waiting. She’s sure she has given him enough time from the day she lost her memories until her performance with Nereo which happened 3 weeks ago. She has decided that she’ll still wait for her memories to come back but she’ll also start making new memories that she’ll hold close to her heart now.
“At asahang iibigin ka🎶”
“Sa tanghali, sa gabi at umaga🎶” Sumasabay pa ang ibang mga taong nasa paligid nila sa pagkanta ni Damien.
“Huwag ka sanang magtanong at magduda🎶”
The way XZ sees it, this is a game for Damien but she doesn’t want to play. She can see why she fell for this guy—handsome, plays the guitar, plays basketball—before but the person she is right now doesn’t want him. She gave him a long time to come to her and he never did but just when she was done waiting, he pops out of nowhere, playing his guitar and singing cheesy songs. This is the third ‘harana’ of the week and he’s been doing this for two weeks now.
“Stop,” saad ni XZ ngunit walang huminto sa pagkanta, ni hindi nga siya narinig ng mga tao maliban kay Mel na katabi niya at si Nereo na nasa gilid, katabi ni Kai na katabi ni Damien.
“Stop!”
Natigil sa pagtugtog ng gitara si Damien ngunit inabot ng halos dalawang segundo bago huminto ang ibang tao sa pagkanta.
“This may be a game to you but I am not a prize.”
Lahat ay hindi nakakibo nang magsalita ulit si XZ. She looks dead serious.
“I am not something you could just get any time you want. I’m a person.”
“And I believe I have a say on this and what I want to say is stop. Stop this. I don’t know what you’re trying to achieve but just stop. I don’t want to see you anymore, Damien Lacerda.”
Magsasalita sana si Damien ngunit tumakbo na palayo si XZ. Matapos ang ilang segundong pananahimik ng lahat ay kani-kaniya na rin sila ng galawan at alisan. That was really awkward.
“I can’t believe I’m the one who’d drive her away,” saad ni Damien at nilapag ang gitara niya sa lamesa upang umupo.
“You know, a decent guy would run after her. Maybe you’re making an effort now but you know what? It’s not enough. You say you love her but you just let her go without even telling her anything? Really? That’s how you love? Maybe XZ is right for not loving you this time around. Maybe her amnesia is a blessing in disguise so she’d forget that she ever loved you,” sunud-sunod na saad ni Mel sa pagmumukha ni Damien at nagwalk-out. Agad naman siyang sinundan ni Hayden.
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost Stars
Teen Fiction[SMUG Series #1] XZ Martinez is a smart young woman. She was born to a rich and famous family but she doesn't seem to like it. Unlike her older brother, Valentine, XZ is and will never be used to the attention people are giving her but she guesses t...
