COME BACK TO ME, SLAVEN | #Wattys2019

Chapter 29 - And know she will never have her heart back again.

Naghihiyawang mga fans, masigabong palakpakan, nagkakagulong staffs sa backstage; make-up artists and wardrobe staffs na nag-aayos ng mga artista, utility at ilang backstage personnel na nag-aayos sa lighting at effects, sounds people at kung sino-sino pang alalay ang paroo't parito.

Pinipilipit ni Ella ang kamay, trying to ease tension away. Grabe-grabe ang panginginig niya. Kanina habang nagba-blocking palang sila at practice, hindi na nawawala ang kaba sa dibdib niya. It just builds up as time passes by, at unti-unting nagdatingan ang mga manonood.

May apat na number na ang dumaan including Slaven's sing and dance number "Lalala". Ngayon lang niya napatunayan na hindi lang pala ito magaling na singer, napaka-graceful din nitong dancer.

And now she's on cue waiting for their next number. Slaven is back on the stage singing his other oh-so-popular song 'I'm going crazy'. Right before that, he held her hand and spoke to her assuringly.

"This is the moment we've both been waiting for Ella. We will be singing the song the way it should be heard and understood. Right after this night Ella, when I have already straightened things out, I want you to be there. I need you to be there so I can be sure of how I really feel. Promise me." She didn't understand what he meant by that but when she looked at his beautiful chinito eyes, she nodded.

"Promise me." He begged again right before GD of B-Bang called him out from the main stage announcing his next number.

In the midst of the crowd screaming Slaven's name, she answered. "I promise."

"Thanks." She was once again caught off-guard when he hug her ever so tightly breathing in her scent before letting her go and appearing before the Korean crowd.

And here she is waiting for her cue. Ang alam niya, right after Slaven's solo number ay sila naman ang susunod with their duet of 'Come back to me'.

"Ella you're on standby." Inabot sa kanya ng floor director ang mic niya. At ch-in-eck ang earpiece at audio niya na nasa likuran ng wardrobe niya.

She's wearing a peach mini-dress na hanggang three inches above her knee, free flowing iyon, high-waisted emphasizing her curves. Nakataas ang buhok niya in an elegant bun with just a wisp of curls dangling on each side of her face. She's wearing the necklace Slaven gave her as a gift just before the concert started. May pendant iyon na hugis baliktad na number 7, na hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nakabaliktad. May nakaukit na Hanguk characters sa mismong pendant. Weird, but she felt attached to it. Subconsciously, she reaches for it and holds it in her hand.

Slaven finished the last part of the song 'I'm going crazy' and the people went wild when Slaven shouted in greeting.

"Anyeong haseyo! Are you enjoying the night?"

Hiyawan ulit ang mga fans na naroon sa Gangnam Theatre.

"I would like to grab this chance to thank every one of you for coming. For celebrating with us EL's twenty-fifth anniversary of giving music and entertainment to the whole world. In return, we promise you will enjoy this night and remember it as long as you live.

Thank you for my fans for supporting me all through the way, with my comeback and for always believing in me. With that, I am giving you the next song that I will be singing with somebody special to me --"

Nag-pause si Slaven dahil sobrang hiyawan na naman ang mga fans. Mas lalo naman'g hindi mapakali si Ella sa backstage.

"This song brought me soaring to the top during the peak of my career. It consistently was on the number one spot for music countdowns and has gained me numerous awards here and outside of the country. It's actually my favorite until this very day. And along with my music comeback and EL's 25th anniversary, the special collaborative single will be released in the next few days."