Broken Strings

Track 21

Nang-lalamig ang kamay ko while in back stage. This is it! Our concert day. I saw our fans earlier nung sumilip ako na may dala dalang light sticks at different sizes ng banners. Some girls even dressed like her. I'm not nervous with the performance part but rather with the Filipino fans since iba pa rin para sakin na tumugtog ka para sa kababayan mo.

"Hailey, Lance, Ricos, be ready in 15 minutes" said the staff.

That's our cue alright...

Nakita ko naman sina Ricos na nag-aayos ng kani-kanilang suot.
They're good looking with their bad boy rock star look. They're wearing black leather jackets , white shirt for Ricos while gray for Lance, ripped jeans and combat boots.

We're all wearing black actually.  I'm wearing black tank top na may silver glittery cross sa gitna, black leather pants, at siyempre ang aking killer black boots.

Lumabas na kami ng dressing room ng nakapag-ayos na kami. Halos tahimik kami papalapit sa stage. We then saw tita Lea na nag-bibigay instructions sa ibang staffs.

"Lina, make sure the lightings, especially the sounds are okay" she said to one of the staffs. Napalingon na ito samin ng makalapit kami.

"Guys, you're here. 7 more minutes at pwede na kayong umakyat sa stage. As usual, papatayin muna natin ang ilaw, then you will go to your positions on stage." She shifted her gaze on me.

"Hailey, you will sing the intro in Acapella first, then you two will start the music pag-bukas ng ilaw. Everything clear?"

"Yes, Tita"

"Yes, boss" sabay na sabi ng dalawa.

"Ms. Lea, pwede na po silang umakyat ng stage" a male staff said.

Tumingin muna samin si tita at sinabing "Go rock their worlds Artemis! God speed!". Ito ang laging lines ni tita before our performances. Napangiti naman kaming tatlo sa kanya.

I walked to the small stair case on the left sinundan naman ako nina Lance. It's dark but there were small red lights sa paligid ng stairs at stage para makita pa rin namin ang aming nilalakaran. Nasa gitna ang stage and it is being surrounded by thousands of our fans. Naka-ilaw na rin ang kanilang small light sticks kaya para akong nakakakita ng bituin.

Nasa tapat na ako ng mic, when I heard Tita's voice on my earpiece to start singing. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago nag-simulang kantahin ang intro. Tanging boses ko lang ang naririnig sa buong stadium dahil nanahimik ang buong stadium.

The crowd roared after bumukas ang ilaw at nag-start na din sina Lance na tumugtog. Now, that there's light I can clearly see malapit sa VIP seats sina Daddy. Si Cheska naman ay tumatalon-talon habang may light sticks. There's Steven and Meghan as well. Beside them was Marie and the love of my life, Gabby. He even winked and mouthed "I love you" ng mapatingin ako sa kanya.

The concert lasted for about 2 hours. Now it's time for our farewell speech. I'll be starting this actually.

"Guys, this will be the end of our concert today...." Yun pa lang ang sinasabi ko ay puro pag-tanggi at "No" na ang naririnig ko. I know that parting is hard for them.

"It's really an honor to be with you guys. From the beginning and until now that Artemis was known in the music industry, you guys never failed to support us"

"I hope we still fly together until the very end! We love you and Goodnight!"

We and the staffs form a straight line together and clasped pur hands before bowing down. We all heard a huge round of applause afterwards. This is the best feeling for us, ang matapos ang concert ng matiwasay at masaya ang fans. Their fans is always their priority and we always want the best for them.

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After sa stage ay dumeretcho naman kami sa dressing room para mag-bihis. Sinalubong kami ng aming pamilya at kaibigan sa labas.

"You guys!!! That was the best performance ever!" Marie said.

"Why thank you, babe. Do you want to have a picture with me?" Nakangiting sabi ni Ricos kay Marie.

"Ayoko sayo Tacos, yabang mo na naman!" Natawa naman kami sa sinabi ni Marie. Mukhang mag-kakilala na ang dalawa base sa asaran nito.

"It's Ricos babe, bakit ba lagi mong nakakalimutan?" Nag-puppy eyes pa ito kay Marie.

"Hahaha dude! Mukha kang tanga!" Kantyaw naman ni Lance. Pinulupot naman ni Ricos ang braso sa leeg ni Lance na parang sinasakal.

Hindi ko naman napansin na lumapit sa tabi ko si Gabby dahil nakatawa akong nakatingin sa dalawa.

"Hey, sweetheart, for you" sabay abot sakin ng bouquet ng red roses. He kissed me on the lips pag-kakuha ko ng flowers.

"Ano ba Gab!" Saway ko sa kanya.

"Why? Alam na naman nila ang relationship natin so let's make it sweeter!". Ang lalaking talagang ito. Naiiling-iling na lang ako sa mga banat niya.

"Ayy kaya pala ang daming langgam dito!" I turn around to see Meghan with Steven. Medyo malaki na din ang baby bump nito.

"Meghan, Steven, I'm glad that you both can make it" I hugged her lightly baka kasi maipit si baby hihi.

"Oo naman Bestie, ikaw pa ba?! Tsaka first time ko to sa concert niyo, I will not miss this"

"Thanks Meghan"

Nakita ko din na papalapit na sina Daddy sa amin. Tumakbo naman payakap sakin si Chescka.

"Tita!!! You're so pretty and cool in stage!!!!"

"Thank you baby girl" I kissed her cheeks. Kagigil talaga itong bata na to!

"Wow bulilit marunong ka pala kumanta kala ko kanina humuhuni ka lang! Hahahah" kuya Howard said.

"Enough hon, I-congrats natin si Hailey hindi asarin." Saway naman ni Ate Rose. I smiled at her then dumila kay kuya. Hahaha under talaga ito kay Ate Rose.

"Princess, you never failed to amaze me" It was her dad.

"Daddy..." Medyo maluha-luha naman akong lumapit sa kanya at yumakap.

"Me and your mommy Emeraldine are so proud of you. Finally, natupad mo na ang pangarap mo to sing while on a huge stage"

"Thanks, Daddy! How did you know that it was my dream?"

"Gabby said to me, nakwento niya sakin nung huling punta niyo sa mansyon. Siya din ang mag-encourage samin na lalong pumunta dito kahit hindi na pasok sa age ko ang kanta niyo" natatwang sabi ni Daddy.

"Daddy naman, being here with you guys give me strength. Kayo ang aking inspiration. Thank you po talaga". I hugged him again. Ang sarap sa feeling na andiyan ang mga taong laging sumusuporta sayo through ups and downs.

"Wala pala ang lola at lolo mo at inaatake ng rayuma. Sorry daw, bibili na lang sila ng DVD ng concert niyo"

"It's okay, Daddy. Tatawag na lang po ako sa kanila later."

"Come on guys, we better go now to our dinner celebration" yaya ni Tita Lea samin. Gaganapin ito sa function hall ng Emerald hotel. Lumapit naman sakin si Gabby at sabay kaming nag-lakad palabas.

Hawak-hawak ko pa din ang flowers na binigay ni Gabby. I smelled it kaya lang parang nabahuan ako. Bakit ganito amoy nito?

Favorite niya ang red roses pero bakit iba ito? Ayaw ko namang itapon dahil mag-tatampo si Gab. I was about to give it to him ng bigla akong nakaramdam ng hilo.

"Gabby....." It's almost a whisper. I can't feel my body anymore.

"Sweetheart!"

That's the last thing that I remembered bago nag-dilim ang lahat at may sumalo sa akin.