KAI stared at the huge crowd in front of him. Sa ilang taong pagiging alagad ng musika, hindi niya pa rin mapigilang mamangha sa layo ng kanyang inabot.
Mariin niyang ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata sabay lunok. Silently, he heaved a deep sigh. Muli niyang binuksan ang mga mata, deretso ang paningin sa kanyang harapan sabay lapit ng mikroponong hawak sa kanyang bibig.
“This song is for you. . .”
MATAPOS ang panghuling kanta para sa araw na iyon, agad siyang nagtungo sa backstage. Mabilis na sumalubong sa kanya ang kanyang makeup-artist at si Abi, ang kanyang manager.
“You did great, Kai!” Si Abigail, isa sa mga malalapit na kaibigan at the same time ay manager niya.
Inabot ni Abi sa kanya ang maliit na bote ng tubig na agad niya rin namang tinanggap saka binuksan.
“Galing! Ang galing niyo po kanina, Sir Kai! Ang ganda ng kanta!”
Napangiti si Kai matapos marinig ang komento ng isa sa mga staff.
“Salamat,” iyon na lamang ang naging tugon niya.
Nanatili pa ng ilang minuto roon si Kai at muli na namang lumabas sa backstage upang magpaalam sa kanyang mga fans.
Pagod man ay nagawa pa rin niyang makihalubilo, ngumiti at makipag-kamustahan sa mga taong patuloy na sumusuporta sa kanya.
Matapos ang ilang oras ay nakauwi na rin siya sa sariling condo. Agad siyang nagtungo sa kanyang silid at walang sabi-sabing humiga roon.
Three minutes after he laid on his bed, Kai's phone rang. Kinuha niya ito saka tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag.
Dad calling..
Huminga muna siya ng malalim bago muling tiningnan ang screen ng kanyang cellphone. Walang imik na sinagot niya ito.
“Hello? Kai, are you in there?”
Nanatili siyang walang imik habang pinapakinggan ang boses ng kanyang ama. He heard him sigh.
“Kai, when are we gonna stop treating each other this way?”
Blanko ang mga matang nakatingin sa kawalan si Kai.
His father cleared his throat before speaking, trying to break the awkwardness between them.
“I prepared dinner for us. And I need you to be here, Kai.”
Kai's forehead creased.
“Why?” He unconsciously muttered and it was too late when he realized that.
“It is an urgent matter. Come here and you will know why.” His voice was serious.
With that his father ended the call.
Kai shook his head at mapait na ngumiti. Looks like he already know what he meant by that 'urgent matter'.
How inconsiderate.
Pagod na tumayo si Kai mula sa pagkakahiga saka tinungo ang bathroom sa silid. Matapos maligo at makapag-ayos ay agad siyang lumabas sa kanyang condo. Gamit ang kanyang kotse ay mabilis niyang tinungo ang bahay ng kanyang ama.
Automatikong bumukas ang gate ng bahay kaya hindi naging mahirap sa kanyang makapasok dito. Nang makarating, ay agad siyang iginiya ng mayordoma ng bahay patungo sa hapag kung saan naghihintay sa kanya ang kanyang ama, si Deian, ang bagong girlfriend nito at ang anak ng babae na si Bea.
His eyes immediately darted at the woman who was currently holding his father's hand.
Kai tsked.
Mukhang mangyayari na nga talaga ang kinakatakutan niya. He shook his head in distaste.
“Have a seat, Kai.” Anang ama niya. Kai nodded saka tahimik na umupo sa kabilang upuan kaharap ang dalawang babaeng 'maski tingnan ay ayaw niyang gawin.
Kai sat ignoring the two ladies, pretending that it was only him, his dad and no one else.
In the middle of eating, Kai cleared his throat at magalang na ibinaba ang mga hawak na kubyertos.
“What do you want to tell me, Dad?” Aniya at deretso lamang ang paningin sa ama.
Ibinaba ng ama ang kubyertos na hawak saka siya pinantayan ng tingin.
“It happened four days ago when we, I mean, when I decided that—”
“Your father and I are getting married.”
Nanatili ang paningin ni Kai sa ama na ngayon ay nakatingin sa babae nito saka muling tumingin sa kanya.
He knew it.
Kai calmed himself down while his eyes were fixed directly on his father who's watching him intently, trying to read his face but Kai knew that he'll never succeed.
Kai's face remained calm and stoic.
“When is the marriage?”
Her father cleared his throat before answering, “Next month.”
Napataas ang kilay ni Kai sa narinig. What a joke.
“Who decided that?”
“Me.”
Hindi na nag-abala pang tingnan ni Kai ang babaeng nagsalita. Of course, it's her. Only a woman like her would decide something so stupid.
“I see...”
Kai sipped some wine then he let out a small sigh. Muli siyang tumingin sa kanyang ama na ngayon ay nanatili pa ring nakatingin sa kanya.
Instead of being sarcastic and disrespectful, Kai chooses to stay calm and composed.
Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo saka nginitian ang ama. Lumapit siya rito sabay halik sa pisngi nito.
“Congratulations, Dad.” He uttered those words effortlessly without even expressing any emotion, at all.
‘Yun lang at mabilis niyang tinalikuran ang tatlo.
Ngunit bago pa man siya tuluyang makaalis sa hapag ay nagsalita ang kanyang ama.
“Will you attend? I meant the wedding.”
Muli siyang lumingon sa ama saka ngumiti.
“I can't. I'll be very busy at that time.”
Besides, why would he attend a ceremony that isn't worth celebrating for?
Nginitian niya ang ama saka muling nagsalita, “Goodbye, Dad. I hope you stay well.”
With that, he finally left the whole place and rode his car far away from that place. Habang nagmamaneho ay saka lamang niya nailabas ang kinikimkim na galit.
Naiinis na hinampas niya ang manibela habang nasa daan pa rin ang paningin. He didn't even noticed the tears that were falling out from his eyes because of the immense anger and frustration he's feeling!
Kai cracked his neck and stared angrily at the road.
“I can't believe him! How could he marry THAT woman? Ha! What a fool!”
Muli niyang hinampas ang manibela.
“This life sucks. . .” Damn it! “Kailan ba 'to matatapos lahat?”
He's tired as shit. He wants to end all of this. He's sick of everything! He just want to end everything once and for all.
Life is shit as fuck.
Kai sigh.
“Tangina.”
MUSIC can either be happy or sad. All his life, Kai only wrote sad lyrics and sang sad songs. Never in his life did he experience such amazing happiness and God knows how much he wished that he could experience one – but looks like it will never happen.Fuck wishes. Wishes are wishes. It won’t come true, no matter how long you kept on wishing, it will never come true.Malungkot siyang tumingin sa lapida ng kanyang ina.“When do you think, Mom?” He sigh. “When do you think will I be able to experience happiness? Do you think I can still experience it?” Mapait siyang ngumiti, “Well, I guess not.”‘Am I not deserving to be happy?’Kai softly caress the gravestone of his mother while sadness fills his whole system.“Mom. Dad. . . He’s. . .He’s gonna marry another woman. They’ll be married next month. Will you be okay?”He waited for an answer but he never received
SLOWLY, Kai opened his eyes only to see an unfamiliar ceiling. Unti-unti siyang bumangon sa pagkakahiga and to his surprise even the bed was unfamiliar. No. He look all over the place.The whole room was fucking unfamiliar.“Where the hell am I?” He muttered with his cracked voice.There was no one in the room but him.Everything inside is filled with luxurious stuffs. From the carpet to the vases, cabinets and the bed up to its walls and the high ceiling with a hella’ expensive chandelier.Gustuhin man niyang makaalis sa kama ngunit hindi niya iyon magawa lalo pa’t ramdam niya pa rin ang sakit sa katawan.Bigla ay muli niyang naalala ang pangyayaring iyon. Who the hell was that?Kai doesn’t have any idea who bumped him causing the accident nor the place he’s in right now.Malakas na lamang siyang napabuntong-hininga.
PANAY ang paglingon ni Kai sa kaliwa’t kanan, sinisiguro na walang makakita sa kanya. It’s past midnight already kaya nasisiguro niyang walang makakakita sa kanya ngayon but he have to make sure that he’ll be able to leave this place without any trace.Kai knew for a fact that he can do that but the whole place was massive! Darn! It wouldn’t be called as a palace for nothing, dumbass.Still, he was very determined to leave the castle.He needs to go back. Kailangan niyang malaman kung sino ang may pakana ng aksidenteng iyon. And his father—“Fuck!” How could he ever forget about him? Damn!If his memory wasn’t mistaken, that accident happen when he was about to check up on him! How the hell did he forgot that part?!He needs to escape fast! Dad. . . He needs me!“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” He wasn’t in a stable condition, that’s what his woman said last time.And to t
“WHAT happened?"Nanatiling nakayuko ang mga ulo ng mga gwardiya sa palasyo.“Hindi po talaga namin alam. Nakita ko lang po siya at napagkamalang magnanakaw. Pasensya na po talaga, mahal na prinsipe. Hindi ko po sinasadya. Hindi ko alam na siya pala ang—”“It’s alright.” Sebastian sighed. “You may now go back to your post.”Agad namang nagsisunod ang mga ito saka nagsibalik sa kani-kanilang posisyon. Sebastian then took off his armor at ibinigay iyon sa kanyang secretary.“Where is he?” Tanong niya rito.Pormal na yumuko si North, ang kanyang sekretarya saka nagsalita, “In your room, sir.”Tumango lamang siya at walang imik na naglakad papunta sa kanyang silid. Slowly, he opened the door at naglakad papasok. He went near his bed and there he saw his bride, sleeping peacefully and calmly.Sebastian sat near him and stared at his sleeping
MORNING came and the chirping of birds made Kai to woke up. With his robe on, he immediately went near the big window. Noon lamang niya napansin ang malawak at magarbong tanawin ng hardin sa palasyo.“Wow. . .” he can't believe what he's seeing!The garden was way too beautiful and he's mesmerized by its beauty. It probably took several years to build such garden.Ni hindi manlang niya napansin ang mga minutong lumipas dahil masyado siyang nadarag sa kagandahan ng hardin.Saka lamang nagising si Kai nang may kumatok sa pintuan saka dali-daling nag-ayos sa sarili.“Young master, Kai. Your breakfast is ready.”Nang makarating sa hapag ay sumalubong sa kanya ang napakaraming pagkain and what shocked him the most is that no one was there except him and the maids.“Where's Sebastian?” Tanong niya sa isa sa mga katulong sa palasyo.“Nakaalis na po a
“NAGHIHINTAY na po ang mahal na prinsipe sa labas.”Kai sigh as he stared at himself on the mirror. Muli niyang naipikit ang kanyang mga mata and the memory last night came rushing into his mind, again.“Fuck!”Wala sa sariling nasapo niya ang kanyang noo.‘How the hell did we fucking end up kissing?! Why didn't I pushed him away? Just why?! And thinking how I kissed him back is way too fucking embarrassing! Damn it!’Naiinis na inirapan niya ang sarili sa salamin saka nagdesisyong lumabas na lamang sa kanyang silid.What happened last night was embarrassing and now he's going to face him again!Huminga muna siya ng malalim bago binuksan ang pintuan. ‘It's fine. I'm fine. Huling araw ko na 'to ngayon dito. It's fine, Kai. Hindi mo na siya makikita pa.’“Yeah, that'
HINDI pa rin makapaniwalang tumingin si North kay Kai na ngayon ay nasa prinsipe pa rin ang paningin habang inaalalayan ito ng mga tagapaggamot.Wala sa sariling napailing nalamang siya. ‘I wonder how the prince will react.’“North.”Hindi pinansin ni North ang tumawag sa kanya at nagpatuloy lamang sa paglakad papalapit sa walang malay na prinsipe.“We need to go back to the palace, now. It'll be dangerous if we'll stay longer.” Tugon niya sa isa sa mga attendant.“Yes, sir.”“North! Hey, North!”“Let's go. The prince isn't safe here.” Aniya at hindi pinansin ang sumisigaw.“North—!”Naiiritang nilingon niya ito, “Tumahimik ka nga! Why the fuck are you shouting?”Monroe gave him a blank look. “You were pretending not to hear me, that's why.”Inirapan lamang siya ni North.“How was the pr
KAI woke up early the next day. Matapos niyang linisin ang kanyang sugat ay sakto namang pumasok si North sa kanyang silid.“The prince is awake. I'm on my way there. Dumaan lang talaga ako dito para ipaalam sayo.”Gulat na tumayo si Kai at lumapit sa kanya, “I'll go with you.”Tumango naman si North saka sila naglakad patungo sa silid ng prinsipe.“Good morning, Your Highness.”Nanatiling nakatago sa likod ng malaking pintuan si Kai habang naghihintay na marinig ang boses ng prinsipe.“How was he? Did he get back safely?”“I'm sorry, Prince Sebastian. But—”Nakataas ang kilay na tumingin si Sebastian kay North. “But what?”North exhaled deeply before looking at Kai, mouthing him to get inside.