Chapter 25. Fall
ACEL was feeling the limelight—her dream, to be a musician—by being the keyboardist of Sunshine band. Noo'y masaya na siyang ipinagpatuloy ang kanyang kurso; na sapat na para sa kanya ang ipaglaban ang gusto kahit pa nga ba napakahirap ng kanyang sitwasyon sa mga magulang, at ang pinagdaanan niya. She worked part time and almost had just exact amount of her financial savings for her studies. Sometimes, it wasn't even enough. Pero kinaya niya tulong na rin ng scholarship na natanggap niya. Nalampasan na niya ang isa sa mga matitinding dagok sa kanyang buhay kung saan inaalala niya kung saan makahahanap ng trabahong related sa field na inaral niya. Masasabi niyang nasa rurok na siya ng tagumpay sa tinatamasang kasikatan ng banda dahil sa kanilang musika.
Everything had changed a month ago. Halos hindi na lumuwag ang schedules nila dahil sa kabi-kabilaang promotions.
"Who are your inspirations in pursuing Music?" tanong ng isang journalist matapos nilang mag-perform sa isang mid-year Music Awards. They won the Best Newcomer Award Title for the first half of the year, Eclipse also took the same award.
"My parents..." bulalas niya. By mentioning them, she suddenly felt emotional. She was slightly updated about her family for the past four years, thanks to the social media, but she never saw them in person again. Kung tutuusin ay maliit lang naman ang Pilipinas para sa kanila ng kanyang pamilya subalit hindi sila kailanman nagkita, marahil ay tinotoo ng mga magulang ang pagtakwil sa kanya. Hindi iilang beses siyang umiyak dahil sa matinding pangungulila. She was her daddy's girl, her mom's baby, and a big sister to her siblings. Ang lahat ay tinalikuran niya para maabot ang pangarap.
This is life. There are some sacrifices for us to be made in order to achieve our dreams. In my case, I had to go and leave my beloved family.... even though I never really intended to.
"Can you tell us why, Acel? Was it because your parents used to be in the Music Industry?"
Bumalik ang kanyang hwisyo sa tanong at umiling siya. It's true because parents were part of a famous 80s band. Kaya nga ba hindi niya tuluyang maintindihan kung bakit hindi siya masuportahan ng mga ito sa pangarap niya.
"They used to sing a lot of songs to us when we were kids. I even learned playing some instruments because of them."
"You didn't enroll in a Music school back then?"
"I didn't. Sila ang nagturo sa akin kung paano mag-piano during my toddler until elementary years."
Napatango-tango ang journalist at pagkuwa'y bumaling sa kanilang bass guitarist, tinanong ang kaparehong tanong.
Tumagal ng halos labinlimang minuto ang backstage interview bago natapos. Nagmamadali siyang lumabas para mapanood ang mga ikatlo sa huling magtatanghal.
"...the hottest rising idol group—Eclipse!" Masigabong palakpakan ang sumunod na namayani sa open grounds kung saan ginanap ang VBS Music Awards. The admission was free. The audience just needed to fill out an online form and got their e-tickets via email.
Ibang level na talaga ang kasikatan ng Eclipse kahit baguhan pa lamang sa industriya. Wala sa sariling napatitig siya kay Baxter at mas lalong gumanda ang tindig ng pangangatwan nito. He's hot and sexy onstage, but she knew that he's still her beautifully handsome and soft boyfriend offstage.
Wait, he isn't just my boyfriend, Naisip niya. But, oh, well, e-enjoy-in na muna niya ang pagiging boyfriend nito sa kanya.
Ang huling pagkikita nila ay noong graduation subalit hindi sila nagkasamang dalawa dahil may hinabol itong flight. Pinagbawalan din ang paggamit ng social media accounts ng mga ito kaya puro sa text messaging na lang sila nagkakausap at sa panaka-nakang pagtawag. Actually, he's calling her every night, but she's too busy or sometimes, too tired that she's already sleeping that's she couldn't answer the phone. Nalulungkot nga siya lalo pa at nasanay siyang sa loob ng halos apat na taon ay hindi siya nawawalay kay Baxter, pagkatapos sa isang iglap ay ganoon na sila. She's sad and happy at the same time.
Mabilis lang naman ang two years, Pangungumbinsi niya sa isip.
Just like Baxter, Acel also signed a dating ban contract for two years that's why she, of all people, perfectly understood his situation.
Napakislot siya nang nag-landing sa kanya ang isang maliit at malambot bola. Nagtatakang tiningnan niya iyon at nanlalaki ang mga mata nang makilala ang pirma na naroon. It was her boyfriend's!
Mabilis na nag-angat siya ng tingin at nakita niyang malapad na nakangiti si Baxter sa kanya at nag-peace sign. She noticed that the other members were signing the small soft balls onstage, too, and they would throw those to the crowd as souvenirs. As she stared at him, her eyes were glued on his eyes. His smiling eyes were really adorable that she wanted to get up on stage and shower him with her sweet little kisses. Kumindat pa ito sa kanya kaya nama'y nabingi siya sa tilian ng mga fans. For them, it was a fan service, but for her, it's her boyfriend's love only for her.
"Boyfriend ko iyan! Woo!" Halos mapatid ang litid niya sa pagsigaw. "Pakakasalan ko 'yan!"
At dahil doon sa pagtili niyang iyon ay may lumabas na article na nagsasabing die-hard fan siya ni Baxter.
Kinabukasan ay sinubukan niya itong tawagan at tuwang-tuwa siya nang masagot kaagad nito iyon.
"I miss you, baby," namamaos na bungad nito.
"Aww... I miss you, too. Have you seen the article?" tanong niya kaagad.
"What article?"
"Check mo. It says I'm your die-hard fan."
"What?" Tumigas ang boses nito. "But you are my fiancée!"
"As if we can tell the world now, boyfriend."
"I'm your fiancé," agap nito.
"I know. I was just happy about the article. At least kahit paano, may koneksiyon tayo sa industriyang ginagalawan natin, hindi ba?"
He groaned to protest. "I miss you... What are you wearing?"
"Huh? I'm wearing a sundress. Why?"
"Hmm... Where are you?" his voice softened.
"In our apartment. Wala kaming schedule ng dalawang araw kaya rito na ako nagpahatid kagabi." Simula kasi nang mag-banda siya ay madalang na lang siyang makauwi. Kadalasan ay sa hotel na sila nagpapahinga ng mga kasama niya.
"I miss you," anas nito sa malat na tinig, bahagyang hinihingal.
"Baxter..." maliit ang tinig na tawag niya sa ngalan nito; nagdududa. "What are you doing?" tanong pa niya kahit may ideya na siya.
"I'm touching my hard cock. I just woke up and now it's hurting because it's missing your tight and wet pussy."
Napasinghap siya at napalunok. Was he seriously being turned on over the phone? Hmm... She's turned on, too.
"Baby, I want to see you. Pupuntahan kita..."
"Hmm... I'd like that. Pero hindi ba, busy kayo?"
"Mamayang gabi pa ang schedule namin."
"Cebu?" Naalala niya kasing may flight pa-Cebu ngayong araw ang Eclipse.
"Oo... Baby, are you wearing a bra?"
Napakurap-kurap siya at wala sa sariling dinama ang dibdib saka mariing pinisil iyon. "I'm not..."
Mas lumalim ang paghinga nito at wala sa sariling minasahe niya ang sariling dibdib.
"Baxter... I'm feeling... Ah...! I will touch myself down there..."
"Yes, do so—shit!" Isang malakas na kalabog ang narinig niya sa kabilang linya.
"What happened?" puno ng pag-aalalang tanong niya. Mabilis na umayos siya ng upo sa gilid ng kama.
He chuckled awkwardly but he was still noticeably panting. "Nadulas ako sa banyo."
"Ha?! Go to the emergency! Baka nabalian ka ng buto!"