Hinahanap - Hanap Ko Siya

Chapter 9

Flashback 2013:

Natapos ang TVOP S1 nang hindi parin naaamin ni Bamboo kay Sarah na hiwalay na siya sa asawa. Umogong naman ang balitang nanliligaw na nga itong si Matteo kay Sarah. Sa tinagal nilang naging close na dalawa, eh hindi naman naikuwento ni minsan ni Sarah kung totoo nga bang nanliligaw na sa kanya si Matt, more so kung sinagot na nga ba niya ito.

Sa gitna rin kase ng pagtatapos ng kilang programa ay pareho rin sila naing busy sa kani - kaniyang career kaya ni halos walang time makipag - catch up sa isa't isa.

Iba't ibang tsismis naman ang nagsilabasan ng kapuna - puna ang pagpapagupit ng buhok ni Sarah. Marami nagsasabi na tutol daw ang ina nitong si mommy Divine sa relasyon niya kay Matteo kung kaya't ginupitan daw nito ang anak.

Simula naman ng matapos ang TVOP S1 ay tila ba nanlamig sisa't isa sina Bamboo at Sarah. Wala man silang napagkasunduan ngunit kapansin - pansin ang pagbabago sa kanilang closeness. Hind narin sila lumalabas ng silang dalawa lang. Wala naring bonding moments sa rehearsals.

Earlier that year, lumabas ang captured photos and a video mula sa ginanap na birthday ni Matteo nuong taong iyon kung saan guest niya si Sarah at nagduet sila ng All Of Me by John Legend. Na siya namang pinagpiyestahan ng media na tila ba nagsilbing katibayan na may namumuong relasyon na sa pagitan nila Matt at Sarah.

Bamboo was aware of those gossips. And he couldn't help feeling frustrated because he knew he was helpless. And it hurts. It hurts like hell knowing that Sarah obviously fell for Matt, now. Ganun na lamang ba kadali kalimutan ang naramdaman niya kay Bamboo? O sadyang paghanga lang talaga, iyon? So "crush" nga lang ba siya ni Sarah?

Nataon naman na ipinaduet sa kanila sa Asap ang same song na idinuet nila Matt at Sarah sa birthday party ni Matt, a couple of months back. All Of Me.

Hindi masyado nakapagrehearse ang dalawa, gawa narin ng kaliwa't kanan nilang commitments and projects, kung kaya't hindi sila masyado nakapagprepare.

On the day ng prod number nila, both were kind of nervous to be singing together again. Ewan ba nila, basta may kakaibang kabog sa dibdib nila, gayung hindi na bago ang magperform together. But something in them has changed. Aminin man nila o hindi. And that made the situation seemed like they were treading on unfamiliar ground, this time.

Bamboo knew na nauna ng kantahin ni Sarah ang All Of Me with her rumored boyfriend. But as he stepped onto the stage with her, he suddely felt determined to prove na mas bagay nila iduet ang kanta. Mas bagay siyang kaduet ni Sarah. Mas bagay silang dalawa.

Sarah was all smiles naman, kahit na sa pananingin ni Bamboo ay halatang ninenerbyos din siya. She failed on her first attempt pa nga on the opening of the song, kase mabagal ang instrumental background nila kumpara sa original tempo ng beat nung kanta. But when she attempted the second time around, ayun. Lumabas na ang galing niya. As usual.

Lahat ay na in love sa version nila ng kanta at hindi nakapagtataka na nagtrend nanaman ito. Natabunan pa nga yung sa kanila ni Matteo. And Bamboo couldn't have been more pleased.

He was walking with Pancho right after the show on the hallway to his dressing room ng makita niya si Matteo kumakatok sa dressing room ni Sarah. Natigilan siya. Pati si Pancho ay natigilan din sabay lingon sa kaniya. Pero di siya umiimik. Sinundan lang niya ng tingin ang binata nung ipinagbuksan na ito ng pinto at tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng dressing room ni Sarah.

He wasn't aware that he was holding his breath pala. He exhaled and looked at Pancho beside him. Without a word and another glance, dumiretso siya sa sariling dressing room ahead of his companion.

Pancho followed suit, of course. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Bamboo furiously packing his things already. Nagsinop narin siya ng mga dadalhin nilang gamit para sa isang photo shoot session ni Bamboo that evening. Wala ni isa sa kanilang nagiimikan.

They went out the building and got in the van without a word. Pancho was itching to speak. Kung alam lang ni Bamboo! Kating kati na siya magsalita! Kaso tahimik parin yung isa, habang nakadungaw lang sa car window. Nakashades pa. Pancho kept on glancing over at him while driving. Wala kase silang driver nun. From time to time chini - check niya sa may pasenger seat si Bamboo, ngunit mukhang wala parin balak magsalita ito.

"Panch", biglang sambit ni Bamboo out of the blue, matapos ang ilang minuto, ng hindi parin nakaharap sa kaniya, "I'm ready to talk."

Hindi na nagkunwari pa si Pancho ng mga oras na iyon na hindi niya naiintindihan ang alaga. Alam niya ang ibigsabihin nito.

"When and kainino?", was all he asked.

Bamboo ran his right thumb and index finger across his chin, na para bang nagiisip ng malalim.

"Kay Boy Abunda, sa the Buzz and...", he suddenly looked down on his gold band ring still encircling his left finger, "...I want it to be a taped, exclusive interview at sa lalong madaling panahon."

Pancho sighed in relief. At last.

"Okay, if that's what you want", he replied. "I'll make the necessary arrangements."

"Thanks", maikling sagot naman sa kaniya ni Bamboo.

A week later:

Wearing a plain white shirt, black jeans and sneakers, Bamboo was all set for his exclusive interview with Boy Abunda to be taped one evening after a mall gig he attended during the day. He looked down at left hand hand. Ringless. He didn't know what he expected to feel. But he felt free. Independent. As if a rock has been lifted from his oulders. And... relieved. Yes, finally.

As soon as he heard his name being called, he entered the spot light, took a seat against Boy Abunda after shaking hands, and the camera rolled. The interview began.

None of his closest friends knew about his situation and and this interview he scheduled. Aside from Pancho, only his parents, sister and brother knew of his divorce. And of course, his ex wife's immediate family, as well. He had spoken with Cecil on the phone earlier that week. He also called his parents and sent text messages to his siblings. He wanted them to know of his decision to go out in the public for the first time and talk about the divorce. Everyone knows how private Bamboo is and so not a single soul had ever inquired of his personal life. That is the norm around this man. Accepted ang pagiging private niyang tao sa industriyang kinabibilangan nito, kung saan kahit na anung baho ng isang artist ay naisasapubliko.

Of his conversations, the one with Cecil was the hardest. Hindi dahil sa tutol ang ex wife niya or dahil may ilangan silang dalawa. Wala. Matagal ng wala. Magkaibigan na sila actually ngayon. Ngunit mahirap dahil kahit na hindi niya minention ang dahilan dito, ay kusang nagets naman ni Cecil ang puno't dulo ng desisyon ni Bamboo na umamin all of a sudden.

"There's someone special na, no?", sabi nito over the phone.

Hindi nakaimik agad si Bamboo. Pakiramdam kase niya, muli siyang tumutuldok sa nakaraan niya. Ang kaniyang pagamin ay siguradong babalutan ng maraming haka - haka o tsismis. And admitting to his ex wife na yes, may bago ng nagpapatibok ng puso niya is finally closing all doors to their past. Although alam naman nilang dalawa na palagi silang nadyaan para sa isa't isa gawa ng kanilang mga anak, pero this was something na magdudulot rin ng bago sa buhay nila. Kasama ng mga anak nila.

"Is it Sarah Geronimo?", tanong ni Cecil.

Nagulat naman si Bamboo dun. Matagal na niyang di nakikita ang ex wife, at hindi niya ni minsan naikuwento si Sarah, so paano siya nagkaroon ng clue, hindi niya alam.

"Yes", was all he answered.

"Sabi ko na nga ba", natatawang sambit ni Cecil. "Siya lang kase pumasok sa isip ko kase madalas mo siyang ka duet, haha.. and I know you. Hahaha! Mga titig mo sa kaniya pagnagduduet kayo, kung sa iba hindi obvious, sakin oo!"

After their phone convo, ay gumaan naman ang pakiramdam ni Bamboo. He knew he could take on whatever the outcome of the interview would be. As long as his family (yes, that still includes his ex wife) supports him, he's ready.