FACADE

Chapter FOURTEEN

[Narrator]

Nagsimula na ang first day of practice nila Akoz. Mabuti na lamang at Sabado, kaya walang klase at maaga sila makakapagsimula ng practice.

30 minutes bago ang practice ay nakarating na si Akoz sa Hakin University, habang naglalakad ay namumukhaan niya ang mga ibang kaklase papunta sa Theatre Hall. May mga bumabati o ngumingiti sa kaniya, Akoz do the same. He is very happy that his classmates are approachable. 

Pagkapasok niya sa hall ay ingay ang sumalubong sa kaniya, nasa kalagitnaan ng kwentuhan at pag-aayos ang mga kaklase niya at iba pa na nakatoka sa props making, sa dancing, at sa musical instruments. Inikot ni Akoz ang paningin, wala syang suot na eyeglasses ngayon. Kaya nagdecide siya na magsuot ng contact lense para mas maging convenient sa kaniya ang practice. Hinahanap niya ang limang kaibigan na babae.m

Napaatras sa gulat si Akoz nang may biglang nagtakip sa mga mata niya. Malambot ang mga kamay na iyon, maliit na parang sa babae. Pamilyar din ang pabango nito, kaya tumalikod siya para malaman kung sino ang nasa likuran niya.

Tama sya, it was Klein who recently dyed her hair, and in a messy bun hairstyle. Klein is smiling from ear to ear, and he did the same. He returned it with a sweet smile. While his heart is pounding so fast, as usual.

Nagsalita si Klein habang nakatingin sa kaniya, pero hindi niya iyon marinig dahil sa ingay. He remained smiling, and appreciating her beauty. Hanggang sa maramdaman na may malakas na pagbangga sa likod niya. Kaya napalingon siya at nakita si Berlin na nakasimangot at nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Alis. You're blocking my way." Mahina pero may bahid na inis na utos nito. Agad naman na nagsorry si Akoz at umatras. Pagkaalis ni Berlin ay agad din siyang sumunod dito, kasama na nito si Klein at papunta sila sa kinauupuan ng tatlo; si Elynna, Sakura, at Cassidy.

"Akoz! I missed you baby boy!" Elynna exclaimed and was about to hug him but Klein stopped her. "Tumigil ka nga, mamaya magselos si Atticus." Saway nito. Hinila na lang siya ni Elynna na umupo sa tabi nito. Sumunod naman siya.

"Oo nga pala girls, Atticus invited me on a dinner date sa mismong Fashion Show na pagrarampahan niya. Oh my god, Atticus Luke invited me." Kwento ni Elynna, Akoz secretly smiled. Atticus is Yohan's cousin. He is a popular model and unlike Yohan, pihikan sa babae si Atticus. Nice to hear he invited a woman for a dinner date, naisip ni Akoz

"Speaking of Atticus," si Cassidy naman ang nagsalita. "Kilala niyo si Ambrose Pelaez, yung sikat na actor, diba last month he confirmed he is dating Maurice?" Cassidy asked. Tumango naman sila Elynna. Cassidy opened her phone and showed something.

"Did he just dm you girl?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Elynna. Cassidy nodded aggressively. "Alam niyo, sabi niya nakita nya yung picture ko sa website natin. Mind you, 29 years old na siya, 21 years old pa lang ako." 

"And he is cheating!" Elynna.

"Exactly..." Sakura agreed. 

Napatingin naman si Cassidy kay Akoz, naisip niya siguro ito ang tamang oras para magtanong kay Akoz. Tinawag nya ito at pagkalingon naman ng lalaki ay agad siyang nagtanong.

"Ikaw Akoz, may girlfriend ka na ba?" 

Nagpanic naman bigla si Akoz, at times like this na siya ang center of attention, at magtatanong ng mga unexpected questions, bigla siyang kakabahan. Hindi siya agad makakasagot. 

Inabot ng halos isang minuto si Akoz bago makapagsalita, "Ako? W-wala. Wala akong girlfriend."

"Weeeh?" Hindi naniniwalang tanong ni Elynna.

"Ikaw, mawawalan ng girlfriend?" Gatong ni Cassidy, ngumiti ang dalawa nang nakakaloko. Tila mga nang-aasar.

"Hoy kayo ha pinagtutulungan niyo si Akoz." Pabirong kinurot sa tenga ni Klein ang dalawa. "Akoz, Berlin come with me. Let's start the private practice." Utos ni Klein, tumayo naman si Berlin at Akoz dala ang mga script nila. Bago umalis si Akoz ay tumingin ito kay Cassidy at tumawa. 

Lumabas sila sa Theatre Hall, dadalhin sila ni Klein sa office nito para makapagpractice ng pribado. Since mas marami silang scenes na sila lang dalawa. 

Pagkapasok nila sa office ay tumambad ang grand piano at violin sa malaking space sa gilid, malapit sa malaking bintana ng office. Napakaganda ng liwanag sa labas. Hindi maalis ni Akoz ang tingin sa bintana.

"Dito muna kayo magpractice. Kayong dalawa lang, ito yung music sheet and lyrics ng kakantahin. So, iwan ko muna kayo for the meantime ha?" Pagkalapag ni Klein ng mga papel sa lamesa ay umalis na agad ito. Lumingon naman si Akoz sa pwesto ni Berlin. 

"So, ano ba unang gagawin natin?" 

Tumingin naman si Berlin nang masama kay Akoz, "Edi malamang yung mga scenes natin."

"I meant to say… the songs or yung lines natin?" 

"Of course the music?!" Berlin replied hastily. Akoz pouted and moved forward, umupo na siya sa harap ng piano habang umiinom naman si Berlin ng tubig. Nang makasigurado na si Akoz na ready na kumanta si Berlin ay nagsimula na siyang itipa ang piano.

Ilang segundo matapos na tumugtog ang piano ay tumingin si Akoz sa lyrics na nasa kaliwa, at nagsimulang kumanta.

[Akoz]

I can't lie, when I see your smile.

 I think I'm gonna die~

When you're with me, and will meet your eyes

yeah, I'm indeed happy~

All that matters to me is you.

I wanna be with you~

Tumingin si Akoz sa pwesto ni Berlin, ito na ang susunod na kakanta;

[Berlin]

I can't lie, I can't deny it.

My heart is beating so fast and yet,

I'm trying to act like everything's great.

Hindi maialis ni Akoz ang tingin kay Berlin, ngayon lang niya narinig itong kumanta. He is used to hearing Berlin's voice as brave and irritated. But now, it seems like an angel is singing with him.

But I'm dying to hold you~

Look me in the eyes and tell me.

That you love me~

"Oh sorry." Akoz apologized. He forgot his part. He was supposed to make the ad libs in Berlin's last line. Kakapakinig sa boses ni Berlin ay hindi niya namalayan ang dapat na gagawin. Tumingin naman si Berlin nang masama sa kaniya.

[Akoz' POV]

"Sorry talaga Berlin. Can we do it again?" I asked, tumango naman siya at agad na ko naman inilagay ang mga kamay sa piano. Pumikit si Berlin, at nagsimula ulit kumanta.

[Berlin, Akoz]

But I'm dying to hold you~

Look me in the eyes and tell me

That you love me~

Take my hand, let's run away.

Stop pretending that we're not okay.

Cause girl (boy) I am so into you.

Let's make it real.

No more lies.

Just you and me~

Berlin has an angelic voice. It is soothing to the heart. Captivating, amazing, and lovely. I don't know what kind of harmony it is, but I love singing with her. Aside from her angelic voice, I finally can witness her calm face. She has an angel-like face. Maamo ang mukha ni Berlin. Actually, ang ganda ng view nya ngayon. Nasa tapat sya ng malaking bukas bintana, her hair is gently swaying from the wind.

Natapos namin ang kanta ni Berlin. Sabay na napatingin kami sa isat-isa nang biglang may pumalakpak sa may tabi ng pintuan. Si Klein.

"Bravo!" Klein exclaimed while clapping her hands. "I didn't expect you guys to be this great. Your voice blended beautifully. It is a masterpiece." Napangiti naman ako. Yes, I feel proud.

"Grabe ate Klein, mas maganda pa rin boses mo." Berlin said. "Pero sige, thank you na rin." Natawa naman si Klein sa sagot ng pinsan niya. 

"Sige, I just came here to check you guys. It seems you are doing great naman. Babalik muna ako sa hall, kasi mukhang may resbak na naman si Elynna and Cassidy, alam niyo naman yung dalawa na yon." 

"Sige ate, we are preparing for our next song naman." 

Lumabas na si Klein sa office, kaya naiwan na naman kami ni Berlin. I keep looking at the big door even though Klein has left the room already

Should I compliment Berlin?

I mean, she did a great job.

But what if, mainis na naman siya sakin.

So, how can I put it into a nice way?

[Berlin's POV]

Pagkalabas ni ate Klein sa office ay napatingin ako kay Akoz, bakit nakatingin pa rin ito sa pintuan. Gusto na niya ba umuwi? 

Tsh.

Naglakad ako papunta sa pwesto niya. Umupo ako sa tabi niya and then I started playing some notes.

"What are you doing?" He asked, to his surprise. "Diba, violin ang sa iyo?" He once again, asked. I raised my eyebrows and looked at this guy.

"Why do you care?" I asked back, with an angry tone.

He was taken aback. He is always like this. I wonder how many times he tried acting para magmukhang kaawa-awa.

"Sorry…" he mumbled and lowered his head. See? Ganiyan siya lagi.

"Why don't you show your true face?" Paghahamon ko nang nakangiti. It's only the two of us here. Wala naman siya dapat ipangamba.

"What do you mean?" 

"What I mean is," I leaned closer to him and whispered, "You are two faced evil, right?"

Akoz did not react, nagulat siguro siya na alam ko ang mga galawa niya. I smiled and moved backward to see his reaction. But I saw his face being serious.

"Did I do something wrong or bad, kaya ka ganiyan?" 

"Wala naman, I just know kung ano ang mga galawan ng tulad mo." I answered at tumayo papalayo sa kaniya. 

"Berlin, I'm telling you wala akong ginagawang masama. I mean, why are you like that?" 

"You're like those men who acted like pure and kind but the truth is, you are an evil inside. Diba Akoz?

What now, are you targeting my cousin?" I asked while looking at him, directly meeting his eyes. I stepped backwards but Akoz stood up quickly and moved forward.

I closed my eyes, this man is going to hit me?

I feel his hands in my arms. 

Gently pushing me closer to him. 

"Watch out, mababanga mo yung vase. Baka masugatan ka." I heard him whispered, I opened my eyes and yes, one more step and mababangga ko na yung big vase na nakadesign dito sa office. It is a big vase and it cost thousands, and in addition-- pwede ako masugatan.

What's with this guy?!

Agad kong inalis ang kamay niya sa braso and I gave him a death stare. Why is he so nice with me?!

[Cassidy's POV]

"Akoz and Berlin are having a great time sa office." Klein blurted out and picked up the script. I heard she is giggling.

Having a great time?

I raised my head, only to see Klein is showing something from her phone. 

"Having a great time? What do you mean by that Klein?" I asked out of curiosity. Klein smiled and showed something to me. 

H-huh?

"Don't worry, they're practicing. Pero alam mo na, discover this, discover that." Klein said while raising her eyebrows. I frowned, why do I feel it's not good?

"Aray ko!" I hissed. Someone just hit my head! At sino pa nga ba, edi si Elynna. I am ready to fight with this girl but she said something.

"Utak mo Cassidy! Nasa school tayo." She said and the three of them are laughing.

But that's not what I am thinking.

I feel threatened.

Agad kong niligpit ang mga hawak kong papel at mabilis na inilagay sa folder. I can't take this, I can't stay being like this. Pagkalagay ko sa folder ay agad akong tumayo at lumabas ng hall. I can hear Elynna's high pitched voice calling my name, but deadma. 

Elynna grabbed my shoulder, hinabol pala ako ng bruhang ito. "San ka pupunta, pabili ako!"

"Bumili ka mag-isa mo, di ako pupuntang snacks bar no!" I answered. "Sa office ako pupunta." 

Elynna crossed her arms, she is looking straight at me as if she is judging me, and I can't deny I am nervous.

"At anong gagawin mo doon? The two of them are having a private practice." 

"Basta." Maikling sagot ko sabay walk-out, ayoko na mai-interrogate ng babaeng iyon. She's still calling my name hanggang sa makarating ako sa pintuan ng office. Then, I heard Elynna yelled.

"Sasabihin ko kay Klein, tumatakas ka sa practice!"

But I am the writer.