TRY . jinlia

032

[ THIRD PERSON'S ]

Agad pinuntahan ni Ryujin ang pwesto kung saan sila uupo ng Papa ni Lia at nakita ito agad nang makarating siya sa parteng iyon. Ryujin immediately smiled which the old man returned. Agad naman silang nagsalubong nang magkita silang dalawa.

"I'm so excited! It's the first time I'm going to see my girl perform infront of an audience again after years!" pamungad agad ng Papa ni Lia, medyo naiiyak.

Ryujin chuckled before patting the old man's back despite of how tall he is. "Tahan na po. The show's just starting. Save your energy for later, Tito!" asar naman nito na agad namang sinunod ng matanda, tumatawa pa at pinunasan ang mga nangilid na luha sa mga mata.

"You're right," ang matanda bago tumango-tango. "Let's seat," alok niya na agad namang tinanguan ni Ryujin bago ito umupo sa tabi niya.

The venue was full of noisy students. Halos lahat ay hindi mapakali dahil malapit nang magsimula ang program. And just like the usual, students brought their banners and Ryujin also did. Banner lang ang meron siya dahil 'yon lang ang kinaya ng oras niya. She feels confident with it anyway dahil naibigay naman na niya ang mga bulaklak kanina pa. She even kissed Lia for goodluck. Hindi rin naman mahilig sa mga regalo ang babae kaya hindi na siya gaanong nag-abala pa. Saka nalang para isahan na ang lahat.

The students screamed when the lights went dim. Pati siya rin naman ay na-excite. It's the first time she's not going to perform on stage. Ganito pala ang feeling kapag ikaw ang manonood! She laughed mentally.

She laughed at the old man when she saw him do the sign of the cross. Lia's Papa was very supportive and she hoped hers was the same way too. But unfortunately, hers was not. Heck, her parents doesn't even know that she performs!

Sumabay sa sigawan si Ryujin nang lumabas na ang emcees para sa gabing ito. Immediately shut her mouth when she remembered that Lia's Papa was beside her.

Nagpigil siya sa susunod na sigaw dahil ayaw niyang mairita sakaniya ang matanda which the old man didn't mind really.

Bale sampu ang mga magpapakita ng iba't ibang talents mamaya at pang-walo si Lia. Matagal pa iyon pero ayos lang. It's going to be worth it, anyway. Nakita ni Ryujin kung paano nagpagod ang babae para sa gabing ito. She heard multiple rants from the girl just to show a performance on this night. Nakita niya rin kung paano nito kaonting napabayaan ang pagrereview para sa finals nila next week. Lia and her friends exerted so much effort that she's certain that it's going to successful despite how it is going to be 'not the pang-champion type of performance' just like what the girls said.

Lalo namang umingay nang umalis na ang emcees sa harapan. Napapalakpak naman si Ryujin at mas lalo pang nagningning ang mga mata nang marinig na magsisimula na sa unang contestant.

Ryujin's grip tightened on the thick banner she made in with her hands. She bit her lip before deciding to spread it out in the air. Nagulat pa ang katabi nitong matanda pero kalaunan ay tumawa at tinulungan si Ryujin. It was up the whole event, kahit hindi pa naman si Lia ang nagpeperform. Binaba lang nila iyon nang nasa pangpito na ang nasa stage.

"Malapit na! Si Lia na ang susunod!" the old man clapped beside her like a kid, making Ryujin laugh at the sight.

The crowd cheered when the seventh performer ended his performance, making Ryujin's heart beat in a faster pace. God knows how much she is excited to see the girl! Ilang oras palang na hindi sila nagsasama pero na-miss niya agad ito.