Serenade Series

CHAPTER 13 - SONIA

Sonia almost jumped out of her skin when someone tapped her on her shoulders. Isang nakakunot-noo na Keene ang bumungad sa kanya nang mag-angat siya ng tingin mula sa kanyang cellphone.

"Sorry, Sonia. Kanina pa kita tinatawag, Sonia, kaya lang mukhang hindi mo ako naririnig," wika nito at saka iniabot sa kanya ang ilang piraso ng music sheets. "Here's your copy."

"Salamat, Keene. Sorry din sa abala."

"Okay ka lang ba? Kanina ka pa kasi walang kibo at..." Nakita niya ang ginawa nitong pagsulyap sa hawak niyang cellphone bago muling nagpatuloy. "May hinihintay ka bang importanteng tawag?"

"W-Wala. Wala naman." Nang hindi siya nito nilubayan ng tingin ay nakaramdam siya ng pagkailang. "Bakit ganyan ka makatingin?"

"Naniniguro lang ako na okay ka ngang talaga. Last time that we had this kind of talk, you’re suffering from sleep deprivation remember? Anyways, goodluck. Huwag kang magpapahuli kay Camilla ha? O kaya naman, mamaya mo nalang ulit i-check iyang cellphone mo. Alam mo namang naka-serious mode iyon palagi kapag recording natin."

Oo nga pala. Agad siyang napatingin sa kanilang harapan. Nakatayo sa kabilang panig ng glass panel ng recording booth si Camilla kasama ang ilang sound engineers, technicians, at iba pang staff nila. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw their manager busy talking with their sound engineer. Hindi pa siya nakikita ni Camilla so she’s still safe. After one last look at her phone, she put it back on her pocket.

Hindi totoo ang sinabi niya kay Keene. Panay ang pagtingin niya sa kanyang cellphone dahil umaasa siyang makikita niya ang pangalan ni Tora sa screen niyon. She never heard from him after that incident on the studio one week ago. At isang linggo na rin siyang hindi mapakali dahil doon. Hindi na niya magawang mag-focus sa kahit na anong ginagawa.

Tora's image as he walks away that day kept recurring to her, particularly his smile. And everytime Tora's sad smile registers on her mind, she can feel her heart being twisted inside her chest. It was just like that day on Tora’s house balcony. No, make it twice worse than that day.

Everything's going to be fine, Sonia. Wala ka nang dapat na alalahanin pa. Ang mga salitang iyon ni Tora ang tanging pinanghahawakan niya para masabi sa sarili na ayos nga lang talaga ang lahat. Kaya naman sa kabila ng mga nararamdaman ay patuloy pa rin siyang nagpapadala ng mga text messages sa lalaki tulad nang nakagawian niya mula nang magkita silang muli. She sent a lot of random messages; from morning greetings, work-related issues, even topics as petty as the day’s weather. Ngunit wala na siyang natanggap na kahit isang reply mula rito, bagay na lalong nagpapabalisa sa kanya.

You said everything's going to be fine, Tora. Pero bakit hindi ka na sumasagot sa akin? Bakit hindi ka na nagpakita ulit?

Maya-maya ay pumailanlang ang boses ni Camilla mula sa mga speakers. "Okay, girls. Magsisimula na ulit tayo," anunsiyo nito sa kanila. “You had your copies of the sheets, right?” The three of them nodded at their manager. “Good. We’ll record all of you singing. Keene, remember to watch out your breathing especially on your part where you’ll do your falsetto, okay? Sofia, mind your sharp notes. And Sonia, focus on your range.

Muli silang tumango kay Camilla bilang sagot. All three of them took their last sip on their water bottle before taking their places in front of their respective microphones. Music sheets placed on their stands, they gave each other nods and goodlucks before turning their full attention to those people at the other side. Sofia then nods, signalling everyone that they are ready.

Sonia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Mamaya na niya ulit iisipin ang sitwasyon nila ni Tora. Sa ngayon, kailangan niyang mag-focus. Maya-maya pa ay narinig na niya ang intro ng kanilang kanta. With Camilla's cue, Keene started singing.

"When I reached out and touched you, there was a single note in my heart. As we both gazed at the darkening sky, the world that continues on endlessly was calling us out."

The bass together with the soft piano and violin sounds so heavy that Sonia immediately felt her heart ached inside her chest. Weird, she thought. Sa dinami-dami ng mga kanta nilang may malulungkot na tema ay ngayon lang siya naapektuhan nang ganoon kabilis. To think that she haven’t done any of her usual routine of studying the song that they’re currently singing.

Sonia noticed when Camilla looked at her and Sofia. They both nodded. She took a deep breath and waited until it was time for her to sing her part together with her co-members.

“Why does the karma of simply living brings more pain rather than it does with joy? I always dream of a quiet music, one that can reach across far away distance. A music that reach a distance, to where it sleeps together with you.”

Suddenly, Tora's image suddenly crosses her mind. Pain squeezes her heart once more as tears started to gather at the corner of her eyes. Sonia unconsciously took a deep breath, which she later prays that Camilla or their engineer wouldn’t catch on.

 "Human become human by falling in love and by knowing pain, don't they? On the other side of the night where you are crying, the cymbals of time resounded loudly."

Once again, she tries to ignore her feelings and continue to sing. Not now, Sonia. Huwag dito. You're a pro. Kaya mo yan, she chanted inside her head.

"I surely believe that the karma we create together under this sky will play a song of love. The tears of the red—"

Napahinto siya sa pag-awit matapos makita ang kasunod na salita sa kanyang music sheet. Why? Why is it that that particular word is present in their lyrics?

"Sonia."

Bahagya pa siyang nagulat nang makitang humahangos na pumasok si Camilla sa booth nila at mabilis na lumapit sa kanya. "Camilla?" nagtatakang tanong niya. Anong nangyari? Bakit nandito na sa booth namin si Camilla? Nang tumingin siya sa mga kasama ay nakita niyang nakatingin din ang mga ito sa kanila. Noon lang din niya napansin na natigil ang recording nila.

"Tell me what's wrong, Sonia." Muli siyang tumingin kay Camilla nang marinig iyon. "Bakit ka umiiyak?"

Umiiyak? Itinaas niya ang isang kamay at hinawakan ang pisngi. It was indeed wet with her tears.

Marahas na bumuntong hininga si Camilla at saka nagkamot ng noo. "Hay naku! Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh! Ito talaga ang ikinakabahala kong mangyari kaya ayokong tanggapin ko ang tulang iyon."

"Tula? Anong ibig mong sabihin?" naguguluhang tanong ni Sofia matapos siyang abutan nito ng ilang piraso ng tissue.

Muling bumuntong hininga ang kanilang manager. "This,” Camilla said as she tap a hand on their music sheet. “Your new song. Tanging ang musika at ang arrangement nito ang ginawa ko. Ang lyrics ay mula sa isang tula na akda ng isa pang tao."

Kinuha ni Camilla ang music sheet ni Sonia at saka iniabot iyon sa kanya. Nagtataka siyang tumingin sa babae ngunit imbes na magsalita ay tumango lamang ito at itinuro ang hawak niyang papel. She couldn’t understand what her manager was trying to tell her until she noticed that small line at the end.

Unti-unting lumabo ang tingin niya sa mga nakasulat doon nang sunod-sunod na bumagsak ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. At kahit tinutop niya ang bibig ay hindi pa rin niya nagawang pigilan ang pagkawala ng impit na iyak matapos mabasa ang pangalan ng taong may akda ng tulang tinutukoy ni Camilla. Ang tulang naging lyrics ng bago nilang kanta.

Song Title: Red Moon. Music and Arrangement by Camilla Mendoza. Lyrics by Torean Amano.