A week has passed since Julie's mom got home. RJ and Dei are now back in Singapore for their business venture, and everything seems to be back on its old self.
"Hi babe. Tomorrow would be our meeting for Knockouts. You'll get to meet the Mega Mentor! Are you excited?" Elmo asked her. He's on the line, talking to her.
"Hmmm yeah? Sino ba kasi yun? I've been asking you like a whole week kung sino siya but you always change the subject." Elmo felt her pout on the other line.
"Grabe dama ko yung pag-pout mo hanggang dito. I wish tomorrow's now. Gusto na ulit kitang makita."
"Ngayon ako naman nakaramdam ng pag-pout mo. Hmmm. Funny how we know each other so well haha"
"Well that's because we love each other babe. But you won't get me with that. I still won't tell you kung sino yung Mega Mentor tomorrow."
"Hmp! Daya! Sige abstain din muna tayo sa MOMOL."
"WHAT?! THAT CAN'T BE!!!" Maktol ni Elmo.
"Just kidding! Like matitiis ko rin no?" Julie said and chuckled. Napangiti na rin si Elmo.
"I told you, dapat surprise yun! You'll just spoil the point ee. For a better 'The Voice Experience'." Elmo said.
"Fine fine I won't bug you anymore. Besides bukas naman na siya so I'll just wait."
"Yeah that'd be great. Anyway, it's late already at maaga ang calltime natin tomorrow. You wouldn't want to be sloppy in front of the Mega Mentor."
"Haha yeah, I'll be sleeping na. Good night babe." Julie said.
"Good night babe. Always remember na mahal na mahal kita." He said.
"Mas mahal kita." Julie said.
"Mas mahal kita times one thousand."
"Psh yun lang? Mas mahal kita times infinity walang erase erase tapon sa ilog yung eraser."
Elmo chuckled at what she said.
"Para tayo'ng mga bata." Iling ni Elmo from the other line.
"I know! Haha but I find it cute naman."
"Same. Anyway, matulog na talaga tayo."
"Yeah yeah. Good night Moe. I love you."
"I love you more Juls."
...
"Good day House of Muppets! I am Lee, and I am one of the production staffs of The Voice. Ngayong araw, you'll get the chance to be coached not just by Coach Elmo but also our Mega Mentor. I know everyone's eager to meet our MM but please calm yourselves. You all look tensed." He said, making everyone chuckle.
"But before that, you will be paired with your co-member. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na yung ka-pares niyo ay ang makakaharap niyo for Knockouts. It's just a random pairing but who knows 'di ba?" He added.
The staff then instructed some to pick the person they'll be paired with. Nang tawagin na ang pangalan ni Julie, she kept on thinking and praying n asana huwag si Rayver dahil for sure iba na naman ang magiging reaction dito ni Elmo.
"Shit." She said as she open the paper.
"Julie's pair is Rayver." The staff announced. She looked at Rayver who now has the biggest smile sa crowd.
She went back to her chair, still not in-touched with the world, lutang. Nakaramdam siya na parang may lumalapit sa kaniya and unsurprisingly, she found Rayver by her side, with his big smile.
"So...pair-mate?" He cracked the silence.
"Pair-mate? Is that even a word?" Julie said, keeping her cool and that made Rayver chuckle.
"You seem so...tensed. Chill ka lang okay? For sure magaling yung Mega Mentor, whoever he or she is. Tsaka magaling ka rin naman ee, for sure MM's gonna like you...like I do."
"What?"
"Oh wala wala. Teka maiba ako, what will you sing for knockouts?"
They continued talking, keeping the pressure below their sleeves. Panay naman ang tipid na sagot ni Julie sa mga binabato ni Rayver. Hindi naman sa hindi siya interesado dito pero kasi baka kapag naging masyado siyang magiliw ay iba na ang maging dating dito kay Rayver, at ayaw niyang bigyan ng masamang idea si Elmo.
"Hi! You must be Julie Anne!" May babaeng lumapit sa kanilang dalawa, pero yung atensyon ay nakay Julie lang.
"Uhh yes po. Hello po. Sorry I kind of not know you." She sounded apologetically.
"Uhmm sorry to bug you two haha you both look cute together. Anyway I'm Mori, one of the members of House of Muppets. I've watched your Battles and gosh you are so good! Sobrang fan mo ako." She happily said, making Julie blush.
"Uhmm thanks." She shyly responded. Mori quickly left them after their short conversation since she's been called by the staff. Apparently susunod na sila nung ka-pair niya.
"See Juls? You're great!" Rayver said.
"Juls?" Julie called out, and could not suppress her chuckle.
"What? Juls is a nice nickname. Kaysa naman Julie Anne ako ng Julie Anne or Julie ng Julie 'di ba?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Well it's two syllables, while Juls is just one."
"Pshh whatever."
After almost 30 minutes, tinawag na si Julie and Rayver nung isang staff, making of them jump in great anticipation. Kanina pa kasi nila hinuhulaan kung sino yung Mega Mentor at ayaw namang magsabi noong mga kasamahan nila.
"Nervous? Take my hand." Rayver offered her but she friendly declined. Mahirap na baka makita pa ni Elmo, magwala pa yun, she thought.
Lumabas na sila sa may waiting room, walked down the corridor, hanggang sa maabot nila yung door which leads to the main stage of The Voice since doon sila ime-meet ng Mega Mentor nila.
"Ready?" Rayver asked her. Julie took a deep breath, smiled, and nodded.
"Yes!" She shouted, making Rayver jump in surprise.
"Halaaa!" Julie shouted as Rayver opens the door and slowly revealing the people inside the of it.
Tumambad sa kanila si Elmo, holding pieces of bond papers which looked like lyrics and scripts, and their Mega Mentor, non-other than the Asia's Songbird herself, the Queen of OPM, Ms. Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, who looked at them with the big smile.
They both walked nearer, both smiling to her and not removing their gazes dahil baka mawala siya agad agad.
"Hi! What are your names?" Regine asked them softly but with enthusiasm, making both of their hearts melt. Sobrang magaan, sobrang banayad yung boses, sobrang nakakagaan sa pakiramdam yung naramdaman nila.
"I'm...I'm Julie Anne San Jose po." Julie said, and Regine quickly hugged her. Nanigas ng bahagya si Julie sa ginawa ni Regine, surprised and starstrucked. Tinignan niya si Elmo while Regine's hugging her pero wala siyang emosyon, making Julie worry.
Agad na sumunod na nagpakilala si Rayver kay Regine, which made Elmo more serious. Pilit iniiwasan ni Julie yung mga titig ni Elmo sa kanya dahil kung hindi galit ang itsura, wala namang emosyon. Robot lang? She thought.
"Anyway, guys so I know you know who our Mega Mentor is, let's get this over with. Julie your song is Super Bass by Nicki Minaj right? Let's hear you do some runs and afterwards, let's hear what Ms. Regine will say." He coldly said, making the three of them look so surprise.
Elmo instructed the staff to play the piece and Julie started singing.
...
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