One's Greatest Fall

3rd Fall

I watched her as I Fall

Kanina nang ipakilala ako nila Sisi at ng mga tigresa sa mga agila ay naging maganda naman. We were talking and chatting.. Then they started asking for beer.

Napansin kong mataman akong tinititigan ni Bea. Kaya ngumiti ako.

"Ngayon ko lang narealize. Same tayo ng name. Isabel and Ysabel." natatawa nyang paliwanag.

"Ah. Oo nga, 'no?"

She pouted. "You're not enjoying the bonfire?" medyo pabulong pa nitong tanong sakin.

Tapos sabay pa naming sinuyod ng tingin ang mga kasama na may kanya-kanyang kausap. Kung hindi naman ay nagkakantahan. Sila Sisi naman ay may seryosong paguusap kasama si Eya at Mafe.

"I am. Hindi na lang ako sanay sa ingay.. Maybe because of the Japanese culture I lived for almost 3 years." I shrugged.

"Same. I'm not used to kind of any noise but.." she shrugged and continued talking. "Dapat masanay ka na. I'll be giving you tickets for this coming UAAP season.. Kaya magpractice ka ng magcheer." natatawa naman nyang sabi.

"Which team?" pang-aasar ko.

"Blue and gold." habang patango-tango pa sya.

Bigla namang parang may naalala sya. Pumikit pa ito ng mariin tapos she apologetically looked at me. Now, I'm clueless.

"Wait here. May hahanapin ako. Si Deanna. Izabella din sya. Let's have a chat. Gagawa tayo ng team. Team Ysa-Isa-Iza. Ayos ba?" panloloko pa nito sakin at sabay kaming tumawa ng mahina. Nakipag-highfive pa sya.

"Sige na. Find her." natatawa kong pantataboy sa kanya.

"Dito ka lang, okay? Wag kang aalis dyan." tinuro pa nya ako bago tumayo at umalis na.

Nang makaalis sya ay muli kong sinuyod ng tingin ang bonfire. Suddenly, I want to get out of here so.. Gusto ko munang maglakad-lakad. Babalik na lang ako after ten minutes? Siguro naman nakabalik na si Bea non?

Napansin naman agad nila Sisi ang pagtayo ko.. lalapit sana sya ngunit sumenyas ako na kukunin ko lang phone ko sa cottage at babalik rin agad. Gusto pa sana nya akong samahan pero pinakapit ko na si Eya at Mafe sa magkabilang braso nya.

Habang tinatahak ko ang daan pabalik sana sa cottage ay nadaanan ko ang isang Classic Bar ng resort. Out of curiosity, pumasok ako doon. It made me smile.. I got excited when I saw a small stage. Hindi naman masyadong maingay sa loob.. Dim ang lights. Tinitigan ko talaga 'yung stage sa harap, may high wooden chair, mic, organ at guitar sa gilid. The ambiance of the place made me shiver because of it's familiarity.

Lumapit ako sa isang waiter malapit sa akin. "Excuse me.. Uh.." then itinuro ko yung stage.

He smiled. "Open mic po kami tonight. Mamayang 10pm pa dating nung singer at guitarist dito. Pwede po kayo kumanta kung gusto po ninyo."

"Really? Like.. I can go to that stage right now and just sing?"

Napakamot naman sa ulo ang kausap ko. "Opo. Pwede nyo rin po gamitin yung guitar at yung organ kung alam nyo pong i-set. Lapit lang po kayo sakanya kung gusto nyo po tumuntong ng stage." itinuro naman nya sakin ang isang lalake na nasa malapit sa stage.

Lumapit naman ako.. I don't know but it just made my heart happy when I saw this little stage. It's been years.. Ni hindi ko na nga maalala kung anong pakiramdam ng kumanta sa stage. Ni hindi ko na din maalala kung kelan ako huling humawak ng gitara.

Ngumiti ang lalake at nagbigay ng permiso na gamitin ko ang stage. He even set up the guitar nung sinabi kong gagamitin ko rin. He asked my name para daw ma-introduce nya ako sa nga tao sa loob. Suddenly, kinabahan ako. Hindi naman marami yung tao pero.. bahala na.

I watched her as she walked towards the stage. She was talking to a guy then after that he handed her the guitar. So she knows how to play guitar, huh? Interesting then.

"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's an open mic while we are waiting for tonight's set. Our first song for tonight.. "Lips of an Angel". Please let's welcome a walk-in guest, Ysabel Jamie Jimenez."

Nilingon ko ang mga tao na nasa harap nya ngayon. They gave her a clap then waited for her set. I was waiting for her too. I'm curious.

"Hi.. Good evening. I'm Ysabel. Actually, it's been years since my last performance in front of many people. So I hope this would turn out just fine." then she started stramming the guitar.

"Just before I sing.. can I just give a few words? Or more?" she asked and the crowd answered 'yes'.

"How to love.. Paano ba? People always tend to be blind when it comes to love. How loyal are you? How faithful are you to the one you say you love so much? How can you say you love him.. or her, when you are not yet even done loving your past love?"

A great feedback from the crowd because of her sentiment. Now, I'm listening. She caught everyone's attention.

She was still strumming the guitar as she speaks..

"Kapag kagagaling nyo lang sa break up or kahit matagal na kayong wala.. When there is someone na dumating sa buhay nyo.. assess yourself. Ask yourself. Like, 'Am I ready to fall in love again?' or 'Have I already moved on from the past?'. Kasi kung hindi ka pa ready and hindi ka pa nakakausad.. Please stop. Huwag ka ng manakit ng ibang tao na ang plano lang naman ay ang mahalin ka. Commit when you're ready. Love when you're fully healed from the past so that you won't cause any pain to the one's who don't deserve to be hurt."

I watched her closed her eyess at kung paano sya tumingala. I think she's refrainibg herself from crying.. After a few seconds, nakangiti na sya sa mga nakikinig sa kanya.

"Well, my girl's in the next room.
Sometimes I wish she was you..
I guess we never really moved on."

Somehow.. I felt that we are connected. Why does she sing with so much emotions? My heart beat so fast.. Maybe because she's in pain right now like me? Bakit parang alam na alam nya yung pinagdadaanan ko?

"It's funny that you're callin' me tonight..
And yes I've dreamt of you too.
Does he know you're talkin' to me.
Will it start a fight?
No I don't think she has a clue."

Dmn those lyrics. I didn't know this song could be so heartless!

"And I never wanna say goodbye.
But girl you make it hard to be faithful.
With the lips of an angel.."

She stopped strumming the guitar.. She carefully smiled at those people who's listening to her tonight. How I wish na madaanan nya ako ng tingin so that I can smile at her and tell her she did well.

"Honey why you callin' me so late?" she ended the song at ibinaba na ng marahan ang gitara.

"Thank you for lending me your ears even just for tonight. Singing in front of you made me feel better. Good night."

She stood up at mabilis na tinahak ang pintuan palabas. Halos nakayuko na nga ito. Hindi ko alam kung narinig din ba nya ang palakpakan nila.. namin.. At kung paano sya tawagin ng iba para kumanta pa ng isa. She's so dmn good. And so angelic.

I hope one day I can tell her how beautiful and brave she is.