Chasing You (On Hold)

Chapter 1

She has lymph nodes! How are we supposed to continue the band if our vocalist has lymph nodes?!

"Ikaw nalang muna Isla," Suhestiyon ni Taylor, I immediately swung my head side to side. Kumakanta naman ako, pero ang pagdudrum talaga ang passion ko, I started playing the drums when I was 6 years old. My mom is a musician, and a music teacher. While my dad owns the largest music company in the Philippines.

And, me? Isla Gabrielle Andrada, is a musician at heart. I play the harp, and I also play the violin. I play a little bit of guitar and piano. I dedicated most of my life to music, having graduated from Juilliard which was about 2 years ago.

"Why not Gabbie? You have a great voice!" Sabi pa ni Debby, humilig ako sa inuupuan ko at napabuntong-hininga.

"Pero ayaw ko namang maging vocalist. Can we just hire a new one then? Sayang naman kasi yung gig natin sa Retro Vibe, they have a pretty decent offer there." Sabi ko at nakita kong umirap si Debby. Probably frustrated.

"Kaya nga pinipilit ka naming maging vocalist eh. If we hire a new one, it will put us in an awkward situation. Paano pag naka-recover na si Taylor sa nodes niya? Anong gagawin natin sa bagong vocalist? Give her an early pay? Tsaka kunin lang natin siya pag kailangan natin?" Ani Debby. Point taken.

"I still don't want to be the vocalist though." They all groaned at my answer.

"Isla Gabrielle, hindi tayo gagamit ng mga tao. Yes, hindi naman sa ganon. Pero paano pag ma-misinterpret niya tayo? Were better off without new people in the group, and were better off as you being our lead vocalist for a little while." Sabi ni Paula, pero bigla namang nawala dahil sa isang phone call.

"I'll think about it, kailan ka ba gagaling diyan sa nodes mo Tay?" Tanong ko kaya napatingin naman kaming dalawa ni Debby sa kaniya.

"Sabi ng doktor hindi naman very serious yung case ng lymph nodes ko. So, it may take a month or so for it to completely heal? Yun naman yung sabi niya, at kapag kakanta daw ako it will just make it worse. So, yeah."

Eh ano na ang gagawin namin? Nang pabalik na si Paula ay parang umiba ang mood niya. Napakunot naman ang noo ko.

"Oh, anong nangyari sayo? Ang putla mo bigla." Sambit ni Debby, she slumped on the couch at huminga ng malalim.

"My family is deciding to migrate to Canada next month. Naghahanda na raw sila ng mga papeles namin, at kailangan na daw naming mag-empake. Guys, I don't want to leave!" Nangangaligid na ang luha sa mata ni Paula kaya tinabihan namin siya.

Mas malala pa ito kaysa sa lymph nodes ni Taylor. Ugh, the situation just got worse.

Hinagod ko ang likod niya, and she started crying. Huminga naman ako ng malalim.

"It's going to be alright Pau. I've been there, done that. Alam kong kaya mo, kaya magpakatatag ka." Tumango naman si Debby.

We formed our band when we were in highschool, at naging malapit at matalik kaming magkaibigan dahil doon. Palagi kaming sumasali sa mga singing contest sa school, at minsan sa bayan. Nakaipon rin kami ng 15,000 dahil sa mga napanalunan naming mga paligsahan.

But, sadly our band went on a hiatus when we stepped to college. I went to Juilliard, Paula went to Ateneo, Debby studied at the University of Melbourne in Australia, habang si Taylor naman ay nag-aral sa University of the East dito sa Pilipinas. We were apart for almost six years, and two years ago we decided to do gigs again.

Magsasalita pa sana ako nung tumayo si Taylor at tumikhim, napatingin kaming tatlo sa kaniya.

"Guys, I think we should call it off." Dead silence. Walang may nagsalita sa aming tatlo.