X. Confession Song

It's Tuesday and today is the school festival, so it's okay not to go to the University too early in the morning.

Mom and Dad were fighting again yesterday and it’s a good thing that we had our final practice for today’s performance. When I asked Alvie why she was absent, she said that something came up at home so I didn’t dig in further.

The students are scattered everywhere just like a typical school festival.  I glanced at my watch and heave a sigh when I realized it’s already 9:07 AM. I was about call Alvie’s phone but someone grabbed me by the hand which caused my phone to bounce on the concrete.

I cursed inwardly.

               

                “Solleigh!”

               

                I don’t know her name but I know she’s one of the guys’ classmates. I don’t know how she knew my name but her face right now looks troubled, making my heartbeat race. The next thing she did really surprised me. She’s taller than me and she literally drag me towards the gymnasium.

"Hey! Stop!"

Madali naman pala syang kausap kaya tumigil din siya.

"Anong nangyayare?"

"Si Phoenix kasi!"

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. Did he got into an accident? Did he break his bones while practicing?

“Anong nangyari?” I asked.

"Basta pumunta ka nalang sa gy-"

Di ko na siya pinatapos. Mabilis kong tinakbo yung gym. Partida bes, ang layo ng gym mula sa main gate na kinatatayuan ko kanina.

Madaming tao doon kaya lalo akong kinabahan. Nainjured ba sya? Bumagsak habang sinusubukang mag dunk ng bola? Nabagok ang ulo? Bakit walang ambulansya?

Suddenly, I heard EXO'S WHAT IS LOVE playing. What the hell?

I saw the four boys singing while dancing in the middle of the crowd.

YES. THEY ARE SINGING WHILE DANCING.

I hold my breath while watching them. They are really amazing. They are dancing machines; they got the voice, too, especially Glenn.

Madaming nagtitilian, wow. Fanboys got their fangirls, eh?

Suddenly, boys came out holding the papers we made last Sunday. The gymnasium is now crowded.

Ah. I'm starting to get the point. Magcoconfess nga pala si Phoenix dun sa crush niya. I smiled bitterly. Nagmadali akong pumunta dito dahil akala ko may kung ano nang nangyari sa kaniya.

The boys who are holding banners started forming a line and slowly completing the question, “I LIKE YOU, CAN I COURT YOU?”

                I don’t want to witness the scene. I’m happy for him but my mood suddenly changed. Aatras na sana ako para umalis pero bigla siyang nagsalita.

"You."

I snapped back to reality when I heard Phoenix. He is looking at me—or at the part where I am standing. I look at the girls beside me. I saw Kaysie, the student council secretary standing beside me. Oh, so siya pala yun?

Wala naman akong balak makigulo sa oh-so-sweet confession niya, so I step back.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Napakunot yung noo ko. Siraulo talaga, manliligaw palang uma-attitude na.

"Stupid. You. The one who wears a sweater in the middle of hot weather."

I looked at Kaysie. She's not wearing a sweater. She's also a cheerleader and probably won't wear that kind of clothes. Kami lang yata ni Alvie ang nakakagawa nun.

Wait.

Suddenly, my heartbeat speeds up so fast. Para akong nabato sa kinatatayuan ko. Napatingin ako sa suot ko. I’m wearing a white sweater right now. I tried to look around but they’re all looking at me.

"Do I have to complete your name? The one who's claiming that she's Suho's honey. the one who has a beautiful voice."

Tahimik pa din ako. Seriously? Is he talking about me? Lumingon pa ulit ako sa paligid. Pilit na naghahanap ng posibleng EXO-L na sinasabi nya. Biglang tumawa sina Chalk. Napalingon naman ako sa gilid kung nasaan si Alvie na may hawak pang DSLR camera kaya lalong napakunot yung noo ko.

"Eirrie Solleigh Santos..."

"Ako?"

"Hindi.” He deadpanned, “May iba pa bang Eirrie Solleigh dito?”

Nagtawanan lahat ng nakarinig sa kanya. Napaismid naman ako.

"Ang corny mo.” I hissed then rolled my eyes.

"You really know how to ruin the moment, eh?" he rolled his eyes, too.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"What on earth is really happening?” I asked, still confused about what’s happening.  

"Patapusin mo nga muna kasi ako!" he shouted through the microphone.

"EH ANG BAGAL MO KASING MAGSALITA! UGH. ANO BANG KALOKOHAN TO?!" I shouted back at him.

"TSS! MANAHIMIK KA MUNA KASI! AKO MUNA YUNG MAGSASALITA!” he shouted again, then speak like he’s complaining, “I don't know what's with you. You're not even my type. You're loud and craz—”

"Iinsultuhin mo lang ba ako?"

I glared at him.

"Tsk. Manahimik ka nga muna. Baliw ka. Makulit. Pasaway. Masungit." He counted with his fingers.

The masungit thing is an understatement but he’s just like that, too. In fact, his mood swings are worse than mine.

"But there's something about you that pushes me to know you more. So, Suho's honey! Let's go out for a date. I know I can’t beat him but still, I want you to be mine."

Ang corny pero kinikilig ako. Bakit ganun? Argh.

"Wow. I didn't know that you are this bossy. Tsk. I'll go with you for a date if and only if—"

"Aren't posters, merchandises and concert tickets enough for you to say yes?" he looks so frustrated.

I smiled at him.

"So, it's a yes?"

"Do I have a choice? You're not even asking me. You're demanding it."

Natawa sila sa sinabi ko. He suddenly hug me. I can feel his heartbeats as fast as mine.

"Ang korni mo, Lawin!" pang aasar nina Jedd but he just flip them the bird.

After that dramatic presentation of Phoenix, we immediately prepare for the contest.

Alvie and I are wearing a black pair of shorts and white sleeveless with the print of DDG on it and put over the plaid long sleeves. The boys are wearing the same but they paired theirs with ripped jeans.

"Ang galing." Alvie commented.

She's sitting next to Chalk, Jedd, and Kollin while on the other side is me with Glenn beside me.

"Yeah. Good choice of music." Kollin said.

We are given 5 minutes to perform. The first group is good indeed. I glanced at Glenn who's busy with his phone.

The music ends, a sign that we are the next. We went to the stage and the crowd screamed. The music started. Call me baby, Lotto (EXO), Fire, War of hormones (BTS), Aju Nice (SEVENTEEN), and Firetruck (NCT127) were remixed by Jedd, the computer freak.

We started dancing. This is the first time I performed in front of the crowd. The crowd are screaming 'DDG'. Minsan naiisip ko, kung ‘di ko kaya nakilala sina Alvie, magagawa ko 'to? I am always the hard-headed child. Happy-go-lucky, obsessed with books and a die-hard fan of EXO.

After 5 minutes, our time is up. We all went down the stage tsaka bumalik sa pwesto namin kanina. Ngayon lang ako nag enjoy ng ganito.

"Bili tayong tubig?" Glenn said.

Tumango naman ako tsaka sumunod sa kanya.

"Oy! Maaga pa huh! Mamayang gabi nyo na gawin yan!"

If looks could kill, paniguradong libing na ni Jedd bukas. Siraulo talaga.

Naglalakad kami ni Glenn papunta sa food court. Bigla nya akong inakbayan. Alam niyo yung feeling na komportable ka sa kanya?

"Ano namang naisip mo at may nalalaman ka pang ganun?"

Bigla syang natawa. He's really tall. Mukha akong bata kapag katabi ko siya.

"Because you're a fangirl, and I know that fangirls are hopelessly romantic.” He hissed.

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. Di naman niya kelangang gawin yun, pero ginawa pa din nya. Bigla tuloy akong napaisip. Bakit ako? Anong meron sa akin para magustuhan netong abnormal na 'to?

Bumili kami ng merienda para sa aming anim. Dala nya yung dalawang plastic bag. Ayaw kasi nyang magpatulong.

"May game kami mamaya~ Manood ka, okay?"

Napatingin ako sa relo ko. Alas onse palang naman. Mamaya pang 4 magsisimula yung game.

"Ayoko."

Bigla syang huminto kaya nauntog pa ako sa likod nya.

"Joke lang! Oo na. Tss."

Around 1 na nung natapos lahat ng performer. Dumiretso na kami sa food court dahil ‘di na daw kaya ni Alvie yung gutom.

Nasa gitna ako ni Glenn at Alvie. Nasa harapan naman namin sina Chalk, Kollin, at Jedd.

Pagkatapos kumain  tumayo si Jedd tsaka umakyat sa lamesa kaya naistorbo yung tatlo sa pag uusap.

 "Listen to me. I'm going to sing a song dedicated to my loves, Kollin." Sabi nya habang hawak yung bote ng coke na ginawa nyang mic.

                Nagpalakpakan naman kaming lahat. Nagsimula syang kumanta ng 'Emotions' ni Ariana Grande.

Enjoy na enjoy sila habang pinapanood si Jedd na kumanta.

                Nung nasa may part na magwi-whistle sa kanta ni Ariana, biglang pumiyok si Jedd kaya nagtawanan sila.

 Tumayo si Kollin tsaka binato ng tissue si Jedd.

Talking about BROMANCE. Ugh.

                Bumaba naman sa mesa si Jedd tsaka naglakad papunta sa may pinto.

                "Saan ka pupunta, Bro?" Tanong ni Chalk sa kanya.

                "Sobrang tamis dito, nakakasulasok,” sabay tingin niya sa amin ni Glenn, “Mamatay na sana lahat ng gwapo sa mundo.” Sabi niya sabay bagsak sa entrance ng food court.

                Gulat na gulat kami ni Alvie pero tumawa lang si Glenn.

Nilapitan naman siya nina Chalk at Phoenix tsaka chineck kung anong nangyari sa kanya.

“Safe ka. Hindi ka naman gwapo kaya hindi ka pa mamamatay.” Sabi ni Glenn sa kaniya.

Kami  naman ni Alvie eh napa-facepalm nalang.

 Ang abnormal talaga niya kahit kelan.

"Lakas mo talagang mangarap Jedd. Hayst." Walang ganang sabi ni Kollin tsaka hinakbangan si Jedd para makalabas. Nakaharang kasi siya sa may pintuan.

"Tell me, paano nyo napagtitiisan si Jedd?" Tanong ko kay Glenn.

"Wala eh. Wala kaming magagawa." Sagot nya kaya natawa ako.