Followed By Memories

02

"The boat is sinking into five!!"

Hindi ako makaalis dahil bantay si Mama sa pinto. She's watching me, alam niya siguro na tatakas ako.

Now we're playing the boat is sinking with the kids. We're forming a circle and I'm standing between Josh and Tanya. Ken is beside Josh.

"The boat is sinking into two!!" Tita Luisa announced.

Bigla akong tinulak ni Tanya para mapalapit siya kay Josh. Habang ako muntik na masubsob kung hindi lang ako nahawakan ni Ken.

Sht si Ken.

"Sorry!" agad kong sabi. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Tanya. Patay siya sa'kin mamaya.

"Oks lang," tipid na sabi niya.

Sinigurado kong ayun lang 'yung round na makakapartner ko siya. Kaya after ng game, ang sama ng tingin sa'kin ni Tanya. Hindi kasi siya nakalandi.

Pumunta sa harapan si Tita Luisa after namin pakainin 'yung mga bata.

"Gusto niyo ba mapanood ulit 'yung GITZ19?" tanong ni Tita Luisa sa mga bata. Tumango agad sila.

"Pero bago 'yun, kakantahan muna kayo ni Ate Alliya." tumingin si Tita Luisa sa gilid at kumunot ang noo nang hindi makita si Alliya.

Kumuha muna ako ng tubig at uminom nang biglang magsalita si Tanya.

"Mommy si Faith raw muna!" malakas niyang sabi.

Muntik ko na maibuga sa kaniya 'yung iniinom ko. Tumawa siya nang makita 'yung gulat na reaksyon ko. Gagang to!

Tumingin ako kila Mama at tinignan niya lang ako. Hinihintay na pumunta ko sa harapan. Mas lalo akong kinabahan kasi katabi niya lang si Sir Robin.

Nagdadasal ako na dumating si Alliya but minutes passed, wala pa rin.

Huminga akong malalim bago pumunta sa harapan. Binigay ni Tita sa'kin 'yung mic and 'yung gitara.

"Hi! I'm Faith Dominique Vizcarra," I awkwardly said. I strum the guitar and started singing "With a smile" by Eraserheads.

I tried not to look at Ken while singing. Baka biglang hindi ako makakanta at malunod na lang sa mga tingin niya.

I should avoid him.  I know his type, he's just like Mave. Pare-pareho lang sila.

"You'll get by with a smile. But it's time to kiss those tears goodbye."

I bowed a little after I finished singing the song. Doon lang ako naglakas loob na tumingin sa gawi nila. They're clapping including him. Nang magtama ang tingin namin, ngumiti siya.

Bumalik na ko sa pwesto ko kanina. Sinalubong ako ni Tanya na tawang-tawa habang may hawak na phone. Nirecord niya ata 'yung pagkanta ko.

"Babe tignan mo kapag pinost ko 'to. Taob 'yang malditang kapatid mo."

"Bwisit ka, dinamay mo pa ko" sabi ko at hinila 'yung buhok niya.

"Kunwari ka pa, inenjoy mo naman. 'Yung Mave 2.0 mo nga serious na nakatingin sayo. Hindi man lang nag-iwas ng tingin!"

Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ba ko sa kaniya. Minsan kasi kahit seryoso siya mukha pa rin siyang nagbibiro.

"Your Mom's right, you have a great voice. I heard you're a theater actress as well, so I'm sure your acting is great. Now, I'm assured that I will not have any regrets on making you one of the lead actresses in GITZ19's upcoming movie."

Agad akong umiling. "Uh no sir---- I think you've mistaken."

"Too late, your mom already signed the contract. You should talk to her. We have to go, it was nice meeting you all."

After Sir Robin left, I went straight to my mom.

"Why did you signed me up to a contract without my permission?!" I shouted.

Manager ko ba siya?

Everyone looked at us so my mom hold my arm and drag me to a place where no one can hear us. As soon as we stop, I pulled my arm away from her.

"Why are you always forcing me to do something I don't want to do?"

I'm fuming mad. Ok, I'm disappointed. I've been waiting for her to speak, but I haven't heard anything.

So, I started walking away, but as soon as I took a step, she said something that made me decide to take on the role.