It started in the Rain

19

I am here sa concert ng dati kong choir, they have new members and younger members na that sings so good.

There are a lot of people here na nanunuod sa kanilang anniversary concert. I am so proud na ang layo na ng narating nila.

I wipe my tears and focus on watching their performance.

Kasama ko ang family ko na manuod, I asked them na panuorin namin yung concert as a family.

They are performing yung kanta na lagi naming kinakanta noon, and I am always the solo.

I am surprised at napaiyak lalo nang iplay nila ang boses ko and they did the harmony, they did not gave it to anyone in the choir.

"They still think of you" Mommy said.

Pinunasan ko ang luha ako para makapagfocus sa panunuod. Nakakailang punas na ko pero patuloy lang sa pagbuhos ang luha ko.

After that performance, our Maestro get a mic and talked with the audience.

"If you are all wondering po kung kaninong boses ang nag-play, she's one of the best sopranos we have ever known since she was young and until now. Sorry, naiiyak ako. Because that girl is very close to our hearts, she's so humble, kind, gorgeous. Parang nasa kanya na ang lahat. She's our sunshine, kumbaga po, binigyan nys ng buhay ang choir namin, sya ang bunso namin noon, kaya super special ng batang ito kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanya at sa pamilya nila, hindi namin mararating kung ano kami ngayon. While planning and preparing for this concert, itong kanta po na ito ay kumbaga theme song ng choir namin, and sa kanya ko inassign ang solo part and she amazed all of us. So habang nagpiprepare kami for this concert, we had an audition internally sa choir, para malaman kung sino ang susunod na magsosolo nun, but, unfortunately, I mean all of them are so amazing, but, that solo only fits her voice. So, as our way of saying that we are proud of her, hindi namin pinakanta ang solo sa kahit na sino and just played the recorded solo of her. We love you so much, Gigi"

Lalo akong naiyak dahil sa sinabi ni maestro.

Habang patuloy ang concert, napadaan sa side namin si Mira, one of the alto.

"Bebe Gi?"

"Ate, hush ka muna kay maestro"

"I'm so happy you're here"

"I'm proud of all of you, Ate" I said.

"Punta ka sa backstage mamaya ah"

"Opo"

We hugged each other and bumalik na sya sa backstage.

AFTER THE CONCERT, my family told me that they'll wait for me sa labas, si I put on a mask and went backstage.

I look for maestro and found him talking with the choir.

They are looking at me na parang ang weird ko and ang random ko.

"Ay yes po? Do you want to join the choir?" Tanong ni maestro.

"Would you accept me po?" I asked and take off my mask

Yung mga old memberz and si maestro, nagulat nang makita ako.

"Oh my gosh! Bebe Gi?"

"Yes, Maestro. I am Bebe Gi" I said and hugged him.

Lahat ng old members pumunta sa amin and nag-group hug.

"Our Bebe Gigi! Our bunso!" they said.

Si Maestro naiiyak na, actually halos lahat kami nag iiyakan na.

"Oh my gosh! Ang ganda ganda mo parin"

"Si Maestro naman eh. Of course mana sa mga kuya at ate ko" I said and smiled.

"Wait lang, ahm, to introduce, yung narinig niyong boses kanina, sa kanya yun. We call her Bebe Gigi our bunso, sya yung tinutukoy ko sa speech ko kanina. So, these are the new members, and everyone, meet Gigi Diaz, I mean, Engineer Gigi Diaz, one of the best sopranos in town and one of the best engineer globally" Maestro said proudly.

"Hello to all of you, you sound so so good. I was at the back the whole concert, and you all did very very amazing" I complimented.

"Hello po" bati nila

"Babalik ka na bebe?" Ate Des asked.

"Do I still have a place here?" I shyly asked.

"You always have, bunso" Maestro said.

"Gigi is finally back!!!!" They said and we grouped hug. Isinali na namin yung mga bago.

"Wait wait wait" I said and broke the hug.

Lahat sila natigil at nakikinig sa akin.

"So, regarding the concert. Ahm, I need to confess something"

"Ano yon?"

"Alam ko po kasi na hindi ka papayag, Maestro. So I hid it, the concert was sponsored by me, not really me, but, my company. I wanted to do it for you all, especially you Maestro, you've done so much to us. Plus, as a gift for such an amazing and successful concert. Here po" I said and gave him the key.

"Ano to, anak?"

"The key to our new home. The key to our new rehearsal studio. Para hindi na laging dito nagpapractice dahil may times na pinapatayan na tayo ng ilaw and aircon, at least, may sarili na tayong studio para mas makapag-rehearse ng maayos po. It's for all of us" I said.

Naiyak si Maestro sa sinabi ko.

"Actually this concert, ginawa namin to oara makakuha ng funds pampagawa ang maliit na studio at makabili ng bagong keyboard and uniform again"

"Sa studio po natin, lahat kumpleto na. Yung funds just use it para sa mga new uniforms po" I said.

Naiyak na naman sila at niyakap ako.

Pagkatapos namin mag-iyakan, nagsalita si Maestro.

"Ok, great job again for tonight, everyone. Pahinga tayo and we'll see each other again next week in our new studio. Send the address sa GC, Gigi. Ibabalik na kita sa group chat"

"Noted po" I said.

Umalis narin ako dahil nga hinihintay ako nila Mommy sa labas.