The Diva and Her Rockstars

Four

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang boses na ‘yon at nakita kung sino ang pumasok sa conference room. Kasunod niya ang aking mga kaibigan na si Iggy at Riley na kumaway at ngumiti sa akin. Napakurap ako at hindi makapaniwala na nandito siya ngayon. Lumapit sa akin ang aking mga kaibigan and I just wanted out of here. I want to give up and stop this madness. It’s one thing na pinilit nila akong mag-sign ng kontrata having a fake relationship with the man na parang bata kung umasta. And now, they wanted to have us a fake marriage proposal and engagement. That’s taking too far!

Nakita ko rin ang pagkagulat ng dalawang execs, si Cole at aking manager nang bigla na lang tumayo. Hindi na bored ang mukha nito at bilog na bilog ang kanyang mga mata habang nakatingin siya sa aking kapatid. My brother look at me with sad eyes and I lowered my head because of shame.

“Raise your head, little princess.” He said in Russian, and I looked at him again.

“Sergeyka, chto ty zdes’delayesh?(Sergeyka, what are you doing here?)” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Ya dolzhen byl byt’ryadom s toboy. (I should have been here for you.)” sagot niya.

“Mr. Sergei Vosstia, this is a surprise!” sabi ni Ben na parang hindi rin makapaniwala na nandito ito. “Did we missed an appointment with you?”

“No, I am here because my baby sister needs me. She will not be accepting anything from you guys anymore. Starting today onwards, she will not be part of Iron Horse Music.”

“Sandali, kapatid mo si Allura?” tanong ni Ben.

“Did I stutter? I won’t let you bully my sister anymore. This ridiculous fake relationship with this asshole is going to end. Hindi na siya babalik rito.”

“Hindi naman pwede na basta mo na lang siyang kunin. She signed a contract with us. If you want her, then you should buy her back from us.”

“I will do anything for my sister. I know how you guys were unfair to her. You made her deal with all the stress at alam ko na wala kayong balak na i-produce ang kanyang album. Now, the contract says a year from you with producing her album and future shows in the long run pero wala kayong natupad na kahit ni isa. Isn’t that a breach of contract?” natahimik ang mga ito.

“The truth is, you were just using my sister para malinis ang pangalan ng nag-iisa niyong country singer superstar. Now, either release her or I will sue you all. Madali ko lang mapapabagsak ang record label ninyo.” Banta ng aking kapatid. Kinagat ko naman ang aking lower lip para pigilan ang ngiti ko. I look at Ben smugly dahil hindi niya inaasahan ito. They don’t know that I am a Vosstia, a family that owns the largest record label and artist management company. “Our lawyer will be here later to fix everything. Let’s go, Raynia.” Tumango lang naman ako. Humarap ako sa aking manager looking bewildered.

“Your fired.” Sabi ko lang at sumunod na sa aking kapatid. Napatawa naman ang aking mga kaibigan at tuluyan na kaming lumabas ng conference room.

Naghihintay sa labas sina Cosmo at Miley. Isang magarang SUV ang naka-park sa harapan. Kinuha ni Iggy ang susi ng aking sasakyan at ito na lang daw ang gagamitin nila. Pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ng aking kapatid at sumakay na ako. Malakas akong bumuntong hininga nang umandar na kami.

“Saan tayo pupunta?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“We are going home and talk about all of this!” matigas niyang sabi. “Our parents are waiting for us.”

“Kuya…” tawag ko sa kanya. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Ano? Ang pabayaan ka, Alluraynia?! Your friends told me everything and I can’t believe na tinanggap mo lahat ng ginawa nila sa’yo. It was bad already that you have to involved yourself to that manwhore. Your career is going to suffer. Your songs, they are not even like you. Akala ko ba gusto mo na maging kakaiba? What happened? What is really happening, little princess?”

“I am fulfilling my dream, Kuya.” Mahina kong sabi.

“Is it? Your dream is slipping away from you. Ayaw ko na makita na mapunta saw ala lahat ng pinaghirapan mo. We are here, we will help you if you need to. We’re your family. Alam kong ayaw mo na dumepende sa amin, pero pwede kaming tumulong.”

“You know I wanted to keep a secret about my family. Our family name is big in this world at ayoko na sabihin ng iba that I am here because of our family. That I really have no talent but because of you nagkaroon ako ng career.”

“Pinatunyan mo na ang sarili mo nang manalo ka!” I flinch at malakas siyang napabuntong hininga. “Everyone saw how you tried your best, that’s why you deserve to win.” Napaluha na ako at pinahiran ko ang aking pisngi.

“I thought I could handle it. I just won, Kuya. I had a million and a contract was waiting for me. Ginawa ko ang best ko. You didn’t know how happy I felt nang manalo ako. I thought I can build up my career now. You can say that I was selfish because I want to be bigger fast. Accepting to be Cole Beaumont’s girlfriend was an easy way.” Suminghot ako at pinahiran ko ulit ang aking pisngi. Inabutan niya ako ng tissue at kinuha ko naman ito.

“Then, this happened. Hindi ko naman akalain nag anito siya kalala! They threatened to end my career. Na hindi nila ilalabas ang album ko. Lahat ng mga songs ko, sila ang may gawa. They reject everything that I have made. Narinig niyo na ba ako? That was not me.” Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib na nanakit bigla.

“I know… Those songs are shit.” Napatawa ako tapos ay tumingin ako sa kanya.

“Kuya, I want to make it my own. Pero sa mga nangyayari ngayon, it’s like I’m sinking further in the mud. I want to make beautiful music, as my own. I want to do it freely.” Kinuha niya ang aking kamay at pinisil niya ito. “Mne nuzhna pomoshch', brat. (I need help, brother.)”

“That’s why I’m here. We will help you, Lulu, and I can guarantee that you will be one of the best singers in no time.” Ngumiti ako at sumandig ako sa kanyang balikat. Wala na kaming sinabi pa hanggang sa makarating na kami sa aming bahay. Nauna siyang bumaba at pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. Bumuhos ang aking luha nang makita ko ang aking parents na nasa harap ng pinto. Patakbo ko silang nilapitan at niyakap ng mahigpit.