Why Can't It Be?

Chapter 35 - The Elopement

Maingay na sa loob ng dressing room. I could barely understand the call.

"Li, sorry. Hindi ko talaga alam na kasama din siya sa benefit concert na yan. Nagulat na lang ako ng marinig ko mula sa organizer eh." I was on the phone with Ate Pure.

Kanina lang namin nalaman na may changes sa program ng show here in Nueva Ecija. Iyon ang benefit concert na kinabibilangan namin ni Jan among other artists ng ABC SBN.

Initially, I was supposed to do two songs na solo and three songs na duet namin ni Jan until it was changed earlier today. Ngayong umaga lang namin nalaman during rehearsals na instead of three duet namin ni Jan ay isa na lang daw. Apparently, they replaced the other two with Jan and Penelope's song and dance number.

I let out a breath out of exhaustion from these unending issues concerning Penelope.

Hindi pa alam din ni Jan dahil wala pa siya sa venue. I did not call him yet. I'm sure malalaman rin niya mamaya ang tungkol dito.

I pressed the bridge of my nose. I don't want to be this stressed out. I really wanted to enjoy this benefit concert lalo na at ngayon pa lang kame magkakasama ni Jan sa concert stage.

"Just wait and I'll talk to the organizer--"

"Don't bother Ate Pure." I stopped her.

"Huh?"

"Okay na. Kaya ko na to. Sundin na lang natin. Total para naman to sa mga bata." I said lastly. Ayaw ko lang na magkaroon ng problema sa concert na to kung saan dapat ay para ito sa mga batang may sakit. For their sake, I will let this pass.

"Lila, call me if anything happens okay?" bilin ni Ate Pure sa akin.

"Okay po."

"O sige na, bigay mo muna phone kay Julie at may mga bilin pa ako." sabi niya.

Agad ko naman nilahad kay Ate Julie ang phone. "Ate..."

She took it from me and brought it to her ear "Hello, Ate Pure? Ahh...opo, andito na kame sa dressing room ni Lila. Ahh, hindi pa po. Di ko pa po nakikita. Sige po, sige po uupdate ko kayo agad. Sesend na lang ako nung pictures sa Viber. Sige po. Bye." binalik na sa akin ni Ate ang phone pagkatapos.

"Li, may check lang ako sa labas ha." paalam niya sa akin.

"Sige po Ate." sagot ko "Ahm Ate,I need water po."

"Okay sige, balik ako agad." sabi niya sa akin. I smiled at her. Gusto ko makainom ng gamot. Sumakit bigla ang ulo ko eh. Probably because of that early stress brought to me by Penelope.

Few minutes passed and Ate Julie came back with a worried expression on her face.

"Li, may isa pa tayong problema." she told me.

"What? Again? Anong problema Ate?" lumingon ako sa kanya habang inaayusan na ako ni Honey.

"Nag message sa akin yung isa sa mga admin nung fans club mo, hindi daw sila pinapapasok na." Ate Julie said while looking at her phone. Pinakita niya sa akin ang conversation nila sa Viber.

"What? Bakit?" I asked as I scrolled the messages.

"Ang sabi daw sa kanila. Nagka overbooking nung seats. Nadoble doble daw and now wala ng available na seats for them." she explained.