Chapter 24. Sunshine
"GOOD morning," bati ni Acel kay Baxter nang magising siya. She was already wearing his clothes and his pajama. Hula niya'y lulubog siya sa suot na damit kapag tumayo siya.
"Good afternoon," nakangiting bati naman nito at kinintalan siya ng magaan na halik.
"What 'good afternoon'?" Napabalikwas siya ng bangon at nang tumingin sa orasan ay mag-a-ala una na ng hapon. Halos mapamura siya at mabilis na bumangon.
"What's the rush? I cooked some delicious breakfast for you—well, it will be our lunch now." Umupo ito at sumandal sa headboard ng kama. Napalunok siya nang maalala kung paano niya itong sinakyan kaninang madaling-araw sa ganoong pwesto nito. Agad na umiling siya para iwaglit ang isipan iyon. She needed to focus.
"I have to go to VBS! May interview kami ng four PM." Tinutukoy niya ang sikat na Velizario Broadcasting Station.
"What interview?"
She groaned. Sinabi niyang para sa nalalapit nilang debut iyon. "I'll take a shower first. Para pagdating ko sa apartment ay magpapalit na lang ako."
"Let's eat first. Nagugutom ka na."
"After I take a shower. Pakikuha naman ako ng sweatpants mo saka white shirt. That will do." Mabilis na tumayo siya't tumalikod pero muli siyang humarap dito nang may naalala. "I love you," bulalas niya at matamis na ngumiti.
He grunted. "Acel! You just turned me on!" kunwaring reklamo nito. Mabilis na pumasok siya sa banyo at ni-lock ang pinto. "Open the door." Marahang kinatok nito ang pinto.
"I can't. Nagmamadali ako!"
"We'll make it quick."
Ngumisi siya at pinagbuksan ito ng pinto. Just as he said, they made love under the shower quickly. Matapos maligo ay kinain din nila ang pagkaing niluto nito.
"It's Holiday, bakit may interview kayo?" he asked.
"Ito lang kasi ang free time namin ni Lana. Kaya, ayun," esplika niya. They already signed the contract and they will set to debut two months after Eclipse' debut. They're handled by the same agency, it's just that, Eclipse was being handled by the international leg of the agency while Sunshine would be in the local. Anyway, they were still preparing for their debut album that's why she became busier than ever.
"Walang lalaki sa banda ninyo, hindi ba?" panigurado ni Baxter.
Bumaling siya rito at tumango.
"How about your manager?"
"You know who our manager is."
Napanguso ito. "You only have one manager?"
"Yup."
He nodded.
"Saan ka pupunta nito?" she asked.
"We have a photo shoot," nakangusong untag nito.
"Then, why are you still here?"
"It was canceled." He avoided her gazes as he informed her about that schedule.
Naningkit ang nga mata niya. Ayaw niyang maghinala kaya tinanong niya ito. "Why's it canceled?"
Yumuko lang ito.
"Baxter! Was it because of me?"
"No! It's because of me..." agap nito.
"You should've woken me up," she castigated. "O pwede namang iwanan mo ako rito. I can go home by myself."
"You were sleeping so soundly and I was staring at your beautiful and sensual sleeping face... I forgot—"
"Huwag mo nang uulitin iyon!" putol niya sa sasabihin.
Napanguso ito nang mag-angat ng tingin. Halatang nagpipigil na mapangisi. "Ang init naman ng ulo natin. May nabuo na ba tayo?"
"Ugh! I can't believe you!"
He's not taking her seriously.
She sighed heavily. "Book me a cab," utos niya rito.
"I'll take you—"
"No."
"Baby, kababati lang natin. Huwag na tayong mag-away," paglalambing nito.
She sighed, trying to suppress her smile. "Ayaw kong maulit ito. You should be dedicated with your career."
Napakamot ito ng batok. "I'm sorry."
"You should be responsible enough so you could gain my trust."
Nagtatakang tinitigan siya nito. "Don't you trust me yet?"
Oh, my God, Baxter! She knew he's using his charm to make her calm down. The way he critically looked at her melted her irritation.
"I promise, this won't happen again."
"Dapat lang," pilit na pagsusungit niya. "Hindi biro ang pinasok mong ito, Baxter. So you should be really responsible."
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes were amused. "Halika na, ipagmamaneho na kita."
Umiling siya. "We should be careful. Hindi pa humuhupa ang tsismis kagabi, baka madagdagan kapag may nakakita sa atin."
"I would love that more. Kaysa sa lalaking iyon ka ma-reto."
"Can you hear yourself? Hindi ka pa nga nagde-debut, ibi-breach mo na ang kontrata mo sa dating ban."
"I won't say we're dating, I know you will not agree. Let's just say... I am your driver." Ngumisi ito ng malapad pagkasabi niyon.
"My driver!"
Humalakhak ito. "You're really cute." Pinisil nito ang kanyang ilong.
"Aray, may tumutubo akong tigyawat dito."
"Pretty."
"Heh!" singhal niya pero ngumingiti na.
Sa huli ay pumayag itong sumakay na lang siya ng cab lalo pa't totoo ang sinabi niyang madaling makikilala si Baxter dahil talaga namang maingay na ang pangalan ng Eclipse ngayon.
Ang bali-balita naman tungkol sa kanila ni Romano ay mabilis ding humupa. Magaling pala talagang tumrabaho bilang agent ang huli.
Come by next week, Eclipse' debut was grand. Ginanap iyon sa malaking arena sa Maynila at halos mapuno ang kapasidad na binuksan ng Arena. She watched them and she saw how their hard work was being paid off.
Every cheers inside the arena were giving her goosebumps. Nakisigaw at nakitili siya habang patuloy sila sa paghe-headbang at lundag salin sa electronic music ng grupo.
But when it's time to say goodbye, they sang a ballad song. For some reason, Baxter had found her eyes in the middle of the crowd and never left her gazes. Sa isang iglap ay pakiramdam niyang sila lamang dalawa ang taong nandoroon. Like there was some barrier for the two of them only and their hearts were being connected. Kung hindi pa ito inakbayan ni Lancelot ay hindi ito matitinag. Ang lahat ng miyembro ay nagkumpulan sa pwesto ng kanyang nobyo 'tsaka nag-group hug, making Baxter's loving gazes for her drowned by the hug.
After that, Eclipse became busy with their Asian Debut Tour. Kaya hanggang sa sila na ang mag-debut ay hindi pa rin sila nito nagkikita nang silang dalawa lamang.
She realized that their relationship was already growing up. The same way with how they were maturing. Mahirap pala ang LDR o long-distance relationship. Ang akala niya noon ay hindi niya kakayanin. Pero heto siya ngayon, naiintindihan ang mga dahilan kung bakit hindi sila magkita-kita ng kanyang boyfriend. At isa pa, abala na rin ang banda nila sa kabi-kabilaang guestings at gigs.
The following week, they attended their graduation. Nandoon si Baxter at kahit gusto niyang lapitan ang huli ay hindi niya magawa. No, it wasn't because of their dating ban. Bukod kasi sa pinagkaguluhan ito; ganoon din sa kanya. They even had securities because the crowd was roaring after the graduation rites.
"Grabe, magsi-shift na yata ako ng Music related course, KC Jane. Look at those two!" Narinig niyang komento ng isang babaeng estudyante. "They're successful now and both are from our University."
"I agree, Kassy!" komento naman ng isa. "And I think I'll stan Eclipse. Sobrang ganda ng mga kanta sa debut album nila!"
"Stan Sunshine Band, too! Their instruments are in sync and their vocalist's voice is to the next level!"
Napangiti siya sa narinig. If they're going to stan us, that means they will start listening to our music from this day on, right?
Napangiti siya at napalingon kay Baxter, na matamang nakatitig sa kanya. She smiled even widely and mouthed "hi" to him.