Serendipity [ Eli and Pen ]

Chapter 34

Pen's POV

I am breathing heavily while waiting backstage. Sobrang nate-tense ako. First time kong kumanta sa harap ng maraming tao after so many years. The last time na ginawa ko 'to, kasama pa namin si papa. Well nag-perform naman na kami ng opening number namin kanina pero marami kami nun, I didn't feel that much tensed.

"Pen, are you ready? Next ka na." Callie announced, huminga muna ako ng malalim at saka nag-nod.

Pumikit ako. Naalala ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Eli kahapon.

"Pen, you can do it. You are amazing. I've been rooting for you since forever, I know you can make it through. Win or lose, you're a winner for me."

I smiled.

Napatayo ako nang tawagin ni Cleo ang pangalan ko. He's the MC of the event. Nag-sign of the cross muna ako bago dahan-dahang naglakad papunta sa stage.

My eyes immediately searched for Eli. When he caught my eye, agad akong napangiti. Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang microphone nang tumugtog na ang instrumental. Pinikit ko ang mata ko at nagsimulang kumanta.

"I close my eyes and I can see
The world that's waiting up for me
That I call my own
Through the dark, through the door
Through where no one's been before
But it feels like home.."

Suddenly, a flashback appeared in my head. A flashback of me and father.

"They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy
They can say, they can say I've lost my mind
I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy
We can live in a world that we design"

Back then, palagi akong sinasamahan ni papa sa mga contest na sinasalihan ko. He's always been my number one fan.

"'Cause every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see"

A tear escaped my eye. I miss him. Kahit may sama ng loob, I can't deny the fact that i'm missing him.

"A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make.."

Nag-bow ako nang matapos ko na 'yung buong song. Tumingin ako sa crowd, they're clapping their hands and smiling. Yung iba naman ay nagbubulungan.

Bumalik na ako sa backstage, sakto namang wala ng tao kasi pangalawa ako sa last at nasa stage na 'yung huling contestant. Lahat sila nagpeprepare na for the second song. Umupo muna ako at saka yumuko, tinatry na mag-sink in sa utak ko lahat ng pangyayari. I still can't believe I finished the whole song.

Maya-maya, tumunog ang phone ko.

Eli: Nice. A million dreams. I hope I am one of those.

Napa-ngiti ako. Of course, he is.

Pumasok na ko sa dressing room namin. Sinalubong ako ni Aud, siya nga pala ang stylist at make-up artist ko, lol.

"Congrats, girl!" Bati niya sa'kin.

"Ang advance naman, Aud! First song palang 'yun, wala pang announcement of winners!" Biro ko.