The Phantom's Light

Prologue

D I S C L A I M E R

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the author's consent. Please obtain permission. Some scenes are based from true events. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination and real life experiences or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

~*~

"ELISHAH! You're on in 5 minutes!" Sigaw ni Ate Jessy---Manager ko--- nang bahagya siyang dumungaw sa binuksan niyang pinto ng dressing room ko.

Pinagmamasdan ko ang sariling repleksyon sa harap ng malaking salamin sa aking harap. Breathe in, breathe out. You can do this Eshi. Kaya mo t——

"Oh fuck this reporters!" Isang malakas na kalabog ng pinto ang narinig ko. Napalingon ako sa pumasok. Ate Jessy looks pissed. Yeah right, who wouldn't be?

Hawak niya ang cellphone niya at panay ang pindot niya doon. She was typing as if she's going to murder her phone. I'm sure it was the press again, asking for an interview. After that controversial issue spreading in the internet, the media kept on bugging me for a fucking interview from time to time.

Inayos ko ang damit ko at naglakad palabas ng dressing room ko patungong backstage. Sumunod naman sa likod ko si Ate Jessy. I already told her to stop worrying about that goddamn fake issue, actually wala akong pakialam kung paniwalaan yun ng maraming tao lalo ng mga fans ko. It was a lie, and I don't give a shit on that kind of stuffs pero no choice ako. If I want to save my career, I need to fix that and clear my name ASAP.

In the world I'm standing, only few people can be trusted.

Nagpakawala ako ng isang malalim na buntong hininga. Shake that shitty thoughts away. Enjoy. I can do this.

Nang mabanggit ang pangalan ako, tumapak ako sa stage nang may malapad na ngiti. Performing was always my escape mechanism, but stage wasn't always my haven. It never will be.

Havana oh na na
Half of my heart is in Havana oh na na
He took me back to East Atlanta oh na na
Oh, but my heart is in Havana
There's something 'bout his manners
Havana oh na na~

I danced through the rhythm of the music. I never practiced this song, I never practice--- well, maybe kapag kailangan ng back up dancers--- nakakasawa kasi kapag paulit-ulit na lang sinasayaw ang step. Pakiramdam ko nawawalan ng buhay at feelings ang bawat galaw ko. But tonight, I just danced like no one's watching.

I bowed nang matapos ang performance ko then umalis na ako sa stage. Tinignan ko ang wrist watch ko. 6:55 p.m.

Dumiretso muna ako sa Dressing room para makapag-palit ng damit. Plain white V-neck shirt, faded ripped jeans, and black wedged heels. Done.

Biglang sumulpot sa tabi ko si Ate Jessy na hawak ang phone niya. "7:30 p.m. You have a dinner with———"

"with Travis at Bon ton Platter. Yeah, I know." I said with a deadpan look. A slight smile curved her lips. Kingmother talaga, bakit pa kasi ako makikipag-dinner sa isang scumbag?

"Looks like you don't really need a manager anymore." Sabi niya sabay sandal sa hamba ng pintuan at pinagkrus ang braso.

Inirapan ko siya.'t bahagyang natawa. "I already told them before, I can handle myself. I don't need a manager---."