Risking Chances

Una

AURA’s POV

I smiled and hugged myself as the whole crowd cheered and gave a standing ovation. The entire audience feels satisfied and happy just by watching and hearing them sing.

On that note, it makes me feel proud.

I am part of it. I am one of the people who support his group. I am among those who love them loudly and quietly. I am part of this group that keeps leaving its legacy.

I smiled and looked at the stage once again before leaving. Masyadong nang mahaba ang gabi at gusto ko nang magpahinga dahil sa mga susunod na araw, mas lalo kaming magiging abala. This upcoming tour will really be our last gift to the fans.

It’s already eleven p.m. and the ride home just took me 15 minutes. When I open the door, Tani greets me with a big hug and a nonstop jumping on me. “Did you miss mum?” I smiled as I pet him. I walk to my room and remove all the clothes that have been suffocating me all day.

Habang naglalakad papunta sa kusina, nakasunod lang sa akin si Tani. Tinali ko lang ang robe at buhok ko bago nilabas ang mga pagkain sa ref at ilang can ng beer. Siguro naman deserve ko 'to sa haba ng araw ko ngayon at sa dami ng good things na nagawa ko.

Habang nagre-reheat ako ng pagkaing niluto ko kaninang umaga, inaayos ko na rin yung food ni Tani. He only eats once a day dahil tumataba na siya at hindi na kami nakakalabas dahil sa sobrang busy ko, so wala nang exercise ang batang 'to.

Tani and I are already eating when my phone rings. Hindi ko pa nasasagot. Tumunog na ang doorbell ko. I don’t need to ask to check kung sino ang nasa pinto dahil iilan lang naman sila sa buhay ko na gising pa ng ganitong oras.

I don’t know if after many years or if life gets us busy, they will still choose to stay with me and join me in eating dinner or just be with me. These guys are already building their own empire and life outside those songs and band, and somehow it makes me proud of them.

Sino bang hindi? Isa lang kaming mga pasaway na estudyante dati at laging napapagalitan kasi laging nakatambay sa likod ng stage at pinapasaya ang mga sarili sa mga kanta.

“Wala ba kayong bahay?” Tanong ko sa South, West at East na pare-parehong may bitbit na take-out food. “Kumakain ka na nang wala kami?” Parang gulat na gulat na ang tanong sa akin ni West nang makita ang pagkain ko sa mesa.

Inirapan ko lang siya at pinause ang pinapanood ko dahil siguradong hanggang umaga na naman sila dito. Nilingon ko si East na isa-isa nang inaayos yung mga pagkaing dala nila at unang inabot sa akin ang isang burrito. I check the label and can’t help but smile since paborito ko ang flavor na pinili nila.

“Where’s North?”

Bumalik lang ako sa upuan ko dahil isa-isa na silang nakaupo at sa kanan ko ay si West at sa kaliwa naman ay si East na isa-isa nililipat ang mga gulay sa plato ko. South is busy checking movies we can watch while eating.

This is our routine after a gig or concert. We are all tired but the time we have is always short, so even if we are tired we still end up spending more time together kahit inaabot na kami ng umaga. Lately

, si North lang ang medyo laging busy dahil kinukuha niya pa ulit ang loob ni Aya. Ito ang wala sa kanilang lahat love life and maybe siguro dahil narin sa work kaya hindi na siya magawang masingit and most of the fans talaga ay war freak at yon ang kinakatakot nila. Tipid akong napangiti habang nakatingin sa burrito ko dahil somehow bigla kong naalala na ilang beses din yata akong naka-encounter ng ganoong fans.

“Just eat, maghapon kang walang kain. Stop looking for people who are not here.”

Wala akong choice kundi nguyain ang chicken na sinubo ni East sa akin. Napasenyas ako kina West at South kung ano ang ginawa nila at mainit ang ulo, pero kibit-balikat lang ang nakuha kong sagot.

Ilang oras na napuno ng ingay at kwentuhan ang bahay ko pati si Tani ay nakikigulo sa kanila. At sa sobrang pagod ko ay hindi ko na napansin na nakauwi na sila at nasa kwarto na ako. Nagising akong tanghali na at malinis na ang bahay na parang walang malalaking taong nagkalat dito kagabi.

“Good morning!”

Napatingala ako sa bumati sa akin. “Good morning!” balik kong bati habang inaayos ko ang gamit ko dahil dadaan ako sa gym bago pumunta sa opisina.

“Long time no see. Mukhang sobran busy niyo lately,” dagdag na tanong ni Mike isa sa kapitbahay ko na madalas ipet si Tani kapag nasa labas.

Wala ako sa mood ngayon dahil dipa nabubuhay ang social hormones ko maga sinagot ko lang siya at nagpaalam na paalis.

Dipa ako nakakaparada ay nakikita ko na ang pamilyar na motor sa tabi ng parking space ko. I just checked myself in the mirror before getting my water go bag. I am wearing a black sports bra and black cycling shorts that I think I need to replace later. Hays.

“Morning boys!” bati ko kay West at East na busy magbuhat.

“Good morning, sexy!” nakangising sagot ni West bago humalik sa pisngi ko, pero si East ay kunot-noo lang na tumango sa akin. “Huwag mong intindihin; ’di lang nakatulog nang maayos.”

“Hey, Aura!” I said hi back to Tim who is one of my gym buddies whom I also met here. “How’s it going?” He asks when he sits near the treadmill where I am doing my walk.

“Doing good, I guess. Busy as it is,” I shrugged he just laughed and we talk like almost a minute before he said goodbye. “Bye, see ya around!”

I look at the man beside me who is busy fixing his time. I didn’t know he was doing a treadmill this early. I just shrugged and continue doing my usual routine before I saw East sitting on the side talking to my coach as if he was instructing him on what to do.

“Typical bossy,” I murmured making West laugh his ass out na hindi ko man lang napansing nasa tabi ko na pala. “Are you done for today?”

“Yeah, we still have some errands before going to the studio.”

“Okay. You may leave na at isama mo na yang asungot na yan at ang aga-aga parang pasan na ang daigdig,” utos ko kay West na tatawa-tawa lang habang pareho kaming nakatingin kay East na dugtong na ang kilay habang nakatingin sa amin. “Jerk!” I mouthed, making him stand on his sits.

Nakakainis na kapag kasabay ko sila mag gym ay para bang arkilado nila ang buong gym kasi halos wala silang palapitin na tao. I mean, I get I am their manager, so supposedly that’s our SOP when going or staying in public places. But sometimes nakakainis na parang pati ako hindi na makagalaw ng maayos dahil kasama ko sila.

“We’re leaving now, umuwi ka na din.”

I look at the man beside me who stopped by just to say that. Binaba ko muna ang weights na hawak ko baka mahampas ko sa kanya. “Look, I haven’t done with my sets yet, so if you want to go, just leave. Stop bothering me like I am disturbing this whole gym,” I snorted, making me more irritated to him.

“Isn’t it what you are doing? All men are all gawking at you, so stop wearing gym clothes like this.”

The look on my face when he pointed at my body. “Ha! This look? You freaking kidding me, are you?” Tumayo ako at umikot sa harap niya para mas makita niya ang buong katawan ko. “This body? Bro, that’s the goal to make me look good, you asshole!”