The Talented Young Lady

C 03

Chapter Three: Kanta

"GOOD AFTERNOON talented, intelligent, and humble students! I am your DJ Cathy! I hope you're having a great day and eating a healthy lunch. Anyway, because it's our first day of school today, I know some of you are transferee, so ang iba sa inyo ay hindi pa nakakakilala kay 'Young Lady' na kakanta maya-maya. So let me introduce her to you." energetic na panimula ni Ate Cathy pagka-air namin.

Buti nalang nalate din siya sa pagdating kaya hindi niya ako napagalitan. Kung nagkataon na nauna siya dito, sesermonan na naman niya ako, time is gold kasi para sa kanya kaya dapat five minutes early or exact call time ang dating ko dito.

Narito ako ngayon sa isang kwarto at nakaupo sa gitna and in front of me is a big transparent glass, kitang-kita ko mula dito si Ate Cathy. Nakasuot sa akin ngayon ang headphone at nasa harap ko naman condenser microphone. Naghihintay ng signal ni ate para makapagsimula na akong kumanta.

"Young Lady's identity is hidden and we are not allowed to mention her real name. It's not because we want to hide it, it's because she wanted it. Pero bibigyan ko kayo ng hint about her identity. She is a seventeen years old senior high student, and a beautiful young lady." kumindat siya sa akin kaya napairap ako at tumawa ng mahina. "At diyan na nga nagtatapos, alam kong bitin kayo sa pagpapakilala ko sa kanya pero hanggang dyan lang ang pwede kong sabihin. She will sing two songs for today. By the way, later I will announce something important so stay tuned everyone."

Sumenyas siya sa akin na magsisimula na kaya napaayos ako ng upo at huminga ng malalim. Kahit ilang taon na akong kumakanta kinakabahan pa rin ako, siguro ito yung sinasabi nila na kahit na gaano mo na katagal it ginagawa ay hindi talaga mawawalang kabahan ka. Dahil palagi mong iniisip na 'magustuhan kaya nila ang boses?' 'paano kung ayaw nila sa boses ko?' 'paano kung huhusgahan nila ako?'.

"So now let's hear her angelic and beautiful voice." sabi niya. At pinatugtug na nga niya ang music na kakantahin ko. Huminga ako ng malalim at nagsimula nang kumanta.

"You came in my life in a flash of lightning

Tried covering my eyes but there's no use in hiding

This feeling has stuck and I couldn't change it

If I, if I tried"

Habang kinakanta ko ang first stanza ay sumagi sa isip ko yung lalaking transferee scholar. I don't know but I felt something very strange when I laid my first glance on him. It's just something I never felt before. It's a weird feeling for me, it's a strange feeling.

"My heart skips a beat when you walk in the room

I feel something changing when it's me and you

I can't hold it in though it's only begun

Wanna scream from the top of my lungs"

I don't know but I think it's the same thing I felt earlier. Yung paghinto sandali ng puso ko at parang nagslow motion ang paligid. Hindi ko masabi kung ano ito.

Sige lang, Cali. Magmaang-maangan ka pa na hindi mo alam kung ano ang naramdaman mo kanina.

"This is the start of something so right

Suddenly all of the stars have aligned

In the right place at the right time

This is the start of something so right"

I closed my eyes and felt every word that was coming out from my mouth and listened to the music that was playing.