The Dealer

ii

I made my way towards the recording room. Hindi ko makakaila na mahal ko ang kwartong 'yon. Buhay ko rin 'yun. Yung passion ko nando'n.

Napangiti ako.

He was singing.

Sumilip ako sa pintuang medyo bukas lang.

He was there on his white shirt and skinny black jeans.

He sung the the same line. "Aish!" Ginulo niya yung buhok niya hanggang sa napatingin siya sa'kin.

Naghahanda na ako ng pambara sa kanya pero hindi niya ako kinibo. Instead, he gazed back to his sheet in front of him.

Akala ko mambabara siya.

Babasagin ko na sana ang katahimikan pero kumanta ulit siya.

Looks like it is the same phrase he sung a while ago.

Akala ko mahihiya siyang kumanta.

Akala ko mananahimik na lang ulit siya.

Pero hindi.

Nilapitan ko siya. High stool ang inuupuan niya.

May extra sa gilid niya kaya doon ako umupo.

As I wandered, doon ko na-realize kung gaano siya ka-organized na tao. Walang kalat. Lahat nasa ayos.

May drumset, guitars... electric man o acoustic. May recording studio sa kadikit na room na hiniwalay lang by a clear transparent glass.

Napangiti ako sa nakikita ko.

Nilingon ko siya, and he was staring right back at me.

Matutuwa ba ako? Kakabahan? Mag-aaral na ba ako ng tae kwon do?

O mag-aaral ako ng psychology?

Nababaliw na ako. Ako yata ang kailangan ipadala sa psychologist!

Eh papaano ba naman! Paglingon ko nakangiti siya sakin.

《》

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Dumiretso sa upuan sa tabi niya.

"So... this is the song you have been working on?"

"I'm not really good in speaking English." He struggled. He looked at me-

Teka. Bakit parang passionate slash slow-mo feels ang datingan ng pagkukuwento ko?!

Okay. Edi ayon. Nakatingin nga siya sa'kin. Oo, malagkit. Mapang-akit. Nakakamatay. Nakakalaglag pan-

Never mind. Joke lang 'yon.

Tinaasan ko ng kulay at ngumuso. "Okay. As long as we understand each other." I smiled. "Uhm. Trisha Castillo, by the way." I offered my left hand to his.

Kanang kamay ang inilahad niya. I shifted to offer my right. "Jung Joon Young.. from Jung Joon Young Band." Nagkamayan kami. Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa sheet na nakapatong sa sheet stand.

"Oh." Napasinghap na lang ako.

"Uh.." Napakunot siya. "H-how can you help me-"

"*first line and second line then translation". I smiled back at him.

"I graduated as an Asian Studies student." I tried to not look arrogant or mapagmalaki sa kurso ko o sa kakayahan ko. He analyzed for a while.

"Let's go back to work?" I suggested. Nginitian ko na lang siya.

He was back on his business again.

Kinanta niya ulit ang first two lines. Nakapikit ako habang pinapakinggan ko. Nawala ako sa langit nang bigla na naman siyang nag-curse dahil hindi niya madugtungan.

May dalawang microphone stands na nasa harap namin. Kinuha ko ang mga 'yon at iniharap sa amin ang tig-isa.

Nagtataka siya. Nginitian ko na lang. "You work better when there's a microphone."

He was about to speak nang inunahan ko na siya, "Sing again."

"I'm not a robot that you can order around." He said.

He adjusted his posture to reach the sheet.

He was about to rephrase the lines, when I stopped him.

Natigilan naman ako sa ginawa ko. And he was there just staring blankly at me. Hindi ko man lang maramdaman ang kahit na anong sensasyon o reaksyon mula sa kanya.

"H-he h-he." Sorry I didn't mean to. 'Yan sana ang sasabihin ko kaso this ain't an immature situation. "Your work looks fine. But, what is this song about?"

Umayos ako ng upo at gumilid siya ng upo paharap sa gawi ko. "You can't possibly write a song without a goal or story... I mean write a meaningful one..." I slowed down sa last sentence. I was trying to read his thoughts by his facial expression or body language, pero hindi nga pala ako psychic.

Mission failed.

"Sunset."

"Hmn?" Hindi ko inaasahan iyon. I leaned forward. Naghalumbaba ako.

He was like, "what?"

"Go on." I smiled. "Spit it out."

Naguluhan siya. "Spit? Spit...?"

"A-ah! No, no. It means to say what you think, express your thoughts."

Bago pa siya makasagot, "It's a sad song." I played with the ends of my long striped socks. Tiningnan ko ulit siya.

"Did you perhaps...?" Nanliliit na 'yung mata niyang nakakalunod tingnan. Ay. Haha. Joke. Yung mala-owl niyang mata pala.

"No, no. Ha-ha! I can tell by your face. It looked... sad?" Patanong kong sinabi ang huling salita.

"Haha! Impossible!"

"Which?" Tinignan ko siya ng seryoso sa mata. I was waiting for his gaze pero bago pa ako makapaghanda, he already met mine.

《》

Ehem.

May tumikhim. Oh, gosh.

Umiwas ako ng tingin, he didn't look away that easy.

"Uh, so what's the plan? Any progress? How was she?" X came towards us. Tinapik niya si Young para mabalik sa senses niya. Isa isang pumasok ang mga kasama namin. The crew surely looked surprised sa room na 'yon. It was indeed a professional kind.

It was an honor to be able to work with them.

I composed myself and said, "We're going to the beach tomorrow." Napatingin naman ang banda sa'kin na nagtataka't gulat, sabay baling kay Young, na mukhang wala talagang kaalam alam. Napatawa ako. "We have to be there before sunset." Nginitian ko siya. Napatawa na lang din siya due to amazement.

"Where is this beach?" Excited na tanong ni XXX.

Nag-inarte ako na parang naguguluhan. "Oh... Will we end up in a sunset scenario with no beach?"

Napakamot sila ng ulo.

"Just kidding." They were full of hope. "There's a shop selling inflattable swimming pool for kids on the other street." I winked.

Sabay-sabay naman silang nanlumo at parang nabagsakan ng sandamakmak na lupa at bato.

Napailing na lang ako. Paalis na ako ng silid pero tumigil ako sa pinto. "Just kidding. 6AM call time!"

Naglakad na ako palabas. Natatawa ako. Rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang hiyawan nila.

Oh, cad. Will things go as planned?

《》