Part 8

I stepped out of the car and stared at the building in front of me. A gray twenty story building with cafes and restaurants around it. So this is where their label's recording studio is located. Not bad. They have the entire floor to themselves.

I parked my car in the basement parking and walked to the elevator while checking my iPad for the details of today's observation. It's only gonna be a casual interview and the photos can follow. The main goal for today is to observe them in their natural habitat just like animals in the zoo.

People stepped in and out of the elevator while I take the ride to the eighteenth floor. Most of the people were wearing masks, caps or dark shades to hide their faces.

The building also housed an artist center for one of the biggest TV stations in the country and most people in the elevator with me were probably celebrities or TV personalities. Not that I care. My job requires to be surrounded by people like them.

Finally, I reached the floor of the recording studio. Most artists are usually the one to set the place for interviews, like exclusive cafes or restaurants or in their agency's building.

Being the outsider isn't new to me but I always end up anxious when it comes to this band. If not for this additional part of the interview I would have completed the feature article and moved on from this project.

Fortunately, I can dress more casual today, although I made sure I remained presentable with my long ash blonde hair in a loose bun, a white cotton button-down tucked in a cream colored trouser and my highly comfortable stilettos. Of course, I still put up a flare. A statement jewelry can level up a casual outfit so I wore my Channel dangle earrings today.

There were three different studios in the same floor and Saint Claire happens to be in the third one. Sa paanan palang ng pintuan ay sinalubong na ako ng kanilang manager.

"Good afternoon, Manager Jack," I greeted.

"Ms. Cardona," bati niya.

I could tell na hindi pa nagsisimula ang recording ay stress na siya sa buhay. With a sufficient age gap, he looks like the older brother of the members. According to my research, he's only in his late thirties but stress can make you feel older, specially handling a group as rowdy as Saint Claire.

"Nasa loob na ang producer," he informed me.

I made a mental note to ask for a short interview with the producer of his perspective of the band. Mas makakatulong ito to make a sound cover feature. If only that person isn't in this place, I would have loved this rare opportunity.

Pagbukas ng pinto ng studio, my eyebrows shoot up. Nag-dilang anghel 'ata ako.

I greeted the people in the control room, including the members lounging in the couch. There were several people inside. The band members minus the menace, Sancho. Their manager, a staff from the studio and the producer.

I smiled and shook their hands. "I'm Maria Eula Cardona from Stellar Publishing."

Now that Sancho isn't here, I kind of understand why Ms. Cee had pushed me to accept this additional task. Very few are allowed to cover studio activities.

I also brought a snack for them, a box of premium pastries from one of my favorite bakeshops in BGC. One thing I learned from the initial interview with the members... give them food and they will behave like puppies.

"Whoa, Ms. Eula. Hulog ka ng langit!"

Jarvis was the first one to check on the box followed by Shun who stood up from the couch. Rosco sighed and followed the two to the table where their manager placed the box to make sure they won't make a mess in the studio.

"Hindi pa nagr-reply si Sancho?" tanong ng kanilang manager.

Jarvis, who was busily stuffing his face with a strawberry cream bar, shook his head. "Sinabi niya lang kanina sa susunod siya. He got a wicked hangover."

"Hangover?" naka-arko ang kilay ni Rosco. "I thought he's sick?"

Mukhang nadulas si Jarvis. Napa-pause siya sa pagnguya at ngumiti ng alanganin. "Nagyaya nanaman kagabi. Hindi ko matanggihan. Bait ko, 'no?"

Rosco gave him a 'you're both dead' glare. Next to the manager, he's the next stress one. "Nagpaalam kayo na may bibilhin lang sa convenience store kagabi."

"May pinagdadaanan 'ata ang gago. Nahila ako eh." Napakamot si Jarvis sa kanyang ulo.

"Baka ginusto mo," muttered Shun who was busy picking a pastry from the box.

Lumingon sa kanya si Jarvis. "Hoy, bata."

Before the conversation can blow out of proportion, kinuha ni Rosco ang phone niya mula sa tray na nakapatong sa table saka bumalik sa couch at sinubukang tawagan si Sancho.

"That brat," he muttered nang hindi ito sumasagot.

"'Pag may hang-over pa naman 'yon akala mo mamatay na," another attack from Shun. As the youngest member of the band, he's quite savage.

"Ano bang pinagdadaanan niya?" tanong ng manager na walang magawa kundi bumuntong hininga. "Kada linggo nalang."

Nagkibit-balikat si Jarvis. "Ewan ko doon. Basta ako in love."

"Tumigil ka!" parehong sabi ni Rosco at ng manager.

Sa gitna ng gulo, bigla kong naalala ang text message na natanggap ko noong nakaraang araw. Like a drunk text or something. I immediately shake the thought off. It must be a troll. It's unlikely for Sancho to ask such question.

After the chaos, the members began conditioning themselves for the recording. Today's schedule was for their new song, Red Flag. Such an ominous title for a song. And according to the details forwarded to me, Sancho was the main lyricist of this song.

Panay ang buntong-hininga ng kanilang manager nang sumabak na sa live room ang tatlo. I sort of understand the frustration given that the one who wrote the song wasn't here. Good thing there's such thing as multitrack recording where instruments and vocals can be recorded separately and combined later.

From the control room, with the producer, engineer and the manager, I filled up my notes while observing the members from the live room. Every now and then, the manager would give me tidbits and information, like how the lyrics of their songs are self-composed by the members and how they refuse to give the label control over what songs to make.

"They can make it bigger if they can create more catchy pop songs according to our label. But they lean too much in the rock and instrument side of their music," he said to me.

Unarguably, it's the trend in the music scene right now. Artists and bands that make emotional females their fan base with hugot songs with softer melodies than rock songs.

The manager watched the members in the live room. "Pero 'yon din ang dahilan kung bakit tinanggap ko ang pagiging manager ng grupo. They aren't needy for the limelight to shine on them. Masaya lang sila sa ginagawa nila."

Sumulyap ako sa kanya habang pareho kaming nasa couch at pinapanood ang tatlo mula sa live room. He's indeed a big brother to the band. They even stress him most of the time. But it seems he genuinely wants the best for the band.

Habang nasa gitna ng recording, bumukas ang pinto ng control room. Sancho walked in, donning a white New York Yankees cap to hide his messy hair and an army-green jacket.

Of all the people in the studio, his gaze settled on my face for a few seconds. I stared back and smiled in a professional manner before he looked away.

That's strange. He was never one to avert his gaze.

He approached the manager and greeted the producer. He apologized for being late. I watched him from the couch. Looks like he's indeed going through something.

The group in the live room took a break.

"Haggard mo, 'Cho," puna ni Jarvis sa bagong dating. "Kakasuya mukha mo."

"Gago ka, Jar. Ako ngayon lang, ikaw araw-araw."

Bago pa magsabong ang dalawa, pumagitna si Rosco. "'You sure you're okay for today's recording?"

"Okay lang 'to, Papi."

"Kanta mo naman kaya dapat lang," dagdag ni Jarvis. "Mahiya ka naman sa'min."

Shun snorted on the side. Inabot ni Sancho ang ulo ni Jarvis para sapakin.

I watched Sancho. He didn't seem okay at all. So he still suffer from bad cases of hangover. Totoong para siyang may sakit tuwing may hangover. He even used to call me to bring-- wait, what? What am I thinking?

Binalik ko ang atensyon sa notes ko. The producer said he didn't want to force Sancho to record today. But he assured everyone he can do it. When I raised my head from my notes, behind the glass of the live room, I caught Sancho staring at me.

The recording didn't go as planned. Sancho's indeed not feeling well. He kept messing up the chords to his own song. And since I have to be with them until the recording was done, the incident secure a second visit with them.

And here I am, thinking it's all gonna end today.

I thanked the producer and the manager for their time and also bade goodbye to the members before leaving. Sancho was missing again from the recording room but I no longer mind.

Before leaving, they were talking about having dinner in a nearby restaurant. Inalok nila akong sumama but I refused and said I had to go back to the office. It was a lie. I just didn't want to spend more time with him in the same place.

I waited at the elevator door while checking my phone. It was almost six in the evening. Might as well chat Kayla so we can have dinner together.

The elevator opened and I absentmindedly stepped inside. Sancho, who was in the middle of shoving a cigarette box in his jean pocket, was about to head out.

From a cigarette break again, huh? Bad habits die hard.

I nodded to him to acknowledge his presence before he stepped out of the elevator. Makakahinga na sana ako nang maluwag sa unti-unting pagsara ng pinto nang pinigilan niya ito. Muli siyang bumalik sa loob ng elevator.

I arched an eyebrow but didn't say anything. I always end up in awkward situations with him.

Nasa magkabila kaming gilid ng elevator nang unti-unti itong bumaba. Sancho kept checking the black Apple watch on his wrist. Is he checking the time? Is he meeting someone?

The elevator stopped at a floor where a group of guys were waiting at the door. Isa-isa silang pumasok sa loob. We barely fit inside. There were seven of them and we're not exactly in a mall elevator that can comfortably accommodate us.

I was pushed back at a corner.

One of the guys in front noticed and created a space in front of him. "Miss, dito ka na para hindi ka maipit 'dyan. Baka hindi ka na makahinga," ngiti niya.

What a charming smile. Are they artists?

Sancho's arm reached to my side of the elevator, trapping me at the corner.

"She's good," he muttered, giving the guy a glare.

Tumango agad ang lalake. They were obviously younger than Sancho, and it seems they were aware of his temper. They looked like a boy group who might be in the same agency.

The group went back to talking about rehearsal schedule and how their choreographer dismissed them at the exact time every single day. Sancho's arm remained in front of me with his palm against the wall, preventing me from mixing with them.

His side profile was so close to my face. His tightened jaw and the prominent veins spread on his arms from years of playing and holding guitars. His hair... it's the longest I've seen from him with the tips tousled. I remember how my fingers used to get tangled-- whoa, wait up! What the hell?

I stepped out of the elevator upon arriving at the basement parking, mentally shaking my head at the thoughts suddenly springing since earlier.

Eula, are you stupid?

In the corner of my eyes, I noticed Sacho walking behind me to the parking lot. Kasabay namin ang grupo mula sa elevator who's van happens to be beside my car.

Hinintay ko ang grupo na makaalis bago ako muling naglakad papunta sa aking sasakyan. Sancho was still at the parking lot with me so I decided to face him.

"Do you need something, Mr. Santana?"

"Gusto lang kitang ihatid sa sasakyan mo."

Umarko ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. "That's nice of you but next time you don't have to."

Wala na siyang ibang sinabi so I opened the door to my car and slid inside. Looks like he just really wanted to walk me to my car. He remained standing by the column with hands shoved in both pockets of his jeans.

Before closing the door, I tossed him one of the medicines from my car's compartment. "Cure your hangover."

I closed the door and started the engine. From the side mirror, I could see him standing still, watching me. I drove off thinking if what I did was right.

There's nothing special about it. That's to boost camaraderie and I happen to know what medicine he preferred whenever he had bad hangover.

I gripped the steering wheel with my perfectly manicured fingers. It seems like after all these time, I still didn't want to see him mess up, specially in front of other people.

Ah, Eula. How stupid of you.

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