It was another night at a provincial open food park for a 23-year-old busker named Cielo Vergara. She had been invited by the manager yet again to perform a set for the customers who were coming in and out, be it sets of families, a group of friends, or even solo-goers.
But this night was different than any other, "May darating daw na bisita, balita ko recording artist siya sa Maynila, hindi ko lang sure kung anong oras siya saktong pupunta. Basta kapag may nakita kang artistahin na babae at maraming kasama, siya yun.", the manager told her in a corner just before she went on stage. She chuckled at the thought of searching the audience just for that specific girl yet she was curious on who it was.
"Good evening po sainyong lahat, ako po si Cielo Vergara and I'll be playing for you tonight, sit down, relax, and enjoy the music po.", her usual greeting before settling down in her high chair, laying out her guitar case just enough for her feet to have some room when she needed to rest for a moment.
Every night, she would strum the usual songs that she played on her acoustic guitar, each song conveying a message that spoke her inner most thoughts, particularly that of her recent heartbreak. She had broken up with her partner of 2 years when she had found out he'd been cheating on her, unaware that he hooked up with another woman just before their anniversary.
The night grew deeper and the audience frequently glanced up at Cielo as her soothing voice echoed through the speakers of the venue. "This'll be my last song for tonight, so I hope you enjoy.", she spoke softly into the microphone after taking a sip from the glass of water handed to her after her second to the last song earlier. "Ito na yung huling kantang na gagawin ko tungkol sa'yo", she thought to herself before taking a deep breath and began strumming.
Eto na naman ako
Nahuhulog para sa 'yo
'Di na 'ko magpapaalam
Ikaw ang sagot sa patlang
Naalala mo pa ba
No'ng tayo'y unang nagkita?
Sa ilalim ng ilaw
Mundo ko'y 'di na gumalaw
Just then, a young woman in a white shirt and flowy pants combo, with a leather varsity jacket walked into the venue, with a few close friends by her side. "Wow, sinong kumakanta, ang ganda naman ng boses niya.", she asked as she glanced around by the speakers.
"Ayan po siya sa taas, kumakanta po yan samin dito gabi-gabi. Would you like to meet her po pagkatapos ng set niya, Ms. Maggie?", the manager said as he pointed to the direction of the singer on stage.
As she looked up, her eyes immediately locked on her, Cielo.
Cielo took notice of this, at first she was a little bothered by the sudden eyes, but instead she looked back at her for a brief moment and nodded, acknowledging her presence with a little smile. In her eyes, she was a new face in the place she frequented.
In Maggie's eyes, it was not just the looks that attracted her, but her voice that had this way that could make her feel every lyric, every verse that came out of her mouth. The raw emotions and the way she conveyed a song's message with every strum of her guitar.
"Kahit ako na po mamaya, gusto ko lang po muna pakinggan boses niya.", Maggie said, not taking her eyes off of Cielo as she settled into her seat. "Uy ikaw Mags ha, baka mamaya ma-fall ka nanaman sa kung sino mang singer na nakakuha ng atensyon mo", one of her guy friends teased. "Huy, hindi ah, hindi ba pwedeng na-appreciate ko lang yung talent nung tao."
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With Love, Magnolia | Macolet AU
FanfictionA short MaColet AU wherein Cielo (🐺) is a well-known busker at an open foodpark in Vigan, when suddenly she makes eye contact with Magnolia (🐼) who was the first audience member to place money on her guitar case after her set.
