Hinahanap - Hanap Ko Siya

Chapter 16

Flashback Rehearsals for Abs -Cbn Xmas Special:

Tatlo ang prod numbers na pagsasaman nila Bamboo at Sarah sa naturang christmas special ng kanilang network. Pero hindi as magkaduet. May mga kasama silang ibang artists gaya nila Lea at Arnel Pineda.

Wala namang pagkakataon na masolo ni Bamboo si Sarah during rehearsals kase ang daming taong nakapaligid sa kanila. Ilang beses niya inattempt na makakuha ng moment, pero to no avail talaga. Hay, nakakafrustrate.

On the other side naman, kay Sarah, may ilang linggo na siyang umiiyak pagmagisa at nagkukunwaring okay lang ang lagay niya pagnakaharapo sa tao. Lalo siyang nangangaayat di lang dahil sa pagod kungdi pati dahil sa dami ng iniisip.

Nasasaktan siya sa mga ikinikilos ni Bamboo, pero alam niyang sincere ito sa nararamdaman nito para sa kaniya. Ang hindi kase alam ni Bamboo ay aware si Sarah sa mga ginagawa nitong pagiwas at pagpapaselos sa kaniya, dahil gusto nitong makipaghiwalay na siya kay Matt.

Pero siyeme hindi nga naman ganoon kadali iyun. Nahihirapan din siya. Hindi naman basta - basta nalang puwede niyang hiwalayan si Matt and makipagrelasyon kay Bamboo, kahit pa gaano niya kamahal si Bamboo. Hindi tama at naguiguilty siya.

Sa hirap ng trabaho niya, pagkamiss niya sa pamilya at mga kaibigan dahil sa kakaunting oras na nakakasama niya ang mga ito dahil sa busy schedule niya, at sa ipit niyang situwasyon kina Bamboo at Matt, ay di niya napigilang umiyak kay Ana nuong isang lingo matapos ang prod number nila ni Bamboo kasama si Billy at KZ.

Naisip niyang tama siguro ang pagiwas na ginagawa sa kaniya ni Bamboo upang makalimutan nila ang nararamdaman para sa isa't isa, pero di niya talaga mapigilan ang sakit.

Saktong napadaan din si Martin at Gary ng makita nilang umiiyak si Sarah nung linggong yon.

Sa sobrang sikip ng dibdib niya sa dinadalang problema ay di niya sinasadyang maamin ng situwasyon nila ni Bamboo, habang humahagulgol.

"Sir Gary, sir Martin", sabi ni Sarah, ng tanungin siya kung ba't siya umiiyak. "Bukod sa stress na pinagdaraanan ko po kase ngayun, nalilito po kase ako sa nararamdaman ko para kina Bamboo at Matt."

"Anu iha?', pagtataka ni Gary. "Bakit si Bamboo?" Nagkatinginan sina Gary at Martin.

"Kase po, nagtapat po sakin ng feelings niya si Bamboo", pagpapaliwanag niya, "nuong umamin siya sa publiko na single na ulit siya.. Dahil gusto po sana niya kong ligawan nun. Kaso... Kaso by that time eh nasagot ko na po si Matt."

It took a few moments bago nagsink in kina Gary at Martin ang mga sinabi ni Sarah.

"Look, baby Sarah", sabi ni Martin, "why would you get confused, you can just, refuse Bamboo and tell him you're in a relationship now with Matt... Not unless you also have feelings for him?"

Di nakasagot si Sarah na siya naman nagpa - confirm ng totoo niyang nararamdaman.

"Iha, I know that's a hard situation", sabi ni Gary, "of course it's not gonna be easy, pero think about, ha... Whatever your decision may be, meron at meron kang masasaktan sa kanila. Ang tama lang na gawin is yung piliin mo ang mas matimbang sa puso mo. Kase it will be unfair kung hahayaan mong umasa sa wala yung hindi mo naman mahal, you get what I mean? Kapag pinili mo yung hindi mo mahal, sinaktan mo na nga yung mahal mo, sasaktan mo pa yung pinapaasa mo. Pati ikaw mismo, masasaktan."

Martin took a deep breath at lumuhod sa harapan ni Sarah. "What I can see now, is someone who loves Bamboo. You might have also come to love Matt, pero you wouldn't be in this situation now, if you don't love Bamboo, more." At nagtinginan ulit sila ni Gary.

"Where's Mommy D by the way?", tanong ni Gary.

"May meeting po sila ni Daddy sa resto", mahinang sagot ni Sarah.

Martin was already calling her mom at sinabi, "Doncha worry, tito Gary and I will take you home nalang. I'll tell your mom." Sabay lingon kay Gary.

Gary nodded. "That's right, iha. You need to rest." And then he asked Ana to gather Sarah's stuff, with a smile.

While on the drive to her house, Martin asked Sarah, "Baby girl, I hope it's alright. But I'd like to speak to Bamboo about this."

"Me, too", sabi rin ni Gary.

"Ha? Naku, wag na po", muntik na magpanic si Sarah.

"Don'worry", Martin reassured her, "I got a plan. You need to talk. Juz the two of you. Nang hindi dapat malaman ni Matt. You need to sort out your feelings, Sarah. The sooner it's done, the better for the three of you."

"Tama ang tito Martin mo, Sarah", sabi ni Gary, "you need to work it out with Bamboo first. Hindi yung katulad ng naikuwento mo samin kanina, yung tipong pakiramdaman lang kayo. You need to talk. Seriously."

"I think after the network's christmas special would be perfect, doncha think?", suggested Martin.

Soon after, naabutan nila sa christmas specuial rehearsal si Bamboo. And Martin and Gary approaced him.

"Bamboo, can we have a minute with you?", asked Gary.

Napatingin bigla si Bamboo at nagulat ng bahagya kina Martin at Gary na bigla na lamang sumulpot sa harapan niya. He looked from one guy to another. They looked serious.

He cleared his throat. "Ah, sure Sir Gary. What can I do?"

"We know about you and Sarah", Martin blurted out. Gary glared at him, obviously that wasn't how they planned to start the convo :)

Bamboo stared at these two pillars of the music industry, and he couldn't seem to comprehend what they wanted from him.

"Bamboo", Gary began, "the thing is, we've spoken to Sarah a week ago."

"And don't get us wrong", singit ni Martin, "she was crying and all that and we just asked what's going on, and she suddenly burst into more tears while spilling your secret. It's not like we had an inkling or something. We didn't. Not at all. And please don't think bad of her for telling us. We were the ones who wanted to talk to you because dude, we hated to see her suffering like that. Like, ever."

Natanga lang si Bamboo. Pati si Gary. Ang daldal talaga ni concert king, hohoho.

"So what is it that you want me to do, sir?", Bamboo said slowly. "I am sorry to hear that she's suffering, pero if you think, sir, na lalayuan ko si Sarah.... I can't do that. No. I won't do that." He smiled pero it didn't reached his eyes. He can understand that these two, most respected icons in the music industy have loved Sarah in all her years in the business, but he stood his ground. He will not back down. Not now. Not ever. If the love her, well, he loves her more.

Gary and Martin stared at him for a moment, as if contemplating what they will be doing next. Then they looked at each other and grinned.

"Don'forget then", Martin suddenly burst out, "after christmas special program, whatever the time it will end, at the parking lot, my car. Or Gary's ok? We'll be there with Sarah. Matt's gonna be pesent at the program, too, so we need to be careful, ok?", sabay hila kay Gary. Si Gary naman ay wala nang nasabi. Obviously once again, that wasn't how they planned to tell Bamboo tungkol sa paguusap nila ni Sarah.

Bamboo just stared at them, rooted on his spot. After a while, everything seemed to make sense. And he grinned.