The Rebel's Rival

70 : Happily

Chapter Theme: Sing for me - Yellowcard

"Slade!"

Napukaw ang atensyon ni Slade ng boses ni Heath. Natagpuan niya ang kanyang sarili na nakatayo sa ibabaw ng stage, sa harapan ng napakaraming tao habang hawak ang kanyang gitara. 

Napako siya sa kinatatayuan, hindi gumagalaw ang mga kamay.

Nakabibingi ang musika sa paligid na sinasabayan pa ng mga sigawan ng mga tao nagpapakasaya sa saliw ng musika. Sanay na siya rito pero sa di malamang dahilan, nakaramdam siya ng kakaibang klase ng kaba.

Sa kabila ng nararamdaman, huminga nang malalim si Slade at nagpatuloy sa pagtugtog.

Matapos ang kanta, lumapit si Vinny at inakbayan siya. 

"Buddy, you okay?!" Malakas na sambit ni Vinny sa tenga niya lalo't hindi rin sila magkarinigan dahil sa lakas ng sigawan ng mga audience.

Umiling siya, nakaawang ang labi dahil sa kalituhan sa sariling nararamdaman.

"Solo muna si Heath, kailangan kong bumaba!" Giit niya kaya tumango si Vinny at lumapit kay Heath.

Sinamantala ni Slade ang pagkakataon, mabilis niyang tinanggal ang cord na nakakabit sa gitara at tinanggal din ang earphone na suot.

Bumaba siya sa backstage at naupo sa dulo, malayo sa ingay ng lahat.

"Okay ka lang?!" Nag-aalalang lumapit sa kanya Big Troy, ang manager nila na halos sampung taon din ang tanda sa kanila. Malaki man ang pangangatawan at parang barumbado sa unang tingin, napakabait naman nito at halos ituring na rin nila itong ama.

Pilit na tumango si Slade at ngumiti.

"I think he's having the jitters," dumating ang humahalakhak na si Vinny, kasunod si Jao, kapwa tagaktak ang pawis. Si Heath naman ay naiwan sa stage, kumakanta mag-isa gamit ang acoustic na gitara. 

"Jitters?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Big Troy at agad na kumuha ng mga bottled water at isa-isa itong inabot sa tatlo.

"Magpapatali na kasi," natatawang bulalas ni Jao, binuksan ang tubig saka uminom mula rito.

"About time!" biro naman ni Vinny. "Mamaya may mauna pa sa kanya."

"Ha?" Hindi pa rin naintindihan ni Big Troy ang pinagsasabi ng mga ito.

Tila ba nawala ang agam-agam ni Slade nang maalala si Reika. Nag-angat siya ng tingin kay Big Troy at ngumiti. "I'm going to ask her to marry me when I get back."

"Ayos!" Napapalakpak agad si Big Troy sa tuwa. Ngumiti ito nang malapad at bahagyang niyakap si Slade sabay tapik sa balikat nito. "Ninong ako ha? Tapos kailangan ninong din ako sa magiging anak ninyo ni Reika."

"Ang tanong, may singsing na ba?" Pang-aalaska ni Jao.

"Meron! Simahan ko pa yan last week! Pakita mo nga, Slade!" Natatawang giit ni Vinny.

"Hala andaya!" Napapadyak si Jao sa inis. "Ba't di ako sinama?!"

"Aba patingin!" Giit din naman ni Big Troy.

Ngumiti si Slade at bahagyang itinaas ang suot na kwintas. Pumantay sa kanyang labi ang dalawang singsing na kulay gold na nagsilbi nitong pendant, ang isa ay may kulay itim na bato sa tuktok.

"I was supposed to ask her today." Napabuntong-hininga si Slade.

"Okay lang 'yan! May bukas pa naman!" Humalakhak si Jao.

Biglang napalingon si Vinny sa direksyon ng stage. "Get ready guys, patapos na ang kanta ni Heath. Kailangan na nating bumalik sa taas."

Tumayo naman si Slade at napatingin sa mga kasamahan. "Tawagan ko lang muna si Reika. Tingnan ko kung sino kasama niya sa restaurant."

"'Yan! Bantay sarado pa rin!" Kantyaw ni Big Troy kaya kahit sina Jao at Vinny ay inasar din si Slade.

Napailing na lamang si Slade at natawa dahil sa mga kaibigan. Lumapit siya sa bagat kinuha mula rito ang cellphone niya. Nakakailang ring pa lamang ito nang makarinig siya ng iyak mula sa kabilang linya.

"Slade?"

Agad naglaho ang ngiti sa mukha ni Slade nang mabosesan ang kakambal. "Silver? A-anong nangyari? Bakit ka umiiyak? Asan si Reika?"

"She wants to talk to you.. K-keep her awake," pakiusap sa kanya ni Silver habang humihikbi.

Slade froze in place. His heartbeat grew faster as his breathing got shorter. He didn't know what was going on but he knew something was wrong. 

"Reika?" His eyes began to water the moment heard her gasping from the other line. "B-baby, can you hear my voice? I'm here... Reika, I'm here," his voice was almost faltering.

"H-he's alive... made him choose again, tron or I.."

Slade's knees buckled the moment he heard Reika's weak voice. His hands began to tremble as his tears rolled down his cheeks. He knew what she was talking about. He was the only one she trusted of her family's darkest secret. Only, they both thought that the monster was dead and all that it left behind were nightmares from the past. 

Panic and fear engulfed every fiber of his being. His tears continued to fall mercilessly. His jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth, his hand viciously gripping his nape. 

"Reika..." He felt so helpless. All he could do was listen to her voice.

"Tron c-can't die... It's not Magno's fault... I chose this, not Magno... tell him... save him..."

"Slade? What's going on?" Vinny asked, taking notice of Slade's plight, but his question was left an unanswered. All they could do was watch as Slade's life crumble over one dreadful phone call.

Slade blinked as he tried to compose himself. "Reika, hintayin mo ako! Uuwi--"

"I can't wait for you anymore," her sweet voice gave him so much sorrow.

"R-remember me happily, Slade Villafranca." He heard her gasp again. "D-don't forget how much I love you... I'll always be your little shit." Reika spoke, her voice getting weaker by the second.

"Reika!" Slade fell to his knees as he cried, calling out her name helplessly. His friends were quick to his side but none of them could ever fathom the anguish he felt knowing the person he loved more than his life was nearing her end... he wasn't even there to be with her and hold her hand.

"I'm g-gonna have to leave...but my love for you will remain..." She spoke once more. Slade could even hear other Silver and the other, choking on their tears in the background.

"Don't leave me," he begged.

"Reika De Juan never abandons," she spoke for the last time with a smile on her face.

▬ end of 70// thank u and I'm sorry▬