Encore at Midnight (Chances Series 1)

5 🥤

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Lau was thankful that River has been talking to her longer than fve seconds these days. She was unblocked from socmeds too, at kahit na masungit, ay nagri-reply ito.

However, based on the anger on his face, she concluded that she should be terrified at the moment instead. Being the optimistic person that she is, she smiled at him instead when he pulled her behind the gym that Saturday morning.

"Alam mo ba ang ginawa mo?"

"Good morning to you din," sagot niya, pilit na ngumiti sa kabila ng pagkalito. Marami siyang ginawa, so alin doon?

"Put—!" Tinikom nito ang bibig at humugot ng malalim na hininga, nahilamos ang palad sa mukha. Laurene realized it was his habit when frustrated. "Burahin mo ang mga videos ng gig ko dun sa page!"

Oh, that, isip niya. Dahil nag-viral nga ang video niyang umiiyak noong unang araw, nagpakilala si Laurene sa comment section ng main post at naglagay ng mga videos ni River. Nag-message din siya sa admin ng FB page upang i-upload ang mga fancam ni River kapalit ng pag-post ng video ni Laurene.

"Why?!" sagot niya, napataas rin ang boses. Yes, isa siyang estranghero sa buhay nito, malalang fangirl at 'desperada' ayon na rin sa iba. Watching him for months, she had seen him love music more than anyone.

Yet, it felt like he was holding himself back. Wala siyang mahanap na account nito sa Spotify, Youtube at kahit soundcloud. It was as if he was gatekeeping his own music.

"Are you contented with just gigs on bars? Is it enough for you—"

"—Yes!" balik singhal nito, sa lakas ay napakislot siya, nabitawan ni Laurene ang kanyang kape, tumilapon sa bermuda sa likod ng gym kung saan siya nito nahila.

"And who are you to tell me how to share my music? Look, thank you sa pagpunta mo sa lahat ng gigs ko kahit nakakaabala ka na, pero hanggang doon lang. Tell the admins to delete the videos and stop bothering me."

Well, that hurts, Laurene thought. She bit her lower lip and blinked the swelling tears.

Was it really too much for her to promote him?

She must apologize, of course.

Pero sabi nga nila, matigas rin ang ulo niya. At mainit rin, umuusok, lalo na't hindi niya nainom ang kanyang kape.

Call it petty but Laurene will never squeak a word no matter how good-looking River was in his round-neck T-Shirt and finger-combed hair to the back.

Pogi nga, sinigawan naman siya.

Pinahiran niya ang namumuong luha sa mga mata, habang matalim na nilabanan ang titig ni River.

What was it again? She searched for the word her friends taught her.

"Duwag."

Maybe he was.

"Duwag ikaw," ulit niya ng mas malakas. It's not like she knows why he's gatekeeping his songs, but she had to, really had to, find a rebuttal.

"You're afraid of rejection. Or the pressure. Or what you'd become after they listen to you. You're afraid that you couldn't use 'because they haven't heard your music yet' when you promote your songs and they won't listen."

The honking cars at a distance and hum of lively students filled their silence.

With River's face slowly cracking into something not anger, Laurene realized she was right.

Now she's angrier—sa sarili niya o kay River o sa natapon niyang kape na nanunuot pa rin ang aroma hanggang ngayon, hindi niya alam.

Nagdabog siyang umalis, 'di alintana ang mantsa ng kape sa kanyang puting canvas shoes. Buong araw siyang nakasimangot kahit sumasagot sa natitirang exam sa minor subject, gigil siya sa bawat pagkudlit ng ballpen sa test paper.