"So before we start, ganito po yung magiging flow ng ating blind audition taping. Lahat ng mga performers together with their family ay dito lang po muna magsstay habang shino-shoot yung iba. You will be called pagkatapos mag-perform nung isa. May mga provided noise-cancellation booths tayo for the other artists. So kung gusto niyong magkaroon ng last-minute practice, you can always go to those booths." The flood director is giving instructions.
"I know you are all familiar with the studio since you already had your blockings and rehearsals ahead. Kapag maglalakad kayo papasok, try to walk na sobrang saya, yung jolly, yung mukhang nakapasok na kayo dito sa The Voice." The FD added.
Nandito ngayon si Julie kasama ang kanyang mommy para sa Blind Audition taping. At oo, sobrang kabado si Julie dahil any minute ay pwede niyang makita si Elmo out of nowhere.
"Don't worry dahil you will not be seen by any coaches. Iba yung way nila sa way niyo and they are not allowed to leave their chairs once the taping started." Nakahinga ng maluwag si Julie. At least may konting delay yung pagkikita nila.
Nagsimula ng magtawag yung ibang production staff ng mga performer. May mga bumalik sa kanilang briefing room ng nakangiti, ibig sabihin ay nakapasok sila. May ilan namang nakasimangot. Alam niyo na.
"Next ay si Julie Anne San Jose." Agad na tumayo si Julie kasama ang kanyang mommy at nagtungo sa labas.
"Okay, please maglakad kayo na parang nage-enjoy lang habang papasok." Paalala nung isang floor director. Paano niya mapepeke yung feelings niya ee kabadong kabado siya sa mga pwedeng mangyari. Iniisip pa lang niya ay halos mahimatay na ito.
"And action!" Sinubukan ni Julie na magpanggap na natutuwa sa mga nangyayari. Sana matapos na tong araw na to, sana hindi ako matanggap, sana walang umikot, she thought while walking.
"Cut! Ang sabi ko nage-enjoy kayo. Ate girl okay ka lang? Mukha kang bothered. Kalma ka lang."
"So...sorry po."
"Ulit! And action!" This time she made it right. Hindi na mababakas yung bothered face niya, at mukhang totoo na nage-enjoy siya kahit kanina pa namatay yung kaluluwa niya.
Dumaan sila sa isang corridor, papasok sa kung saan naglulungga si Luis Manzano.
"Hello po mommy! You must be Julie Anne San Jose! Naku napakagandang dilag naman ito mommy! Sa tingin niyo kanino siya nag-mana?"
"Ay siyempre sa akin! Hahaha" Her mom exclaimed. Kinakabahan ulit si Julie.
"How are you feeling Julie?"
"Sobrang kinakabahan po?" She smiled. Yung mukhang totoo because apparently, may mga camera pa na nakapaligid sa kanila.
"Chill ka lang. Breathe in...Breathe out. Teka bakit parang ang baho? Shocks akin ata yun." The three of them laughed. "Go ahead Julie!" Luis said and another FD guided her papasok sa mismong studio.
"The artist is now entering."
"Oh my God this must be good!" Lea Salongga said. Apparently they can be heard as they have wireless mic na nakakabit sa kanila.
"Let's go!" Elmo said, not knowing who the artist is.
She started singing.
You say you'll be down in five
The smell of your perfume
Is floating down the stairs
You're fixing up your hair like you do
"Umikot na si Coach Sarah!" Luis exclaimed, talking to her mom.
Nagulat si Julie dahil may umikot. She doesn't know what to feel. Kani-kanina lang ayaw niyang may umikot para sa kanya pero ngayon bakit parang nage-enjoy na siya? Is this her love for music stepping up within her? Ito ba yung matagal niyang tinagong pakiramdam, yung pakiramdam na Malaya kang kumakanta?
I know that I'll be a mess
The second that I see you
You won't be surprised
It happens every time
It's nothing new
"Umikot na rin si Coach Lea!" Luis again exclaimed from the back.
"Oh my God she is so good!" Lea shouted and even stood at her chair. Mas lalong nakaramdam ng excitement si Julie pero agad na naglaho yun ng mapansin niya yung chair ni Elmo at mabasa yung pangalan niya.
She finished her performance, having two coaches who will fight for her. Umikot na yung upuan nung dalawa pang coach. This is it, Julie said to herself. Wala ng atrasan, kahit ano'ng mangyari magkikita na sila ni Elmo. She breathed in, deep. Parang wala na atang bukas.
"What is your name and where are you from?" Bamboo asked.
Mababakas kay Elmo yung gulat sa kanyang nasilayan. There she is, the girl who made him crazy for almost a year, at dito talaga niya makikita sa The Voice Blind Auditions. He doesn't know what to say.
"Ako po si Julie Anne San Jose, pero Julie na lang po. I am from Quezon City lang po." She smiled. Iniiwasan niyang tumingin sa gawi ni Elmo dahil paniguradong malagkit na ang mga titig nito sa kanya.
"Julie! Okay okay sorry I cant contain myself, unahin na natin si coach Elmo. Ano'ng masasabi mo coach?" Lea asked at tumingin sa gawi ni Elmo.
God you are still hot, Elmo thought to himself.
"Ahh Coach Moe? Knock knock? Overtime na po tayo." Sarah called him out. Bigla siyang bumalik sa tamang wisyo at nagtawanan ang studio audience
"Ahh yeah yeah sorry sorry."
"Naku mukhang nabighani mo si Coach Elmo, Julie!" Kantsaw ni Bamboo. Nagtawanan naman yung dalawang babaeng coach.
"That's the first time I saw him spaced out! At sa kalagitnaan pa nito ha?" Ginatungan na ni Lea si Bamboo sa pang-aasar.
"Shh." He silenced them. Mas lalong nagtawanan ang mga ito.
"So, you are Julie? Am I right? Julie.Anne.San.Jose."
Julie slowly looked at Elmo. She has to. Magmumukha siyang tanga kung hindi ito lilingon sa kaniya. And she has to get used to Elmo's presence dahil for sure panay na ang sulyap nito sa kanya throughout the season.
"O...opo."
"Bakit Julie?" Hindi na napigilan ni Elmo ang maging personal sa tanong. She made him crazy for almost a year. Hinanap niya kung saan saan si Julie pero wala siyang swerte. Ayaw na niyang makawala pa ito ulit.
"Po? A...ano pong bakit?" Sobrang lamig na ng nararamdaman ni Julie. Kita mo na yung nginig sa buong katawan niya dahil hindi niya alam kung ano yung isasagot niya sa malabong tanong ni Elmo.
Agad na narealize ni Elmo na hindi sila nag-iisa at magkausap sa isang coffee shop.
"I mean bakit ka sumali dito...dito sa the Voice?"
"Ah...yung...yung daddy ko po kasi pangarap po niya to para sa akin." She simply said. "Aww." Sarah said.
"Police...yung papa mo, di ba?"
"Hoy Elmo paano mo naman nasabi na police yung daddy niya ee wala pa siyang sinasabi?"
Shoot oo nga pala! Stupid Elmo, he thought.
"I mean naghuhula lang ako. Anyway you are good." He simply said. Kailangan na niyang putulin yung sarili niya dahil baka hindi siya makapag-pigil at ilabas yung nararamdaman nito sa harap ng apat na daang studio audience plus staff and crew.
"Okay medyo weird ngayon si Elmo, pero I would like to apologize for not turning. I was looking for something pa from you ee. I already have the same voice as you have sa Camp Kawayan, but you really are good. As what our lutang Coach Elmo said." He looked at Elmo again, kung hindi lang medyo madilim ay halata mo na yung pulang mukha niya.
"Okay ako na. Hi Julie! Please be with me! Huwag na diyan kay Coach Sarah nakailang panalo na yan! I know na kapag magwowork tayo together, I could bring out the best in you." She smiled. Halos ganoon din ang tinuran ni Sarah.
"Ang pipiliin ko po ay si...Coach Sarah." She said.
"Yes! Sorry coach Lea! Hi Julie! Welcome to team Sarah." She excitedly said sabay lapit at yakap kay Julie.
