Chapter 20. Tara
SUNSHINE'S debut was a success. Kabi-kabilaang guesting at promotions ang nangyari. Marami ring natanggap na alok para sa iba't ibang advertisements. But they focused on their Debut Tour.
Rachel had never been this busy in her life. Kung inakala niyang halos mawalan na siya ng oras sa sobrang pagiging abala sa pag-aaral noon, mas ngayon. Kung minsan nga ay kinukulang na siya sa tulog dahil sa rami ng dapat asikasuhin. Kaya nga sinisiguro niyang regular na naiinom ang mga vitamins.
But she's not complaining at all. She loved what she was doing. Whenever she watched the band perform, she felt fulfilled. Napakagaling at napakaganda ng blending ng limang miyembro. Masasabi niyang hindi siya nagkamali sa pagpili sa mga ito.
But on the same debut year, unexpected things happened. The keyboardist became really sick and had to leave the band. They decided to let ger go and tried to strive forward but upon recording some of the new songs, Sunshine was never the same anymore. The band's soul had gone missing and they couldn't deny that fact.
"I don't want to continue singing like this," Bree opened up after they re-record the songs. Sumang-ayon ang iba pang mga miyembro.
"We have a five-year contract. Can we wait for Acel until she recovers?" it was Lana. "Kahit isang taon na lang ang matira, basta makasama ulit natin siya."
"I'm not sure..." Not that she wasn't sure about Acel's recovery— their keyboardist must recover especially when she left that man without informing him about what happened. Kaya dapat ay gumaling ito. Rachel also didn't want to think she wouldn't make it.
"Tama si Lana, we need Acel in this band," si Milka. Kasalukuyan silang nasa loob ng recording room at pinakinggan ang mga bagong ni-record na kanta. Pero kahit ilang beses nilang pakinggan at ilang ulit na i-record ay hindi niyon maikakaila ang malaking pagbabago.
"My heart aches for Acel. Alam n'yo, kahit hindi na tayo makatugtog basta't gumaling lang siya," Jinny said sadly.
Bumuntong-hininga siya. She couldn't agree more. That's why she called it a day and decided to go to the CEO's office, but when she went inside, she wanted to take a step back when she saw Eclipse' members. Nang makita siya ay isa-isang nagsilabasan ang mga ito, pwera kay Sage.
"Sage, you can go now." Bumaling si Rexton sa huli.
He just leaned on the sofa cooly. Nakaupo ito sa mahabang sofa habang si Rexton ay nanatili sa pang-isahang sofa.
Hinayaan na niya si Sage at tuluy-tuloy na umupo sa kabilang banda ng sofa na inuupuan nito. At dahil malapit dito ang upuan ni Rexton ay wala siyang ibang mapagpipilian kundi ng humarap din dito.
Aminado siyang nagwawala ang kanyang puso subalit mas pinagtuunan niya ng pansin ang pakay sa kanilang boss.
"Let's go to the conference r—"
"Can't you just talk in here? Bakit kailangang private pa?" sabad ni Sage sa sasabihin ni Rexton.
"It's fine," agap niya at pilit na pinanatiling nakatingin kay Rex. "I want to talk about Sunshine... Have you listened to their new songs?"
Umiling ito. Nanatili namang tahimik na nakikinig si Sage.
She played the newly recorded songs on her phone. She played it one after another. Tatlong kanta iyon at humigit sampung minuto ang itinagal.
"So..." panimula niya.
"I think I know what're you going to say— May I?" He asked for a permission to hold her phone.
She nodded and he held it, playing the songs on certain parts.
"It is lacking."
"Yes."
"So, what's your plan? Are you going to ask if I can terminate the contract?"
"Why would you terminate Sunshine's contract?" sansala ni Sage.
Agad na lumingon siya rito at sinamaan ng tingin na para bang pinaparating niyang hindi ito kasali sa usapan.
"No, I, uh, just want to ask if we could go on hiatus. We'll wait for Acel."
"But what if she—" Agad itong natigilan. Wala kasing ibang nakakaalam ng totoong dahilan kung bakit ito umalis. "—what if her husband won't agree?"
"Let's just wait."
"I suggest—"
"Shut up, will you?!" Naiiritang baling niya kay Sage.
Napamaang ito pero kalauna'y nginisihan siya.
"Ang init naman ng ulo mo, Ms. Gozo. Do you want to chill? I know a good Milk Tea Shop near. Or we can just go to the café downstairs."
Siya naman ang napamaang sa bilis nitong magyaya. Ano na nga ba ang sinasabi sa social media sa galawan ni Sage?— Speed.
Rexton chuckled.
"Sige na, Rachel, I'll just set a meeting with the members again."
She nodded and said she's going. 'Tsaka lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag nang makalabas ng opisina. Nang papasok na sa loob ng elevator ay hindi niya namalayang nasa likuran lang niya si Sage.
"Bababa rin ako."
Nagtangis ang bagang niya. Gustong kutosan ang sarili dahil sa mabilis na naapektuhan sa presensya nito.
"You grew," puna nito. She glanced at him and notice he's staring at her chest. She immediately crossed her arms and stayed at the corner. Taas-noo rin siyang diretso na tumitig sa pinto ng elevator. Pakiwari niya ay napakatagal bumaba niyon.
Hindi niya alam kung pinagloloko ba siya nito o ano. Of course she knew she didn't grow up at all. Five flat pa rin ang height niya.
"You cut your hair short."
Hindi siya kumibo. Nagpagupit siya noong nakaraan, hanggang batok na ang kanyang buhok at nagpakulay rin ng blonde.
"You became even more beautiful."
Halos sumakit ang kanyang panga sa pag-igting niyon. Was he toying with her like the first time they met at t— No, she wouldn't think of that bad night again. She'd been trying to move on since then.
"How have you been?"
Hindi ba dapat ay iyon ang una nitong tinanong?
"I miss you..."
The elevator's door was opened and she got out. Dumiretso siya sa washroom na nasa ground floor at nang masigurong nasa loob na ay roon pa lang siya nakahinga ng maayos, kung maayos bang matatawag iyong mabilis na paghabol niya ng hininga.
It was still the same. Sage was still taking her breath away.
"I miss you..." Para siyang nabingi habang inaalala kung totoo ba ang narinig niyang binulong nito bago bumukas ang pinto ng elevator.
Nagpasya siyang hilamusin ng mukha. Good thing she didn't put on makeup. She only wore a lipstick and powder that's why it wasn't hassle when she washed her face. Kumuha rin siya ng paper towel na nasa washroom at iyon na ang pinampunas sa kanyang mukha. She gently tapped it on her wet face until it became dry. Then, she retouched her face powder and put an orange-tinted blush on and a light brown eye shadow. Nagkilay na rin siya kahit hindi naman kailangan. Her eyebrows were naturally shaped. She also put on her favorite sunset orange lipstick, she decided to put a bit much and her lips looked so plump and sexy.
Ang galing talaga ng makeup!
Sa sobrang tagal niyang naroon ay hindi niya mabilang kung ilan na ba ang lumabas-masok sa ladies' room.
Kaya halos mapalundag siya nang pagkalabas ay nakitang prenteng nakasandal si Sage malapit sa tapat ng pinto, nakasandal at nakapamulsa. Wala itong ginagawa kundi nag-aabang ng mga lumalabas sa washroom.
"Kanina ka pa riyan?" Hindi mapigilang bulalas niya. Don't talk with him, She castigated on her mind.
"Not really. Let's go?"
Go where?
"The Milk Tea Shop is just a few blocks away. Tara."
Did he honestly think that she'd go with him?