No Better Ending

Chapter Four

♥️ ♥️ ♥️ LUKE'S POINT OF VIEW ♥️ ♥️ ♥️

TREVOR'S words remained a mystery to me. Ano'ng ibig-sabihin niya na sana hindi na lang kami dumating sa buhay niya? One thing I was sure of, may kinalaman iyon sa amin ng pamilya ko. Damay ang parents ko sa issue namin. Pero ano naman kaya ang dahilan para magkaro'n siya ng malaking galit sa pamilya namin?

Our parents were good friends. Gusto ko sanang magtanong kay daddy pero hindi ko itinuloy dahil ayokong magsimula ng issue. Our business was doing well. Maayos ang relasyon ng mga magulang namin sa isa't-isa and I couldn't think of any reasons para magkaro'n ng malaking conflict in the future.

Inisip ko na lang na baka baliw lang talaga si Trevor at puro ka-negahan lang ang nasa isip. 'Di ba gano'n naman ang mga taong bitter sa life? Dinadamay sa ka-bitter-an nila ang mga tao sa paligid nila.

"Hi, guys! Welcome to Silverio Academy's Theater Group," sabi ng isang petite na babae na nakatayo sa stage. Lahat ng applicants ay nakaupo habang naghihintay ng instructions. "We are so glad to have a lot of applicants this school year. We have fifty-three applicants, can you believe it?" Nagpalakpakan naman ang mga members na nakaupo sa isang gilid. "By the way, I'm Lynn. Ako ang assistant director ng theater group and I'm also an actress. So, today, sisimulan na natin ang audition. Each one of you will be given three minutes to prove your worth. Please give it your best because we only need ten actors this year."

Nahigit ko ang hininga ko. They only needed ten actors out of fifty-three applicants. Hindi ko kilala ang mga kasama ko but I was pretty sure na hindi sila mag-o-audition kung wala silang ibubuga.

Ayokong panghinaan ng loob pero hindi ko naman maiwasang kabahan. I badly wanted to be part of the theater group. Aside from that, wala na kasi akong ibang clubs na gustong pasukan. I felt like it was the only group that could unleash my talent and potentials. Gustung-gusto ko talagang makapasa.

For the past week, I've been very busy with my studies. Hectic ang schedule ko dahil sa daming school works na kailangang asikasuhin. Imagine, we already had a major quiz on almost all of our subjects sa mismong first week of class. Pero hindi ko isinantabi ang preparations ko para sa audition. I gave ample time to practice. Sana lang sapat na ang preparations ko to make it to the top ten.

"I will be one of the judges," ani Lynn sa magaang tono. "Kasama ko rin ang official adviser natin, Miss Edeline Chan." Lumabas mula sa backstage ang isang magandang babae who had chinky eyes. She looked like she was on her mid-20s or early 30s. She was pleasant kaya kahit paano ay naibsan ang takot ko. She smiled and waved at us bago umupo sa front seat kung saan pupwesto ang lahat ng judges. "And our last judge will be the president of the theater group. Please welcome..."

Pakiramdam ko ay binagsakan ako ng langit at lupa nang lumabas ang isang taong kinaiinisan ko. As usual, nakasimangot pa rin siya na parang pasan niya ang problema ng buong mundo. Our eyes met and my heart felt like it stopped beating. He smiled. And knowing him, alam kong dapat akong kabahan sa ngiti niyang iyon.

"...Trevor Mondragon!"

Halos nabingi ako sa lakas ng sigawan at palakpakan ng audience. He was that famous. I couldn't blame them for their reactions. Sobrang attractive nga naman talaga ni Trevor. His s*x appeal was definitely something. Hindi nga lang nila alam na isang demonyo ang nakatago sa likod ng kagwapuhan nito. Aanhin mo ang good looks kung sobrang pangit naman ng pag-uugali.

Umupo siya katabi ni Miss Edeline Chan at iyon na ang hudyat ng pagsisimula ng audition. Number twenty four ang nakuha kong number kaya may time pa akong panoorin ang performances ng ibang applicants.

The more I watched the audition, the more it felt nerve-wracking. They were all so good. Halos wala kang pwedeng itapon. May iba pa nga na nagdala ng instruments para mas magkaro'n ng effect ang audition piece nila. But according to the guidelines, hindi sila naghahanap ng kahit anong klase ng gimmick. They would base the scores and results on the voice quality and stage presence of the auditionees.

I received a text message from France:

How's the audition?

I replied:

Kinakabahan ako. Ang gagaling ng mga nago-audition.

After almost three minutes ay nag-reply siya:

Kaya mo 'yan, ano ka ba? Ikaw pa?! Good news: malaki daw ang chance na makapasok ako sa Dance Club. Na-impress sila sa audition piece ko.

I was happy for him, but at the same time, mas lalo akong kinabahan at na-pressure na makapasok sa Theater Club. May club na si France, pa'no na lang 'pag hindi ako natanggap? At mukhang mas malaki ang possibility na hindi ako matatanggap lalo pa't isa si Trevor sa judges.

I wanted to think positive and believe that Trevor would set aside whatever issues he had with me and would judge me based on my talent and performance. But knowing him, alam kong hindi niya gagawing madali ang lahat ng bagay para sa'kin.

Bakit kasi hindi ko natunugan na siya pala ang president ng theater group. I didn't expect him to be an actor naman kasi. Alam kong siya ang editor-in-chief ng school paper, which wasn't surprising because I've heard that he wanted to follow his parents' footsteps in the world of journalism. So, it was possible to be the president of the theater group and editor-in-chief of the school paper at the same time. Eh 'di, siya na ang magaling.

"Numbers twenty to thirty, please proceed to the backstage," sabi ng isang member ng theater na lumapit sa amin.

Grabe ang kabog ng dibdib ko habang naglalakad ako patungo sa backstage. Hawak ko ang CD na ipi-play para sa performance ko. Habang naglalakad ay napalingon ako sa direksyon ni Trevor and I caught him staring right at my direction. Napahinto ako at napatitig na rin sa kanya. He was such a big puzzle I couldn't solve. Hindi ko mabasa ang facial expression niya. Wala akong idea kung ano ang nararamdaman niya.

Bakit gano'n na lang ang galit niya sa'kin at sa pamilya namin? Ano ang plano niya?Pahihirapan ba talaga niya ako dito sa school? Ano ang kailangan kong gawin to make things better between us?

He gave me a smirk at muling itinuon ang atensyon sa nagpe-perform sa stage.

I sighed. Mukhang wala na akong magagawa kundi galingan na lang. Oo nga't siya ang president ng club pero hindi lang naman siya ang judge. May dalawa pa na kailangan kong i-impress.

I proceeded to the backstage at ibinigay ang CD sa organizer. May holding area para sa amin doon kung saan may comfortable couch at refreshments na nakahanda sa glass table.

Waiting for my turn was such an agony. Parang sasabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba. I'd never performed in front of a big crowd. Pero kung gusto ko talagang makapasok, kailangan kong sanayin ang sarili ko na mag-perform in public.

"Luke, right?" Nilapitan ako ng organizer.

"Yes."

"You're next."

"Okay."

Tumayo ako at mabilis na naglakad. Kaya ko 'to. Hindi ako pwedeng magpadala sa kaba ko. I'm going to nail it.

Inabutan ako ng wireless microphone bago ako naglakad paakyat sa stage. May nakatutok na spotlight sa akin habang madilim naman ang buong theater. Nasa akin ang attention ng lahat which made me more nervous.

"Hi, Luke," Miss Edeline greeted me. "I've heard you're a new student here."

"Opo. I'm from Cebu."

"Oh, Cebu. Such a lovely place. So, what made you want to join the theater group?"

"I've always wanted to write plays po kasi. Tsaka, I can say that singing is my talent and passion. I think malaki ang maitutulong ng club na 'to para mai-showcase ko ang talent ko for writing and singing."

"Can you act?" Biglang sumingit si Trevor na sobrang strict pakinggan.

"Yes."

"How can you say so? Do you have any previous experience in acting? Aside from class presentations, of course."

"N-no. But I have tried acting during our school play when I was in—"

"So, you've never been in a theater group?"

"N-no."

I knew it! Pahihirapan niya ako.

"I guess experience wouldn't be a problem," ani Lynn. "Kaya nga tayo narito sa isang school theater group to learn, 'di ba? I mean, we're here to gain experience. Hindi naman 'to Broadway kaya hindi niya kailangan ng background sa acting. So, Luke, show us what you got. We're going to judge you based on your potentials."

I was glad someone stood up for me. Trevor looked like he was pissed off pero hindi niya iyon ipinahalata. Gagalingan ko na lang. Bahala siya kung pepersonalin niya ako. May dalawang judges pa naman ako at sila ang pag-asa ko na makapasok.

Nagsimulang tumugtog ang napili kong kanta. Unti-unting nawala ang kaba ko nang mag-umpisa akong kumanta. I became one with music. I felt every word of the song. I felt its message and did my best to relay it to the audience. I wanted them to feel the message of the song. I was no longer trying to impress anyone. I just sang like there's no tomorrow.

When the song ended, narinig ko ang palakpakan ng audience. Hindi iyon gano'n kalakas but it was enough to assure me that I did well. Nag-bow ako at muling bumalik sa backstage. I just have to pray and wait for the result.

⭐⭐⭐

IT was already 7 PM at hinihintay ko na lang ang sundo ko. Nakaupo ako sa hagdan ng main building habang iniisip pa rin ang audition. Sina Mommy at Daddy ang susundo sa akin at feeling ko busy lang sa work kaya natagalan. Sure naman akong parating na sila kaya nag-relax na lang muna ako. Isinuot ko ang headset ko at nakinig muna ng music.

I have always loved music kahit hindi naman talaga ako palaging kumakanta. Listening to good music has been my source of comfort whenever I feel bad. Wala rin akong pinipiling genre. Lahat gusto kong pakinggan at kantahin. Naisip ko nga ring mag-join ng banda but it was just a silly idea. I wasn't that good enough to be a vocalist of a band. Tsaka wala rin naman akong gano'n kataas na confidence. Okay na ako sa theater kasi marami naman kaming magpe-perform.

"And I've got all that I need, right here in the passenger seat..." Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko't nakikanta na rin ako kasabay ng pinakikinggan kong kanta. "Oh, and I can't keep my eyes on the road, knowing that he's inches from me..."

Natigil ako sa pagkanta nang napansin kong may nakatayo sa harap ko. I looked at him and noticed that he was saying something, hindi ko lang narinig dahil sa headset na suot ko. Tinanggal ko iyon para marinig siya.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Sabi ko, I like your voice."

The guy was so cute. No, hindi lang siya basta cute. Ang gwapo niya! Alam mo iyong tipo na parang galing siya sa isang fashion magazine. He was obviously taller than me. Kapansin-pansin ang chinito niyang mata, matangos na ilong at ang earring sa kanan niyang tenga. Nakangiti siya sa akin and it was definitely not like Trevor's smile. His smile was soft and genuine.

"Ah, thank you?" patanong kong sagot because I wasn't sure kung paano magre-respond.

"We're actually in the middle of forming a band. I was thinking if, maybe, you'd like to be our vocalist."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Was he serious? I was literally just thinking about my silly dream of becoming a band vocalist 'tapos darating siya bigla to give me that kind of offer? It felt surreal.

"S-seryoso?" I couldn't believe it.

"Yup," siguradong sagot niya. "I think your voice quality would be perfect for the kind of music that we're planning to make. Saktung-sakto."

"Ahh... Ehh..."

"I know it's a lot to take in. But please think about it. I'll give you time to consider my offer. But please don't take too long kasi kailangan na rin nating magsimula as soon as possible."

He said the word natin as if parte na talaga ako ng banda.

"O-okay. I'll think about it."

Kahit gustung-gusto ko na talagang mag-yes, pinigilan ko muna ang sarili ko. Kailangan kong pag-isipan 'yon ng mabuti.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. Sorry." He extended his right hand. "Eros Silverio."

"S-Silverio?"

"Yeah, the son of our school president," he provided nonchalantly. "Please don't look so surprised. I'm just a regular student here."

His humility was surprising. I couldn't believe I met the son of the owner of our school. He's an heir to a huge empire and I just impressed him with my voice. Eros Silverio just asked me to be the vocalist of his band. Totoo ba 'to?

"Can I have your name?" he asked in an amused tone.

"Ah, yes." Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya.

"Luke... Luke Alfonso."

"Nice to meet you, Luke."

♥️ ♥️ ♥️ TO BE CONTINUED ♥️ ♥️ ♥️