That Time In July

Kabanata 7

Chapter 7

"Sorry about that Gwen. We are trying to hire more employees. Kaso kapag nagsabay talaga, hindi maiwasang magkaproblena sa tauhan."

"No it's okay Mom, really. Na eenjoy ko rin naman." I assure her. "You know, I can actually lend my hands over there when its really that busy. Hindi lang talaga sa mga alak."

"Well, we can actually ask for her help bukas. Lalo na't marami rin naman kasing pupunta sa bar. We can pair her to Nathalie, so that she could focus on the drinks and Gwen can take orders."

"If it's okay with her. I mean, that's not really your job description Gwen, you will be working on the hotel not on the resto bar. But if that's what you like to do, well, there's no problem with that." She looked at me curiously.

"There's no problem with it Mom, really. I also kinda enjoy it there, you know, music and all."

Nag-usap kami about sa working schedule ko sa hotel and stuff I need to know. We're still waiting for Gray para makakain na. He's getting a copy of the songs I'll be singing tomorrow. Guess I'll have to practice it tonight with the pianist.

I could sing, yes. But not like Sarah Jean, she's a pro at that area. But because of that guilt Gray wanted me to feel, napasubo ako. Besides it's a wedding, not an amateur contest, it'll be fine, I guess.

Umuwi ng maaga si Lolo Carl, ang sabi ni Mommy magpapahinga ng maaga. Sa bahay na rin daw ito mag didiner, natawagan na naman si Manang Lory kaya ayos na ang dinner ni Lolo. Kaming apat na lang ang kakain dito.

Dumating si Gray dala ang mga kopya ng lyrics. Bingay niya ito sakin.

"Here. I've already inform Andrey of Sarah's absence and you as a savior." Tinanggap ko ito at tiningnan isa isa.

"You'll be singing Gweneth?" Tumingin ako kay Mommy.

"Yes My, napakiusapan, well, parang na blackmail?" Sumulyap ako sa katabi kong tahimik na tumitingin sa pagkain at parang walang narinig.

"Why? Wala ba ang singer bukas Gray?" Asked Tito Arman.

"Magkaproblema po kasi sakanila. Mabuti't kilala niya pala si Gwen, napakiusapan namin." May diin sa napakiusapan.

"I thought you're focusing in dancing?"

"I am My, actually. Hindi ko nga po alam kung kaya ko pang kumanta, but there's no other person that could sing. Besides, hindi naman po contest." I put down the papers and started digging in.

Nasa labas ang dinner kasama ng iba pang mga turista na mas gustong mag dinner sa tahimik na lugar. The East Coast Lane is big. Pagkapasok sa entrance ay nasa kanang bahagi ang parking area, sa kaliwang bahagi naman ay isang two story building para sa tanggapan ng hotel. Nakaharap ang reception area sa mismong parking lot ng resort. Sa magkabilang dulo ng reception area ay labasan patungong pool area at sa isa pang building kasunod nito. May mga sun lounger sa dulong bahagi ng pool, habang sa gilid ay mga chair lounger. Ang open space na papuntang dagat ay may mga palm trees na nakahilira ng pa diagonal sa pool. Dalawang column ito, sa gitnang bahagi ay bakante, kung saan dito nag seset-up para sa dinner kapag gabi na. Payapa ang tubig dagat kapag gabi kaya hindi masyadong mahangin kumpara sa umaga at hapun.

We talked about the details of the wedding tomorrow. Anong oras mag-uumpisa, wedding theme, reception and other stuff. Mabuti't may color cream akong jumpsuit with long sleeve.

After the dinner, pumunta muna ako sa resto to check if they still need help. Nathalie said they can handle it kaya pumunta na ako sa music room sa unang building para makapag practice ng kanta. It's still early in the evening kaya may time pa naman.

I was practicing alone for a couple of minutes kaya ng dumating ang pianist, hindi na ako masyadong nangangapa. It's good to know I can still sing. Tho hindi matataas ang keys, the pianist said the important thing is the emotions I put on the songs.

Hindi naman nag tagal ang practice kaya ng magyayang umuwi sina Mom at Tito ay nakasabay ako. May time pa naman bukas para sa karagdagang practice kasi sa hapun pa naman ang kasal.

Nauna kaming umuwi kay Gray dahil naabotan siya ng mga bagong dating kaibigan. Nagyayaya sa resto bar. Nakabalik na rin ata ang sasakyan kaya dinala namin ang Navara.

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. Sumabay ako sa breakfast sa baba kasama sina Mommy at Tito. Lolo and Gray are still asleep. Sumabay na rin ako patungong East Coast Lane para makapag practice pa. I brought the clothes Im going to wear at the wedding. Nag suot lang ako ng isang oversize white shirt and a black high waisted short para mas madaling makapag palit mamaya.

We practiced for 2 hours inside the music room, by 10, dinala na ang piano sa garden area kung saan gaganapin ang wedding. Sa likorang bahagi ito ng ikalawang gusali. I haven't been there yesterday kasi maraming nag preprepare pa for the wedding. Dumiretso lang kami sa resto bar ni Gray sa sumunod na gusali.

The piano was placed on the the right side of the venue katabi ng resto bar. We spent the next 2 hours there practicing at that spot. After the practice, I secretly tried pressing some keys. Nang lumipat ako sa apartment, nawalan na ako ng time para maka tugtog ng piano. I'm not really good at it, but there's a song I've been practicing this past few days. I actually wanted to play it during Mom's wedding. But since I dont have a gift for the couple, Im planning to perform it, for them.

May dressing room na nakalaan para sa mga bridesmaid at sa bride mismo. I've met Celeste, the bride, earlier during lunch. Sabi niya sa dressing room na daw ako magpapaayos, but I declined. I can do my own make up, and besides, hindi naman ako rarampa kaya hindi na kaylangan ng magarang make up.

So here I am, at Mom's office, fixing myself. Hindi naman masyadong wavy ang aking buhok kaya plinansta ko na lang ito. I put some light make up on my face and a red lipstick.

"How do I look?" I turn to ask Mom of her opinion.

Hinagod niya ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Hmm, you look good." Patango tango siya habang magsasalita.

"Thanks My! I'll get going, I still have to fix some notes." Lumapit ako upang makahalik sa pisngi.

"Alright. Good luck with the performance."

Its 2pm already and I still have to calm my nerves, kaya pumunta na ako sa venue to be at ease. Kapag kasi nakikita ko ang mga tao ng mas maaga, nagiging mas kumportable ako.

Ng makarating ako may mga tao nang nakaupo ngunit hindi pa masyadong marami. The pianist is not around kaya I took the opportunity to play the song.

I was getting more comfortable as time goes by. Unti unti na rin nadadagdagan ang mga nakaupo. Exactly 2;30 ng dumating ang tutugtog. Binigyan ako ng micropono ng isang staff. I saw Gray enters the venue with a group of boys. Lahat sila ay naka buttom up shirt. Long and short sleeves.

He smiles when he saw me and mouthed "Good luck". I smile and nod as a reply. I looked at his friends, which if I'm not mistaken are his colleagues. I saw James and Blaze in the group. Nakita ako ni James ng tumingin sa banda namin si Gray. He waved his hands kaya napatingin rin ang ibang kasamahan nila sakin, even the person Gray is talking with.

I tore my eyes away from the group and focus on the melody that was coming out from the violin. I didn't know may tutugtog pala ng violin. May upuan na nakalaan para sakin. I seat there untill the start of the ceremony.

Exactly 3 in the afternoon when it started. Sa unang bahagi ay hindi ako kakanta, all are instrumental, exept for the Bridal March. Make you feel my love ang napiling kanta. The moment I started singing and the Bride enters, I could feel the genuine love this people have for the couple.

My lips curl up when I spotted someone crying from the bench. The feels of the piano and the violin perfectly blend to the beautiful scenario we are taking right now.

Saktong pagkatapos ng kanta ay ang pag harap ng Groom at ng Bride kay Father. I look at the people around and found Gray looking at us. He's smiling like he's a proud brother. Napangiti ako duon. Napalingin rin ulit sakin ang katabi nito. Before I could meet his eyes, I move my head away from them. Nilagay ko ang micropono sa stand at nag focus sa dalawang e kakasal sa harap.

I never tried looking at their direction anymore, hanggang sa matapos ang ceremony. The reception will be on the dinning area ng East Coast. They've arrange three long tables there, aligning the palm trees. Dumagdag sa ganda ng mga palamuting nasa mesa ang mga ilaw na nakapalibot sa mga puno.

May maliit na pudyo sa kabilang dulo ng mga mesa kung saan uupo ang newlyweds. Sa katabi nito ay isa pang pianong mas maliit sa ginamit kanina sa ceremony.

Nag-umpisa ang program bandang 6. The Podium Master does an excellent job, I must say. Lahat napapasabay niya sa kanyang gimik. Mula sa mga bata hanggang sa mga matatanda, lahat nadadali sa mga pakulo.

For the first dance, we performed A Thousand Years. Mas naging komportable na akong kumanta ngayon, kaya ng na e serve na ang dinner, mas madali na saking mag palit ng kanta.

"Vince." Pabulong na sabi ni Sir Anton sa violinist. "Pwedi bang ikaw muna? Cr lang muna."

I took the opportunity para sa binabalak. Napansin ko kasing may gift ang dalawa.

"Ako na po, Sir. I can play." Sabay turo ko sa piano.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Sir Anton. "Are you sure?"

Tumango ako. "Regalo ko na lang po sa newlyweds."

"Alright."

Umalis si Sir Anton para sa CR, habang si Vince ay ginamit na opurtunidad para sa water break.

Nag umpisa na akong tumugtog. I'll be singing Run Away by The Corrs. I don't know if its a good gift, pero ito lang ang naiisip ko. Napansin ata ni Celeste dahil napatingin siya sakin. Jean said, the two picked the songs, kaya natural lang na alam ni Celeste na wala to sa listahan.

Sa una ay walang pakialam ang mga bisita, but when a man arrives, that's when most people started to lose their attention on the food. Nakasuot pa ito ng uniform ng Army habang papunta sa harap. He stop when he's in front of Celeste.

Tho curious, I still continued what I was doing.

Nilahad niya ang kanang kamay sa harapan ni Celeste, tinanggap niya ito at tumayo. That's when I've connected the dots. He's the Captain, the one Blaze is pertaining to, noong sinundo niya kami kahapun.

I looked at their way. Gray is watching them silently, gayun din sina Blaze. But there's someone whose attention was not on them, but on someone else. I dare not look at him. Nag focus ako sa ginagawa.

Natapos ang pagsayaw ng dalawa gayun din ang kanta. Nakita kong nag-uusap ang dalawa sa harap. I was finding the piece of Make You Feel My Love para sana tugtugin when Sir Anton said something from behind me.

"That was beautiful Gwen." Nagulat ako don.

"Uh, thanks sir."

Tumayo na ako para makapagpatuloy siya sa pag tugtog.

"Take your break."

I took that opportunity to drink some water. Hindi pa rin naman ako nagugutom. Nakita kong paalis na ang Ama ni Celeste, tumingin muna siya kila Gray bago niyakap ang anak at tuluyang umalis. Nilapitan siya ni Andrey at niyakap. Her cream dress is hugging her body perfectly. They've stayed there for a couple of minutes bago naupo.

The party resumes after matapos ng kanta.

"I also would like to thank Gwen," Celeste looked at me "for helping us, big time. And thanks for that wonderful gift, my dad really liked that song. It helps build the atmosphere for us earlier. Thanks Gwen. We owe you with this."

Pumalakpak pa sina Vince at Sir Anton sa banda ko. I smile and look at Celeste. I mouthed "No problem."

Nagpatuloy siya sa kanyang speech na hindi ko na masundan pa dahil sa mga sinasabi nina Vince at Sir Anton na pilit kong tinatanggi.

"You did great Gwen. Really." Pangungumbinsi pa ni Vince.

I was smiling the whole time they're trying to praise me.

Hindi ko sinasadyang mapatingin sa harapan. Saktong napadpad ang aking mga mata sa taong kanina ko pa iniiwasang tingnan. Amusement was seen in his face while looking at me. Nakataas ang isang kilay habang nilalaro ang pang ibabang labi gamit ang mga daliri.

There's something with his eyes that makes me uneasy. I dont know what it is, and I don't have plans on knowing it. Not today. Not now.

(Song recommendation: Run Away by The Corrs)