CHAPTER 3

 

SMENT. One of the top agencies for aspiring artists who want to have their big breaks. Many hopeful youngbloods fight nail and tooth for a spot in this agency. That is why up ‘til now I’m still amazed kung paano kami nakapasok dito sa agency na ito. Alam ko naman na talented ang friends ko, but still. To be able to enter and sign here is still fantastic.

 

“Good mornin-Ma’am Lia? Kayo nga. Good morning po, Ma’am Lia”. Ang lawak ng ngiti ni Kuya Ben. Security guard siya dito at isa siya sa mababait na tao dito.

“Good morning Kuya Ben. Long time no see”. Pagbati ko sa kaniya.

“Kaya nga eh. Bibisitahin mo ba sila Ning?”

“Opo. Pero may ipapasa lang po ako kay Ms. Kim”.

“Wala pa si Ms.Kim pero pwede na kayo umakyat, Ms. Lia.”

 

Nagpaalam ako kay Kuya Ben at dumiretso sa studio. May mga bumati sakin papunta. Matagal na akong hindi nakapunta dito. Almost 2 years na din since I’ve set foot in this studio. Sabi ko naman kay Karina na naka-move on na ako pero medyo nahiya ako sa kanilang lahat at na-drain ako sa past relationship ko. Meeting Ryujin sparked my inner musician.

 

Pumasok ako sa studio. All the memories came rushing back. Medyo nagging teary-eyed ako pero mabilis ko ding pinunasan kasi cool tayo. Naalala ko yung times na nagja-jamming lang kami ng AEs dito. How we would compose our songs using different instruments and playing with our voices hanggang sa masatisfy ang mga tainga namin sa pagbuo ng kanta.

 

Dumiretso ako sa piano and just sat there. Ang tagal ko na din hindi nahawakan ito. “Anak, when you play the piano, you have to handle it like you’re handling a newborn baby. So, you have to be gentle with it and caress it.”

 

I smiled as I remember what my mom said.

 

Biglang bumukas ang pinto at nagulat ako. Sino bang hindi magugulat sa bunganga ni Ning?

 

“Bes! Andito ka na? Is this a dream?” Bungad sakin ni Ning at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

“No, Ning. Wala si Lia dito. You’re in the matrix eh. Anyways, welcome back” Umirap si Yuna habang hinihila si Ning para sumunod sa pagyakap.

 

Isa-isa ko silang niyakap at binati din. “Namiss ko talaga kayo guys.”

 

“So, Lia. Ibig sabihin ba na babalik ka na sa pag-compose?” Nginitian ko si Karina at tumango. Nasabi ko naman sa kanila na the moment I returned here would mean that I am ready to really come back.

 

“Yes. But first kailangan ko munang pumunta at kausapin si Ms. Kim.”

“Oh. Kakapasok lang nila ni Ate Irene eh. Try mong puntahan baka hindi naman matagal yung meeting nila”.

“Ah, ganun ba? Puntahan ko lang ah. Thanks, Gi.”

“Balik ka kaagad ah bes.”

“Yeah yeah. O nga pala. Yuna, nasa bag ko yung isang copy ng song na nagawa ko. Try niyong tugtugin, baka trip niyo. Pag-balik ko parinig baka matripan niyo.”

“Lia!”

 

Napatingin ako kay Soobin na tahimik since pumasok sila. Nakatingin din sila natigil sa ginagawa nila.

 

“Yes?”

“Welcome back.”

 

Habang paalis ako, narinig ko ang excited na tili nila Ning at Yuna. Napangiti ako pero I’m hoping na magustuhan nila. That song is both a message and a peace offering na din sa mga kaibigan ko for leaving them hanging for 2 years.

 

_______________

 

Pag-akyat ko sa floor ng boss, sakto lumabas si Manager Bae at Assistant Manager Joy.

 

“Aba, nabuhay ka liit.” Pangaasar ni ate Joy.

“Grabi ka sakin talaga Assistant Manager Joy.”

“Huwag mo nga ako matawag-tawag ng ganyan. Ate Joy. Say it with me baby, ATE JOY”

 

Natawa kaming dalawa ni Manager Bae. Tinignan niya ako at kung hindi ko kilala si Manager Bae ng personal, feeling ko iiyak na ako sa titig niya. Nakakatakot kasi aura ni Manager Bae. Kung hindi ko kilala ang CEO dito aakalain kong siya ang CEO eh. Maraming tao na ang napagkamalan na siya nga ang CEO.

 

“Baka Manager Bae itawag mo din sakin ah, Lia.” Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Kakatakot ka po, so please lang wag niyo po akong titigan ng ganyan.

 

“Hindi po, ate Irene.” sabi ko.

Ngumiti naman na siya habang tinignan ako ng masama ni ate Joy.

 

“Pasok ka na sa loob. Ms. Kim’s waiting for you. Sinabi ng guard na nandito ka at nasabihan na din kami kahapon na nagsend ka ng email kay HR. So, does that mean you’re back in action?”

“Yes po ate. Kung papayag po si Ms. Kim.”

“And I’m assuming binigyan mo na ng isang piece ang mga batang yun?”

“Yes po. Hehe”

“Naks naman liit. Sure akong inaaral na ng mga batang yun yung kanta mo.”

“Sabi ko po mag-practice na sila para malaman ko kung ayos na yun as a peace offering.”

“Sige, pasok ka na. Also, Lia. Welcome back.”

 

Pumasok ako sa loob at binati si Ms. Kim na nakaupo na sa kaniyang upuan. “Good morning, Ms. Kim”

 

“Good morning, Lia. Have a seat.” Inoffer niya ang upuan accross her table. Agad naman akong umupo.

“I heard the news.” Sinimulan niya. “HR contacted me yesterday about your email. I didn’t expect that you would be arriving soon. Had I known, sana napaghandaan man lang namin.”

“Don’t worry about it po. Mas ayos na din po yung walang masyadong ganap.” sabi ko. Ito kasing si Ms. Kim, gustong gusto nagpapa-party.

 

“You haven’t changed a bit noh?” Ngumiti siya sakin. Naalala ko sa ngiti niya yung mama ko. Hays, miss ko nanaman siya.

 

“Meron naman po.” Pabiro ko. “Slight lang.”

 

“Well, alam kong atat ka ng bumalik sa mga kaibigan mo so, let’s cut to the chase. What will be our plan for this year’s comeback?”

 

“I’m thinking, how about a full album?”

 

Mukhang nagulat si Ms. Kim sa suggestion ko. “It’s nearing the end of the first quarter, kaya ba?”

 

“I think so? If not a full comeback, pwede naman pong mini comeback. However, ang suggestion ko po, I really want to make this comeback special. Hindi lang po dahil sa kakabalik ko pero para sa new chapter ng AEs.”

 

Ms. Kim leaned forward. “And what would be the new chapter of AEs?”

 

“I will not just be composing the songs, Ms. Kim. We will be composing our songs.”

 

________________________

 

“Bes!” Hulaan niyo kung sino bumungad nanaman. Sinabunutan ni Yuna si Ning dahil naka-on ang mic ni Ning at sa kasamaang palad, malapit si Yuna sa speakers.

“Shuta ka talaga Ning! Ang sakit sa ng tenga ko!”

“Dasurv”

“Isa ka pa ate Joy!”

“They’re still as chaotic as before.” Bulong ni Karina sakin nang makalapit. “So, how did it go?”

 

Natigil naman ang lahat para hintayin ang sagot ko. “Full album”

 

Naghiyawan sila ate Joy, Ning at Yuna. Ang lawak naman ng ngiti ni Gi at Soobin habang sila ate Irene at Karina binigyan ako ng maliit na ngiti. Mag-ate talaga itong dalawang ito.

 

“Ops, teka lang. May condition yan”

“Ano naman yun Lia?” tanong ni Ate Irene.

“Tutulungan niyo akong mag-compose.”

 

Natahimik ang lahat. Hindi ko inexpect ang matagal na katahimikan. Akala ko matutuwa sila.

 

“Hoy, nagbibiro ka lang ba?”

“Gago, maka-hoy ka kay Lia.”

“Sorry, nagulat lang ako.”

“It is shocking. Bakit naman Lia?”

“Ayaw niyo ba?”

“Anong ayaw? Sinong may sabi?”

“Eh ang tahimik niyo eh.”

“Nakakagulat ka lang teh. Paki-explain lang para may idea kami.”

“Oh. Well, gusto ko kasi maging special tong comeback na ito. So, why not go back to our roots?”

 

Mukhang nalilito pa sila sa sinasabi ko. “Remember nung high school tayo? Nung time na nagja-jamming lang tayo ng mga kung ano-anong kanta. Tapos pinapalitan natin mga lyrics para maiba minsan? I wanted to go back and do what we’ve done in the past. Yung tutugtog lang tayo not for the fans but for our selves. That’s why naisip ko na tayo mismo magcompose ng mga kanta natin. It will be like a message to everybody na edm and what not is the trope these last few years, nothing beats old school music.”

 

“Preach!” Natawa kami kay Ate Joy.

 

“I like it.” sabi ni Soobin. “We’ll do it and we’ll do our best for you, Lia”

 

“Wow ah. Desisyon ka boy?” sumbat ni Ning. Binatukan ito ni Ate Irene at Karina na siyang sumigaw ng “Abuse!” Tinawanan lang namin siya habang hinihimas ang ulo niya.

 

“Eh, Lia. Kailan naman ang deadline nito?”

“Hmmm. Sabi ko naman na kaya natin siguro this year. If we don’t finish all 10 songs this comeback, then kahit mini lang muna.”

“No! Sawa na ako sa mini comebacks. Tapusin natin to”

“While Ning is OA nanaman, I agree with her. So, Lia kailan ang deadline?” tanong ni Karina.

“Kaya ba before end of 3rd quarter?”

“OMG, so pag natapos natin to, then it means December comeback?!”

“Shuta ka talaga Ning! Huwag kang sumigaw sa tenga ko!”

“Yeah, probably? The sooner we finish, the better, I guess.”

“Nice. Sisimulan na namin iyan.”

“Dapat lang, kasi balita ko may full comeback din ang Zys.”

“Ah talaga po ba ate Joy?”

“Uwu. Buti pa tong si liit, nagpo-po. Kayo mga walang galang. Anyways, yeah, yun ang sabi-sabi but still not confirmed.”

 

Nag-ring ang phone ni Ate Irene. Sinagot niya ito at lumabas.

 

“Nga pala, pag-usapan natin yung date mo.”

Nagulat si Ate Joy sa revelation. “May date ka?”

“Naikwento ko na di ba?”

“Eh, so ekis si Jeno?”

“Yeah. Friends pwede pa siguro.”

“Eh si Ryujin?”

 

Mukhang matatagalan nanaman ito. “Naikwento ko na din. Wala lang yun. What if start niyo na yung song. Gusto kong marinig.”

“Oo nga. Parinig yan.”

Pumasok ulit si Ate Irene. “Joy, we have to go. Meeting with Ms. Kim.”

“Eh, Irene magpie-play pa sila Ning nung song ni Lia”

“Talaga ba?”

“Yes powz”

“Tangina ang jejemon mo naman Yuna.”

“Eh kung manahimik ka na kaya?”

“Paano ako kakanta pag tumahimik ako?”

“Stop it. Both of you.” sabi ni Ate Irene.

 

Agad naman tumigil yung dalawa at umayos. Pumunta na sila sa kani-kanilang station:

Ning - Mic

Karina - Lead Guitar

Yuna - Guitar

Giselle - Drums

Soobin - Bass

 

“Ready? 1, 2, 1, 2, 3”

 

The way you move is like a full on rainstorm

And I'm a house of cards

You're the kind of reckless that should send me running

But I kinda know that I won't get far

And you stood there in front of me just

Close enough to touch

Close enough to hope you couldn't see

What I was thinking of

 

Drop everything now

Meet me in the pouring rain

Kiss me on the sidewalk

Take away the pain

'Cause I see, sparks fly, whenever you smile

Get me with those green eyes, baby

As the lights go down

Gimme something that'll haunt me whenever you're not around

'Cause I see, sparks fly, when you smile

 

Naalala ko nanaman yung nangyari kahapon sa bookstore. Hindi ko inexpect na magkikita ulit kami sooner than I expected.

 

My mind forgets to remind me, you're a bad idea

You touch me once and it's really something

You find I'm even better than you, imagined I would be

I'm on my guard for the rest of the world

But with you I know its no good

And I could wait patiently

But I really wish you would

 

Drop everything now

Meet me in the pouring rain

Kiss me on the sidewalk

Take away the pain

'Cause I see, sparks fly, whenever you smile

Get me with those green eyes, baby

As the lights go down

Gimme something that'll haunt me when you're not around

'Cause I see, sparks fly, whenever you smile

 

Yung impromptu session natin ang talagang nagpush sakin na pumunta dito ngayon sa studio. After that meeting and session, it was like music came back to my life and it was as vibrant as the colors of spring. Hindi ko alam, baka madali lang akong mahulog talaga or baka excitement dahil ikaw nagbigay ng sparks ngayon.

 

I run my fingers through your hair

And watch the lights go wild

Just keep on keeping your eyes on me

Its just wrong enough to make it feel right

And lead me up the staircase

Won't you whisper soft and slow

 

Afer cute mo noong tinanong mo kung may book ako about training puppies at yung sinabi mong ibibigay mo yun sa kaibigan mong mukhang maltease, ang ganda ng ngiti mo doon.

 

And I'm captivated by you baby

Like a fireworks show

 

Alam ko na mahirap kang abutin dahil magkaiba talaga tayo, pero, may be a part of me wrote this song for you to know. And to thank you. Kasi, it was 2 years ago bago ko maramdaman ulit ang saya ng pagcompose ng song. It’s been 2 years since lyrics floated in my head waiting to be written on paper. And, maybe… Just, maybe, you’ll be able to hear it.

 

Drop

everything now

Meet me in the pouring rain

Kiss me on the sidewalk

Take away the pain

'Cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile

Get me with those green eyes, baby

As the lights go down

Gimme something that'll haunt me when you're not around

'Cause I see, sparks fly, whenever you smile

When sparks fly oh baby smile

When sparks fly

__________________________

 

After ng performance ng AEs, nag-congrats sakin sila Ate Irene and Ate Joy. Mukhang satisfied silang dalawa. Mukhang satisfied din naman sila Ning.

“Ang ganda bes. Nararamdaman ko na talaga”

“Natatae ka?”

“Tangina mo Yuna, kadiri ka talaga.”

Natawa lang kami dahil nagbangayan nanaman sila. Lumapit sakin si Soobin na siyang tinaasan ng kilay ni Karina.

“I can feel it too.”

“Ano?”

“The message of your song. Pang-Grammys”

“Trueness!”

Nakakamiss talaga sila. I miss this and I would cherish these moments kahit palaging nagbabardagulan sila Ning at Yuna while Gi is watching them, Karina is just ignoring them at may sariling mundo si Soobin.

“I love you guys. And so let’s make this comeback memorable”

“Awwww. GROUP HUG!”

 

Song: Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift