MARICON
"And we'll dream it possible..."
My room was immediately filled with loud claps from my Dad. I smiled at him before putting down my guitar.
"How was it?" I asked.
He flashed a smile before raising his hand and giving me a thumbs up.
I sighed. "Pasado na po?"
He nodded continuously before picking up my guitar. "You should've volunteer to sing in your school."
"I don't think I'm good enough though." I pouted.
Dad chuckled and strumbed on my guitar. "You are. You should believe in yourself sometimes, Maricon."
Napailing naman ako kasabay ng mahinang pagtawa. "I'll try next time," pagsuko ko.
"You should try next time," he said, emphasizing the word 'should'.
"Don't waste your talent just because you're not confident," he added.
I shrugged before I rose up from my seat. "I should get ready na po pala, Dad."
His brows furrowed before looking at me. "Where are you going?"
I just smiled at him and went straight to my bathroom.
***
"Beautiful!"
I tilted my head and stare at myself in the mirror. I smiled before looking at the one who cut my hair.
"Good job," I praised her.
She smiled. "Why did you decided to cut your hair? It's already beautiful before."
"For school purposes," I answered, still looking at the mirror.
"Can you put the top in a bun then just let the bottom part as it is?"
She nodded before starting to style my hair. I sighed and let her do her job.
After a couple of minutes, she finished. Agad akong tumayo at nagpaalam. I badly want to have a milktea since I am craving for it yesterday.
I am silently sipping on my drink when someone called my name. I looked at her and found out that it was Psyche... With Chase.
"Hey!" bati niya.
I smiled at her. "What are you doing here? Are you guys having a date?" I joked.
Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Psyche at umiling. "Kadiri, ha! We just went here to buy some lunch. Nagp-practice kasi kami sa bahay namin," she answered.
"Nags-start na kayong magpractice?"
Psyche nodded. "Sabi niya, eh." She looked at Chase while he just raised an eyebrow.
"Nakakain na kayo? I'll treat you!" alok ko.
"No need," Chase immediately refused. I pouted.
"Ayaw niyo?"
"We have money, Maricon. You don't have to treat us," paalala ni Psyche.
"Uh... Right. I'm sorry," I apologized and smiled awkwardly.
She tapped my shoulders and gave me a reassuring smile. "You don't have to be sorry."
I sighed and just gave her a simple smile.
"What are you doing here nga pala? Nagpa-salon ka?" she asked to divert the topic.
Tumango naman ako at ngumiti. "I decided to cut my hair and remove my pink highlights."
"Huh? Ayos naman 'yung dati, ah?" tanong niya.
I shook my head. "A rule is a rule, Psyche. No matter what my social status is, I am not above the law. I'm just like all of you and I should follow the rules just like what you're doing."
She looked at me weirdly before nodding her head. "O...kay?" she answered unsurely.
"Do you want to join us today?" she suddenly asked.
"Huh?"
"You can eat with us and watch our practice. It's pretty boring practicing with only just me and Chase, you know?"
Tumingin naman ako kay Chase. "I'll join if it's okay with Chase. Baka kasi naabala ko na kayo," I stated.
Chase shove his hands onto the pocket of his hoodie before shrugging his shoulders. "Do whatever you want," he answered.
Napangiti naman ako. "Does that mean yes?" I asked.
He nodded.
Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko bago umangkla sa braso ni Psyche. "Let's go!" aya ko.
She just shook her head before laughing. I wanna see Chase singing!
***
"Wow! Your house is pretty big, huh?" I remarked while roaming my eyes on Psyche's house.
She chuckled. "Your house is probably way bigger than our house."
Hindi na naman ako sumagot sa sinabi niya. That's true, though. I just don't wanna come out that I'm bragging and such.
"When are we going to eat? I'm already starving," Chase asked and sat on the sofa.
"Alright. Stay here and I'll prepare our food," Psyche said before going to the kitchen with the plastic bag full of the food that we ordered at the mall.
Napangiti naman ako nang kami na lamang dalawa ni Chase ang tao. Agad naman akong umupo sa tabi niya.
"Palagi ka ba rito?" tanong ko.
He leaned against the sofa before shrugging his shoulders. "Not really," he answered.
Napatango naman ako. Uh... What should I say next? Kakausapin ko pa ba siya o tatahimik na lamang? Kapag kinausap ko siya, baka sabihin niya na ang ingay kong tao. Tapos kapag tumahimik naman ako, baka sabihin niya na ang boring ko.
I pouted. Chase is just too mysterious. I don't even know his likes and dislikes! Paano ko ba nagustuhan ang lalaking ito?
"Uhm... Chase," I called him.
Agad naman siyang tumingin sa akin at tila sinasabing ipagpatuloy ko ang sasabihin ko.
I cleared my throat and wet my lips. "May girlfriend ka na ba?"
He looked at me weirdly. I blinked my eyes a few times, waiting for his answer. "Why?" he asked.
"Kasi baka may girlfriend ka pala tapos hindi ba, ano... Uhm... I like you. It would be too awkward if you know, taken ka na pala," I answered shyly.
He chuckled. "I don't have one."
Tila nagliwanag ang paligid ko kasabay ng malawak kong pag-ngiti. Ang suwerto ko naman yata ngayong araw. Una, tumawa si Chase. Pangalawa, wala siyang girlfriend. God, is this a sign na meant to be kami?
"Rea—"
"Maricon, can you help me with these?" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang tawagin ako ni Psyche mula sa kusina. I pouted before rosing up from my seat.
"Tutulungan ko lang si Psyche," pagpapaalam ko kay Chase.
He did not answer me that's why I hurriedly went to the kitchen to help Psyche.
"Ngiting-ngiti ka diyan?" Psyche asked me.
I just shrugged my shoulders, trying to control the kilig that I'm feeling. Agad naman kaming natapos ni Psyche sa pag-aayos ng pagkakainan.
Dali-dali kaming kumain dahil kailangan daw na maagang umuwi si Chase kasi uuwi 'yung older brother niya galing ibang bansa. Napangiti naman ako. May panibago na naman akong nalaman tungkol kay Chase.
Nang matapos kaming kumain ay bumalik na kami sa living room. Doon pala sila nagpa-practice? Should I lend them our music room? I set aside those thought because it looks like they are doing fine naman. Baka isipin nila na ang yabang ko kapag sinabi ko pa iyon.
"What are you going to sing?" tanong ko kay Psyche.
"Chase recommended Dream It Possible," she answered.
My brows furrowed. Iyon ang kantang kinanta ko kanina kay Daddy, ah?
"Psyche, let's start," pagtawag ni Chase. Agad namang lumapit si Psyche sa puwesto ni Chase samantalang nakaharap naman ako sa kanila.
Chase started strumming the guitar while Psyche nods her head.
"I will run, I will climb, I will soar. I'm undefeated. Jumping out of my skin, pull the chord, yeah I believe it."
I smiled when Psyche started to sing. She's good at singing! She's not a bad choice.
"The past, is everything we were, don't make us who we are. So I'll dream, until I make it real and all I see is stars."
Goosebumps filled my entire body as Chase started singing. He has this heavenly voice that I wouldn't get tired of listening.
I bit my lower lip while watching them sing. Chase chuckled when Psyche was out of tune but they still continued to sing.
"And we'll dream, it possible," Chase sang.
I sighed. It's been only twenty four hours since I made a decision but I'm already regretting it. Great.
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