I'll Save You Forever

Kabanata XXXIV

INIGO

"HOY PUSH NA SIZ!"

Halos mabingi ako sa sigaw ni Karyll, kaibigan ni Callista. Eh paano ba naman kasi? She shouted those words while the microphone is glued to her lips.

"Kanino ba kasi 'tong kantang 'to?" aniya.

Nagkatingin silang lahat. Meanwhile, I was just sitting on the couch, pretending as if I heard nothing. Everything is not going according to my plans.

Sabi ko sa sarili ko, pagkatapos kong kumakain kasama si Callista sa Mang Inasal, uuwi na ako.

But I guess, failures are always part of your plans, right? Instead of going home, the four of them—Callista, Karyll, Edison and Eric literally dragged me to a karaoke bar inside the mall.

"Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley, acoustic version, sinong nag-program nito sa system kanina?" tanong pa ni Karyll habang nakadikit pa rin yung bibig niya sa mikropono.

Buti na lang talaga, sound proof tong room na 'to kaya walang madidisturbo sa mga sigaw niya.

Muli nagkatinginan ang lahat. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, napalingon na sila sa'kin.

"Sa'yo 'to 'no?" ani Callista.

"What?!" I furiously asked. "Why would I pick that song? Hindi naman ako in love or something."

Akala ko'y maniniwala na sila ro'n pero hindi pa rin maalis ang kanilang titig sa'kin. Lalo na si Callista.

Ang totoo kasi niyan, ako talaga ang pumili at nag-program ng kantang 'yan kanina. The moment we entered this dim-lighted room, pinaprogram na agad kami ng mga kanta. Para daw lahat kami may maikanta mamaya.

And it happened that I chose the song Can't Help Falling in Love. Don't get me wrong, okay? The lyrics or even the title does not directly affect me. Ang kantang 'yan ay ang palagi kong naririnig dati na kinakanta at pinapatugtog ng mga totoo kong magulang. Siguro kahit sanggol pa lang ako, kabisado ko na yata yung lyrics niyan.

When I was in High School, one my classmates played and sang an acoustic version of it using a guitar. Nag-jamming pa ang buong klase no'n. That was the time I realized I grew fond, listening to that song of the late Elvis.

Back to this hot seat, nilapitan na talaga ako ni Callista.

"Sure ka bang hindi ikaw ang pumili niyan?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I didn't?"

"Okay," she said then walked away from me. "Dahil walang aamin sa inyo at saying naman kung i-ne-next yung kanta, let's just have it this way," ngumisi siya bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. If my eyes didn't deceive me, she gazed at me for a split-second.

"I-vote na lang natin kung sino yung pakakantahin natin nito," she said. "Kanina pa naka-pause yung kanta oh. Automatic 'yan na mag-ne-next after 1 minute."

"Okay, let's hurry up then," tugon ko. "I vote for Callista—the one who suggested," ani ko at ngumisi.

So will I finally be safe? Isang kanta lang ang ipi-no-gram ko sa karaoke kaya kung hindi ko 'to makakanta, hindi na nila maririnig ang boses ko.

"That's one vote for me...any other votes?" aniya.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang wala nang ibang magtaas ng kamay. Oh c'mon! Didn't her friends want to hear her sing that song?