When A Gay Man Loves Part 16

Part Sixteen
Brian


       "What?! Duet?! Kakanta?!" sabi ko kay Matthew


            "Hindi.. Siguro sasayaw.. Sasayaw pero duet..." biro in Matthew



            "Damn. I'm dead serious! I don't know how to sing!" Oo. Seyoso. Hindi ako marunong kumanta.



            "Huweh? Bahay Kubo hindi mo alam?"


            "Of course I kno--- Oo Bahay Kubo! Eh hindi naman Bahay Kubo kakantahin natin. Unchained Melody! Eh sa Glee ko nga lang napakinggan yan!" Oo na.. I do want to do the performance, kaso, hindi talaga ako marunong!



            "Then we'll practice!"


            "Oka---" he cut me off.



            "Here's my flash disk. Nandyan yung kanta. Yung mismong music and yung lyrics, nasa isang file. Hanapin mo nalang then kopyahin mo. I mean, transfer it to your laptop..." explanation niya. Hanep! Yan ba ang practice?!



            "Per---" ayan nanaman



            "No but's and don'ts. We'll do it..."



            "Teka lang naman! Pwede bang i-interpret nalang natin?! I can't really sing!"



            "Well, pwede. Basta. I-practice parin natin yung song..."



            "Okay..."


            "Sa Monday na pala yung performance natin.. Sige. Una na ko." then umalis na siya...



            Bakit ganun yun? Ang cold niya..



            Baka naman nahihiya..



            Nahihiya? Bakit naman?



            Diba umamin nga siya sayo?



            Bakit pa siya mahihiya.. Wala namang dapat ikahiya..


            Duh! Of course Mahihiya yan! Umamin siya sa isang tao na wala naman gusto sakanya!



            Sabagay..

Edward
           

       "Okay everyone.. Please take your seats.. We'll start the class now.." sabi ni Prof. Baklayon. Well, his surname fits him. Bakala naman talaga siya.



            If it wasn't for Brian, wala siguro ako dito sa class nila sa Literature. Sinabi niya kasi sakin na ngayon yung recital NILA. Oo, NILA. NILA ni Matthew. Ayoko naman talaga kasi dapat kasi nandito si Matthew. Alam naman nating lahat na galit sakin yun. Tae naman kasi ako. At ano ba 'to?! Para namang sinasadya ni Brian na mangasar. Ininvite pa talaga ako. Nakakapagselos.


           
            "Okay.. Hmmm.. There'll be five students.. I mean six.. Pair kasi yung isa. And this will be the boys' day..." Prof. Baklasiya este Baklayon said.



            "So for the first presentor.. Mr. Aldover, Tophie." pagpapatuloy pa ni Baklayon. Hindi na ko masyadong nakinig sa recital niya. Boring naman kasi ng kanya eh... 10 Quotations or Famous Lines ni Julius Caeser. That's not my thing.



            Ooooooookkkkkkkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy... I'm totally bored..



            Para akong dead kid na nanunuod sa mga nagpepresent. Pumipikit pikit na yung mata ko sa sobrang nakakanatok nilang performance. Damn. Ang tagal ni Brian. I mean, nila Brian.



            Beep. Beep.



            One Message Received:
            Brian <3

            Hoy mister.. Wag kang tutulog tulog jan.. :) Watch me ;)



            Ugh.. That message made me alive.


           
            "And for our last performance, Mr. Buenaventura, Carl Matthew and Mr. Nicholls, Brian Anthony... please dim the lights.." sabi ni Baklayon. Sila na pala ang last na magpepresent.



            "Good morning everyone.. We're here to present the Unchained Melody.. " pagsisimula ni Matthew. Halatang kabado yung dalawa



            "So, since hindi kami marunong kumanta pareho, we decided na i-interpret ang kanta in a different way.." dagdag pa ni Brian.



            Damn. Ito na pala yung ipapanood sakin. Isang video clip na may kinalaman dun sa kanta. Nawalan na ko ng gana manood. Pansin ko din, pati yung mga kaklase nila.



            "Thank you for that Misters.. Good job.." sabi ni Baklayon



            "AKALA NAMIN KAKANTA SILA?! DIBA SIR DUET YUN?" may sumigaw na random girl. Haha! Pero may point siya.


           
            "DAPAT PAKANTAHIN YAN..." may humirit pa..



            "So, guys, you heard them.. Can you please sing it for us?" yeah you're right Mr. Baklayon. Buti naisip niya yun.



            "Uhmm.. Ah. Eh.-- Siirr-- Kasi---" si Brian



            "You guys will sing it for us, or I'll give you a grade of 40 out of 100 for this recitation? Remember, recitation ay mas mataas pa kesa sa exams niyo.." now. They really need to sing. Kahit maperfect pa kasi nila lahat ng quizzes, exams, seatworks, projects, wala parin yang panama sa percentage ng recitation.



            "We'll sing.." sabi ni Matthew. Tignan natin galing mo. Bwahahahahahhaha!


            Nilapitan ni Matthew yung operator. He handed his flash disk.



            Brian looked tensed. I gave him a two thumbs up sign para naman lumakas yung loob niya. He smiled a bit, pero hindi natanggal yung kaba..



Matthew

            (**A/N** Please go to Youtube. Search niyo yung Unchained Melody na Glee Version. Yung full soundtrack ah? Para damang dama nating lahat :D )

            Matthew:
            Oh my love, my darling
            I've hungered for your touch
            A long lonely time


                        Yeah right. This song really explains my feelings for Brian.


            Brian:
            And time goes by so slowly
            And time can do so much,
            Are you still mine?
                       
                        I'm still yours Brian.. I'm still yours.. HAHA!



            Matthew:
            I need your love,
            I need your love
            God speed your love to me.


                        Kaya mo 'to Matthew.. I opened my I eyes. Pero wala akong makita sa audience. Nakatutok kasi yung spotlight samin. I stepped forward para ipakita kay Brian na confident akong kumanta.




            Both:
            Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea,
            To the open arms of the sea, yeah!
            Lonely rivers sigh "wait for me, wait for me"
            I'll be coming home,
            Wait for me.

           
                        I'll wait for you...


            Brian:
            Oh my love, my darling

            Matthew:
            I've hungered,


            Brian:
            Hungered for your touch
           
            Both:
            A long lonely time,
            And time goes by so slowly
            And time can do so much,

            Matthew:
            Are you still mine?
            I need your love, I...
                       

                        Pero bago pa namin matapos ang kanta, biglang bumukas yung pinto ng auditorium. Hindi ko naman nakit kung sino yung lumabas o pumasok. Pero etong si Brian, tumakbo palabas. Tinapos ko mag-isa yung kanta.. With matching teary eyes pa. Putcha.



            *clap clap clap clap clap*


            "You did well Mr. Buenaventura.. Kahit na iniwan ka ng kasama mo na tapusin dapat yung kanta. I'll talk to the both of you later.. With the Dean. Okay. Class dismissed.."



            Agad agad, lumabas na ako. Hindi ko na kinuha yung bag ko. Babalikan ko nalang.



            Nakalabas ako ng mabilis bago pa makalabas lahat ng mga kaklase ko..



            Awww...



            This is bullshit.



            Edward. Brian. Hugging. Tightly. In. Front. Of. ME.


            Gago. Ngumisi pa ng nakakaloko si Edward sakin. Siya kasi yung nakaharap na part sakin. Ang sakit. Di ko kaya.



            Hindi pa ba nadala si Brian sa lalaking yun?! He was hurt by that freaking man. Tapos ako 'tong kasama niya ngayon, iiwan iwan niya para dun sa lalaking yun?! DAMN.



            I ran pabalik sa loob ng auditorium. Kinuha yung bag ko tapos dun ako lumabas sa kabilang pinto. Buti nalnag kasabay ko yung iba kong kaibigan palabas.



            "Wow. Matt. Di mo sinasabi marunong ka palang kumanta!" si Crix yun.


            "Tol, una muna ako.. punta pa ko kay Baklayon tsaka sa Dean eh.."



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   
            "So will you accept the offer Mr. Buenaventura?" tanong sakin ni Baklayon.


            Hindi po yan indecent proposal. Haha! May respeto pa naman ako sa mga prof ko 'no.



            Ganito kasi. Our Prof., Mr. Baklayon, and our Dean, decided na ipang laban ako sa National Contest. Singing contest. Maganda daw kasi yung performance namin kanina. With feelings ika nga.



            Pinagisipan ko. Ayaw ko na gusto ko.



            Gusto kasi may chance na manalo. And I'll be honored to represent my school. May dagdag grade pa kahit hindi manalo.



            Ayaw kasi, si Brian. Iniiwasan ko si Brian. They're palnning na kaming dalawa ang ipanglaban. Pero no choice. I have to decide right now.



            "Uhm.. Sir, Dean, hindi ko po tatanggapin.." sabi ko sa dalawa. Medyo nadisappoint ko yata sila



            "Why? I mean, we respect your decision. Pero sayang kasi.. We have a chance to win in that competition..." sabi ni Prof.



            "Personal reasons Sir.. Tsaka Sir, hindi ko po kasi talaga forte ang pag kanta..." sabi ko sa kanila. Last choice nila, si Brian.



            "Okay then. Mr. Nicholls will be our last chance... Thank you Mr. Buenaventura.. You may leave now.." sabi nung Dean sakin. Agad naman akong lumabas. I was planning na umuwi nalang. Panget ang araw ko.



            "Huy Matthew. Pinatawag daw ako? Sorry pala kani----" I cut him off. Alam ko naman na sasabihin niya.



            "Oo.. Pinapatawag ka ni Dean. Una na ko." and I rushed my way out. Out of this school. Magpapahinga nalang ako. Si Crix na bahala okaya si Karl.

            That was a really cold one.

Brian

       Competition day na. Oo. I accepted their offer. Kelangan ko din kasi ng co-cullicular activities.



            The event was held here in Kalibo. So may moment kami na Bora. Haha! And by meaning na kami, kasama si Kuya Walter and Ate Sarah. Allowed kasi ako na magsama ng atleaast 5 persons. Kung may isasama naman akong tatlo sa tropa, baka magtampo yung iba. Ayaw naman ni Matthew. Kaya eto, Ako, Ate, Kuya, Si Prof at Dean lang ang kasama ko. Parang magkakatropa muna turingan namin dito. Lahat sila, coach ko.



            I had a 10 day practice, and at the same time, stay here in Kalibo. And ngayon nga, competition day na. 4th ako sa performers. Then the 3rd one started to sing.



            "Remember Brian, enjoy this competition.. Manalo man o matalo, that's okay. At least we participated.." paalala ni Dean.



            "Opo Dean.." sagot ko naman. Kabado nga devah?



            "Tandaan mo lahat ng prinactice natin. Wag kabahan. Be confident." sabi pa ni Sir. Eh tutche. Lalo akong kinabahan eh.


           
            "That was great! Thank you contestant number 3 for that performance.. Please welcome our contestant number 4! Mr. Brian Anthony Nicholls!" Rinig ko yung palakpakan ng tao mula dito sa backstage pagkatapos akong tawagin nung emcee.


            Nagsimula nang tumugtog.

            Kiss today goodbye,
            The sweetness and the sorrow.
            Wish me luck, the same to you.
            But I can't regret
            What I did for love, what I did for love.

            What I Did For Love. Actually, hindi naman talaga dapat ito yung kakantahin ko. When You Believe dapat eh. But, hindi ko ma-feel yung kanta kanina while I'm practicing. I only sing from my heart. Pero ayaw ng puso ko sa kantang yun.

            I chose another song that suits what I feel right now. At eto. I decided na ito nalang ang kantahin, without my coach's permission. 

            I stepped forward as I regained my confidence. Slowly opened my eyes. I saw my Prof and Dean, at the same time, my siblings, giving me the what-are-you-doing look in their eyes. I don't care. I know better. Alam kong mas may chance ako sa kantang 'to.

            Look my eyes are dry.
            The gift was ours to borrow.
            It's as if we always knew,
            And I won't forget what I did for love,
            What I did for love.

             Ano na nga ba nagawa ko para sa pag ibig na 'to? Wala akong maalala. I do feel in love for a perswon pero hindi ko alam kung kanino ba talaga.

            Eto na. Pataas na ng pataas. Girly pa naman ang voice ko. Gayang gaya si Lea Michele sa Glee.

            Gone,
            Love is never gone.
            As we travel on,
            Love's what we'll remember.

             Love's what we'll remember. Oo nga. Ang layo ko na sa Cebu pero ito parin ang problema ko. Sino ba talaga ang tunay na pag-ibig ko? Nalilito na ako. Peste naman kasi tong sakit na to.

            Kiss today goodbye,
            And point me t'ward tomorrow.
            We did what we had to do.
            Won't forget, can't regret
            What I did for love
            What I did for love

            Kalimutan ko nalang kaya? Give up na agad?

            I can feel tears falling down. Unahan pa nga sila eh. I can't help it. Sobrang emotions na ang napagdaanan ko. Na realese ko na finally. Kahit konti muna, okay na.

            What I did for love
            Love is never gone
            As we travel one
            Love's what we'll remember
           

            Feel the song.. Malapit na matapos. Bibirit ka na..

            Kiss today goodbye.
            And point me t'ward tomorrow.
            We did what we had to do.
            Won't forget, can't regret
            What I did for love.
            What I did for love.

            What I did for love...

            And after that high note, the audience gave me a standing ovation. Even the judges! I think I did well.


            "Whoa.. That was a very good performance! Job well done contestant number 4!"


            Ngiti lang ang isinagot ko sa compliment na yun. I proceeded backstage para makausap sila Sir at Dean.


            "What was that?! You changed song without asking us?!" bungad ni Sir


            "Uhmm I--I'm sorry Sir.." sabi ko ng nakayuko.


            "It's okay Sir... He did well naman.. I think na mas maganda yung kinanta niya kesa sa When You Believe.. Look.. Napatayo pa yung audiences even the judges!" sabi ni Dean. Halang masaya ang mokong.


            "Well, sabagay. You did well naman. Congratulations!" sabay shake hand nung dalawa sakin.

           
            Pumunta naman ako sa waiting room ng contestants. May anim pang kakanta. Matagal pa 'to.



            Kamusta na kaya siya?


            Okay lang kaya siya?


            Hindi niya ako masyadong pinapansin after nung umamin siya.. Lalo na nung after ng performance namin sa school...



            Ang cold na niya...



            "HOY! Lalim ng iniisip Baby Bro ah.." bigalng sumulpot si Kuya. Muntik pa kong matumba sa upuan.



            "Tae ka naman Kuya eh.. Gugulat pa talaga eh.." sabi ko naman sakanya sabay suntok ng mahina sa braso.



            "Oh kumain ka muna.. Matagal pa yun..." sabay abot sakin ni Ate ng chicken sandwich and float. Thank you sa sponsor, McDo!



            35 minutes passed.


           
            Nandito na ulit kami sa stage. Tae. Announcement of winner na. Actually, kanina pa. Nasa Champion nalang at First Runner-Up. wow. Miss U ang peg!



            Naiimagine ko yung moment ni Janine Tugonon tsaka ni Miss U.S.A na magkahawak ang kamay. Feeling ko, ako si Miss Philippines.. Ay wait. No. Si Miss U.S.A nalang.. Baka mag 1st Runner Up langa ko niyan pag si Philippines ang pinili ko.


            So ayan, feeling ko, naka gown ako na kulay red. With matching pusod ng buhok, readied for my crown.



            Dalawa nalang samin ang pinagpipilian. Yung kalaban ko, babae. She came from Bicol. Talented, huh?



            "Please step forward..." sabi nung poging emcee. I wonder what his name was.


            "First name to be announced will be the Champion.. Are you ready Kaliboooo!!!" sigaw nung emcee. Hiyawan naman yung mga uto-utong audience.



            "And the Champion.. *drum roll* *drum roll ulet* ...






            is contestant number... *punyeta, drum roll ulet..*




           
            contestant number 4! Mr. Brian Anthony Nicholls from Cebu!"



            EhrMehrGherd.






Author's Note
Yeah. Update na! Ayan na ha.. Medyo mabilis na xD Sorry for waiting. Ginanahan ako dun sa tatlong nag comment eh :D Comment and Enjoy :D