Saving Sol [BxB]

Chapter 2 || The One

S O L

Love.

Love?

Love...

A word very easy to say, but very rare to get. A sensation that cannot be touched, only to be felt. Nabuhay ako sa household na puro kamahalan, to the point na kahit 'di sa'yo idinidiin ang pagmamahal, you'll feel it dahil sa kilig.

'What is love?', ang pambansang tanong ng lahat. I once had a project where I have to ask the said question to my parents, and list them. I asked Mama first.

"Ang pagmamahal isang taong nagpapasaya sa'yo o palagi kang pinapangiti." Ngiti niya, bago tuluyang hugasan ang aming mga plato. I quickly note down the word 'Tao'.

Next, si Papa.

"Feeling ng safety, o comfortability sa isang tao, bagay, o hayop." He winks at me, bago bumalik ang tingin sa kaniyang binabasang diyaryo. I again write the word 'Feeling'.

And lastly, ako naman...

I am fond of books, romance to be specific. Cliche man ang aking sasabihin, pero I treat myself as if I was in a book. Expecting that I'll have someone look at me like any moment, I'll shatter. I want to feel being someone's treasure, someone's Mahiwaga.

I stopped nibbing the tip of my pen and fixed myself bago ko'ng isulat sa papel ang word na 'Mahiwaga'. I smiled before closing my journal, I remembered how well I did that day.

Napatawa rin ako sa sarili kong teacher. I mean, really Sir. Alfred? For a guy whose strict as you, make a project about love?

Speaking of love, you know what I do love?

Food.

Yes, you heard it.

Food.

"Kung ayaw kang tignan ng tao, iwasan mong i-ngudngod yang mukha mo sa burger." Ika ni Ethan.

I tried to say something, but then I forgot that I had a bolus filled mouth kaya ako na-choke.

"'Yan! Kasi e! Sinabi ko sa'yong dumahan-dahan ka sa pagkain e." Pagalala ni Ethan.

Ethan, Ethaniel Hernandez. My best friend ever since I was senior year sa High School. Siya yung tipong lalaking lalaki pero nakikipagkaibigan sa bakla. At first I was weirded out kasi bigla nalang siyang lumapit sa'kin and asked if I was 'gay', the bítch was straightforward the first time we met.

It's not like I'm against with it. I mean, come on! Who asks a complete stranger if he/she is gay? Exactly, an asshole. And sadly, I have an asshóle for a bestfriend.

Binigyan ako neto ng baso ng tubig pagkatapos akong talakan, agad ko namang ininom ito para mawala ang nabubulunan kong lalamunan. Huminga ako ng malalim, at tumingin sa kaniya.

"Ikaw kasi e. Sinabihan mo pa kasi ako, kaya tuloy sinagot kita at muntik pa'ko mamatay!" Sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Excuse me, asswipe. I was only concerned on how you looked like in front of everyone. Kung hindi dahil sa'kin hindi ka titignan ng tao yung mukha mong madungis." Sabi naman neto.

"Basta, nagugutom ako, istorbo ka kasi e." Sabay kain ko ng burger. Tumingin naman ako sa paligid at nakitang may mga nakatingin pala sa'ming mga girls and boys with weird looks. Tumigil ako sa kakanguya and I'm pretty sure I'm red as a tomato right now.

Kaya naman tumabi na ako kay Ethan at itinago sa sarili ko. Nikunok ko ang aking pagkain at sinabing, "Sorry na please, itago mo nalang ako dito. Or umalis nalang."

I literally heard him scoff and I too am pretty sure he has a smirk plastered in his face. This bítch...

"Okay, sweetpea." He winked bago tumayo at kinuha ang bag ko at binuhat ito. Tumayo naman ako at inayos ang sarili, bago kunin ang natitira kong burger and ice cream float. Sayang naman kasi, duh.

Tumungo naman si Ethan sa front door ng cafeteria ng school at umalis, agad naman akong tumakbo para makahabol sa kaniya. Did I forgot to tell you that he's tall? Well, not that tall, kasing height lang ni Nathan. And beacuse of his height, which means he has long legs. Which means, mabilis ito maglakad.

Putá...

"Hoy!" Sigaw ko. Tumigil naman ito sa paglalakad at lumingon sa kaniyang likod. Nakita niya ang isang hingal na hingal na Sol.

"Dahan dahan naman kasi." Reklamo ko.

"'Yan rin sinabi ko sayo kanina." Sabi neto bago naglakad ng mabagal. Nakasabay naman ako neto sa paglalakad, sa wakas. Nagusap kami tungkol sa aming classes. We had the same classes on our 2nd period. We go on with our day. Sa aking pagpasok, nakita ko ang isang poster na naka-attach sa aming bulletin board.

"Kingston's Valentine's Event: 'Mahiwaga'"

I may be weird how much of an impact or the feelings I get when I hear or read the word "Mahiwaga". Kulang na lang may dramatic music sa background everytime na nakikita ko 'to.

"Okay, everyone. Settle down, settle down." Sabi ni Ma'am Felicia.

Agad naman akong umakyat sa aking seat, tumabi sa'kin si Ethan at tinanong if may assignment ba or wala. Tumawa lang ako ng mahina, talaga 'tong batang 'to. I casually grab my notebook and laptop, I put it both down on my desk. Tinignan ko muna ang aking paligid before handing my notebook under my desk to Ethan.

He smiled and bilisang kopyahin ang assignment. Mabait talaga akong tao, pero moody ako pag nagugutom. I mean, who wouldn't? I opened my laptop and went on with my week.

~•~

I stretch myself after I stood up from my seat. It was already Saturday morning, at nandirito ako sa loob ng counter sa café ready for incoming customers. The café already has 5-6 people inside which have their own drinks. Half of them were students reviewing, and some were peoplo who had jobs.

Inayos ko ang gusot kong apron at pumunta sa likod, nakita ko naman si Amy nagce-cellphone at may tinatawag na kung sino. They were talking about a concert or something. She looks at me, and smiles before turning around and continues to talk. Pumunta ako sa restroom at ginawa ko ang kailangan kong gawin.

Narinig ko ang nga customers na lumabas, I sighed. Umupo lang ako sa counter at tumunganga lang at tumingin sa orasan. It was already 10 am. I heard ringing of keys behind me, at nakita ko si Amy na tinanggal ang apron at sinabit niya ito. She shown me the keys to her car and smiled.

"May iche-check ako something sa campus, doon sa open field auditorium. Pipili ako ng spot for our booth sa upcoming event sa February." She said, before sighing. Nalito naman ako.

"Parang ang aga namang magpa-ready yung Event's management na 'yan. It's in the middle of September, and he's worrying about an event in February?" I said. Knowing what concert or event she was talking about. Nalaman ki lang last week, Monday to be specific.

"Pabayaan mo na. Besides, maraming booths na dadalo sa Valentine's, so it's an advantage for us kung ipapagawa na natin ang booth. Magpapa-reserve pa tayo't lahat lahat, so it's fine kung masyadong maaga." She smiled.

"I see, mag-ingat ka ha."

"Thank you, sige una na'ko. Ay, bago ko makalimutan, 'yung 'smores cake' nasa refrigerator, kung nalilito ka kung bakit wala sa counter, nando'n 'yon."

"Okay, thank you rin. Ingat!" I waved, she waved back at pumasok na siya sa kotse't tuluyan nang umalis.

I took a deep breath, and laid my head onto my hands that are on the counter. I sigh, and looked in front. Tumingin naman ako sa paligid ko bago ako huminga ng malalim.

"You don't know, babe

When you hold me

And kiss me slowly

It's the sweetest thing."

Singing isn't something I hate, but one thing that I hate is singing in front of a crowd. The judgeful looks in their faces, the glares, and some amazed ones. And if you know me, I'm stage frightened, which made it worse.

"And it don't change

If I had it my way

You would know that you are..."

But, something in singing made me feel something amazing. It introduced me in the world of artists. Because of music, I realized that every song has a story to tell. And because of this, I then realized too that every story has a song. Songs and stories fills my life with joy, sadness, and soothing sensations. And like I said, it helped me through my downs.

"You're the coffee that I need in the morning.

You're the sunshine in the rain when it's pouring.

Won't you give yourself to me

Give it all, oh."

Someone wise told me that, my weakness was me being sensitive to the littlest things. But my strength, was I get happy in the littlest things. I kept that close to my heart, and by that, I conquered depression.

I sang my heart out and was shocked what came next. A guitar suddenly started strumming and a voice sang with me.

"I just wanna see

I just wanna see how beautiful you are

You know that I see it

I know you're a star."

Kahit nagulat ako, ipinagpatuloy ko lang kumanta, captured by the beautiful harmonies both of us were unleashing.

"Where you go I follow

No matter how far

If life is a movie

Then you're the best part."

I stood up, finding the source of that voice. At sa pagkatayo ko, nakita ko ang isang lalaking naka red na flannel, matangkad, at may hawak hawak na gitara. And no, I didn't expect this beautiful voice was created by Nathan Rodriguez.

"Oh you're the best part, oh oh oh

You're the best part, oh oh oh

Best part."

Namula naman ako sa kaniyang pagtingin sa akin habang kami ay kumakanta. And like we were friends for years, we had a connection, through music.

"If you love me won't you say something

If you love me, won't you

If you love me won't you say something

If you love me, won't you

Love me won't you."

He nods, signalling me to continue. I only closed my hands, and sang once more.

"If you love me won't you say something

If you love me, won't you, oh oh

If you love me won't you say something

If you love me, won't you

Love me won't you."

At parang ang tunog ng pagkatapos ng ulan, sinakop kami ng katahimikan. Ang narieinig lang namin ang aming paghingal sa aming pagkanta. I slowly opened my eyes, tila bang natatakot kung ano'ng makikita ko sa aking harapan.

I saw, once again, those brown eyes. The handsome face I met last Saturday, the one who made me confused because of the overwhelming sparks I felt all throughout my body, all of this because of a touch of his hand and his gaze.

And now... Now I know why this guy is the heartthrob of Kingston's.

His smile, it's beautiful.

He chuckled before saying...

"You're..." He was capturing his breath.

He looked at me with the softest, sincerest look he can ever give me, before continuing.

"You're the one."