Chapter 3: Chapter 2
Ikalawang set na sila at nag-aayos na siya para tumugtog. Isang minuto na lamang ang kanilang hinihintay bago pa man sila tawagin ng manager ng bar upang tumugtog muli. Pagkatapos nito, uuwi agad sila upang maghanda para sa final exams nila sa Lunes.
Knowing them, they are still studying and being in the band is only their pastime. Pastime. Hindi sila nagpapabayad dito kasi mayayaman naman sila.
As an incentive, Mr. Lavine, the owner of the place, let them order any drink from the club.
They stepped out of the backstage and the crowd screamed. It has been four years since he heard the first roar of the crowd for their band. The warmth that the crowd gives never fades.
Inayos niya ang sarili at naghandang tumugtog. May pagkabalisa siya nitong nakalipas na dalawang biyernes ng pagtutog dahil sa patong-patong na gawain sa paaralan at pag-iisip kay Mia.
Nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid pero hindi niya ito nakita. His band mates wore their half masks as a part of the club's Halloween special. He touched the keys of the keyboard with his dear synthesizer. Muli siyang tumingin sa madla at nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata.
A stunning woman stepped in the club with her eyes roaming around. Tila ba may hinahanap ang babae sa mismong tanghalan. His heart was stunned when he saw the same girl he talked to, a few weeks ago. Napangiti na lang siya nang mapatunayan ang bulong-bulungan tungkol sa pagkatao nito.
She is soon-to-be Engineer Mia Charity Locquias.
Natatawa niyang sinimulan ang pagpindot sa keys habang tinatantya ang mga pihitan ng instrumento. Nakangiti siyang tumutugtog habang tuwang-tuwa naman si Mia Charity.
Her eyes were pleased like a child receiving a candy and there, he found himself captured by her pleasure. He seemed to be making her smile especially he is her favorite band member of VESTIGE.
Natapos nila ang isang pagtugtog at doon siya nakakuha ng pagkakataong mag-request ng isang kanta. "Bro, can we play a punk rock music?" Jacob asked Ethan.
Gulat ang lumatay sa mga kasamahan niya dahil alam nilang ayaw niya sa mga kantang ganoon ang genre. To support, they started playing the song.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Charity na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa bar. The song enlightened her and she appreciated it. Nakisabay siya sa saliw ng musika habang umiinom. Naalala siya ng bartender sa mga katangiang ipinakita niya mula noong una siyang nagpunta rito.
Natapos ang kanta at agad na nawala ang banda sa ibabaw ng tanghalan. She was in the current hype when a person sat beside her. It was Jacob. "Hey, Miss Mia," he said.
"Yes, Mister Jacob," she replied with a playful sweet voice. "Long time no see."
"Yeah. You have not gone hear for two weeks now. What keeps you busy?" He took a sip from his glass. "Thesis?"
Gulat na napatingin si Charity sa lalaking naka-half mask. He knew that she has this thesis to finish. Then she sighed. "You're probably a student also," she inferred.
"Graduating actually." He smirked.
She was not wrong. Estudyante nga si Jacob. He is probably studying on the same school as hers. Questions popped in her mind. Did he know her? Alam niya bang siya si Mia Charity Locquias, the notorious woman of a shotgun mouth that fires curses as bullets?
"Where? Few blocks away from here?" she asked. Medyo umiikot na ang paningin niya dahil sa iilang baso ng alak na ininom niya simula kanina hanggang matapos ang huling kanta nila.
"Probably," he answered, kiddingly.
Natatawa si Jacob sa mga ikinikilos at itinatanong ng dalaga. He wants to keep his identity, a secret, so that she will not get away from him. Kapag nalaman ni Charity ng tunay na pagkakakilanlan ni Jacob, she will surely get away from him.
"So you know me?" she said. Sa halip na patuloy na luminga sa ibang direksyon, she look straight at Jacob's eyes. Gusto niyang suriin kung sino ba talaga ang binata.
"Miss Mia Charity Locquias."
She was shock when she heard her full name from a complete stranger. Sino ba talaga si Jacob?
"You really know my name," she said as she took the last sip of her fourth glass of liquor. "And you probably know who I really am."
Who I really am. Itinutukoy niya ang pagiging offensive ng bibig niya. That is how she cope with her depression. Depression, her condition that was diagnosed when she was fourteen years old.
"I know you Miss Charity."
"But you still come with me," she said. "Why so?"
"Because I saw a better part of who you are."
Lumambot ang puso niya ng marinig ang mga salita ni Jacob, isang estrangherong pangalawang beses pa lang na nakikita. A strange feeling says that Jacob has been observing her for many times. "Sino ka ba talaga Jacob?" she asked in pure curiosity.
"You never want to know." He chuckled.
"Really?" she said. "Can you tell me who you are, para aware akong ikaw pala yun?"
He cleared his throat and had a great smirk. "Nope. Mawawalan ako ng isa pang kaibigan kapag nangyari yun."
Nabigla si Charity sa sinabi nito. He considers her as a friend. Ngayon lang may sumubok na gawin siyang kaibigan. It was new to her.
"Friend?" Charity said then he nodded. "If you were my friend, Jacob, you would tell me your identity," she cleared. A bit tipsy, she still manages to give him a sensible conversation.
"Maybe next time, at the right time." He smiled.
Bahagyang nawala ang ingay sa kanilang paligid hanggang sa basagin muli ni Charity ang katahimikan. "Fine," pagsuko niya. She just sighed and played on her drink. "Let's drink my friend. It's my birthday!" she cheered.
"Happy Birthday, my friend!" He shouted cheerfully. Nakataas pa ang baso ng binata na naghihintay na itama ni Charity ang baso niya rito.
Ganoon nga ang ginawa niya. This one made her smile. Hindi niya akalaing babatiin siya nito. It was the first time when somebody greeted her on her birthday. Hindi niya rin akalaing magiging maayos ang pagdiriwang niya ng kaarawan sa unang pagkakataon.
....
Masayang-masaya si Jacob na nagtungo sa backstage at muling naghintay ng ilan pang minuto bago sila kumanta. Natutuwa pa rin siya sa mga pinag-usapan nila ni Charity kanina.
He left her still enjoying her drink. Pumayag naman ang dalaga sa ganoong lagay kaya hindi na siya nahirapan. His smiles were so genuine, definitely a mirror of his feelings for Charity.
"Jacobe," Seth called him. Ni hindi siya lumingon dahil kasalukuyang siyang nasa alapaap. He is thinking of Charity, of course.
"Jacobe." Muli siyang tinawag ni Seth. Nakaupo lamang si Jacob sa sofa na nakalagay sa backstage kung saan sila naghihintay. Hindi niya muling napansin ang pagtawag sa kanya ni Jeoseth.
"Jacob Esaac!" he shouted. Napabalik sa katinuan si Jacob nang marinig ang buo niyang pangalan. "Why aren't you paying attention? Kanina pa kita tinatawag!" inis nitong sigaw sa kaniya.
Naakamot ng noo si Jacob at sumagot. "Kuya, don't shout my name. Baka marinig ka ni Charity."
Natawa ng pagak si Seth sa kapatid. "Charity?" pagtataka nitong tanong. "Mia Charity Locquias? Iyong notorious?"
"Seth, do not describe her those words," he said seriously.
Napapalakpak na lang si Seth sa harap ni Esaac. "Wow, Bro. Parang ilang buwan lang ang nakalipas nang sinabi mong notorious siya tapos ngayon, pinagtatanggol mo na?" he said nonchalantly.
"I think she is my downfall."
Seth's eyes grew. He was dumbfounded with 'she is my downfall' words of his dear brother. "Do not kid me. Masyadong seryoso yan, Ez. Stop it. Tutugtog na tayo."
Napailing-iling na lang si Jacob nang marinig ito mula sa kapatid. He does not know about it. Masyadong seryoso ang sinabi ni Jacob na downfall niya si Charity. She may have the rule on him but it was just short period since he knew her. Hindi niya pwedeng agad sabihin na si Charity na ang downfall niya lalo na kung wala pang ilang taon niyang nakikilala o nakakasama si Charity.
When a VESTIGE member tells that a person is his downfall, he will love her until death. Iyon na ang naging prinsipyo nilang magkakaibigan bilang respeto na rin sa tunay at nag-iisa nilang mamahalin. Siya lang at wala nang iba. But the thing is, he does not have enough reasons or symptoms of having her as his downfall. It is definitely impossible as of now.
Ano pa bang patunay ang kailangan ko para masabing siya na talaga ang para sa akin? Kilala ko na siya noon pa at kabisado ko na siya. Ano bang hindi malinaw roon?
More than the consideration of having a downfall, many generations of de Sevillas had failed relationships. Dahil dito, hindi na gaanong kinokonsidera ng pamilya nila ang pagkakaroon ng buong pamilya. Women tend to leave a de Sevilla for good. Masyado rin kasing magulo ang buhay na mayroon ang pamilyang ito.
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