Lights, Camera and Alden Richards ➣ AlDub/MaiChard

one

MAY 2016 

Music is something that Maine Mendoza could not live without.

She didn't know how she could survive life without music. Music was her everything—her escape, her healing, her source of happiness, her life. It was cliché, but it was true. While other people invested themselves in hobbies that could actually help them immensely improve—like reading, playing sports, writing—and in things that were genuinely productive, Maine liked to sit in a corner, close her eyes and indulge herself to music. She always listened to music; even when she cleaned her room or read a book her best friend lent her, she listened to music. It's almost as if she never had moments when she didn't listen to music. Even when she was in a crowded place, she always had music playing in her mind without music actually being played around her. 

"You ready, Meng?" Tristan asked through the microphone outside the recording booth. Maine nodded and moved closer to the microphone in front of her. "Isang take ulit sa chorus, sa last part."

Maine took a deep breath in, closed her eyes and waited for the minus one to get to the part where she needed to sing.

"Oh, everything's so clear," she sang. "I've got you standing here. It's time for me to let you know that I can't let this chance go by; I need you in my life. Five more words I'll say to show that all, all I wanted was, all I wanted was you."

She removed her headphones and gave Tristan, who was clapping with her best friend Faye, a thumbs up. The moment she stepped out of the booth, Faye ran to give her a bone-crushing hug.

"Shocks, Meng, ang galing mo!" Faye exclaimed and let go. "Did you write that with Jacob?"

"Oo," Maine smiled. "You should hear him sing it, mas bagay niya."

"Oh sya, go and rest muna Meng while I talk to Jade over the phone about the song." Tristan suggested. Maine nodded and walked towards the lounge with Faye.

"Bakit wala si Jacob? He should be here diba? Since he writes the songs for you," Faye asked.

"He had to pick his sister up from the airport, galing sa New York," Maine replied. She was about to elaborate when her phone obnoxiously rang. 

"Bes, palitan mo na 'yang ringtone mo." Maine laughed at Faye's remarked and answered the phone.

It was Kim Anderson, her manager. 

When Maine only sang on her bathroom and in front of her camera for Youtube, Kim had discovered her. She still remembers singing Ho Hey by The Lumineers on camera and how one day, she received an e-mail from Kim. Kim had introduced herself as an employee of Supernova Records. At first, Maine didn't believe it. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, telling herself that this was just some stupid guy out there who wanted to prank her and just ignored the message. But then she noticed that a week after the e-mail, the number of subscribers and views she normally had, had increased immensely. From having only 89 subscribers, it went to 3087 in just a week. She then realized that Kim Anderson was legitimately an employee of Supernova Records. Apparently, she was the reason why Angel Tuazon, an extremely famous singer, was discovered, hence explaining why a lot of people knew her. Kim tweeted the link to her channel, telling her followers to check her covers out because she was great. Maine still remembers crying that day and calling her long-time best friend, Jacob dela Rosa, only to cry even more. Kim had offered her a record deal with Supernova Records and that's where her singing career had started.

"Hi, ate Kim," Maine politely greeted. "Kakatapos ko lang pong i-record yung All I Wanted."

"That's good to hear, Meng!" Kim excitedly replied from the other line. "I have a gig for you next week. It's a beach party, so you're going to fly out to Pagudpud on Friday."