Tears Behind His Tuxedo

Kabanata 2

Inayos ko ulit ang sarili ko sa harap ng salamin for the last time. I don't know pero I could really feel this day will be extra special, except for checking dorms that I'll fit in sa NEU. I mean, lahat naman okay pero papa won't settle for just fine. He wants the best for me.

"Yet, can't you just choose an outfit not that revealing?" nakangiwi si papa habang pinagmamasdan ako. Sinamaan ko sya ng tingin, ano gusto nya? mag kumot ako do'n?

"Ano ka ba, Dan! It's okay, she looks good on it." Pagtatanggol ni tita while smiling at me. I threw her a kiss.

"Oo nga, Papa. It's just shorts and a top lang naman. I'm not wearing a bikini! Hello?" at nakisabay si tita sa pagtawa ko.

I am just so happy today na hindi ko alam bakit. I tried to add Marcos last night in his f*******:, but he can't be added. He's quite popular.

I wore my shades the moment I entered the car. Manila is so hot and wearing this kind of clothes will make me feel better. We'll go to NEU now to inquire about the enrollment and of course, the place I'll be staying.

Papa wants to buy a place for me na nasa QC lang and malapit sa school, but I insisted not. I want to live normal, gusto ko iyong ma feel din ang mga pinagdadaanan ng mga nag do-dorm. I don't wanna live forever with my family's money. I do modelling din naman and I think hindi ko kelangan tumawag every moment sa pamilya ko para may itustus sa mga shopping and coffee out ko.

Dumiretso kami sa school. This is not the first time I entered Era since palagi akong nagbabakasyon dito sa Manila kay Papa. Ngayon lang talaga ako nag decide to stay here for studies.

Era has always been a great place for me. My dream school and being here now, makes my heart melt.

Dumiretso kami nina papa sa registrar to ask about everything. Hindi pa enrollment ngayon kaya hindi pa ako makakapag-enroll.

May nakita akong grupo ng mga babae, I smiled at them and they smiled back din naman. The whole school is demanding for respect as the way you look at it. I can't explain the feeling am receiving while seeing the whole school, it's just so fantastic.

I comb my hair using my fingers while watching the students walk by. "Hi," and nilingon ko iyong nasa likod ko. I smiled at him. "Yes?" I wanna be friendly as far as I could, I want to gain friends.

"What's your name? Are you new here?" he asked and it's a little creepy for he's smiling wider and wider while looking at me. "I'm Thea. And yes, I'm new here."

"I'm Ralph. Do you mind if I ask your f*******: ID?" I don't wanna see it eww and he doesn't look like dirty. Actually, he's cute. I gave him my f*******: name and we ended the conversation because Papa is so over protective and immediately called me to go near him.

"Papa, saan naka destino si tito Rene?" I suddenly asked. Kanina pa kasi lumilibot ang tingin ko and he's nowhere to be found. Pabalik na kami ngayon sa kotse.

"I forgot to ask yesterday. Maybe you should ask Marcos," he calmly said it like it was the obvious thing to do. He started the engine.

As he mentioned Marcos, agad akong nag open ng f*******: to check his profile. Geez! Ang pangit tingnan na I'm just one of his followers. I saw a new friend request.

Ralph Jimenez, confirm/delete request. Ito siguro 'yong kinausap ko kanina. I tapped the confirm and in a blink, he sent me a message. Real quick.

Ralph: Hi!

Thea: Hey Ralph

Ralph: Are you in college?

Thea: No. Senior high

Ralph: Really? you look matured haha

Thea: yah

Ralph: So what are your plans today?

Thea: Maghahanap ng dorm

Ralph: You'll take dorm? wow.

Thea: yea

Ralph: Take care

Thea: Thanks.

And I exited messenger.

Humarap ako sa bintana and tried to familiarise all the streets. I'm in NEU place, I should perhaps memorize every corner.

I'm in the middle of watching the restaurants pass-by when I saw Marcos inside one of those. "Papa, papa! Can we stop for a bit? I really need to...to pee," I'm just so desperate na hintuan si Marcos. Pero ayoko rin'g sabihin kay papa, he's so sensitive pa naman.

Agad akong bumaba when he stopped the car. I hurriedly entered the resto. Luckily, I'm using shades so may freedom akong tingnan sya. I saw some guys head turned the moment I entered the place. I calmly flipped my hair, to put it in the right place. I saw Marcos and he doesn't care about the entrance. He's laughing and he's with a girl. Gosh, I looked at the girl. She is pretty, she's wearing black shirt and a jeans. Simple but real elegant. This is a coffee shop. Ngayon ko lang na realize. Lumapit ako sa counter and ordered a frappe. I gave her my card habang pabalik-balik ang tingin kina Marcos. Pa simple akong tumatanaw sa kanila habang hinihintay ang frappe ko. Why is he looking at her that way? Is she his girlfriend?

Hindi ko na namalayan na medyo natulala na ako sa kanila nang bigla nyang nilingon ang gawi ko at sakto talagang sa akin! Bigla akong nataranta even though I'm wearing shades. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa counter and saw my frappe there. Oh gosh, bakit ako nagkakaganito?

Nilingon ko sila and wrong move! He's looking at me. I don't know if I should smile or what? Pero inunahan nya na ako and hindi pa 'yon enough! He stood up at lumapit sa akin. Gano'n sya ka polite sa mga kakilala nya.

"Thea, right?" he is in front of me. Tumango lang ako at itinaas ang shades ko.

"Where's tito?" tanong nya while looking around. Of course, he's expecting I'm with papa for he knows, bago lang ako dito. "Nasa kotse, why?"

"Wala naman. I promised papa to help you getting enrolled here since he said, may trabaho si tito," he is so kind! and I can't help it but to adore him even more!

"That would be great. Thank you!"

"Just tell me kung magpapa-enroll ka na. I'll be with you," and he smiled again. Gosh gosh gosh.

"Paano? We aren't friends on facebook." Para-paraan ka rin Ayet, e no?

"Talaga? I will try to add you later and maybe you should give me your number," and swear to heavens! Kinikilig ako! I don't know if I'm blushing but let's just hope not. Nakakahiya. I gave him my contact number.

"Nga pala, it's Renzo's birthday tomorrow. Punta kay," I didn't expect he's this talkative but it's fine, his smiles are so fantastic. I just can't stop staring at it.

"O-okay. I'll tell papa." I don't know how magical my smile is, pero sabi ng mga taong nakapalibot sa akin, I can ask for the world just by smiling at them but I guess, It doesn't work on Marcos. After all, I can't please all the people.

"See you tomorrow. I gotta go now, mas kasama kasi ako," and nilingon nya si Girl. I'm still wondering who that girl is. Kung ano sya sa buhay nya. Am I trespassing? Masyado ba akong interesado sa buhay nya na kaka-kilala ko pa lang sa kanya? Whoa. This is strange.

"Me too. Naghihintay si Papa sa labas." I smiled again. I want to talk to him longer pero he's with a special person in his life. Sino ba naman ako? A new friend? Tss.

"See you soon." Aniya at nauna na akong magpaalam at naglakad palabas. Bago ako tuloyang lumabas ay nilingon ko ulit sya. Wala na sya sa counter, nasa table na sya with that girl. I can see it in his eyes that he really likes the girl he's with. Ni hindi nga ako sinundan ng tingin palabas because he's too excited to go near that girl again. Sa palagay ko nga kung hindi lang kaibigan ni Papa si tito, hindi nya ako mapapansin. I mean, some say I'm fine but the way he sees me, I'm too ordinary. 'Yong parang hindi ako papasok sa standard nya.

Gosh! Ito ba ang resulta sa kaka-stalk kagabi sa f*******: nya? Ibinaba ko ulit sa shades ko at inayos ang mukha ko before going near sa sasakyan. Pumasok ako and then smiled at tita and Papa.

"Are you okay? Akala ko iihi ka lang?" tanong ni tita. She's giving me suspicious look. Maybe sumilip sya kanina sa akin sa loob. "Na attract ako sa frappe, eh. And Marcos is in there, 'Pa. Sinabi nya sakin na birthday ni Renzo bukas." Iyon lang ang nasabi ko.

"Rene just texted me about it, but we will not be able to go. I have work tomorrow pati na rin si tita mo. Maybe, ikaw nalang pumunta." He said while driving. I sighed. I'm trying to act disagreeing, pero deep inside I'm so excited. Mas feel kong mag-isang pumunta in their place.

Before lunch nakapag-settle na ako ng dorm na tutuloyan. We are all girls in there at pwede na akong lumipat by next week. This is gonna be great!

We had lunch doon lang sa mga resto and got home at 2pm.

I was in my shower nang tumunog ang phone ko. I always bring my phone with me kahit saan man ako pumunta, even taking a bath. Sometimes I play music while showering, or just putting it there. Hindi kasi ako mapakali when it's not by my side. Nakasanayan na rin siguro.

"Hello?" bungad ko kaagad. Nababasa iyong phone ko kaya nahihirapan akong hawakan.

"Hey, this is Marcos," and muntikan ko nang maihulog iyong phone ko. I hurriedly get the towel at ibinalot sa katawan ko. I don't like the thought talking to someone or should I say to him, while I'm naked. Kahit hindi nya ako nakikita, it seems bastos. I don't know, just an immediate action of mine. I cleared my throat by I don't know reason again.

"Oh hi, Marcos!" napaupo ako sa inidoro and even arrange my hair na basa at sobrang messy. Even in call, iba ang epekto nya. Oh, heavens!

"I called para maisave mo iyong number ko," napangiti ako. Halos yakapin ko na ang cellphone ko sa sarap ng aking nadarama habang pinapakinggan ang boses nya. His voice is like my favorite melody.

"Oh, okay. I'll save it. By the way, what time 'yong birthday?" I just want to make the conversation longer. Sobrang ganda ng boses nya sa tenga ko. I want to hear more.

"I'll fetch you tomorrow since I heard kay Papa that tito and tita Malou are not able to go?" I'm used on listening to guys speaking in full english, pero may kakaiba sa boses nya na nag papangiti sa akin ng sobra.

"Oh, yes. May trabaho kasi sila. Are you sure you'll gonna fetch me?" napahawak ako sa bibig ko, kinikilig ako. This is not the first time na nagka-crush ako, but usually kasi 'pag nakakausap ko na sila, I lose attractions for them. I only like chasing pero 'yong mapansin nya na ako, nawawala na lahat ng interest ko. But Marcos is different... I wanna reach him. I want to know him more... Badly.

"Of course, if it's fine with you?" halos umabot sa tenga ko ang aking ngiti. "Yes, of course." napapakagat ako sa aking labi sa sobrang kilig.

I can hear a music sa linya nya. I knew the song but I forgot the title

"What is that song? Where are you?" I've managed to ask. It's a slow song and it's really calming at ang romantic.

"I'm home and it's Can't help falling in love with you, heard that one?" at medyo lumakas iyong music sa linya nya. "I know that song, mga ganyan 'yong genre mo?"

"Well, yeah. I like this song." and I heard him humming. It sounds really good. So sinabayan ko sya hanggang sa kumanta na nga sya, at sadyang napa-awang talaga ang bibig ko.

"Take my hand, and take my whole life too. 'Cause I can't help falling inlove with you" he sang that line. Halos mag melt ang heart ko. Nanghina talaga ako ng literal as I heard him sang.

"Like a river flows so surely to the sea, Oh my darling so it goes... Somethings are meant to be," hinayaan ko syang kumanta. As I can hear it, he sings it with his soul.

"So won't you please... just..." his voice is so relaxing, it touched my soul. "Take my hand," hindi ko na napigilan, napasabay ako sa pagkanta nya. "And take my whole life too... 'Cause I can't help falling in love with you," and we sang the last line together. Napapikit ako while singing it.

The song ended at parehas kaming natahimik for seconds.

"You have a great voice," sabi nya. "No. You. Ang ganda ng boses mo. Kumakanta ka talaga, ano?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Hindi naman. Kumakanta lang ako paminsan-minsan sa school program," he answered. My heart's melting. Everything about him seems so perfect.

"Oh really? Kaya pala ang ganda nang boses mo." I said. Walang tigil ang ngiti ko sa labi. Parang na permanent na sya doon.

"How about you? Kumakanta ka talaga, ano?"

"Yes. Pero occasional lang din sa school, minsan sa church din. And I'm a music club moderator in my old school."

"Talaga? Galing!"

"Gusto ko nga ring pumasok sa music club dito sa Era pero siguradong mahihirapan akong pumasok," at tumawa ako ng kaonti. "No. You'll get in. Try."

"Well, sana nga."

"Text me your address after this call. Susunduin kita ng 6pm, dinner iyong celebration."

"Okay, okay." sobrang ngiti pa rin ako.

"Okay, see you tom then. I need to hang up now. May pupuntahan pa kasi ako. Bye for now, Thea."

"Sige, bye Marcos."

And he ended the call. Hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi ko. "Bye for now, Thea" damn...