Hinahanap - Hanap Ko Siya

Chapter 2

The sky is litterally twinkling with stars and it lights up the whole city in Singapore. It is close to 6:00 p.m., and Bamboo's show is about to start in a few hours. Everything's settled and organized now. Just a few touch - ups on their make - up and outfits. His guests, he knows are on their way now to the show and his supposed to leave his hotel in a little while.

He is still in his hotel bedroom, though, gazing at the pretty starlit sky, his face a study in concentration. He might be physically in  Singapore but his mind is elsewhere.

He could almost hear her contagious laughter on that day of their rehersal for their first production number on Asap, a few years back. He could picture how she looked back then, 'Haha, neneng nene', he thought to himself, smiling. And he let himself travel to that fateful day.

Flashback year 2012:

Nanlaki mga mata ni Sarah Geronimo, ng mabasa niya ang nilalaman ng papel na ibinigay sa kaniya ng kaniyang PA na si Ana, para sa magiging scheduled performance niya sa Asap sa gaganaping lingong iyon.

Jan 29, 2012, Sunday

Englishman in New York / Sunday Morning
(mash up prod num)

Sarah Geronimo & Bamboo Mañalac

Paulit - ulit na itong binabasa ni Sarah, pero para bang hindi parin siya makapaniwala.

"Ate Ana", sambit niya sa kaniyang PA, " nakakasiguro ka po ba na para talaga sa akin tong prod number nato?"

Napalingon sa kanya si Ana. "Aba, oo naman, Sars. Hindi ba naka - indicate sa papel?"

"Eh nakasulat nga po", sagot ni Sarah.

"O, eh ayun naman pala, eh", sabi ni Ana. "So anu pinagtataka mo?"

Napakamot nalang ng ulo si Sarah sabay sabi, "Wala naman po, te. Hind lang siguro po ako makapaniwala."

"Huh? Eh bakit naman?", tanong ni Ana.

"Kase po isang Bamboo Mañalac ang makaka - duet ko this Sunday sa Asap", sabi ni Sarah, "di lang po siguro ako makapaniwala na ako napili nila sa dinami - dami ng mga artists na pwede niya maka - colab."

"At bakit naman hindi, Sars?", tanong naman ni Ana. "Wag mo sabihing minamaliit mo kakayahan mong bata ka, ah."

"Naku, to naman  si Ate Ana", sagot ni Sarah, "di naman po sa ganon, kaya lang po kase, isa po si Bamboo sa talagang iniidolize ko since nung bata pa po ako, te. Mga tipong Rivermaya days pa po niya, ganon."

Umiling lang si Ana. "Ay nako ka, Sars. Bilib talaga ako sayo. Hanggang ngayon na sa - starstruck ka parin kahit na super sikat ka na ngayon", natatawang sabi ng kaniyang PA.

"Sus, si Ate Ana talaga, o!", sambit ni Sarah. "Binola pa ko, hehehe."

"Bola ka dyan!", bulyaw ni Ana sa alaga. "Totoo naman ah! Sikat na sikat ka na ngayon, uy!"

"O sige na nga, te", sagot ni Sarah. "Pero slight lang, hahaha."

"Asus! Kaw talagang bata ka", sabi Ana, "hindi ka parin ba makapaniwalang super sikat ka na talaga ngayon?"

"Grabe naman to, maka super, wagas!", tatawa - tawang sagot ni Sarah.

Pero di maitanggi ni Sarah ang excitement sa darating nilang duet ni Bamboo.

The next day:

Bamboo came in early for the rehersal of his prod number with Sarah Geronimo. He must admit, he has never really listened to her music, except for her winning piece from the competition, Star for A Night and her 1st single, Forever's Not Enough, both of which he only heard in passing. He doesn't know much about her, either. This will be their first formal introduction as well.

As he went inside the studio, he shrugged off his jacket and greeted the people gathered around, the band, the technical guys and a few Asap staffs.

The production coordinator shook his hand and led him to the center of the room.

"Bamboo, good afternoon", he was greeted. "This is Sarah." He gestured to a petite girl sitting on a monoblock chair. The girl immediately stood up to shake his hand.

"Good afternoon, po", she greeted him with an innocent smile, in a sweet voice.

"Hi, good afternoon", Bamboo replied and took her tiny hand in his. His own seemed to have swallowed her whole hand. He wasn't sure why, but he just held her hand for quite a little bit longer than necessary, though. Probably because he was just amazed at how soft her hand felt in his.

He sensed rather than felt, that Sarah was looking for a way to extricate her hand from his, and her small face registered a mild discomfort.

'God, she's cute', he thought to himself, as he slowly let go of her hand.

"So, start na tayo, guys!", the coordinator said.

Bamboo remembers being stunned and awed by Sarah, as they progressed on their rehersal. For someone who looks not a day older than 16, and who acts all shy and is obviously very respectful of everyone, what with all the "po" and "opo" adressed at anyone she encounters, she sure can belt a song perfectly, nicely. There is absolutely no doubt why she is the super star of her genration, today.

As everyone packed up to leave, Bamboo found himself looking for Sarah while he collected his stuff.

He found at the door, about to go out with her team. He ran a bit to catch up with them.

"Hey, Sarah", he called her, "you goin' home, now?"

"Ay, sir Bamboo", nagulat na bati naman ni Sarah. "Opo, may kailangan po ba kayo?"

"Uh, wala naman", sagot ni Bamboo "just wonderin if you'd like to go somewhere to eat."

Napatitig nalamang si Sarah kay Bamboo. "Ah, eh. Next time nalanag po siguro, sir", sabi ni Sarah, "dumidilim narin po kase at di po kase ako nakapagpaalam sa mga magulang ko po."

"Ah, ganon ba", Bamboo gave her his winning smile, "ok lang. Yeah, maybe next time na lang, nga. See you around, then?"

"Sige, po", tugon ni Sarah, "mauna na po kame."

"Ok, ingat." Sabay kaway ni Bamboo. He watched Sarah's van drive off before getting inside his own car. He gotta admit, he enjoyed today's rehersal. And he finds Sarah interesting.

Sunday on Asap. The production number:

Bamboo was confident on their prod number, after all, their rehersal went well. But what he was not counting on, was on how Sarah made thier production number even more better by dancing for him, while he was in the middle of singing Sunday Morning. Yes, he'd like to think that she was dancing for him. It's like, ni - level up pa ni Sarah yung prod number nila, sa galing nyang kumanta at sumayaw.

Dahil narin siguro nadala si Bamboo sa energy ng crowd at husay ni Sarah magperform, ay gumawa narin siya ng sariling gimmik. While singing the lines, "Come and rest your bones, bones with me", from the song, he made a come - hither gesture with his index finger, habang lumalakad ng dahan - dahan papalayo kay Sarah, habang si Sarah naman ay mabilis maka - catch up at sinundan siya ng hakbang, pero ng pasayaw. Tilian naman ang audience sa loob ng Asap studio. Bakas na bakas sa mga mukha nito ang npagkakilig sa kanilang dalawa.

Ng matapos ang prod number nila, hiyawan naman ng malakas ang mga tao.

Sa backstage:

Nakangiti ng malaki si Bamboo ng lumapit na siya kay Pancho. "Hey, dude", he said. "Man, that was fun. That was really, really fun!"

"Onga eh", Pancho replied, "nakakatuwa kayo ni Sarah. Akalain mo yung batang yun, nung sa rehersal, kumakanta lang, tapos ngayon sa prod number na mismo, aba lumevel - up!"

"Ahaha!", Bamboo laughed. "I know, right? She's quite full of surprises, no?"

Flashforward present:

"Bambs!" He heard a knocking on his door. "Tara na, para di tayo malate."

Bamboo sighed. "Ok, man. I'll be there.", he replied. He's back in the present and he must concentrate all his energy on the show. He must forgt about her. Even for just a while.

He gave a final glance at the starlit sky, only to realize there seemed to be no more stars lit up there.