Nakakatuwa talagang tingnan ang mukha ni Andie na nagbabago ang expression. Mula sa panlalaki ng mata at pagbuka ng bibig, nanliit ito tapos madiing pinaglapat ang mga labi. Wala yatang nakaalam dito na magaling siya sa larangan ng musika.

"Common, Andie! I shaved for you as promised! Play some music for us." Pangungulit ko rito dahil di ito tuminag sa upuan nya.

"Uuuyy," may umibabaw na tuksuhan, "Sir, iba na yan ha! Kanina pa kayo sa canteen!"

Namula si Andie. Nakita kong tinagtag ito ni Vina sa braso na tila pinatatayo. Ngumuso lang si Andie.

"I'll bet my car to anyone who could bring that lady here in front and do what I requested," nakangisi kong sabi.

Nagtawanan ang lahat nang marami ang tumayo papunta kay Andie pero nauna na si Vina at yung bellboy na katabi nito. Hinawakan si Andie sa braso.

"Andie, tayo! Kailangan ko ng pera at tatlo ang anak ko," sabi nung bellboy. Naghagalpakan ng tawa ang mga empleyado.

"Tara na, hahatian ka namin!"Birong sabi ni Vina, "Kailangan mo rin yun para kay...."

Hindi ko na narinig ang ibang sinabi nito dahil lalong nagtawanan ang mga nandoon. Kailangan ng pera para kanino? May sakit ba yung kapatid nya?

"Wala, naunahan na tayo ng mga bestfriends!"reklamo ng isang lalaki.

Tumayo na nga si Andie pero pinaningkitan ako ng mata habang papalapit sa stage.

"How did you know?" Gigil bulong nito sa akin nung igiya ko sya sa piano.

Di ko sya sinagot, "Huwag mo ko ipapahiya, ha," sa halip ay bulong ko sa kanya.

"And what would I get from this?" Nakasimangot nyang bulong.

"You get to keep your job, I guess?"

Inirapan ako nito."That's not fair!" She hissed.

"Patay tayo dyan. Nagbubulungan na!"sigaw galing sa likod. Nagkaroon na naman ng tuksuhan.

Lalong namula si Andie. Napangiti naman ako ng malapad. Ewan ko pero tama ba na kiligin ang isang malaking lalaki katulad ko?

"Uy, kinikilig si Sir Reid," kantiyaw ng head ng customer service team na supervisor nina Andie.

"Knock it off, baka lalong di makatugtog si Andie. Mapapahiya ako," sabi ko na lang.

"Sir,gaano ka kasigurado na marunong nga?" It was coming from that receptionist named Trish. Parang may disgusto sa tanong nya.

I saw Andie tried to hide a smirk as she raised her eyebrows. Oh, now, she was challenged! I'm beginning to like this!

"Why, you want to bet on it?" Birong totoo ko kay Trish.

"Call. One month salary ko!" mayabang na sagot nito.

"I'll put my bet on Andie!" Sigaw galing sa gilid. Si Art! Nagkaroon ng tuksuhan. Humakbang ako papunta sa gilid ng piano at para maitago ang pagsimangot ko. Epal talaga itong si Art. Teka, nakikipagkumpetensya ba ako?

Tinapik ko sa balikat si Andie na nakaupo na sa harap ng baby grand piano at binuksan na ito.

"I'm telling you,lady," sabi ko dun sa Trish, "You better start thinking how to budget your money for the next month," kinindatan ko ito to lighten up the mood.

Naghiwayan ang mga nandoon. Pero kagyat ring natahimik nang magsimula nang mag-piano si Andie. Nanatili ako sa gilid ng piano at inayos ang mic sa ibabaw niyon.

Ngumiti sya ng bahagya sa akin.

"This was my parents' theme song," Andie said while playing the intro.

It was the classic Somewhere in Time. Naghiyawan ang mga empleyado pero gusto kong marinig syang kumanta kaya humarap ako sa mga naroroon then put my index finger on my lips. Everyone went silent to listen as she started singing as well.

Somewhere in time

We met on timeless hills

And in the evening mist we kissed

And time stood still

Before the dawn, we found forever

Moments are timeless when I feel your caress

There were silent whoas and aahhs in the crowd.

Andie looked so awesome and lovely as she goes on playing the piano and singing. Wala syang pakialam sa nangyayari sa paligid. Suddenly, she was lost in her own world of music.

I am imagining that she is singing this for me, like what she did to that douche bag who ditched her. Ayokong isipin, masisira ang maganda kong gabi.

Nagtayuan ang mga naroroon pagkatapos nya. Ang lakas ng palakpakan at hiyawan.

Tumingin ito sa akin ng may ningning sa mga mata at tumango. I returned it with the same. Nagkaintindihan na kami with that small gesture. She enjoyed it as well!

"Kaya mahal ko yan eh," mayabang na sabi ni Art. Nagtuksuhan na naman.

"Magtatayo kami ng fans club mo!" Sabi nung isang may edad na lady guard ng hotel.

"Paano ba yan, Trish? Tipid-tipid ka muna next month," kantyaw nung isang bellboy na naka-uniform pa.

"Ipapang-date ni Sir Art at Andie yung pusta mo!" Tawanan ang mga nakarinig. Di nakaligtas sa akin ang pagsimangot ni Andie. Poor Art! Busted!

"Yun lang, isang lumang kanta, magaling agad?!" Laban ni Trish sa nang-aasar sa kanya.

"Andie, more...more!" Pasimuno ni Vina. Nagsunuran ang mga naroroon maliban doon sa Trish. Nagkatinginan kami ni Andie at sabay na napatango.

Nagsimula muli si Andie. Napangiti ako. Nanahimik uli sa loob ng function room.

Hhmm...Ahhh...

They can say anything they want to say

Try to bring me down

But I will not allow anyone to succeed

Hanging clouds over me

And they can try hard to make me feel that I

Don't matter at all

But I refuse to falter in what I believe

Or lose faith in my dreams

'Cause there, there's a light in me

That shines brightly

They can try but they can't take that away from me

While she was singing this, I saw that she became serious.

Oh, they, they can do

Anything they want to you

If you let them in

But they won't ever win

If you cling to your pride

And just push them aside

See I, I have learned

There's an inner peace I own

Something in my soul that they cannot possess

So I won't be afraid and the darkness will fade

I saw tears starting to flood her eyes but she was trying to suppress it. I know she had been through a lot in the past. Is she singing this to herself?

'Cause there, there's a light in me

That shines brightly, yes

They can try but they can't take that away from me

No, they can't take this precious love I'll always have inside me

Certainly the Lord will guide me

Where I need to go

Bahagyang nanginig ang boses ni Andie pero hindi naman nakaapekto sa pagkanta nya.

Oh, they can say anything they want to say

Try to bring me down

But I won't face the ground

I will rise steadily sailing out of their reach

Oh, Lord, they do try

Hard to make me feel that I don't matter at all

But I refuse to falter in what I believe or lose faith in my dreams

Medyo naalarma na ako dahil gumaralgal na ng boses ni Andie. Nahalata na rin ito ng mga empleyado. There was buzzing of whispers. Tumayo si Vina mula sa table nila na tila nag-aalala.

'Cause there's a light in me

That shines brightly,

She was not able to sing anymore as tears already rolled down her cheeks. I slowly walked to her back and slightly squeezed her shoulders. But she continued playing the piano until she finished it.She quietly closed the piano cover..... and wiped her tears. I offered her my handkerchief which she accepted.

Fuck, what have I done? 

Did I just touched an unhealed wound? If yes, that was three years ago! What happened back then?

As I looked around, may mga empleyadong nangingilid rin ang luha. Si Vina , supervisor ng HR at ng customer service team, umiiyak na. Kahit si Trish, seryoso ang mukha. Pati si Art. May iilang puzzled kung ano ang nangyayari.

Tumikhim ako. "So, what do you think?" I was trying to break the ice.

Nagtayuan ang lahat ng mga empleyado at pumalakpak. Hinawakan ko sa kamay si Andie para alalayang tumayo. Nakayuko sya ng humarap sa audience.

"Ayan, ha. Di kita pinahiya," mahina nyang sabi.

I squeezed her hand, "Yeah, thanks ... And ... I'm sorry," I whispered back. She squeezed my hand too, in response. With that, I felt somewhat relieved.

Tinapunan ko ng tingin yung sound system technician. Nakaintindi naman agad ito at nagpatugtog ng disco.

As I escorted her back to their table, ang daming bumati dito. Parang deja vu lang nung sa hotel four years ago. But in a different occasion, location and she's with me, not that douche bag.

"Ang galing-galing mo, Andie!"

"Professional ka ba?"

"Ikaw ha! Di ka nagsasabi!"

Ilan lang ito sa mga narinig ko.

"Grabe ka, Andromeda!" Tili ni Vina when we reached their table.

So, Andromedais her real name. Beautiful as the owner.

"Masyado kang malihim. Kung di ka pa binuking ni Mr. Schulz. Ang galing-galing mo!" sabi nung bellboy.

"Mas bagay ka sa restobar at hotel lounge na kumanta," singit ng supervisor nila. "O kaya, singer sa mga wedding event dito."

Tumawa lang ito ng mahina."Ma'am, pwede na pong umuwi? Alam nyo naman po..." Paalam nito.

Napatingin sa akin ang head nila. Kunut-noong tumango ako. Ano'ng ibig sabihin nya sa pabitin nyang paalam?

"O sige, iha. Ingat ka," sabi nito.

"Sir," baling sa akin ni Andie. "Mauna na po ako."

Tumango ako. "I'll accompany you to the lobby."

Wala na itong nagawa dahil hinawakan ko na ito sa siko. Alam ko na sinusundan kami ng tingin ng mga empleyado, lalo na si Art, pero wala na akong pakialam.

Kanina pa naman ito naka-flatshoes pero dumaan pa rin kami sa locker room dahil kukunin nya ang bag nya.

"Hey," untag ko sa kanya habang naglalakad kami papunta sa lobby. Tumingala ito sa akin. "I'm sorry about that. I put you on the spot."

"It's fine. At least nagkaroon ako ng outlet tsaka na-miss ko mag-perform," tipid na ngiting sagot nya, pero naroon ang lamlam ng mata.

"So, you we're really performing in Manila before?"Manghang tanong ko.

Nagtaka ito. "I thought you've seen me perform before at Hang Out sa Manila that was why you knew I can sing...but come to think of it. I never played the piano or keyboards there."

"Oh that.... Well, I heard about that bar Hang Out but I've never been there. Actually, about that piano playing..." Dapat ko pa bang i-brought up?

"Ano nga?"Tanong uli nito.

Huminga ako ng malalim, "It was the first time I saw you, actually. Not the enforcer incident."

Her eyebrows creased. "It was more than four years ago, I think. I was having dinner with a client in a hotel. You played the piano and sang a song for ....someone."

Tumikhim ako. "You said it was your birthday gift for the celebrant, I guess. You arranged the song and made it a female version, " I looked at her. This is the reason, I feel awkward telling her. Her eyes are sad remembering that.

"So, you were there."

"Yup." Then we became silent until we were at the lobby.

"You want to talk about it? I feel you're keeping too much inside. I'm willing to listen," I lookedat her straight in the eyes. I saw sadness there but at thesame time, gratitude.

"Thanks, Reid... But not now... Not yet. Besides, I really need to get home."

I shrugged. "Alright."

I talked to the valet guy, "Please have the hotel service car send her home." Tumango ang valet.

"Huy, wag na!" Tanggi nito.

"I insist. Anyway, I owe you."Di na ito tumanggi uli dahil hinintay kong dumating ang hotel service to make sure she rides it.

"Drew,"I called her when she was about to hop in sa service car. Kumunot ang noo nya.

"Everyone's calling you Andie. I'll call you 'Drew' from now on. So you know it's me." She just shrugged and sat at the back of the car.

I held the car door, "In case you change your mind, I'm just a phone call away. I will listen, alright?"

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again!"

"Text me when you get home, no buts!" With that I closed the door. She waved goodbye and so did I.

I stayed there, standing at the lobby. Bumalik lang ako sa party nang mawala na sa paningin ko yung sasakyan.

Pagpasok ko sa Narra room, may ilang pinag-uusapan pa rin yung nangyari kanina. Kung gaano kagaling si Andie sa pagtutog ng piano at pagkanta, at yung mga lalaki na inaasar pa rin si Trish. Pero hindi ko nagustuhan ang ilang haka-haka kung bakit ko alam ang talentong iyon ni Andie at ang dahilan ng pag-iyak nya. Nakita ko nga si Vina at yung bellboy na hindi maganda ang tingin sa mga nag-uusap na iyon. Natahimik lang sila nung mapansin nila na nakatayo lang ako sa bandang likuran.

"O tuloy nyo lang kwentuhan nyo," pang-asar na sabi ni Vina. "Alam kong interesado rin marinig yan ni Mr.Schulz."

Namula yung kumpulan na iyon ng mga empleyado.

I smiled at those four ladies and the two men, "I need the six of you at my office tomorrow morning at ten." Natameme ang mga ito.

" Vina, I believe you know their names so please tell Myra about it so she can put it in my schedule."

"Sure, boss!" sabi ni Vina.

Lumakad ako patungo sa table ng mga executives. Saglit lamang kaming nag-usap tungkol sa ocular inspection bukas na nalipat ng after lunch tapos kwentuhan na kami about golf, travel, mga kakilala sa business at pamilya.

"Ikaw, Reid," sabi ni Mr. Borromeo, "Dalawang taon na lang, liebo tres ka na, iho. Wala ka pa bang balak magpamilya?"

"Nakow, eh parang may pinupuntirya na," kantyaw ni Mr. Cortez, ang hotel director. "Halatang-halata kanina eh." Nagtawanan ang mga naroroon maliban kay Art.

Natawa lang ako ng walang tunog. Ganun ba itsura ko kanina? I didn't know.

"Paano iyan, Art? Are you open for competition? Mabigat yan." Gatong ng assistant director.

Nagkibit-balikat lamang ito na tila kumpiyansa sa sarili, "Well, if Mr. Schulz is willing to take a package deal, who can stop him?"

Parang angulo ng sinabi nya, "What do you mean package deal?" I asked.

Misteryoso lamang itong ngumiti. "That's for you to find out."

Suddenly, I do not like this guy... like I do not like him now big time!

Hindi na rin ako nagkomento.

May mga empleyadong nagkakatuwaang magsayaw, may ilang nagpipilit mag-piano, may ilang Masaya na sa kwentuhan, making sa mga tugtog at kumain lang.

Mabilis lumipas ang oras. Unti-unti nang nagpaalam ang mga empleyado. Nagpaiwan na lamang yung may mga shift ng twelve midnight onwards dahil hanggang ganoong oras lamang ang mga temporary staff galing sa agency. Meron namang sleeping quarters na maaring tulugan ang mga ito.

Hindi ko pa rin magawang alisin sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Art about the package deal hanggang matapos ang party. Ito pa rin ang laman ng isip ko hanggang sa pagtulog.

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