#WUM44
"So, this is a new talent or..." Karie trailed off after Jules introduced my name only.
He simply winked at me then shrugged at Karie.
"Don't snitch."
Karie laughed ridiculously but she dismissed the question.
"Hindi ako maniniwala na special someone mo siya, huwag ako, Hulyo!"
Wala akong reaksyon sa kanilang usapan. My mind was pre-occupied by Epicenter's presence here. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako. For the past months, all I wanted was to talk to him, right? Why am I worried that he might see each other?
Kalaunan kaming naupo ni Jules sa table ng mga malapit niya kaibigan at hindi ko inasahan na sila Winter iyong makakasama sa table at ibang kilalang mentors at handlers. They were exactly seven, the others were unfamiliar.
Why did Jules bring me with him? He could've just brought his favorite talents to be his date tonight. Why me?
Jules introduced me to them as his new talent. They all looked at me and I was so intimidated that I couldn't keep looking. Hindi ako madalas ma-intimidate sa tao pero kakaiba rito dahil mga kilala na sila. Kaya naman kay Jules na lang ang baling ko habang nakikinig sa usapan.
"Nagtatampo na ako!" sabi ni Winter. "You know that I wanted you to be with me in Presonous!"
"Whoa, easy! You can't pull her from me anymore!" Jules teased.
They laughed. Tipid akong ngumiti.
"Jules, marami kang dapat ituro kay Sorcha! She's so gorgeous and talented but stiff!"
"I know, I know! This is my first lesson, Winter. She needs to be out to socialize with a lot of personalities here. She can still be trained!"
"You should look always pleasant, Sorcha!" Karie chuckled. "Stretch your lips and smile! Mas nagmumukha ka pa tuloy intimidating kaysa kay Jules!"
Lalo silang nagtawanan. Ngumisi lang ako. Hindi ko naman alam ang itutugon ko roon, hindi ko dedepensahan ang sarili dahil totoo naman at kailangan ko rin marinig ang suhestiyon nila para sa ikabubuti ko sa industriya.
"Hey, don't forget the leader of Epicenter, your talent!" pagdidiin ni Winter. "He didn't change a bit for the past months! He's still cold to the fans!"
I almost smirked. Hindi na nga yata mababago ni Kees iyon sa kanya.
"In short, you don't have the right to tell that to her!"
Hindi ako makapag-focus sa usapan. Panay ang pasimple kong sulyap sa lamesa nila Ajax. Nagkakatuwaan pa rin sila. Hinihila ngayon ni Hesperus si Tanner habang nginunguso iyong photo booth sa di-kalayuan. Hinila niya rin si Ajax—na inakbayan agad si Kees para isama sa kanila. Eris lazily followed them until the booth.
Ajax looks gorgeous especially when I saw him rose up. He fixed the collar of his dress shirt then ran his fingers through his hair until his nape while laughing with Hesperus and Tanner.
Sinusulyapan nga sila ng mga nadaanang kilala ring artista sabay nagkakatinginan sila na tila nag-uusap lamang sa mga mata. They were probably complimenting Epicenter members.
Naputol ang tingin ko nang marinig na tungkol sa Epicenter na pala ang topic sa lamesa.
Suminghap si Karie. "Hindi pa naman sila nagd-debut. Marami pang oras. Besides, marami na ngang nagmamahal sa kanya kahit ganyan siya!"
"Right! Siya pinakamaraming fans, 'di ba?"
"It's just the advantage of a vocalist! He's the vocalist!" Winter broke.
