Hinahanap - Hanap Ko Siya

Chapter 3

It was a very successful show. Bamboo couldn't ve been more thankful. He definitely enjoyed every performance. He's happy and grateful.

Yes, he  happy. But he is also tired and hungry, and yet his mind seems to be not yet ready for slumber. He's back in his hotel room, lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling iin the dark. Heneed to get some sleep if he hopes to rise early for their flight back home in the morning.

Now that the show's over, di na niya mapigilan ang pagiisip. Ang pagmumuni - muni ng nakaraan nila ni Sarah. He allowed himself once more to recall their past.

Flashback year 2012:

"Nakakalungkot naman."

"Onga, eh."

"Asap will never be the same without her."

"Sinabe mo pa."

"Korek kayo dyan."

"Ay nako, wala ng pasabog prod numbs!"

"Tiyak na magiging boring na ang Asap."

"Wala ng kaabang - abang."

Ilan lamang iyan sa mga narinig ni Bamboo na sinasambit ng bawat crew and staff ng Asap, noong araw ng rehersal nila para sa lingong iyon.

As he walked alone down the corridor leading to his dressing room, he passed by a couple of other dressing rooms and he noticed that some of the Asap artists being interviewed. He couldn't help but hear Sarah's name being mentioined.

As he reached his dressing room, he found Pancho cleaning his earphones while talking to his PA. Nilapitan niya ito.

"Hey Panch", he said.

"O, dude", Pancho replied, " dali, malapit ka nang magreherse. Maghanda ka na."

"Uh, yeah", Bamboo replied. "Wait, juz wanna clarify some stuff i heard a little while ago. Is Sarah leaving Asap?!"

"Ay, yes po, sir", ang PA niya ang sumagot.

Napatingin si Bamboo dito. "Really, now?"

"Balita ko", said Pancho, "dahil ata sa bagong sarili niyang show."

He stared at Pancho. "As in for real?" Tanong niya. "Talagang aalis na siya?"

"Eeehh, yun ang balita ko, ah", sagot naman ni Pancho.

Dali - dali naman biglang lumabas si Bamboo ng kanyang dressing room at nagtungo sa dressing room ni Sarah.

Di niya maintindihan ang nararamdaman. Lungkot? Takot? Kaba? Basta ang sigurado lang siya ay kailagan niyang alamin kung totoo nga ba ang  balita o hinde.

Kinatok niya ang pintuan ng dressing room ni Sarah ng may kaba sa dibdib. Sa pangalawang katok ay bumukas agad ang pinto. Ang PA ni Sarah ang humarap sa kaniya.

"Sir Bamboo!" Nagulat na bati sa kanya ni Ana.

"Hello, hello", tugon naman ni Bamboo, "is Sarah there?"

"Ah eh, opo sir", sagot ni Ana. Sabay lingon sa likod at sinabi, "Sars, may naghahanap sayo. Ah, sir pasok lang po". She gestured for Bamboo to go in.

Bamboo saw Sarah sittting in front of her vanity mirror and taking off her earphones. Her eyes widend as she stared at Bamboo's reflection through the mirror as he entered the room.

"Sir Bamboo", bati ni Sarah habang nilingon siya, "napadalaw po kayo?"

Bamboo went to stand behind Sarah and greeted her while looking at her reflection. "Hi, Sarah."

'Naku, ayan nanaman yang pagtawag niya sa akin ng "Serah", haayy', thought Sarah, na tila ba'y kinikilig sa pagkakabanggit ni Bamboo ng kanyang pangalan.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned a little closer to her. He could smell her sweet scent from ere he's standing, and he closed his eyes and inhaled briefly.

When he opened his eyes, he found Sarah staring at him through the mirror.

He cleared his throat. "Uh, I heard you're leaving Asap", he began, "is that true?"

Di maintindihan ni Sarah, pero parang may bakas ng pagkakalungkot sa mga mata ni Bamboo, habang tinititigan niya ito sa salamin. Lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib tuloy ni Sarah.

"Ah, eh, opo, sir", sagot ni Sarah.

"Oww, that's sad", sabi ni Bamboo. "Sayang naman, was looking forward to more production numbers with you, though."

Nanlaki mga mata ni Sarah. Alam naman niyang di sila ganoon ka - close nitong si Bamboo, pero di parin nawawala ang paghanga niya dito, at di niya maipagkakaila na nasisiyahan siya sa tuwing makaka - duet niya ito.

Maski si Bamboo ay di maintindihan ang kanyang sarili, ngunit di na niya maitago ang lungkot na nadarama sa thought pa lamang na hindi na nya makakatrabaho ng linguhan si Sarah. At di rin niya lubos maintindihan kung bakit nga ba niya ito mamimiss, gayong di naman sila ganun ka - close. 'What's the matter with you, man?', he thought to himself.

Tumayo bigla mula sa kanyang pagkakaupo sa harap ng salamin si Sarah at hinarap ng tuluyan si Bamboo.

"Eh, sir", ngumiti siya rito, "pwede po kayo magguest sa magiging show ko po!"

Napangiti rin si Bamboo. 'God, she really is cute', he told himself.

"Sure, anytime, Sarah", he said. "Good luck to your new show, by the way."

"Naku, salamat po", Sarah replied.

Nagulat siya ng bigla siyang yakapin ni Bamboo. Para bang ang bawat oras, minuto at segundo ay huminto. Parang ang buong mundo ay huminto.

Ngunit sa katotohanan saglit lang naman talaga ang itinagal ng yakap na yon.

Bamboo, on the other hand, threw caution inthe wind and let himself what he wanted to do all along upon learning the sad news. So he went ahead and hugged Sarah tight. He breathed in her fragrance, closing his eyes once more.

And then without a word, he was out the door.