Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 29

Consistent efforts and hardwork.

Iyon siguro ang masasabi kong sangkap kung may magtatanong man sa akin paano ko nakuha o makukuha ang mga bagay na gusto kong makamtan. May oras na kailangan magpahinga pero hindi dapat maiisip na tumigil. Success is surely a long run, but quitting won't speed it up. It will never be. I rather choose to fail a lot of times. I'm going to keep failing until I either succeed or fail for the last time.

"Solaire! Oh my God! Akala ko male-late ka! Super daming tao kanina sa labas ng university!" Phoeia Amaranth hysterically exclaimed.

She's still my classmate even though we are in college already. Pare-parehas lang kami ng degree program na kinuha nina Cosette at Harriet pero nasa mas mataas silang section. I smiled when Ranti's tone was a mixture of overwhelmed and amusement. Maging ako ay hindi rin maitago ang ganoong emosyon.

I took a deep breath to get some oxygen. Nanghihina kong binaba ang backpack at journal na hawak sa aking desk. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang klase pero pawisan na ako at pagod na pagod. It's not that I'm complaining though. Worth it naman lahat nang kadugyutan ko ngayong umaga.

Guess what happened?

Sea of people were waiting for me outside the university! They are not just an ordinary people, they said they're my fans — fans who asked for a picture and autograph with me. Kaya halos ma-late ako ngayon sa klase para pagbigyan silang lahat. First-time ko maranasan na may mag-abang sa akin na ganoon karami para magbigay ng suporta at papuri dahil nagustuhan nila ang bago kong nilabas na album.

It's just a week since I released my newest.

I couldn't believe it.

They are my fans?

My fans!

"Solaire, congrats! Na-LSS ako sa Sounds like Summer. Ang galing mo. Walang patapon ni isang track sa album mo!"

Tila nawala ang pagod ko sa sumunod na narinig mula sa aking kaklase na kapapasok lang. May iba na binati rin ako ng congratulations. I control myself not to get emotional. They... like it? They have already listened to it? Really? At walang patapon ni isang kanta mula sa "Seasons of You" album ko?

"Uy, mas nakaka-hooked Autumn Afternoons! Pero favorite ko sa lahat Snowcastle. I hope you'll release its stripped version, Solaire..." singit ng isa na nasa aking bandang likuran kaya namilog ang mata ko. She likes my music? I didn't expect she's listening to the 21st-century music genre. Ang alam ko, piece lang ni Mozart at Beethoven ang gusto niya.

"Thank you, guys..." naiiyak kong saad nang paulanan pa ako ng papuri ng iba. Ang ibang kaklase ko naman ay sinabing papakinggan nila mamaya.

"Shit, I think this is it, Air! Baka ito na ang bigbreak na hinihintay mo. Sobrang galing talaga nang pagkaka-compose. Lahat favorite ko!" masayang sabi sa akin ni Ranti at pinakita sa akin ang kanyang cellphone. Nanubig ang aking mata nang makita na naka-liked lahat ng kanta ko. May Spotify playlist na rin siya na ginawa.

That morning, I spent my time saying my gratitude for the praises and greetings I received from my schoolmates and professors. Parang kailan lang na umiiyak pa ako kay alexius dahil sa anxiety.

I'm so scared to release my second album. Baka kasi walang masyadong makinig ulit. My first single entitled 18th of April is a flop. Then, the second single created a controversy because I used some metaphor related to science. Pero dahil hindi naman ako matalino at nakalimutan na ang lesson noon, mali ang pagkakagamit ko kaya nagkaroon ng issue.

While my first album "Paper cranes" that has 16 tracks got a recognition but not as much. Tapos ngayon, natulog lang ako... kinabukasan madami nang sumisigaw ng pangalan ko sa labas ng university? Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nangyayari ito sa isang iglap.