CLOUD AND SKY

Chapter1

CLOUD’S POV

“Kailan nga ba ang debut ng MIX?” I asked, habang abalang inaayos ang mga final touches ng mga dapat naming tapusin. Si Kiara, as usual, busy rin helping me with the banner and all the fan stuff.

“Argh! The voting ends today! Kailangan manalo si Sky sa All-Rounder category. I’ll call the voting team. And si Mom pala... Kailangan ko siyang tawagan if she already sent the donation for Sky’s Voting Squad.”

“Hoy, Cloud Marie... kalma! Praning ka na naman. Hindi pa nga nagde-debut yung group, sobra ka namang pa-effort!” sabay irap ni Kiara.

“Hep!” I raised my hand in front of her face. “We are the Nameless Fandom. Kahit underdog tayo, we shock bigger fandoms. We're competitive sa lahat ng voting. Now that they're about to debut, kailangan mas lalong maging maingay! I will put my Sky and MIX on top!”

“Teka, hindi ka naman niya kilala, pero todo effort ka?” she asked, half-joking but half-serious.

Natigilan ako saglit.

“I know... Pero one day, makikilala rin niya ako. Kapag bumalik na ang memory niya. For now, I’ll support him hanggang sa maabot niya ang tuktok.” I smiled, kahit may kirot sa dibdib. I’ve heard the same thing countless times, pero hindi pa rin nagbabago ang paninindigan ko.

I'll be his shadow until the spotlight remembers me.

We continued our fanwork habang nagre-review din for the licensure exam. We're at our dorm, multitasking between being fans and future professionals.

I’m the head admin ng lahat ng official fan pages sa social media. May mga volunteers din akong kasama, pero yung iba, pinapasahod ko talaga. Luckily, F&F agency recognized our group, so we’re the official one.

Nag-ring ang phone ko—si Mom!

“Cloud baby? How are you?”

“Okay lang, Mom. Busy sa exam. By the way, na-transfer mo na ba yung donation? Deadline na today...”

“Oo na, I already sent it. Pero anak... ayaw mo pa ring magpakilala kay Sky? It’ll be easier for both of you.”

I sighed. Pang-ilang beses na ba 'to?

“Mom, he’ll remember me. On his own. Sabi ng doctor, bawal pilitin, di ba? Kaya maghihintay ako.”

“But, Cloud—”

“Bye Mom, may review pa kami ni Kiara. See you soon.” I ended the call.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kiara, pero wala na siyang sinabi. Alam na niya.

Since that day na nakita ko siyang muli after the accident… the moment he looked at me and asked, “Who are you?” — I never showed myself again.

Ang sakit. Hindi ko kayang maulit 'yon.

Contento na akong suportahan siya mula sa malayo… hanggang maalala niya kung sino ako. Kung paano niya ako minahal noon.

I attended meetings with the fan admins—voting squad, streaming teams, all the fan project committees. May mga events lined up for debut day.

Despite my full schedule, I passed my license exam and finally became a doctor. Kaya ko nang suportahan ang fangirl life ko financially. I even earn from my social media platforms. Hindi biro ang pagiging fangirl, lalo na if you want to give your all—albums, voting, streaming, events.

“Head, we got an email from F&F. MIX will debut next week. Our fan project got approved!” Michael said, my right hand sa lahat ng fandom work.

“Ahhhhh!!! Excited na ako!” Joy squealed. “May fan meeting pa dito sa Pinas!”

“Kamusta naman ang voting team? Buhay pa ba kayo?” dagdag pa niya.

“Yaaa! Kahit awa na lang, may update ba?” reklamo ni James, head ng voting.

“Huwag kang mag-alala, may Starbucks ka sa’kin! Since Sky won the All-Rounder category.” I grinned proudly.

Nagkagulo ang chat. Lahat mas lalong na-excite.

Si Kiara naman, tahimik sa tabi ko, busy nakikipagbardagulan online. She's our troll-fighter queen—tracing and blocking haters.

Finally, D-Day came.

I wore a simple shirt printed with Sky’s face. Sa likod, pangalan ng ibang members. Nostalgic. Parang kailan lang, siya lang utusan ko, taga gising, bodyguard, best friend... prinsipe ko.

Now, he’s a star.

“Cloud! Ang laki ng stage. Nasa unahan pa tayo!” Kiara said, fangirling hard. Bias niya si Jeff, main dancer.

“Wag kang sumigaw ng todo! Baka mahubaran ka pa ni Jeff mamaya!” biro ko.

“Kapag ginawa niya yun, ipapa-MOA Arena ko siya!” sagot niya, halatang hyper.

Naalala ko pa noong PO1 si Sky—‘yung survival show days. He crushed every stage. Only Filipino contestant. Always Top 1.

Ngayon, eto na sila.

“Let’s welcome the new global group… MIX!”

Boom. Hysteria. Lahat nagtilian.

And there he was.

Sky, in his white prince outfit. Forehead exposed. Jawline sharp. That mole near his eye—my favorite.

I froze.

I cried.

I didn’t expect his eyes to meet mine... but they did.

And then again. And again.

“Kiaraaaa! Pangatlo na ‘yon!” I screamed.

My heart was racing. Dance break started. Sky and Jeff—dual kill! Main dancers.

Sky also the main vocal.

Proud fangirl ako. Lahat ng hirap worth it.

Lahat ng suporta, sulit.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang emosyon ko.

Knowing he’s my Sky. My lost best friend. My greatest what-if.

“Ulap20?”

Napalingon ako sa likod. Isa sa staff ng F&F.

“Are you Filipino?” tanong niya ulit.

“Yes... I’m Ulap20,” I said, referring to my code-name.

“You are requested backstage. Special fan meet. Head admin—privilege.”

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kiara. Hindi ako prepared!

“But... can she come with me? She’s also a co-head,” I said.

The staff smiled and nodded.

My heart pounded. For the first time in years… I might finally be face-to-face with Sky again.

“Wait lang Cloud... Maganda ba ako? Di ko yata kayang humarap kay Jeff. Baka halikan ko agad!” Kiara panicked.

“Sameee! Baka ako rin!” I laughed nervously.

“Anong arte ang gagawin natin?” tanong niya.

Nagkatinginan kami.

“Bahala na… Hindi naman niya ako naaalala, right?”

And with that, sumunod na lang kami sa staff—bitbit ang kaba at excitement ng once-in-a-lifetime chance to finally meet MIX. Our hearts were pounding, halos mabasag na sa kaba, but this was it… the moment we've been waiting for.

For a decade, I will finally meet him ng malapitan.

To be continued...