Chase of Heart

Chapter Nine

DAYS HAVE TURNED FAST and things between me and Chase just went smoothly. Kami na at agad namang kumalat ang balita sa unibersidad, siyempre, isang Chase ba naman ang maging boyfriend mo?

Hindi naman kagaya ng nababasa ko sa mga teen fiction na lalaitin na ako ng mga may gusto sa kanya o hindi kaya ay ibu-bully, I mean, that’s just so lame and bull.

This is reality, at first there are certain persons who got shocked by the news but they just don’t mind at all.

Pagkatapos din ng gabing iyon ay lagi na akong sinasamahan ni Chase. He never wanted me to go anywhere if I am not with him. And that set-up is fine with me since I also wanted to be with him always.

Hindi ko alam pero napakabilis na lumipas ng bawat araw. Kung kailan parang mas gusto kong bumagal dahil sa pag-alis namin papuntang Paris ay mas lalo itong bumibilis kapag kasama ko si Chase.

I always make every second count when I’m with him. Pakiramdam ko ay sobrang bilis ng panahon kapag kasama ko siya at napakabagal naman kapag hindi. At sa sobrang bilis, hindi ko namalayan na sa susunod na buwan na ang katapusan ng klase.

By next month, Chase will finally graduate and at the same time, I’ll leave the country to study in Paris. It’s been six months since we became official and nothing has changed, he’s still sweet as ever.

“Baby, is there any problem?” Chase asked. I even felt his hand softly touched mine. I narrowed my gaze at him and pouted my lips.

“Ang bilis ng panahon,” marahan siyang humalakhak at tumango.

“Right.” Sinimangutan ko naman siya.

“Right ka diyan! Sa susunod na buwan aalis na kami,” reklamo ko. Marahan ulit siyang humalakhak at umiling.

“Ikaw na rin ang may sabi, mabilis lang ang panahon. Look, I’ll let you go by now for your dreams, but that doesn’t even mean that we’ll break up. Hell no. You’re not even allowed to entertain any guys who want to court you, and I trust Mike enough to keep an eye on you.” Sagot ni Chase.

“Whatever, love birds.” Mike replied boredly.

Kasama naming aalis nila Mama si Mike kagaya ng napag-usapan. Nauna na ro’n ang mga magulang niya na sina Tita Min at Tito Ray. Mike’s just second year college like me, while Nico, Marco and Chase are on their fourth year college already.

“And, once you got back here, we will get married. Understand?” marahan akong humalakhak at tumango, “Good,” dagdag niya, “now, don’t think about it yet because we will going to make our remaining month worth it, kasi matatagalan na naman bago ito mangyari.” Tumango ako at ngumiti.

“May gig ba tayo mamayang gabi sa Dreamers?” tanong ni Nico sa mga kasama.

Nostalgia has been singing on that bar for quite some times now. Madalas ay tuwing sabado o hindi kaya ay linggo. Pero tuwing madami ang magde-demand na kumanta at tumugtog sila kahit pa weekdays ay pinapatulan na nila.

“Meron daw sabi ni Oscar,” kung hindi ako nagkakamali, si Oscar ay ang binabae na Manager ng Dreamers na kumuha sa kanila.

“Come with us, please?” Aya said, talking to me. I’m not really that kind of person who wants to come with those kinds of places.

Sa tagal napanahong nakasama ko ang Nostalgia ay bilang lamang sa kanang daliri ang pagsama ko sa kanila at agad din akong umaalis. Hindi ako sumagot at alam na nila ang nais kong iparating.

“Baby, please…” Chase begged with his puppy eyes. Nagtawanan ang mga ka-banda niya at binato pa siya ni Marco ng tissue.

“You’re gross!” Mike said in between his laughter.

“It’s actually cute.” I said tying to defend him. He smiled genuinely and planted a small kiss on my right cheek.

“I don’t care if you find it gross, Mike. It’s not that it’s you that I’m trying to impress,” Chase laughed, “as long as my wife found it cute then I’ll still do it.” He added matter of factly.

“Damn. You’re really gross.” Mike said as he laughed for the nth time around, “Damn, in love.” He even added.

“What now, baby?” Chase asked me again. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled. Maybe I need to go with them I mean, there’s only a month left to savour every moments with him so I need to make moments with him worth it.

Marahil ay mabilis lang ang panahon pero hindi pa rin biro ang apat na taon at matatagalan bago namin ulit magawa ang mga bagay na nakasanayan na naming gawin.

“Pasalamat ka g’wapo ka, kung hindi, hindi ako papayag.” Marahan siyang humalakhak at inakbayan ako.

“Salamat kasi g’wapo ako.” He replied cockily. I rolled my eyes trying to suppress my laughter, “I love you.” He whispered, I smiled and nodded.

“I love you, too.”

Kinagabihan ay sinundo niya ako sa bahay at ipinagpa-alam kina Mama at Papa. We’ve been open with them about our relationship and they’re both cool with it.

“Baka po madaling araw ko na siyang mai-hatid, Tito. Ayos lang po ba?” magalang na tanong niya.

“Wala kayong gagawing hindi ko magugustuhan ha?” At alam ko na nagbibiro lang si Papa kasi ay payag siya. Humalakhak si Chase at umiling.

“Four years from now, tito. Four years from now saka pa lang kami gagawa ng apo niyo.” Humalakhak si Papa sa sinagot ni Chase.

“Sige na, umalis na kayo. Mag-ingat sa pagmamaneho.” Tumango si Chase at nagmano kina Mama at Papa bago kami umalis.

I”You okay?” Chase asked while driving his way to Dreamers. I nodded my head and flashed him a smile. Hindi naman naging matagal ang biyahe dahil malapit lang ang Dreamers sa amin.

Mayamaya lang ay nakita ko na ang karatula na pangalan ng Bar. Chase find a parking slot and stopped his car right after he found one. Hindi ko na siya hinintay na pagbuksan niya ako at agad na akong bumaba.

Pagkalabas niya ng kotse niya ay nakasimangot siya sa akin. I gave him a questioning look with my brow furrowed.

“Ba’t ka nakasimangot?” tanong ko nang hindi siya nagsalita.

“Dapat hinihintay mong pagbuksan kita ng pinto.” Mahinang reklamo niya at agad na kinuha ang kamay ko tapos ay sabay kaming naglakad papasok ng Bar. Napangiti naman ako at napailing.

“Sorry na po,” marahan kong hinalikan ang kaliwang balikat niya tapos ay tumingin ako sa kanya. I found him looking at me with a hint of smile on his lips.

“Promise me you won’t do it again?” I nodded my head and smiled.

“Promise po.” Marahan siyang humalakhak at inakbayan ako.

We went to the backstage to meet his bandmates. Pagkadating namin ay kumpleto na sila at tila kami na lang ang hinihintay.

“Heart!” Napangiti ako nang marinig ang matinis na boses ni Aya na tinawag ako. She went closer and gave me a light embrace, she even giggled, “inom tayo ha?” nakangiting saad niya.

“No alcohol for my girl, woman,” Chase said, and his voice is filled with finality. Good thing though, since I’m not really the kind of person who drinks alcoholic beverages.

Aya should know it by now, but she always says ‘Madalang lang naman.’ I don’t really like how it tastes.

“Madalang lang naman.” and just like what I thought, Aya said it.

“Still a no,” Chase said.

“Fine.” Aya said flatly.

“Ten minutes, Nostalgia. Maghanda na kayo.” Oscar said and he even clapped his hands.

“Oscar, napatid ang string ng gitara ko. Do you have a spare string? Number four.” Mike asked looking worried.

“Kung sinu-suwerte ka nga naman. Wala at naghihintay na ang mga customer. They wanted someone who’ll serenade their night. Kung magpapabili pa tayo ay miinip sila’t baka magsi-alisan na.” bakas sa boses ni Oscar ang pagka-desperado.

“Heart can sing!” Sigaw ni Aya ng nakangiti at itinuro pa ako, Oscar looked at Aya with his questioning look. Siniko ko siya pero hindi man lang niya ako tinignan.

“And so?” maarteng tanong niya.

“Common sense nowadays is not really common bakla, eh? What I’m trying to imply here is, she can sing while waiting for the string. Para naman maiba. Kung gusto ng mga customer mo na i-serenade sila, then Heart’s voice is perfect for it.” Tinignan ako ni Oscar nang nakangiti.

Nostalgia even looked at me as if I saved them, but not Chase. Nakasimangot lang siya.

“I… I don’t think I can sing in front of the crowd.” I said, sounding confused.

“Come on, Heart. Please? Para sa amin.” Mike begged. Tumingin ako kay Chase, nagkibit siya ng balikat..

“I heard you once, and you’re good. I just don’t like boys to drool over my property.” He said in a monotonous tone. I sighed heavily and nodded.

“Okay, I’ll sing.” Pumalakpak si Oscar sa tuwa, maging ang tatlong miyembro ng Nostalgia.