Chapter 23: Chapter 22
Procyon, the 8th smiled as I approached nearer. Her height was intimidating enough para makilala ko siya. Nasa likuran naman nito ang magnobyong pillars na sina Achernar at Betelgeuse. Achernar, the 9th, waved his hand at me as I moved closed.
Tipid namang ngumiti ang nobyo nitong si Betelgeuse, the 10th na nakasuot ng long sleeves para itago sa mga estudyante ang mga braso nitong tadtad ng tattoo. "Hello kid!" usal nito sabay ngisi.
Bukod kay Astrid, silang tatlo ang masasabi kong pwedeng pagkatiwalaan at mabilis makagaanan ng loob. Pero bakit sila narito sa Diamond Hill University? Pinadala ba sila ni Sirius para magmatiyag na gaya ng ginagawa ni Vega?
My jaw literally dropped as I stare at them. They seemed to have no intentions of explaining to me what was going on. All I knew was that, they're here for the same reason as to why the outcross people gathered like a swamp of plague.
I felt their presence. I sensed a lot clashing energies from the outcross and urions in the university.
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay kong halos natatabingan ng magulo kong buhok. I wrinkled my nose to adjust the lenses of my eyeglasses. Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa tatlong pillars na nakatitig lang din saakin.
"Procy-"
"Regina." She cut me off to save me from the punishment. Bawal na tawagin siya sa kanyang pillar name in public. "She's Akina and her boyfriend Ben." Tukoy nito kina Achernar at Betelgeuse.
Bumuntong-hininga ako saka tumindig. Nagpatuloy ako sa sasabihin ko kanina. "Regina, I know what's going on. Pero bakit ganito karami ang nakamasid na urions sa university?"
Betelgeuse slash Ben chuckled as if he's hearing a good news. He shifted position behind Achernar. "Kid, outcross are coming in like a colony of bats and we have to make the ratio proportional. They're here for a reason we can't discuss yet. As simple as that."
"Kiera," bungad naman ni Achernar, naglakad ito palapit saakin at tinangay ng hangin ang alon-alon niyang buhok, "This is for the safety of those uncrowned and crowned urions. We have lived peacefully for years. ang mga kagaya natin ay normal at malayang nakakasalamuha ang mga ordinaryong tao. Now, that the colony of outcross seem like they have something big coming, hindi natin pwedeng balewalain ang lahat."?
"W-what am I supposed to do then? Bakit parang kayong mga pillars lang ang may kailangang gawin? Hindi ba't dapat lahat maging aware sa mga nangyayari so that we could easily prevent the colony from dominating?" Angil ko. Halos mapalakas na ang bulong ko dahil sa bugso ng damdamin.
At the back of my mind, I knew it was more than the colony of the outcross. May kinalaman ito sa nangyari nang nakaraang lunar eclipse... and possibly Phelan.
"Kiera, the pillars can handle it. Number one sent four of us here." Giit ni Procyon. I felt the intensity of her words and the whole meaning of the context -that we should stay out of it.
"Vega." I uttered in whisper.
"Professor Virginia." She corrected.
Magsasalita pa sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang backdoor ng music hall. The door revealed Phelan and his dashing look. Nakasuot ito ng itim na V-neck shirt at slim fit jeans. Mukha pa rin itong modelo sa itsura.
"Kiera." Tawag nito saka nagpalipat-lipat ng tingin kina Procyon, Achernar at Betelgeuse. "Hello po." Magalang nitong bati sa tatlo.
Tumango si Procyon at si Achernar. Ngumisi naman si Betelgeuse pero napansin ko ang sabay na pagkuyom ng mga palad nito. His feet moved into an offensive position as well -left foot forward and his right foot backwards.
Lumapit saakin ang lalaki. The three pillars moved to give way. Nasa alert phase pa rin ang postura ng tatlo. Nangangahulugang may nararamdaman sila kay Phelan. Hindi ko lang mawari kung ano.
"Here." He uttered with his bored face. Mukhang inaantok ito at pagod na pagod. But how could he look so perfectly and oddly handsome even when exhausted?
My gaze shifted from his face down to the object his handing -a sheet that seemed like the script of the play. Nag-effort pa talaga ang lalaki para ihatid saakin ang script. Seryoso ito sa play. He's known for his awesome voice. Bukod sa gwapo ito at isang modelo, may talento din ito sa musika pati sa sports. Inangkin na niya ang lahat.
Nahuli ako nitong nakatitig sa gwapo niyang mukha. Nag-init ang aking mga pisngi at para maikubli ang aking pagkapahiya, mabilis na paghablot ko sa sheets mula sa kamay ni Phelan.
The guy smirked. Then he released a slight whimper and said, "You're welcome nerdy." 'Yon lang ang binanggit nito saka tumalikod para bumalik sa loob ng music hall. He was acting so normal as if he's hiding something strange.
Bago pa man ito makapasok ay sumilip ang ulo nito mula sa pintuan saka sinabing, "You're supposed to be attending the rehearsal. Nakalimang kanta na kami. Understudy la na nga lang di mo pa magawa ng maayos." Masungit nitong sambit.
Pinagtinginan ako ng tatlong pillars na kanina pa tahimik. Procyon seemed so shock as well as Achernar. Mukhang may nadiskubre silang kagulat-gulat.
I sighed deeply before deciding to enter the music hall. Ramdam kong hindi iyon gusto ng tatlong pillars. "I should try to live normal, pillars. So I'm going to the rehearsal."
Wala namang nagawa ang tatlo sa tinuran ko. Napansin ko ang pigil na mga kilos nito. Betelgeuse can't stop gathering his fist while Procyon has been swallowing series of lumps since the moment she saw Phelan.
May kakaibang nangyayari. Kutob ko'y alam nila ang katauhan ng lalaki. Alam nilang may nangyari dito sa nakaraang lunar eclipse. Marahil ay ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit bigla na lang dumagsa ang mga outcross at urions sa DHU.
Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Mrs. Pilorin pagkapasok ko pa lang ng music hall. Kasalukuyang nasa stage sina Phelan at Senina habang kumakanta ng 'Terrified' nina Katharine Mcphee at Zachary Levi.
Bagay na bagay ang blending ng boses nilang dalawa. Bagay silang dalawa. Senina, minus the attitude, looked like a goddess and Phelan is as equally gorgeous as his counterpart. Napapatikhim ako habang pinapanood silang kumanta.
You by the light
Is the greatest find
In the world full wrong
You're the thing that's right
Finally made it
Through the lonely
To the other side
Ramdam na ramdam ni Senina ang pagkanta na halos nakapikit sa harap ng lalaki. Pero sa tuwing dumidilat ang mga mata nito'y makahulugan ang mga titig na pinupukol niya sa lalaki. Phelan's gaze also held Senina's, reciprocating the emotions blended with their harmonious voices.
And this could be good
It's already better than that
And nothing's worse
Than knowing you're holding back
I could be all
That you needed
If you let me try
At nang oras na ni Phelan para sa second verse ng kanta'y sinulyapan ako nito habang sinasakop ng boses niya ang buong music hall. His gaze hold mine for seconds. His body slowly and sexily swayed with the music. Then, abruptly he put his eyes back to Senina.
They owned the stage and so our attention. Palakpakan ang mga kalahok sa play na nanood sa baba ng stage kasama ko nang tapos na ang kanta. Nalungkot ako habang pinagmamasdan ang dalawa.
For once, I wanted to live normal. Without the complexities of my persona. I wanted to be on stage and sing. I wanted to sing and just be who I am. Without the eyeglasses, the messy hair and the pretensions.
Like other people, outcross, urion or the ordinary ones, they have two sides just as there are two sides to every story. Each single person has a duality -one that we reveal as our façade to the world and another hidden. This duality controlled by the balance of light and darkness, within each of us is the capacity for both good and evil.
Those who are able to smudge the moral dividing line hold the true power.
"Miss Roberts!" tawag saakin ni Miss Pilorin na pumutol sa malalim kong pagmumuni-muni. Sumenyas itong lumapit sa kinauupuan niyang Yamaha U1 studio piano.
Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Senina na pababa ng stage kasama ni Phelan. Isang mabilis na sulyap ang pinukol saakin ng lalaki habang paakyat ako. Right at that moment, I knew what was going to happen next.
Kinakahaban akong lumapit sa musical director. Nasa harap ako ng lid nang tumaas muli ang kilay ng babae. "The other understudy?"
Tawag nito sa kumpol ng mga participants na nasa baba ng stage. Nilingon ko ang mga naroon. Kailangan pala ng understudy ni Phelan. Nagtama ang paningin namin ng huli. Seryoso ang mukha nito na parang hindi gusto ang ideyang magkaroon pa ng understudy para sa role niya.
"Present!" Sigaw ng isang pamilyar na boses mula sa backstage. Dinig ko ang baat yapak nito palabas sa stage.
Then, a mysteriously red-haired guy appeared from the spot where he's expected. Roen Maroon, the outcross.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko habang pinapanood siyang lumapit saamin ni Miss Pilorin. Anong ginagawa ng lalaking ito sa musical?
"Hi Kiera." He winked at me saka ito pumwesto sa tabi ko. Closer that the normal. Tumango ito sa musical director saka nagsalita, "Ready ma'am."
"You should be." Mataray na tugon ni Miss Pilorin. "Same song. Kiera, Roen... ready your pitch."
Tumugtog ang parehong kanta. Napalunok ako kasabay ng panginginig ng mga tuhod ko. Ito ang unang beses na kakanta ako sa harap ng maraming tao. The first time was with Phelan. Wala nang ibang nakakaalam sa talento ko maliban kay Ara at Phelan.
The first verse ran into melody. Dinig ko na ang key kung saan ako dapat kakanta pero parang napuno ng bikig ang lalamunan ko. Kinabahan ako.
"Miss Roberts? Ano? Understudy ka na nga lang. Ayusin mo!" Galit na sambit ni Miss Pilorin. Tawanan ang mga nasa baba ng stage.
Roen gazed at them with flames. Tahimik namang nakamasid si Phelan.
"You fear the crowd?" Roen asked.
Tumango ako.
"Eh bakit ka pa sumali dito?"
"I-I w-want to conquer my fear. Just like conquering all other fears I have." Nauutal kong sagot.
Kinilatis ako ng malamlam at itim nitong mga mata. He pursed his lips before he spoke. "If you want to conquer your fear, you have to go through it. Not around it. Take the chance now, or you'll regret the chance you will not take."
"Okay Miss Roberts, another try. Please make it sure that you deserve the spot we gave you." Sigaw ng musical director.
Muling tumugtog ang piano. The first set of keys ran in the air. I began opening my mouth and closed my eyes as if there is no one around me. Nabawasan ang kaba ko sa dibdib at lumabas ang tunay kong boses.
My singing went so well until the chorus. Tahimik na nakikinig ang mga nasa baba habang si Miss Pilorin nama'y tumataas ang kilay habang ngumingisi paminsan-minsan.
Roen took the second verse. Shockingly, he can sing. Phelan's voice is distinctly extraordinary but Roen's voice is promising. Tumitig ito saakin habang kumakanta. Sinakop ng titig niya ang lahat ng natitirang kaba sa aking dibdib.
You said it again
My heart's in motion
Every word feels like a shooting star
I'm at the edge
Of my emotions
Watching the shadows burning in the dark
And I'm in l-
Hindi ko na natapos ang buong kanta. Roen kept singing to cover the missing phase. Bigla ko na lang kasing naramdaman ang paninikip ng dibdib ko. Pakiramdam ko'y pinipiga ang puso ko at sinasabuyan ng mainit na likido ang sikmura ko. Naramdaman kong may kakaibang nangyayari sa katawan ko.
Napansin ni Phelan at Roen ang tila panghihina ng katawan ko. I have never felt the sensation before. This is much worse than the lunar eclipse.
There can't be another lunar eclipse.
But...
Possibly... solar eclipse? Kaya ba nagkakaganito ang katawan ko?
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