CLOUD AND SKY

Chapter 2

CLOUD POV

Habang papasok kami sa backstage area, parang hindi na ako humihinga. Every step felt like my heart was trying to escape my chest. Si Kiara, kahit parang cool pa rin sa labas, nanginginig na yung kamay niya sa kaba.

Then, the staff stopped in front of a door na may sign:

“MIX - PRIVATE ROOM”

She knocked twice, then opened it slowly.

“Please, come in,” sabi niya.

Pagpasok ko, parang huminto ang mundo ko.

There he was.

Sky.

Nakatayo siya sa corner, suot pa rin yung stage outfit niya. Pawisan, pagod, pero—he still looked like a dream. Yung aura niya? Nakakabaliw. Pero ang pinaka hindi ko kinaya…

He was looking straight at me.

Parang slow motion lahat. Hindi ako makagalaw. Hindi ako makapagsalita.

“Ulap20?” tanong niya.

Voice. His voice.

Hindi ako makapaniwala. Tinawag niya ako. Hindi bilang Cloud. Hindi bilang childhood friend.

Pero bilang... Ulap20—yung codename ko sa fandom.

“Ah… Y-Yes,” halos pabulong kong sagot.

Napangiti siya. “Thank you... for everything.”

Kinurot ako ni Kiara sa tagiliran. “Gaga, ngumiti ka naman! Hahaha!”

Pero hindi ko na siya marinig. Lahat ng ingay, lahat ng tao—nawala. It was just him. And me.

He walked closer. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko.

Should I hug him? Should I cry? Should I run?

But he just stood in front of me, offering his hand.

“I’ve always seen your support. Kahit di ko pa alam kung sino ka. You’ve always been there.”

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to break down. “I told myself… I’ll wait until you recognize me. Kahit sa ganitong paraan lang.” I said without thinking.

Ntigilan siya pero hindi na nakapagsalita since lumapit din the Chin, isa sa myembro to hug me.

Nagulantang pa ako.

Isa siya sa pinaka introvert sa grupo but niyakap niya ako ng kusa.

" Thank you so much for your support. Head admin. ", nakangiti niyang sabi.

Arggghhhh..

Iba man sa pakiramdam na mayroon ako kay Sky, ang pagiging fangirl, na minahal mo rin ang kagrupo ni Sky, hindi mo talaga maiwasang kiligin rin.

" Kiara... Head ng Streaming.. ,

" Ohhhh.. Really,, I am Jeff. "

"I know, Ikaw ang bias ko sa Mix. Hehehe", ang savage girl, naging basang mamon sa harap ni Jeff.

“Guys, dito po tayo!” tawag ng isang staff, guiding us papasok sa isang mini lounge area behind the stage. May konting refreshments, cozy seats, and posters ng MIX everywhere. Parang fangirl heaven talaga ‘to!

We weren’t alone anymore—may ilang fan leaders from other countries rin na invited. Nakakahiya man, pero kita mo agad sa mga mukha nila na kami ni Kiara ang pinaka-hype.

Biglang pumasok ang buong MIX. Complete. In full visuals. In full force.

“Hi everyone! Thank you for coming!” bati ni Jin, the leader, sabay bow. Grabe, kahit simpleng t-shirt lang suot niya, parang kasalan na agad ‘yung aura.

“Chin, Sky, Jeff, Zion, and Louie,” sunod-sunod ang pagpapakilala nila, kahit obvious naman na kilalang-kilala na namin sila. Pero syempre, fangirl etiquette—pa-humble muna. Act cool, act calm… kahit hindi naman totoo.

Pag-upo nila, naglagay ang staff ng raffle box sa gitna.

“We want to make this special,” sabi ni Zion habang ngumiti. “So we’ll pick random questions from fans! Let’s go!”

Tumili agad ‘yung mga nasa likod. Kami ni Kiara? Abot-tenga ang ngiti.

First pick: “Who’s the funniest member?”

Sabay-sabay silang sumagot, “Jeff!”

“Of course, it’s me!” Jeff stood up at biglang nag-sample ng dance na sobrang exaggerated. Parang tiktoker na comedian, sabog pero sobrang cute. Lahat kami tumatawa, pati ‘yung Korean staff hindi na rin makapagpigil.

Next pick: “Who’s most likely to fall for a fan?”

Sabay turo kay Sky.

Lahat: “SKY!!!”

“WHAAAT?! Nooo!” Sky protested, halatang nahiya. Napatingin siya saglit sa akin, then inalis din agad ‘yung tingin niya. Napakagat-labi ako. I felt my cheeks burn.

“Ohhh Sky has a secret crush, maybe?” hirit ni Jeff, sabay kindat sa amin.

“Wag kayo maingay!” tawa ni Sky habang tinatakpan ang mukha niya with his hands. Para siyang binata na nahuling may crush sa classmate niya. My heart, please calm down!

Sunod na tanong: “If you weren’t an idol, what would you be doing now?”

“Doctor,” sagot ni Sky.

Nagulat ako.

Napatingin siya sa akin ulit.

“I’d probably fall in love with someone who saves lives.”

ARGHHHHH WHAT. WAS. THAT.

I almost dropped my water bottle.

Kiara elbowed me hard.

“Beshie, ikaw lang naman ang doctor dito. s**t. Confirmed. Lumalaban siya!”

I wanted to hide under the table, but at the same time, lumulutang ako sa ere.

Pinapakinggan ko sila habang tuloy ang kwentuhan, tawa, harutan. May pa-photo op, may pa-gift exchange pa nga. Jeff even personally handed Kiara a signed photocard. Girl almost passed out.

“I’m gonna frame this beside my diploma. Walang makakapigil sa’kin, Cloud!” Kiara whispered, eyes sparkling like a kid on Christmas.

Nang matapos ang fan interaction, ininvite kami ng group for one last group photo. Nasa gitna si Sky, and when I stood next to him, he subtly reached out and touched my wrist.

" Cloud Marie. ",he whispered softly.

Oh. My. God.

Sabay click ng camera

.

That moment was immortalized.

And so was the sound of my heart, exploding silently.

Pagkalabas namin ng venue, literal na hindi ako makalakad ng maayos. Parang ako ‘yung bagong debut na idol, hindi si Sky. My knees were weak, my heart was doing cartwheels, and my brain? Offline.

“Girl, Cloud, hellooo?” Kiara waved her hand sa harap ng mukha ko habang inaagapan ako sa gilid ng kalsada. “Balik ka muna sa Earth, please. Na-teleport ka na yata sa Sky!”

Napanganga lang ako. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.

"He remembered my name..." bulong ko, habang parang slow motion lahat ng nangyari sa utak ko. ‘Yung tingin niya, ‘yung boses niya, ‘yung banayad na hawak sa pulso ko—parang sinaksak ng straight sa puso.

“Okay, let’s break this down,” Kiara said, practically jumping with excitement habang nilalakad namin ‘yung papuntang sakayan.

“Una, tinignan ka ng tatlong beses. Pangalawa, hinawakan ang kamay mo. Pangatlo, sinabi ang pangalan mo. Pang-apat, MAY LINYA SIYANG PARA SA’YO! THAT WASN’T EVEN PART OF THE Q&A!”

Napaupo na lang ako sa waiting bench. “I’m dreaming. Kiara, gisingin mo ‘ko. Please.”

“Kung panaginip ‘to, aba ang sakit ha. Kasi ‘yung inggit ko real na real,” natatawa niyang sagot habang inaabot sa’kin ‘yung bote ng tubig. “Cloud, you’re not just a fan anymore. You’re someone he noticed. Baka... baka he’s starting to remember.”

Biglang bumigat ang dibdib ko.

Sana nga. Sana totoo. Sana hindi lang ako nagpapaka-fangirl ng sobra. Kasi sa bawat ngiti niya kanina, kahit surrounded siya by screaming fans, parang ako lang ‘yung tinitingnan niya.

Pero bahagi ko pa rin ang natatakot. What if it’s just fanservice? What if hindi pa rin niya talaga ako maalala?

What if this is all I’ll ever be—his biggest fan, but still just a fan?

Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at huminga ng malalim.

“I need to calm down. I need to focus.”

“Focus saan? Sa license mo na pasado na o sa lalaking sinungkit ka na ulit?” Kiara teased, her tone softening.

“Both,” I whispered, half-laughing, half-crying. “I’ll still support him. Until he remembers everything… or until I finally accept that maybe he won’t.”

And just like that, humarurot ang jeep sa tapat namin. Sabay kami sumakay, si Kiara excited pa rin, ako naman lutang pa rin—hawak ang puso ko, pilit kinakalma.

But deep inside, I knew something changed.

Because tonight, for the first time in years… he looked at me like he knew without asking for who am I.

...............Next..................