Story Deleted

Chapter 14

/14/ AT THE MALL

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

- Joshua 1:9

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KHEL'S POV

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"Let's gooo!" Narri excitedly jumped inside the van.

Sumunod kami sa kaniya. Again, Brint and I sat on the front seats, girls at the backseat. We closed the door and buckled our seatbelts.

It's 11:37 am, afternoon.

We left the People's Park and drive away from the recent itinerary. Now, the van is going downhill. Dinaanan ulit namin ang kalsada pababa ng bundok. For the second time, I saw the beauty of land and structures beneath the mountain's slope.

It's a magnificent view to stare at the landscape, half under the mountain's shadow and half swept by the blazing sunlight. What a sight.

Noong makababa kami sa bundok, sumalubong sa'min ang kalsadang punong-puno ng mga sasakyan. There's traffic and our van was stranded between tall trucks. Vehicles are moving like snails down the main road.

Sitting on the passenger's seat, I rested my back and crossed my arms. From the window, I saw pedestrians fill the sidewalk outside.

People are busy living their lives. Clock is ticking. World is revolving. Every breath we take shortens our lifetime.

Science said, the average lifespan of a man is approximately 80 years and after that, it's either we'll live longer or... dead end. But either way, we will still die and after death, what?

There is nothing, is there?

I'm 18 years old now. Estimated, one-fourth of my life was used. The other three-fourths remaining is still unknown. I'm still planning for it.

But after that... I'll die, my body will decay just like the others.

Napabuntong hininga ako sa aking mga wirdong iniisip. I'm all preoccupied, but when I lifted my eyes, I saw the woman from the rear-view mirror.

Meera, at the backseat. She's sleeping like a peaceful sheep, head resting on her cousin's shoulder. Mukhang napagod siya sa pinuntahan namin at sa haba ng biyahe. She deserves a rest.

I blinked and stare longer at her reflection. My thoughts were washed away by another thought.

"I'm in a relationship."

What she said earlier is still stuck in my mind. Gusto kong magpalamon na lang sa lupa no'ng narinig ko ang sinabi niya. I can't get over it... and that's the problem! It's like a leech inside my head. I can't freaking get over it!

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at nagtiim-bagang. Sa buong biyahe, wala akong narinig kun'di katahimikan.

***

Fora Mall, Tagaytay

Our drive stopped and parked in a wide parking space. Many cars were aligned down the parking lot, together with our camper van.

Napagdesisyunan naming huminto sa mall upang makakain na ng tanghalian. Yes, it's already lunch time and we badly need to feed our grumbling stomachs before we starve to death.

Kaming apat ay magkakasabay na lumabas ng van. Tumambad sa amin ang napakalaking Fora Mall, mayroon pa 'tong fountain sa patio bago mag-entrance. Susyal ang disenyo ng naturang mall at wala masyadong tao.

We past the guards from the mall's entrance. Aircondition greets me with refreshing touch. Maaliwalas ang loob ng mall. Malaki, malawak, at hindi masyadong crowded. May mga shops at stores sa gilid ng aisle. People inside the mall are moving with their own groups, minding their own businesses.

"Saan tayo kakain?" nakangising tanong ni Brint.

Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad sa gitna ng mall, tumitingin-tingin ng mga nadadaanan naming restaurants: Jollibee, McDonald's, Mang Inasal, at iba pa.

"Grabe! 'Yung halimaw sa tiyan ko nagrereklamo na!" Hinimas ni Narri ang tiyan niya, then groaned. "Tomguts na akooo! Sa'n tayo, 'insan?"

"Ewan? Kahit saan," ani Meera at biglang lumingon sa akin. "Ikaw, Khelly, saan mo gusto?"

"Sa puso mo raw," biglang hirit ni Brint.

Tiningnan ko nang masama ang ungas, pero tinawanan lang ako nito at nag-peace sign. I want to break his bones for saying those words! Damn him!

"Hahaha! May nagmamay-ari na ng puso ni Meera, eh," Narri replied.

I saw Meera beamed a smile, there's a hint of bliss in her eyes. Whomever she's in a relationship with, I can say that she's fully in love with him. Her smile says it all.

F*ck my heartbeat.

"Oh? Talaga?" Nanlaki bigla ang mata ni Brint, saka napatingin sa'kin nang ilang segundo, bago muling bumaling kay Narri. "May boyfriend na pala si miss cutie?"

Tss. Isn't that obvious? Bakit kailangan n'ya pang ikumpirma? Nang-iinis ba siya?

Tumawa si Meera at akmang sasagot, "Yeah. Actually, about that---"

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PROMOTE TO YOU THIS BRAND NEW BASS GUITAR. MURA NA, STRONG QUALITY PA!"

She was cut off by a loud voice from a microphone. Napalingon kami sa pinanggalingan no'n at, doon, sa hindi kalayuan, may isang maliit na stage. Sa ibabaw ng stage na 'yon ay may nagsasalitang saleslady, habang pino-promote niya ang model ng isang bass guitar na naka-display sa isang stand.

Maraming tao ang nagkumpulan sa paligid no'ng stage, ang ilan ay interesadong bilhin 'yung gitara at 'yung iba ay tila nakikichismis lang. But, honestly, the bass guitar looks so cool and the saleslady is doing her job very well.

"TO TEST IF THIS BASS GUITAR IS QUALIFIED FOR YOUR TASTE, PIPILI AKO NG ISANG SHOPPER NA MAKAKAGAMIT NITO FOR FREE," saleslady said from her microphone. "WHO WANTS TO PLAY THIS BASS GUITAR ON THIS STAGE, ANYONE?"

The crowd surrounding the stage was filled with murmurs. They're all hesitating of whom shall volunteer or whom will play that guitar on stage. But...

"OH! OH! IKAW, 'INSAN! KAYA MO 'YAN! IKAW NA LANG!" biglang nagsisisigaw si Narri habang tinutulak ang pinsan niya papuntang stage.

"Ha? Ako?"

"OO! LOKA! SINO PA BA ANG MARUNONG MAG-GITARA SA'TIN? DUH!"

Nakaagaw-pansin ang malakas na boses ni Narri, kaya napalingon ang mga tao sa aming direksyon. Meera's face was surprised when she noticed that many people are staring at her, pati na rin 'yung saleslady sa stage.

"GO, 'INSAN! IKAW NA! GET YOUR SPOTLIGHT, COUZ!" Narri cheered.

"Eh? Pero---"

"OKAY! IKAW, ATE! WITH THE SWEATSHIRT OF CROSS," the saleslady spoke while pointing at Meera's direction. "COME UP TO THIS STAGE! WHY DON'T YOU PLAY THIS GUITAR FOR US, HM?"

Nagpalakpakan ang madla. Brint, who's standing by my side, is grinning widely. Narri also claps her hand, then pushed her cousin towards the stage. Meera was hesitating, but eventually convinced to walk and reached the stage's surface.

I remain pokerface, folding my arms against my chest. Tahimik kong pinanood ang mga kaganapan. For some reason, I am one of those people who want to see Meera play that guitar. Well, I saw her playing an acoustic one when I was stalking her f*******: account. But seeing her doing it live is probably better. No malice.

"Wuhoo! Pinsan ko 'yan!" kantyaw ni Narri.

Humupa ang palakpakan noong makatungtong na si Meera sa stage. The saleslady greeted her with a handshake.

"WHAT'S YOUR NAME, ATENG MAGANDA?" asked the saleslady on the microphone.

And she answered with her sunshine smile, "Meera."

"OKAY, ATE MEERA, I WILL LET YOU USE THIS GUITAR FOR FREE. MARUNONG KA BANG GUMAMIT NG BASS GUITAR?"

"Yup."

"OKAY! I WILL LET YOU PLAY ONE SONG ONLY, SO THAT WE COULD CONVINCE THE CUSTOMERS IF THE QUALITY IS GOOD OR NOT. ARE WE CLEAR?"

"Sure!"

"AAALRIGHT! EVERYONE, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR, MEERA!!!"

As the saleslady exited, Meera was left standing alone on the stage. The crowd was devoured by a round of applause, some whistles, and some cheers.

With confidence, Meera took the bass guitar, wore its strap across her body and positioned the instrument with her hands. There's a standing microphone in front of her, so she stood behind it.

Tumahimik ang paligid. Every people around us is watching or waiting for her to play a song and, to be honest, so am I.

Strum~ she started it with a gentle plucking on strings.

To be continued...

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