All Over Again

Chapter 10: Laughter In The Rain

Venice's POV

Wow... People really do love him... O___O

After a night of tiring last minute rehearsal between Jerwin and moi, an early morning production meeting, an afternoon of final rehearsals, eto na.. eto na talaga! The major concert that has been the most awaited event of the year -- daw -- has finally arrived! Kahit kakasimula pa lang ng year.

I carefully stepped dun sa hidden side nung stage to watch quietly as Jerwin finished up another high-powered number -- which made the crowd go wild.

In fairness, kahit anong kontra ko kay kuya, di ko naman ma-deny na all-out performer talaga siya..

Halos tatlong oras na syang nagkakanta at nagsasayaw dun, pero all smiles pa rin sya basang-basa man ung mukha nya ng pawis (ewwww.. ).. The crowd loves him. It's really a magical feeling pag sumasabay pa sila dun sa mga kanta nya..

"Miss Venice, it's time to go."

Oh my golay of golays... Eto na..

T-TThe concert is down to its last two numbers.. meaning, eto na yung stint ng concert na ilalabas nila ako. I know the rehearsals went well from the time we started hanggang kaninang hapon..

Surprisingly, our voices blended quite well.. Pero--ilalabas na nila ako.. T-T

I let the crewmember lead me to the entrance point, as I listen to Jerwin's voice on stage, working up the crowd again and then I heard the cue..

Jerwin: Ladies and gentlemen, here to sing one of my most favorite ballads of all time.. I'm sure, kilala nyo rin sya.. Please welcome,

Venice Zhao!

WAAAHHHHH Teka! hinde pa ko nakakahinga!!!

The gigantic stage prop divided in half right in front of me, and next thing I knew, lights were everywhere, there are thousands of people in front of me -- going wild.. Jerwin stretched out his hand to me.. as if saying it's alright, come on..

Okay Venice! Mas mapapahiya ka kung ngayon ka pa tatakbo, eh nakatingin na silang lahat syo..

AJA !!

I took a deep breath and then plastered a bright smile on my face.. then I walked towards Jerwin as if I belong right there on that stage with him.

Jerwin's POV

The back of the stage opened, and it revealed the slender girl whose identity everybody could only speculate about -- until now..

The big screen at the side of the stage started the slideshow of the pictures of me and Venice that were leaked to the press and some others that were taken the night before and kaninang umaga lang for the purpose of a "Couple's Slideshow" during this segment of the concert. Para kunwari tagal na namen magkasama, di ba?

Paglabas ni Venice, the audience went wild! Ayan na ang mga instincts nila na may masasagap silang balita dahil sa pagsulpot ni Venice..

I watch Venice as she takes in the sight in front of her. She looks pretty.. Beautiful, even.. The light blue cocktail dress is hugging her body in all the right curves.. Her hair is styled to fall loosely around her shoulders.. And her eyes! Her eyes are sparkling from either fear or excitement, who knows..

Was she this beautiful when I first met her?

I reached out my hand to her, and as if thankful for some sign of support, her face lit up with a smile and she started to walk towards me.. All of a sudden, the anxiety disappeared, and a facade of belonging washed over her whole body..

Ako: (to her) Well, you don't look too bad..

Venice: Ilang oras akong nagpaganda, tapos "you don't look too bad" lang masasabi mo?

I laughed as I slowly led her to the X mark on stage, where she's supposed to stand. And then the music started. The cheers gradually decreased at the same time that the stage lights dimmed. Natira na lang ung spotlight na nakatutok pa rin sa'min ni Venice.. I guess this is Marian's idea of romantic..

[Music: I Finally Found Someone]

Ako: (sings) I finally found someone

That knocks me off my feet

I finally found the one

That makes me feel complete

Venice: (sings) It started over coffee

We started out as friends

It's funny how from simple things

The best things begin...

The audience was captivated. I know that reaction. The first time I heard Venice sing, I was enchanted by her voice too.. She has this certain way of making any song sound like she's singing it directly to you and only for you..

Ilang beses man kami nag-practice since last night with the same song, I never got tired of hearing her sing.. Kahit ngayon..

Ako: Did I keep you waiting?

Venice: I didn't mind

Ako: I apologize

Venice: Baby, that's fine

Ako: I would wait forever just to know

Together: You were mine..

Ako: You know, I love your hair

Venice: Are you sure it looks right?

Ako: I love what you wear

Venice: Isn't it too tight?

Ako: You're exceptional

Together: I can't wait for the rest of my life..

She went through the motions perfectly.. She sang the song perfectly. She herself was perfect. By the time the last note has finally played, the audience is going wild again.. But I barely noticed coz all I could do was hold her close to me and smile at her with pride..

Ako: You did wonderful.

Venice: (grins) I thought so too..

I waited for the crowd to hush down a bit, before I finally took Venice's hand and presented her to the thousands of people gathered in the arena..

Ako: Ladies and gentlemen, I want all of you to meet my fiancée.. my future bride.. my soon-to-be wife..

I felt Venice's grasp tighten.. I loveeee how she freaks out whenever she hears those words..

Ako: Miss Venice Zhao!

And just like that, Venice was welcomed with a warm, thunderous applause and whistles and cheers. Just like tha the whole world will know she's my fiancée..

I gave my final bow to the audience and finally ran out of the stage to the closing music of the band and the last bit of applause.. The concert has finally ended..

"Good job, Jerwin!"

"Good concert!"

"Congratulations, Mr. Santos!"

I waved to each and every crew member that greeted me backstage.. until I finally reached my dressing room..

"That wasn't too bad."

Linya ko un eh -_-

I closed the door behind me and looked at Venice who's quietly sitting on one of the plush couches. She's changed to her usual shirt and jeans attire.

Ako: What? You didn't like the dress? And I thought you actually looked human...

Venice: Alam mo bang sobrang itchy nung tela nun?! I changed as soon as I got off the stage! And what do you mean I actually looked human?! Anong tingin mo sa'kin?! Dog?!?

I laughed to myself as I wiped my face with the face towel hanging on my seat..

Dog talaga?

Venice: Ay, oo nga pala.. Sabi ni Jean, sumabay na raw sya sa mga magulang mo pauwi..

Ako: Oh.. How about you? Bakit nandito ka pa?

Venice: Wellll... Ang original plan is ihahatid din ako ng mother mo pauwi kaya lang.. Paglabas ko ng changing room, iniwan na nila ako.. T-T

Ako: Awwww.. that's too bad. Mag-taxi ka na lang then..

Venice: Hala! Alam mo ba kung gano kalakas ang ulan sa labas?!?

Ako: Bakit? Matutunaw ka ba pag nabasa ka?

Venice: Anong tingin mo sa'kin?!? Witch?!?

Pikon talaga kahit kelan...

I got up from my chair and then threw the sweaty face towel aside..

Ako: I'll just take a quick shower.. I'll meet you up in the front door. At wag kang magpapakabasa, ok? Mahirap nang biglang mawala ang fiancée ko...

Venice's POV

Pumapatak ang ulan sa bubong ng Arena..Anoh bang tagalog ng "Arena"? I watched the crew members cleaning up the stage props from afar.. and then tumingin uhlet ako dun sa labas.. Ang lakas pa rin ng ulan..

"Yo! So you managed not to melt?"

-___-

Mukha ba kong Wicked Witch of the West at matutunaw ako pag naulanan?!!?

Ako: (viciously turned around) At talagang ikaw naman eh inenjoy ang shower mo?! Ang tagal mo--

Jerwin: Here.

O_O

Hm? Umbrella?

Jerwin: I was looking around for an extra umbrella so we won't get soaked. So are you ready?

Payong?

I opened the door for him, while he fumbled to open the umbrella.. This rain is crazy!! Mahangin na nga, uulanan pa ng ganito.. -___-

Himala talaga na marami pa ring tao na pumunta dito amidst the weather..

Jerwin: Ok, got it. Let's run.

Jerwin suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me under the umbrella with him and then, takboooo!!!

Ako: Gano kalayo ka ba nagpark?!? Ang layo naman!

Jerwin: We just reached the parking lot!

Ako: Dapat ikaw na lang---

O__O

Shwoosh!

OoO

>__

SPLASH!

ARAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!

Sa sobrang pagmamadali namin para sana eh di kami masyadong mabasa, hindi ko napansin ang isang malaking butas sa daanan ko.. At dahil magaling ang balance at coordination ko, yes.. nadapa ako, at full body down sa isang malaking puddle ng tubig ang kinagbagsakan ko.

Napaatras tuloy bigla si Jerwin sa pagtakbo nya nung namalayan nyang bigla nawala ung hawak-hawak nyang tao..

Jerwin: Venice! Are you ok?!?!

Ikaw kaya ang lunurin ko sa tubig dyan sa parking lot?!

I pulled myself up and looked at the basang-basa na ako..

Well, there goes my chances of getting home dry...

-___-

Ako: Buo pa naman ako.. -__- (biglang tingin kay Jerwin) At hindi ako natutunaw!

Jerwin blinked about once or twice -- I don't know kung dahil ba ang lakas at ang laki ng mga raindrops and then ang kapal ng mukha, bigla ba namang humagakhak ng tawa!

Pinagtawanan pa ko, eh ako na nga 'tong basang-basa na ng ulan?!?!

Ako: (stands up) Oh, so you think this is funny ha.. Tatawa tawa ka pa dyan..

Jerwin: Eh kasi naman nakita mo nang malakas ang ulan, and there's a lot of puddles around, talagang nag-swimming ka pa sa isa..

-__-

Is he the devil?! Nadapa na nga ako't lahat?!?

I walked over behind him, at dahel busy sya sa kakatawa nya, ewan ko lang kung napansin nya ko, o pinili nya lang na hindi ako pansinin.. And thennnn.. with all my willpower and arm muscles, tinulak ko sya nang makapag-swimming rin sya sa maputik na puddle.

Yes.. Nanunulak ako..

Splash!

And down down down Jerwin fell, right in the middle of the puddle na pinagbagsakan ko.. And dahil malakas ung hangin, ung payong na dala nya eh nag-fly fly fly away..

Ako: Not so funny now, ha?

Jerwin slowly picked himself up, and then he very slowly turned and looked at me.. Nakakakilabot nga eh.. Akala ko sya ung biglang mag-mmelt..

O_O

Jerwin: You pushed me.

o__o

>__

o__o

Ako: Yea.

Jerwin: You.. pushed me.

*gulp*

Teka, may law bang nakasulat na bawal manulak ng mga artista?!?

O___O

Ako: I'm sorry.. Ok ka lang ba? Hindi naman ganun kalakas ung tulak ko--

SPLASH!

O__O

>__

Oh no he did-int!!! Yes he did!!!!

OoO

Ang mokong!!! Nangolekta ng tubig nung puddle sa kamay nya, and he actually had the nerve to throw the water at my face!!!

Paliguan ba ko!??!?!

And then he got up and started running away, all the while laughing at perhaps my very surprised expression.. O__O

Ako: Jerwin Santos! Porket hindi ako nag-shower after the show, mabango naman ako!! Bakit mo ko pinapaliguan?!!?

I kicked a puddle of water towards him which he gladly responded with his own splash of water towards me..

And yes.. dun nagsimula ang late night pagtatampisaw namin sa malakas na ulan, sa maduming mga puddles ng water, at sa paghahabulan sa halos empty na parking lot ng arena..

We didn't stop hanggang sa nahuli na kami ng mga pauwi nang mga stage workers nung pinagtitinginan lang nila kami -- dry and safe under their umbrellas -- kami biglang na-conscious ni Jerwin and we silently trudged towards his truck..

Jerwin: Geez.. Sana pala hindi na ko nag-shower kanina.. mababasa lang din pala ako ng ulan..

Ako: Hey you started it!

Jerwin: Ako ba ang nadapa?

Ako: Shut up.

Jerwin: I wish I brought some bath towels with me.. Mukhang magbabaha pa sa loob ng truck ko nito..

Ako: Oh I'll help you clean it tomorrow.

And finally, we pulled out of the parking lot, on to the night as he drove me back to my house.. Him, singing along with the radio; Me trying to get water out of my hair -- and both of us still dripping wet from our little playtime under the rain.