The Diva and Her Rockstars

Five

“I’m sorry, Sergei. I don’t think we can handle her.” Priscilla told me as I showed the performances of my sister on stage. “She’s a good singer, but I don’t see anything special. I mean, she was great before. But after winning that contest, she lost her shine.” I glared at her and she shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t even know that you have a sister.”

“She doesn’t want anyone knowing.” Sagot ko at bumalik ang aking mga mata sa screen. My sister was singing, yes, pero gaya nga ng sabi ng agent/manager ng management, it wasn’t an extraordinary performance. It has no heart, and my sister knew that. Everything was controlled at the start of her career. She doesn’t want to sing those songs. Does she even have a chance?”

“Mahihirapan tayo. Lalo na sa issue niya with his ex-boyfriend. Why did she even accept that contract with that fake relationship condition?”

“She had no choice but also admitted na gusto niyang umangat kaagad sa kanyang career. She’s regretting it now. Priscilla, she’s been bullied there. Even his manager was not taking care of her. She had no guidance, and the songs na pinilit sa kanya, is not her.” Paliwanag ko sa kanya.

I was desperate na tulungan ang aking kapatid. I want to make her happy. Mula nang bumalik siya sa bahay, her sweet smile slowly disappeared. She was stressed, and making music was getting difficult for her. Kahit naroon ang kanyang mga kaibigan at aking mga magulang para sa kanya, she’s broken. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko.

“What is she doing now?” tanong niya.

“She’s been struggling and making music at our house. For the past few months, she made songs but the management didn’t like it. Napilitan lang siya, kaya wala kang makita na special or something. But you see what she can do while she’s performing.”

“I know, Sergei.” Bumuntong hininga siya. “You said she made her own songs?” tumango ako.

“Can she perform it on auditions?” tanong niya ulit at natigilan ako.

“There’s no way na isasali mo siya sa random singers na ‘yon na gustong mag-audition.” Inis kong sabi sa kanya.

“It’s the only way para mapatunayan niya ang kanyang sarili. You said she doesn’t want to take advantage of her family status behind her. Either she does the audition or humanap siya ng ibang management. Lalo na at gusto mo na ako ang mag-manage sa kanya. She needs to prove herself to me too.”

“I will talk to her. But please, Priscilla, give her a chance. If this goes on, takot ako sa psosibleng mangyari. I don’t want to lose her.”

“I understand.” Sabi niya.

Nag-usap pa kami ng ilang minuto tapos ay nagpaalam na siya. Sunod na pumasok sa aking office ang manager ng Chaos Saints. The rock band that is successfully on top right now. We were lucky to have them, but sometimes they bring trouble, which their manager confided in me. Their tour is going to start soon at naghahanap pa kami ng ilang artist para mag-perform as opening act, and that will be our discussion today. I’m worried about my sister, but I need to do my job too. She just needs to go through the auditions, and I will make sure her career is secured.

Allura’s POV

I rubbed my hands together habang nasa backstage ako at hinihintay ko ang aking turn para sa audition. Kanina pa ako kinakabahan, and my palms were sweating! I know I should relax. Ilang beses ko na rin naming ginagawa ito. But I feel like this is my last chance para ihaon ang aking career. Bumalik na ako sa aming bahay, and the last two days, wala akong ginawa kundi magmukmok hanggang sa niyaya ako ng aking mga kaibigan na pumunta sa studio. Doon ay tinuloy naming ang paggawa ng bago kong songs, and with that, I felt like I revived again.

My parents and even my brother wanted to help me at hindi na ako nagmatigas pa dahil kailangan ko naman talaga. So, they made some calls and talks. Inayos din nila ang problema ko sa aking dating management na nagha-handle sa akin. Pinatahimik nila ang mga tao roon na nakakilala kung sino talaga ako. My contract with them has ended at wala akong binayaran kahit ni isang kusing. Maging ang prize money ko ay binigay na nila ng buo, which I am thankful for dahil pinaghirapan ko rin naman ‘yon. The Iron Horse Music announced the end of our relationship ni Cole Beaumont, which made me breathe lighter.

Now, before ako i-sign sa management at record label nap ag-aari ng aking pamilya, I need to pass the audition. Kaya naman nadito akongayon para patunayan sa lahat na may talent ako. That I am special, so I won’t waste any time or money from them. I owe all of this chance to my family, so I am going to do my best. I will charm them all at pagkakaguluhan nila ako na i-sign. Inayos ko ang suot kong corset dress na pinagtulungan na gawin ng aking mga kaibigan. Sobrang thankful talaga ako sa kanila dahil nandito pa rin sila para suportahan ako.

“Lulu, stop moving.” Awat sa akin ni Riley. “You will do great, kaya huwag ka ng masyadong kabahan dyan.”

“Narinig mo ba ang ibang talents na nandito ngayon? They were all great.” Sagot ko sa kanya.

“Well, save the best for last ka. Gulatin mo silang lahat, okay. Isipin mo na lang na ito ang chance mo para sa pagtuloy ng career mo. Isa pa, ayaw mo rin naman na ma-disappoint ang pamilya mo, hindi ba?” sabi ni Cosmo. Napabuntong hininga ako at tumango.

“Babe, huwag kang magsalita ng ganyan. Lulu has been doing her best. Sinamantala lang siya ng mga taong ‘yon. Isa pa, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakita kailangan niya pang mag-audition. She deserves to be here.” Sabi ni Iggy.

“Kaya nga papatuyanan ko ang sarili ko.” Sabat ko. “Ayoko na napilitan lang silang i-sign ako dahil family ko ang may-ari ng management. I don’t want it to be like that.”

“Girl, huwag ka ng mag-isip ng negative.” Sabi naman ni Miley. “Makakaya mo yan. Ikaw pa, eh ang dam imo ng pinagdaanan. Show them who you really are. You’re a great singer at may tiwala kami sa’yo. You can do this.” Ngumiti ako.

“Thank you guys at nandito pa rin kayo para sa akin. I know I can do this. Ayoko naman na mapahiya ang kapatid at magulang ko. Tsaka pag nakapag-sign ako rito, may possibility na makikita natin ang Chaos Saints!” biglang excited kong sabi. Napatili kaming tatlo na babae at napailing lang naman ang dalawa.

“Oo nga noh! Ilang years na rin nang makita natin sila in person. Walang hiay ka! Inumaga ka pa talaga na umuwi noon. Nahirapan pa kaming magpalusot sa kapatid mo. Ni hindi mo sinasabi sa amin kung anong nangyari.”

“It’s worth it anyway. Hindi ko na sinabi dahil one time lang naman ‘yon. Mas mabuting mag-move on na lang kaysa naman mag-assume pa ako. Masaya na ako sa na-achieve nila. Ako naman magfo-focus sa sarili ko. I need to catch up.” Natigilan ako nang marinig nang tinawag ang pangalan ko. Nagpaalam ako sa aking mga kaibigan. Huminga ako ng malalim at tumuntong na ako sa stage.

I was telling myself to be confident habang kaharap ko ang ilang malalaking tauhan ng Empire. Nakita ko rin ang aking kapatid na nakakunot ang noo na nakatingin sa akin. Nagtataka siguro siya sa outfit ko ngayon. Well, mula ngayon iibahin ko na ang image ko. I was not that pop singer, I am the confident and sexy Allura na nakilala sa stage a few months ago. The girl who won and will conquer the stage. Nagpakilala ako sa kanila at may tinanong sila sa akin. I confidently answer them, of course. Maya-maya pa, narinig ko na ang tumugtog na music sa stage.

Hawak ang microphone, I started singing the first verse. With that, something flowed all over my body at kusang gumalaw ang aking katawan. My voice was steady and sensual. Nakaya ko ang mga high notes sa chorus, and I had fun really singing on the stage. I work a strut. I move my body as the corset dress hugs my body. Nang matapos akong kumanta, para akong nagising, and then I heard clapping from the audience. Nagpasalamat ako sa mga ito at bumalik na ako sa backstage kung saan sinalubong ako ng mga kaibigan ko na tuwang-tuwa at may paghanga sa kanilang mukha.

******

Hindi makapaniwala si Priscilla sa kanyang narinig na boses at sa sensual at diva na performance na binigay sa kanila ni Allura Voss. She worked the stage like the star she was. Habang nasa harapan namin siya na nagpe-perform, she was shining na halos masilaw na na siya sa magandang dalaga. And her voice, it has soul and a lot of emotions that drag her to pleasurable heights. Mukhang nagsasabi nga ng totoo si Sergei na katabi niya ngayon. Nang tumingin siya rito, he could see how proud he was. He maybe even shed a tear.

“I guess you are right, Sergei.” Sabi ko sa kanya. “I am sorry that I doubted you.” He looks so smug when he look at her, like telling me that ‘I told you so.’ “She could have gone further kung hindi mo siya pinabayaan!”

“I know…” malungkot nitong sabi. “So, are you going to sign her and manage her, Priscilla. Is that proof enough for you?”

“Yeah… Obvious naman na nabighani niya lahat ng mga tao rito. Call her, and we will sign her immediately. Ayoko na siyang palagpasin pa. She’s special, and I am glad you showed that to me.”

“Maraming salamat din sa’yo. Pupuntahan ko lang siya.” Pagkasabi nito, bumaba na ito at pumunta sa backstage. Napangiti lang naman siya, kinuha ang kanyang phone, at may tinawagan.