CHAPTER 7: GIRL'S FIGHT
ADELAIDE'S POV
Papalapit pa lang ako sa bahay galing meeting nang marinig ang malinis na soprano. Tinitignan ko pa ang mga bahay sa katabi namin, kung sa kanila ba nanggagaling ang boses na naririnig ko. It's a clean and soothing soprano, the diction is impressive, and he reached every note. Imposible naman na si Dad ang kumakanta, I know his voice. Alam ko na magaling din siyang kumanta ,but his voice is different from the one who's singing. Naghinay-hinay pa ako na pumasok sa bahay para mahuli kung sino ang kumakanta.
Pagpasok ko ay naabutan ko si Dad na nanunood nang golf, "Dad," bungad ko sa kanya.
Napatingin siya sa'kin,"Oh hey! You're done already?" tanong ni Dad at saka pinahinaan ang volume nang t.v.
"Ah yeah," I answered.
Napatingin-tingin ako sa paligid at parang may kulang,"Where's Mom?"
"Ah, she hang-out with her friends. You know her," sagot ni Dad.
"Dad? Dito ba sa bahay galing ang boses na narinig ko kanina? I just look every where pero imposible naman na sa kapitbahay," dag-dag ko pa.
"Yeah. You want to see him? Go to the kitchen, he's there," sabay ngiti pa ni Dad.
Lumapit ako sa kitchen at bumungad sa'kin ang isang lalaki na naghuhugas nang pinggan. Naka-pants at naka-apron. Wala siyang damit pang-itaas, tanging apron lang ang bumbalot sa kanyang pang-itaas. Pinagmasdan ko siya at saka tinawag, "Hey!"
Humarap siya sa'kin na halos basa na ang apron, "What?" sagot niya.
Nag-eye roll ako, "Akala ko kung sino na. Animal lang pala," saad ko nang makita si Ray.
"Shut up," sagot niya.
"Akala ko ba, umalis kana?" I sarcastically said, habang naka-cross arm.
"You want me to leave? Well, your Dad asked me a favor, if I could joined him in breakfast so I did. That's why, I'm doing the dishes," aniya.
Papaalis na sana ako nang bigla kong maalala ang itatanong ko sa kanya, "Wait, is it you? Is it your voice, I heard from the outside?"
"Why?" Kunot-noo na tanong niya.
"Just answer me," iritang saad ko.
" Yeah, it's mine. Nakisabay din ang Dad mo. Why?"
"Nothing," I replied.
"Can you sing another song? But first, do wear your clothes. It's disgusting!" nandidiri na saad ko.
"Ikaw na nga 'tong nagre-request tapos ikaw pa ang suplada. Girls, nowadays!" he sigh.
"So ano ang gusto mong sabihin ko?"
"Na, oh you don't have to wear your clothes anymore coz' your body is really—" putol na saad ko.
Lumapit siya sa'kin," Really, what?"
"Nevermind!" I answered at umiwas nang tingin sa kanya.
Lumabas na ako nang kusina bago pa mauwi sa rated SPG ang lahat. At umupo sa tabi ni Dad na naka-focus sa panonood nang golf. Lumabas si Ray sa kusina at napatingin naman sa kanya si Dad. Tumayo siya at lumapit kay Ray, "I have my old clothes sa cabinet sa kaliwang kwarto. Nasa ibabaw nang cabinet 'yun. Kunin mo na lang," saad ni Dad.
Papa-akyat na sana si Ray nang pigilan siya ni Dad, "Ah, wait. Ako na lang pala. May dadalhin din naman ako, stay there," dag-dag pa ni Dad at saka umakyat sa taas.
Ilang saglit pa ay inabot ni Dad kay Ray ang white shirt at saka may binulong pa. Ngumiti si Ray at saka umakyat sa kwarto nina Mom and Dad.
Umupo si Dad sa tabi ko at ilang saglit pa ay bumaba si Ray suot ang damit na binigay ni Dad. Fit sa kanya ang white shirt pero hindi gaanong maliit para sa kanya. Napatingin kami ni Dad sa itaas kung nasaan si Ray. At nabaling ang tingin ko sa dala niya.
"Sa'n galing 'yan?" tanong ko.
"Ah ito? It's your Dad's guitar. Pinahiram niya sa'kin," sagot niya.
"You know how to play it?"
"Of course!" nakangiting sagot niya.
"Well, then," I answered.
Pinatay ni Dad ang t.v habang kumuha naman si Ray nang silya at pumwesto sa harap namin. Naka-upo na siya nang biglang dumating si Mom, "Oh, anong meron?" tanong niya agad.
"Just watch," saad ni Dad.
Nilagay ni Mom ang mga dala niya sa lamesa at saka umupo sa tabi ni Dad, "Go on," pagsugo pa ni Mom, nang maka-upo na.
He started to strum the guitar and started to sing with all of his heart.
(I Won't Give Up By Jason Mraz)
He's getting into the ending, napapalakpak kaming lahat, "I'm sure na mapapasagot mo agad ang mga babaeng liligawan mo because of your voice," nakangiting saad ni Mom.
Tumingin sa kanya si Dad, "Kaya naman pala, agad-agad mo akong sinagot," nakangiting sagot ni Dad habang nakatingin kay Mom.
"Si Ray ang tinutukoy ko, hindi ikaw."
Nabaling ang tingin ni Dad kay Ray, "I know na hindi ako professional, Ray. But your voice is impressive."
Ngumiti si Ray at saka binaba ang dala niyang gitara.
"Maiwan na namin kayo. I need to prepare the food. Let's go, Hon?" saad ni Mom at saka tumayo na kasama si Dad.
Umupo si Ray sa tabi ko, "How was it?" tanong niya.
"I have a reply for your song," sagot ko.
Tinignan niya ako, "What?"
(It'll Be Alright By Dean Lewis)
Naabutan ko pa siya na nakatingin sa'kin nang matapos ako, "What a voice you have!" saad niya.
Tumingin ako sa kanya, "Your voice is fantastic and it can improved. I'm excited to tell you this that the whole team of theatre artists, will be having a huge event at December. It will be a magical show, because Ms. Eysi chosed Disney. In early three days, the team will conduct an audition for the lead role. And me, hearing your voice could be impressed then you can with Ms. Eysi and the whole team. I want you to audition for the role, and be a part of Creatives," I smiled.
"Don't worry, no pressure," dag-dag ko pa.
"What role?" tanong ni Ray.
"It is a lead role. You'll know if you decide to audition. We can't say a full detail," sagot ko.
Hindi umimik si Ray at malalim ang iniisip. I snap my finger para mapukaw siya, "Hey!"
"Ah, pag-iisipan ko muna. At baka mahirapan pa ako dahil wala naman akong background sa theater," aniya.
"Ganyan din naman ang umpisa. Meron o wala ka mang background ang importante ay gusto mong matuto. I'm not coercing you to audition, but please think for it," sagot ko.
"What if, I can't made it?"
Ngumiti ako sa kanya,"Then it's fine. At least you tried, you're not a failure by trying something out of the box," nakangiting sagot ko.
He smiled, at saka tinignan ang kanyang relo, "I have to go," aniya.
Niligpit niya ang kanyang mga gamit at saka nagpa-alam na kina Mom and Dad, "Tita, Tito. Thank you po. Mauna na po ako," pagpapa-alam ni Ray.
"Wait, hatid na kita sa labas," pagpigil ko sa kanya.
Tumayo ako at hinatid siya sa labas nang bahay, "Thank you for taking care of me," nakangiting saad niya.
"I think everyone will do the same thing," nakangiting sagot ko.
Pumasok ako sa loob nang bahay matapos mahatid si Ray, "Is he will be fine?" tanong ni Mom na naglalagay nang mga dala niya sa ref.
"Mom, of course he will."
Tumingin siya sa'kin, "Okay, I'm just asking. Ang laki nang pinagbago niya, and his getting more handsome, isn't he?" aniya at saka ngumiti.
Nag-eye roll ako, alam ko kung sa'n 'to pupunta. I know my Mom and her well-damn teasing profession.
"Sabihin mo nga sa kanya kapag may oras siya na mag-bonding kami. I just wanna ask of how he's going and about his Mom," dag-dag pa niya.
"Yeah, I will," nakangiting saad ko.
Papaakyat na sana ako sa kwarto nang biglang may nag-door bell. Nagkatinginan kami ni Mom, "Do you have any friends to come in?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Nope," sagot niya.
Binaling ko ang tingin kay Dad, "Dad, your mates will come?" Kunot-noo na tanong ko.
"It's Saturday, so no," sagot ni Dad.
I was getting curious dahil wala naman kaming inasahan na bisita. Normally, mga amigas lang ni Mom ang bisita namin. Sometines my friends and Dad's golf mates. But this time, walang schedule nang pagbisita sa bahay.
Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad saakin ang hindi pamilyar na mukha. She looked at me, strangely. Nakataas ang kanyang kilay at naka cross arm.
"Ah, who are you?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"What can I do for you?" mabait na saad ko.
Nag-eye roll siya, "Oh, you don't know me?"
"Ah, no. Why?" Kunot-noo na saad ko.
"Well, let me introduce myself. I am Carolina from Escuela de Unibersidad. I owned Dela Puente Mansion. And for all you know, I also owned Ray!" pagdiin pa niya.
"Don't get into my way. And even try to get him. He is mine. Hindi mo gusto na makalaban ako. And as if naman na hahayaan ko siyang mapunta sa isang cheap, talentless at low-class na katulad mo, " dag-dag pa niya and trying to insult my well-being.
Napalapit sa'min si Mom, "Hey, what's going on here?" salubong na kilay na tanong ni Mom.
"Mom, I got this," sagot ko. Habang nakatingin pa rin kay Carolina.
Bumalik si Mom sa dining area at saka ako nagsalita towards Carolina, "I don't know of who the hell are you, but I know Ray and who is he as person. You know, he told me everything between you and him, and I feel happy of what did you both end up because after all, he don't deserved you," nakataas kilay na saad ko.
"Can you rephrase of what you've said? That you owned him? For true love sake, owned, it's past tense, tapos na. It also makes me more curious because you were the one who broke him first. You decided to end your relationship. So bakit ka pa naghahabol? Isn't it what you call cheap?" dag-dag ko pa.
"Stay away from him!" she pushed me.
Lumapit ako sa kanya,"Fine. Wala akong pakialam kung ano man ang meron kayo. For I tell you, I don't care. But to what you've done this time, that you really came here to fight me. Is really a crap! If you expect me to have a cat fight, well, hindi mo makukuha sakin 'yun. "
Hindi siya naka-imik. Lumapit ako sa kanya, "I have a something that you might wanna hear."
Sumenyas ako na lumapit siya and she stupidly did. Bumulong ako sa tenga niya," Do everything to get him back, at baka mapunta siya sa taong tinatawag mo na cheap. And yet I may don't have the stuff that you owned. Not to brag, pero nakapag-perform ka na ba sa CCP, Cum Laude ka ba sa Escuela de Unibersidad because last time I check ay wala kang naabot man lang. And remember, I came from Ford Academy," I whisper sarcastically.
"Leave now!" Naka-cross arm na dag-dag ko.
She looked at me at saka umalis. Pagpasok ko sa loob nang bahay ay naka-abang na sina Mom and Dad sa sala, "Sino yun?" naka kunot-noo na tanong ni Mom.
"Ex-girlfriend ni Ray," sagot ko.
"O bakit, inaaway ka?" tanong naman ni Dad.
"They broke up because of me which is not intentionally. Malay ko ba ba na immature 'yung si Carolina. I didn't even do anything towards their relationship and I didn't even know na may girlfriend pala 'yung si Ray. I cant understand, kung bakit mahirap intindihin. It's obvious that I didn't know anything between them, can't she sees it?! Like what the heck! You both, didn't raised me to wreck a relationship of somebody else. They're making me feel dumb." I was trying to explained kung ano nga ba ang nangyari. Because afterall wala naman talaga akong kinalaman at wala akong pake sa kung ano man ang meron sila. All I think of, is what my family sees me.
"Hey honey, we both know who you are. You prove us that we raised you right," nakangiting saad ni Dad.
Niyakap ko silang dalawa as they both hug me as tender as they can. I know my parents, kahit ano pa ang gawin ko, they will embrace me with open arms.
———
Kakauwi pa lang ni Ray sa bahay niya. Nakatingin lang siya sa kisame nang maalala ang sinabi ni Adel about sa audition.
"Should I try?" mahinang tanong niya.
"Baka hindi kayanin nang schedule ko. Kailangan kung maka-graduate for my own sake," dag-dag niya pa.
"Should I audition?" aniya.
Nagdadalawang isip pa siya kung tatanggapin niya o baka mag- focus na lang sa training, especially na 4th year na siya. Mas magiging hectic ang schedule dahil sa mga training sa eroplano. Kaya hindi niya lubos maisip kung kaya niya ba na isingit sa schedule niya ang pagiging theatre actor.
Nang bigla siyang napukaw nang mag-ring ang phone niya. Kinuha niya ito at tinignan kong sino ang tumatawag, "Nonsense!" salubong na kilay na saad niya.
Diniss-missed niya ang tawag pero tumawag ulit si Carolina. Pilit na sinagot ni Ray ang tawag, "What?!" malakas na bungad niya.
"Love, I'm sorry. Please come back. I don't want to lose you," mahinahong pagpapaki-usap ni Carolina.
Nag-smirk si Ray, "Well, I can lose you, Carolina. Hindi mo alam ang naramdamn ko kagabi after we broke up. Now you asked for a second chance? Ni hindi mo nga ako hinayaan na mag-explain. So why do I have to give you a second chance? Give me a reason para balikan ka," malakas na saad ni Ray.
"Because I still love you," aniya.
"Does love is enough? Kung pagmamahal lang pala, edi sana walang naghihiwalay, walang nasasaktan at walang naiiwan just like what happened to my parents. So tell me, Carolina, does love is enough?"
Hindi siya umimik, "Well, it's over. Anyway, calling her babes is not cheap or the word itself, 'coz afterall it's sincere than love," sagot ni Ray at saka binaba ang tawag.