CHAPTER 2: Fighting!
2174 Words
By eight in the morning, the hallway was already full.
By nine, people were sitting on the floor.
By ten, some had stopped pretending they weren't nervous.
The audition was supposed to start at nine.
It was almost eleven.
And nobody seemed surprised anymore.
A printed sheet of paper was taped to the glass door.
OPEN AUDITION — FEMALE TRAINEES
VOCAL • DANCE • PERFORMANCE
Underneath it was a handwritten note:
PLEASE WAIT FOR YOUR NUMBER TO BE CALLED.
There were at least a hundred numbers already distributed.
Aira looked down at the small piece of paper in her hand.
127.
She stared at it.
Then at the people ahead of her.
Then back at the number.
"Parang hindi na tayo matatapos dito."
Mika was sitting on the floor beside her, stretching one leg.
"Maghapon tayo dito."
"Sigurado?"
"Oo."
"Ba't?"
Mika pointed toward the registration table.
"Yung number niya."
Aira followed her finger.
A girl was holding a paper with the number 89.
She was still waiting.
"Patay."
Sienna sat beside them, carefully fixing the papers inside her folder.
"Mas mabuti nang maghintay kaysa umuwi nang hindi man lang sumubok."
Mika looked at her.
"Ang seryoso mo naman."
"Ikaw nga kanina pa reklamo nang reklamo."
"Nagugutom lang ako."
"Eh di kumain ka."
"Wala na akong pagkain."
Aira looked at her.
"Naubos mo?"
"Oo."
"Yung kalahati na binigay mo sa atin?"
"Oo."
Sienna laughed.
"Grabe ka."
"Eh gutom ako."
Aira smiled.
The nervousness hadn't disappeared.
But at least they had something to laugh about.
Across the hallway, Luna was standing near the window.
She had been quiet since they arrived.
She was looking at the audition room.
Not the people.
Not the judges.
The room.
As if she were trying to memorize it.
Aira stood.
"Luna."
Luna turned.
"Ba't?"
"Kinakabahan ka?"
Luna shook her head.
"Medyo."
"Medyo lang?"
"Oo."
Mika suddenly stood beside Aira.
"Sinungaling."
Luna laughed.
"Ikaw nga nanginginig na."
"Hindi kaya."
Mika held out her hands.
They were visibly shaking.
Sienna burst out laughing.
"Ang galing mong magsinungaling."
"Kasalanan ng malamig na aircon."
"Mainit."
"Eh di kaba."
"Mas lalo kang sinungaling."
They laughed again.
A few people looked at them.
Aira didn't care.
For the first time that day, she wasn't thinking about whether she would pass.
She was simply glad she wasn't alone.
---
At eleven-thirty, the staff finally appeared.
A woman carrying a clipboard stepped into the hallway.
"Mga nasa unang limampu, pakihanda ang mga papeles ninyo."
The hallway immediately became quieter.
People began checking their forms.
Some stood.
Some started stretching.
A girl beside Aira was whispering lyrics to herself.
Another applicant was practicing dance movements with barely enough space to move her arms.
A boy passing by the hallway looked inside and laughed.
"Ang dami."
The staff woman turned.
"Mga babae po ang audition ngayon."
The boy immediately walked away.
"Ah, sige po."
Mika covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"Ang tanga."
Aira whispered.
"Shh."
The staff woman looked toward them.
"May problema ba?"
Mika straightened.
"Wala po."
"Kung wala, huwag kayong maingay. May audition."
"Opo."
The woman walked away.
Mika waited until she was far enough.
"Tahimik daw."
Sienna glared at her.
"Ikaw ang unang magsalita."
"Oo nga."
Aira shook her head.
"Pare-pareho lang kayong sira."
Luna smiled.
"At least hindi tayo kinakabahan."
Mika looked at her.
"Sinong tayo?"
Luna shrugged.
"Lahat tayo."
---
At twelve fifteen, number 37 was called.
Then 38.
39.
40.
The process was painfully slow.
Some applicants came out after only a few minutes.
Others took longer.
A few walked out with tears in their eyes.
A girl returned to the hallway carrying her bag.
Her friend immediately approached her.
"Kamusta?"
The girl shook her head.
"Wala."
"Sigurado?"
"Oo."
"Anong sinabi?"
"Pinapunta ako sa bahay."
"Grabe."
The girl wiped her eyes.
"May next audition pa naman."
"Oo. Huwag kang susuko."
They hugged.
Aira watched them quietly.
She suddenly realized something.
Passing wasn't guaranteed just because you were talented.
There were too many people.
Too many dreams.
Too few spaces.
And sometimes, you could be good and still not be chosen.
That scared her more than the judges did.
---
At one in the afternoon, the staff announced a break.
"Magkakaroon ng tatlumpung minutong pahinga. Huwag kayong aalis nang malayo dahil tatawagin ulit ang mga numero ninyo."
Everyone immediately moved.
Some went to the restroom.
Some bought food.
Others stayed in the hallway.
Mika stood up.
"Kain tayo."
Aira looked at her.
"May pera ka pa?"
Mika checked her wallet.
"May bente."
"Kasya?"
"Kung tubig lang."
Sienna opened her bag.
"May pera ako."
Mika looked at her.
"Magkano?"
"Isang daan."
"Ang yaman."
"Normal lang."
"Sa akin hindi."
Luna suddenly pulled out some coins.
"May tatlumpu ako."
Mika smiled.
"Perfect."
They went downstairs to a small convenience store.
Mika bought bread.
Aira bought water.
Sienna bought a cup of noodles.
Luna bought nothing.
Aira noticed.
"Ikaw?"
"Ayos lang."
"Sigurado?"
"Oo."
Mika pushed half of her bread toward Luna.
"Kain."
Luna looked at it.
"Sa'yo na."
"May isa pa ako."
Luna hesitated.
Then took it.
"Salamat."
Mika shrugged.
"Walang anuman."
They sat outside the store.
For a few minutes, none of them talked.
Then Sienna asked:
"Kapag pumasa tayo, ano unang gagawin ninyo?"
Mika immediately answered.
"Magpapabili ako ng bagong sapatos."
Aira laughed.
"Yun lang?"
"Oo. Tingnan mo naman sapatos ko."
She lifted one foot.
The sole was starting to separate.
Sienna laughed.
"Grabe."
"Ikaw?"
Sienna thought for a moment.
"Siguro... bibigyan ko ng pera si Mama."
Aira smiled.
"Ikaw, Aira?"
She looked at her bottle of water.
"Siguro sasabihin ko sa pamilya ko na kaya ko."
Mika nodded.
"Ikaw, Luna?"
Luna didn't answer immediately.
She looked toward the road.
"Siguro gusto ko lang marinig pangalan ko sa entablado."
The three girls became quiet.
Mika smiled.
"Ang lalim."
Luna laughed.
"Ikaw kasi nagtanong."
"Pero gusto ko rin yun."
Aira looked at them.
Four girls.
Four different reasons.
One dream.
Maybe that was enough.
---
At two o'clock, they returned upstairs.
Number 120 was being called.
Aira's stomach tightened.
"Malapit na."
Mika looked at her.
"Kinakabahan ka?"
"Oo."
"Normal lang."
"Ikaw?"
"Takot na takot."
Sienna laughed.
"Akala ko hindi ka kinakabahan."
"Sinungaling lang ako."
Luna smiled.
Then the staff called:
"One hundred twenty-one."
Aira swallowed.
"Malapit na talaga."
"One hundred twenty-two."
Mika grabbed Aira's hand.
"Huminga ka."
"Humihinga ako."
"Parang hindi."
"Humihinga ako."
"Malalim."
Aira took a deep breath.
"Isa."
She inhaled.
"Dalawa."
She exhaled.
"Salamat."
"Kung himatayin ka, bubuhatin kita."
"Ang liit mo."
"Hoy!"
Sienna laughed.
"Ang ingay ninyo."
Then—
"One hundred twenty-three."
"One hundred twenty-four."
"One hundred twenty-five."
Aira's palms became sweaty.
"One hundred twenty-six."
She stood.
Mika looked up.
"Ikaw na."
Aira nodded.
"Good luck."
Sienna smiled.
"Kayang-kaya mo."
Luna looked at her.
"Sabihin mo lang kung ano gusto mong sabihin."
Aira smiled.
Then the staff called her number.
"One hundred twenty-seven."
She stepped forward.
"Here po."
The staff checked her form.
"Full name?"
"Aira Valdez po."
"May dala kang identification?"
"Opo."
She handed it over.
The staff checked the document.
Then returned it.
"Maghintay ka muna sa labas ng audition room. Kapag tinawag ka, saka ka pumasok."
"Opo."
Aira sat on the designated chair.
There were five other applicants waiting.
One girl was crying quietly.
Another was practicing a dance routine.
A third was staring at the floor.
Aira suddenly felt like she didn't belong there.
Then she remembered why she came.
She had already made it this far.
She couldn't leave now.
---
"Aira Valdez."
She stood.
"Pasok ka."
The room was smaller than she expected.
Three judges sat behind a long table.
There was a camera.
A microphone.
A speaker.
And a large mirror on one side of the room.
The woman in the middle looked at her form.
"Huminga ka muna."
Aira nodded.
"Opo."
"Huwag kang kabahan."
Aira almost laughed.
"Opo."
The woman smiled.
"Anong ihahanda mo?"
"Kakanta po ako."
"Anong kanta?"
Aira told her.
"May sayaw ka rin?"
"Opo."
"Ikaw ang pumili?"
"Opo."
"May training ka?"
"Wala po."
One of the male judges looked up.
"Wala?"
"Wala po."
"May experience ka sa mga pagtatanghal?"
"Sa school lang po."
"Anong mga ginawa mo?"
"Mga programa po. Mga sayawan at kanta."
The judge nodded.
"Handa ka na?"
Aira took a breath.
"Opo."
The music started.
Her first note came out slightly shaky.
She continued.
By the second verse, her voice became steadier.
Then came the dance portion.
She missed one step.
Just one.
But she recovered.
She finished the routine.
The music stopped.
Silence.
Aira stood there, breathing heavily.
The woman looked at her.
"May alam ka bang ibang kanta?"
"Meron po."
"Kumanta ka ng walang tugtog."
Aira nodded.
She sang again.
This time, there was no music to hide behind.
No beat.
No effects.
Just her voice.
When she finished, the woman wrote something on the paper.
Aira waited.
"Salamat."
Aira bowed.
"Salamat po."
She walked out.
The door closed behind her.
Only then did she realize her hands were shaking.
---
Mika immediately stood.
"Kamusta?"
Aira leaned against the wall.
"Grabe."
"Anong ginawa?"
"Pinakanta ulit ako."
"May sayaw?"
"Oo."
"Nagkamali ka?"
Aira stared at her.
"Oo."
"Malaki?"
"Isa lang."
Mika shrugged.
"Eh di okay."
"Ang dali mong sabihin."
"Eh buhay ka pa naman."
Sienna laughed.
"May sinabi ba sila?"
"Wala."
"Ngiti?"
"Kaunti."
"Patay."
Aira laughed.
"Pareho tayo."
Luna approached.
"Anong pakiramdam?"
Aira looked at her.
"Parang gusto kong matulog ng isang linggo."
Luna smiled.
"At least tapos na."
Aira nodded.
"For now."
---
The afternoon became evening.
One by one, they were called.
Mika went next.
She came back sweating.
"Pinag-sayaw ako ng tatlong beses."
Aira stared at her.
"Ha?"
"Oo."
"Ba't?"
"May binago sila."
"Anong binago?"
"Musika."
"Kinaya mo?"
"Oo naman."
Mika grinned.
"Medyo."
Sienna was next.
She returned fifteen minutes later.
She was unusually quiet.
Aira approached her.
"Kamusta?"
Sienna sat down.
"Pinabasa nila yung lyrics ko."
"Yung dala mo?"
"Oo."
"Nagustuhan?"
"Di ko alam."
Mika sat beside her.
"Uy."
"Hm?"
"Kapag hindi ka pumasa, kasalanan nila."
Sienna smiled.
"Ang lakas mong mang-encourage."
"Libre lang."
Then Luna's number was called.
She stood.
Before entering, she looked at the three girls.
"Hintayin ninyo ako."
Mika smiled.
"Oo naman."
Sienna nodded.
Aira gave her a thumbs-up.
Luna entered.
The door closed.
They waited.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Then forty.
Mika looked at the door.
"Ba't ang tagal?"
Sienna shrugged.
"Malay natin."
Aira didn't say anything.
She was watching the staff member who had been standing outside the room.
The woman looked at her clipboard.
Then at the door.
Then back at the clipboard.
Something about it felt strange.
Finally, the door opened.
Luna stepped out.
She looked calm.
But her eyes were different.
Mika stood.
"Uy, kamusta?"
Luna looked at them.
"Pinapunta raw ako bukas."
"Ha?"
"May isa pang evaluation."
Mika's eyes widened.
"Grabe."
Sienna smiled.
"Ibig sabihin gusto ka nila."
Luna shook her head.
"Di ko alam."
Aira looked at her.
"Anong evaluation?"
"Pribado raw."
Mika frowned.
"Pribado?"
"Oo."
"Ba't?"
Luna shrugged.
"Sabi nila may gusto silang pag-usapan."
"Anong pag-uusapan?"
"Di sinabi."
Mika looked suspicious.
"May ginawa ka ba?"
Luna laughed.
"Wala."
"Sigurado?"
"Oo."
Sienna stood.
"Eh di good."
Luna nodded.
But Aira noticed something.
Luna wasn't smiling anymore.
---
It was almost seven when they finally left the building.
The rain had stopped.
The pavement was wet.
The streetlights reflected against the puddles.
People were leaving in groups.
Some were laughing.
Some were crying.
Some were already talking about the next audition.
Aira stood outside with Mika, Sienna, and Luna.
Nobody knew whether they had passed.
Nobody knew when the results would come.
Nobody knew what would happen next.
Mika looked at the building behind them.
"Kung hindi tayo pumasa?"
Sienna answered first.
"Mag-audition ulit."
Aira smiled.
"Oo."
Mika looked at Luna.
"Ikaw?"
Luna looked up at the building.
Then at the three of them.
"Maghihintay ako."
"For what?"
Luna smiled.
"Sa tamang oras."
Mika shook her head.
"Ang misteryosa mo talaga."
Luna laughed.
"Uwi na tayo."
They started walking.
Four girls.
Four dreams.
Four numbers written on four pieces of paper.
Nothing had happened yet.
At least, that's what they thought.
Behind them, the glass doors of the agency closed.
Inside the building, a staff member placed four audition forms on a desk.
One by one, the judges wrote their evaluations.
AIRA VALDEZ — VOCAL: PROMISING. PERFORMANCE: RAW.
MIKA SANTOS — DANCE: EXCELLENT. VOCAL: NEEDS TRAINING.
SIENNA CRUZ — VOCAL: DISTINCTIVE. WRITING: EXCEPTIONAL.
The fourth form was different.
The judge stared at it for a long moment.
Then wrote:
LUNA REYES — POTENTIAL: HIGH.
He stopped.
Looked toward the closed conference room.
Then added one final note.
DO NOT DISCLOSE HER CONNECTION TO THE MANAGEMENT.
He placed the pen down.
The room went silent.
Outside, the four girls were already walking home.
Still laughing.
Still dreaming.
Still believing that talent was the only thing that would determine how far they could go.
They didn't know it yet.
But their audition had already changed their lives.
And tomorrow—
the real selection would begin.
- Writer
