Mercedez 3: Wildfire Games

15

Vanished

I walked through the hallway, holding the evaluation papers of each trainee in my hand. Tumutunog pa ang high heels ko kada hakbang.

Kasunod ko naman ang mga trainers, executives ng company, managers ng natitirang Team A trainees at si Zairus.

Zairus was telling me the important notes about the trainees. Kung ano ang notable improvements nila at ang mga kailangan pa'ng iimprove.

Majority naman sa kanila ay consistent. Minsan, naaawa na ako kasi ramdam ko ang pressure for them. But this is how it works in the real world. Kung hindi ko sila sasanayin ngayon pa lang, baka kakalabas pa lang nila, give up na kaagad. They have to be steel-strong.

I looked at the dance studios where the trainees usually train. May anim na kwarto sa floor na 'to. Limang dance studios for each designated team. At ang isa ay kung saan sila kinakausap ng mga psychologists nila. I always make sure that they aren't just healthy physically, but also emotionally ang psychologically.

The rooms were soundproof kaya hindi namin sila naririnig sa hallway. There is a bulletin board na sobrang agaw pansin. Naroon ang standing ng mga trainees and also some sticky notes written and pasted by them.

I made a small smile when I was able to scan one. We can do this, guys! All for our dream. Laban!

Nakakatuwa.

They are still just as inspired as how they were when they auditioned. Mukhang mas inspired pa nga eh. Kasi ramdam nila na papalapit na sila sa pagkamit ng pangarap nila. And, I am proud of them.

"I'll open it for you, boss madame."

Hinayaan ko na si Zairus na mauna sa pagbukas ng dance studio ng Team A. He opened the door widely kaya kaagad kong natanaw ang mga trainees na sumasayaw habang maiging pinapanood ng kanilang choreographer.

There were three camera men with them, taking videos and documentation in different angles.

Sabay sabay silang napahinto nang matanaw kaming nasa pinto. I even saw their instant panic. Kaagad ding nahinto ang music.

I flashed a smile in hopes of calming them down.

Anim na lamang sila. Sa nakalipas na buwan ay hindi nagtagumpay ang isang trainee. I value consistency and she wasn't able to be one. Nabalitaan ko rin na nagka boyfriend iyon kaya napapadalas ang pag slack off sa praktis. Huli na nang malaman namin.

It's part of the contract and they were aware na bawal muna ang magka boyfriend habang nagtitrain sila. This is a very crucial stage ng kanilang pangarap. Dito nakasalalay kung may career ba talaga silang kababagsakan.

And because she didn't follow that clause sa contract, wala kaming choice kundi ang i-breach iyon at pauwiin siya.

But I know she has a potential. Kaya naman, I called this person I know who owns another label. I recommended her to them. And because they had my word, they didn't think twice anymore. Alam nila ang kapasidad ng mga trainees ko kaya swerte sa kanila na makakuha ng isa from us. Not to mention that that girl was from Team A. Hindi sila lugi.

Kaya naman alam ko na mas napressure ang natitirang trainees sa Team A pagkatapos no'n. Although, hindi ko naman intensyon, natuwa na rin ako dahil nakita ko kung ano pa ang kaya nilang gawin para sa kanilang mga pangarap.

Isa isa ko silang sinipat. Lahat sila ay kuryusong nakatingin sa akin at sa mga kasama ko. Nakasiklop ang mga kamay sa harap man o likod nila. Tuwid ang tayo at nakaabang sa sadya ko.

This isn't a monthly evaluation. This is a surprise evaluation na pati ang choreographer nila ay hindi nanotify. I wanted to see their raw improvements. And we've done this before, lalo na kung papalapit na ang debut. It will also be part of the documentary.