A Change of Heart

I

"You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin size bed

And your mother's telling stories 'bout you on the t-ball team

You tell me about your past thinking your future was me

And I know it's long gone, and there was nothing else I could do

And I forget about you long enough to forget why I needed to..."

Bright lights blur her vision and she could feel the heat of the spotlight on her skin. Lahat ng tao sa audience ay nakaabang sa susunod niyang aawitin. Rinig niya ang musika sa background at ang kalmadong tibok ng kanyang puso.  She should be self-concious by now, punong- puno ang studio. Hindi niya inakala na ganito karami ang manunuod sa una niyang interview. Pero kahit anong kaba ay hindi na niya alintana. She's in her safe place with her guitar now while she's singing her heart out.

As she ends the last tune of the song, the crowd bursts into a loud applause.

"Mga kapamilya, please welcome Jane!" masiglang bati ng isang pamosong interviewer.

The famous interviewer broke her trance and signaled her to sit beside him. Nakaramdam na naman siya ng matinding kaba, a one on one interview after a very long time. Kailan na nga ba yung huling interview niya? Hindi na niya maalala. Maybe that was really ages ago. Nevertheless, she knows that she prepared for this, she wants this.

"Hi Tito Gene. Thanks for having me here and congratulations on your new talk show!" lumapit si Jane sa kanya at yumakap. Malaki ang pasasalamat niya na ang unang interview niya ay gaganapin mismo sa bago nitong talk show. Bukod kasi sa matagal na sila nagkikita sa studio, naging malapit din siya dito dahil sa putuloy nitong pagsuporta sa kanya sa kabila ng kontroberysa. 

"Thanks Jane! Your fans and I are very excited for your new album. Or let me say, your come back album! Ito ba ang pinagkaabalahan mo habang nasa haitus ka?"

"Yes Tito. While I'm on my leave, naging abala po ako sa pagcompose ng songs at pagkanta."

"Lahat ba ng mga ito sinulat mo?"

"Halos lahat po ng mga songs diyan ako po ang nagcompose."

"Very talented girl, indeed."

"Salamat po," hindi maiwasan ni diyan ang hindi magblush. Kahit kasi matagal na siya sa industriya, hindi parin siya sanay tumanggap ng mga papuri.

"Pupunta na tayo ngayon sa maiinit na issues ngayon. Jane, tanong ng bayan. Bakit bigla ka nawala sa kasagsagan ng kasikatan mo last year? Where have you been?" 

There was total silence in the studio. Everyone has been asking. Ofcourse, there were rumors, andaming bali-balita at mga kung anu anong kwento tungkol sa kanya at sa bigla niyang pagkawala sa showbiz.. But her fans would wish for her to clarify things and now that moment has come.

"Tito Gene, hindi naman po ako bigla nawala. Before I left, I talked to my management, my talent manager and family. I made it sure na wala po ako maiiwang hanging na trabaho. I took a break to have a breather. As all of you may know, I had personal issues that I needed to settle on my own. And I'm very thankful to all my fans and friends that despite my leave, andito pa din sila pagbalik ko."

"Ofcourse Jane, we had been waiting for you and we are beyond happy now that you're back. Pero teka, maiba ako. Alam mo, kagabi ko lang napakinggan ng buo ang album mo. And while I watched you singing a while ago. I couldn't help but be carried away. You seem so lost in your own words, para bang may sarili kang mundo habang kumakanta. You are too pure and too vulnerable while singing."