LITERARY: Waltz of Four Left Feet.
a/n: to be read while listening to the mentioned song, as instructed :))
SCENE: It is 9pm at a pub somewhere along Maginhawa. The atmosphere is home-y as fairy lights line the walls and muted chatter fills the air. It is late, and the audience has been reduced to half of what it was earlier in the afternoon as the final acts begin to play.
We see a boy (left) and a girl (right) seated next to each other on the floor. The boy watches the girl as she sits restlessly— the artist onstage is her favorite singer. He smiles as she shakes his arm when she hears the start of a familiar tune.
*The intro to Waltz of Four Left Feet by Shirebound & Busking begins to play*
Sapat na sa’kin ang ganito...
The girl sings along to the lyrics quietly, but eagerly.
The boy feels his smile begin to fade.
Ang pagmasdan ka sa malayo…
Unconsciously, he starts to stare at her.
Kapag kinausap…
She continues to sing along to every word.
Walang masagot…
She looks to her left.
He looks away.
Hiningay lagot.
There is a pause.
She smiles.
Hindi ko naman yata ikamamatay...
Kung hindi ko mahawakan ang iyong kamay...
Handa ‘kong mabuhay sa aking kalokohan...
Kung wala ka sa’king buhay walang kalungkutan.
Munting ligayang iyong hatid…
He steals a glance at her again.
Tuwing…
She smiles as she feels his eyes on her.
Dahan-dahan kang darating…
As he watches her sit there, captivated by her quiet existence,
Kagandahan, masisilayan...
He decides that if he had to choose between losing their friendship or the chance—
Dahan-dahang lilisan.
He would choose the chance.
Hindi ko naman yata ikamamatay
Kung hindi ko mahawakan ang iyong kamay
Handa ‘kong harapin ang kasinungalingan
Kung wala ka sa’king buhay walang kakulangan.
*Instrumental*
There are two kinds of people in this world.
The ones who believe that love is a choice, and those who beg to differ.
The realists, and the romantics, respectively.
The boy is a romantic.
Because if he had a choice, he would never have chosen to fall in love with his best friend.
And as she sits next to him, quietly, beautifully, and painfully oblivious,
He realizes he would rather have her here, just like this, even if he knows for a fact that she will never see him as more than just a friend, than not have her anywhere near him at all.
But his heart is heavy.
It acts like an anchor, weighing down on every word he wishes he could say;
Seven years worth of villanelles and sonnets to her name,
Because he knows that if he were to recite them, he would lose her.
And he has promised all of his stars that he would not lose her.
He can’t.
Sapat na sa akin...
He steals one last glance at her.
Hindi na aamin...
Hindi na aasa...
Ako’y maligaya…
Then, he looks away.
Sapat na sa akin…
She looks at him, waiting for him to meet her eyes.
‘Di na aaminin…
Hindi na aasang...
Ako’y liligaya…
But, he never does.
Hindi ko naman yata ikamamatay...
The audience begins to sing along.
Kung hindi ko mahawakan ang iyong kamay...
She joins them, her eyes closed.
Handa ‘kong mabuhay sa aking kalokohan...
He smiles at her, then looks away.
Kung wala ka sa’king buhay walang kalungkutan.
Then, she holds his hand.
He freezes.
Hindi ko yata tanggap ang buhay…
He stares at her hand on top of his.
Kung sa’n ‘di ko mahawakan ang iyong kamay...
She steals a glance at him from the corner of her eye.
Handa ‘kong harapin kawalang-katiyakan...
Then, she laughs, squeezing his hand three times.
Kahit na takot sa maaaring kasagutan.
Another pause.
Neither of them look at each other.
*Instrumental*
It is a silent message, and she can only hope it gets through.
It is a silent message—a childhood tradition. But it feels like the meaning has changed.
Unsure of what to do, he looks at her, but she is looking away.
He looks back at the performer, then he takes a deep breath in.
*The music softens as the piano plays*
He squeezes her hand four times.
She smiles.
And as the music fades, they sit next to each other in a meaningful silence.
