They are already in the show. Ang magkatabi ay si Lea - Nicole - Shann - Autumn - Marimel - Rose - Catherine - Marie. That is the arrangement of their seats. At first, they don’t notice Lea.
“Sino ba naman ang makakapansin sa taong nalipasan na ng panahon.” She said to herself. She almost cried after that thought but she shrugged it off. Because, Lea is still Lea. She doesn’t cry that easily. Especially in public places.
While the show is on, Lea couldn’t stop herself from remembering what happened in the past.
“I was once a star of that show.” She thought while watching the girl who’s now playing Kim.
She remembers all of the effort that she put para lamang magkaroon ng show ang kanyang mga manonood. She was remembered as the old Lea who once was active on those theatre plays.
“Haaaay, I missed the stage.” She uttered. And, she couldn’t stop herself from crying. Pero, hindi lang niya ito pinapahalata sa kanyang anak.
Nang matapos na ang show, they clapped their hands.
“Wala pa rin palang bago. Kim is still Kim.” she commented while clapping her hand. And once again, aalis na sana ang audience. Pero nagulat sila nang may nag-abot ng mic sa gumanap ng Kim.
“Thank you so much for coming. May I request you guys to sit for a while. Kasi ngayon, may gusto akong sabihin sa inyo. If that’s okay with you.” Paninimula nito at lahat naman ng tao ay umupo muna sa kanilang mga silid.
“Many, many years back, I was still a kid. I auditioned for so many singing contests. Pero, hindi ako natatanggap. Hindi din ako nananalo. Until this 2015. Hindi pa rin naman ako nanalo.” She stopped for awhile kasi natawa siya. And so the audience are laughing too. “But, there’s this one person who inspired my heart. Who gave me inspiration to keep going. Who gave me motivation to do things that I really love. We’re still communicating but something happened. No one knows why. But, I still felt connected to this person, I still felt that, someday, I can proudly say na, “Coach, finally, isa na po ako sa Kim ng Miss Saigon.” Lea, on the other hand, remembered one artist who dreamed that role. So, she kept on listening. “Walang oras na hindi ako nagwa-wonder kung kumusta na kaya siya? Kung kumusta siya mismo? Kung kumusta ang buhay niya? No one knows.” She stopped, because she felt a tear that was forming on her eyes. “But, I didn’t lose hope. I’ll be continuing entering the theatre until I get my dream role. And, so, I did. But in the process, there was someone who inspired my heart. There was someone who kept motivated over the years. There was someone who let me give my heart to theatre.” She looked on the side of Lea, and Lea was crying at that time.
“Jhyleanne.” She uttered lang na pabulong and while looking to Jhyleanne, nagkasalubong sila ng tingin at mas lalong naiyak si Jhyleanne while remembering who inspired her to entered showbiz and theatre.
“I’m not sure if you’ll be confident to go on the stage with me and have a duet. Duet kung ano man ang kinanta ko sa blind audition. Kung saan naramdaman ko ang mahihigpit na yakap that you’re thankful that I picked you that time. But, if it’s okay. Can I call the original Kim to join me on the stage?” Sabi naman niya, at walang ano-ano’y, tumakbo si Lea papunta kay Jhyleanne at niyakap ito ng mahigpit.
A second after, they remembered that they were on the stage. “I forgot. Ladies and gentlemen, the original Kim. Ms. Lea Salonga.” Sabi naman ni Jhyleanne at hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Lea para itaas at i-present sa buong mundo na siya ang dahilan kung bakit patuloy pa rin ang pag-showing ng Miss Saigon. A guy from the stage, gave Lea a microphone.
“Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat. Malamang, marami sa inyo ay hindi na ako kilala. Ako po ay si Lea Salonga. Tama po ang sinabi ni Jhyleanne, ako po ang unang naging Kim sa play na pinagbibidahan ngayon ni Jhyleanne.” Paninimula nito, “Most of you probably, don’t recognize me anymore. And, probably sa mga ka-edaran ko, medyo nakikilala niyo pa siguro ako.” Everyone chuckles, “I stopped theatre, showbiz and all of the stuff that makes me happy many, many years ago. Dahil sa trahedyang naranasan ko, nawala ko ang sarili ko. Halos, gusto ko na lang na nasa bahay ako. Marami nga ang nagsasabi na ang laki daw ng pinagbago ko compare sa napapanood nila.” Sabay tingin sa mga fans na nakilala niya ngayong taon, “But God, gave me angels to believe in myself one more time. To become who I was when I was younger. I lost myself to the point of hindi ko na mapakawalan ang sarili ko sa mga sakit na napagdaanan ko. Until I dreamed of my husband.” Nagsisimula na siyang umiyak. At nakikita niya naman ang audience na nakikinig lamang sa kanya. “My husband died because of cancer. It was too late when we discovered it. His death remained secret until now. Also my Mom died because of her age. And, I am thankful that God didn’t let my Mom suffer more than enough. She died peacefully in my arms.” Hirap na siyang magsalita dahil sa mga luhang dumadaloy sa kanyang mga mata. “But, I dreamed of him saying na pakawalan ko na siya, that I still have a life to go on, na may mga taong naniniwala pa rin sa akin. And I realized, it was them.” Pointing to the RVLD stans. “Thank you so much, My angels. Because of you, I was able to stand here in front of you after a long period of time. Thank you so much for the love that you’re giving me even if I stopped making you happy. Lastly, Babes, thank you.” Sabay tingin niya sa langit. “Thank you for setting myself free. You know, you’ll always and forever be in my heart. Kayo-kayo.” Pinalakpakan naman siya ng audience. Lea, waited for them to finish clapping their hands. “And to you, one of my artists. You keep inspiring people, you keep motivating them. Have your own legacy. Because you truly deserved it. I love you so much, sweetheart.” Sabi naman nito kay Jhyleanne at nagyakapan naman sila nito.
“Okay, guys, 1, 2, 3!!!” Pag-bigay naman ng queue sa kanila ni Autumn.
“FAMILEA!!!”
“FAMILEA!!!”
“FAMILEA!!!”
“FAMILEA!!!”
“FAMILEA!!!”
“FAMILEA!!!”
Lea looked on the side where she could hear the scream. And there they are, her new angels that made her feel young. That made her feel loved. That made her feel that she’s still welcome to go back to showbiz. Jhyleanne and Lea were so happy to look at the audience. Especially Jhyleanne. It has been years since their last communication, too. She misses her coach Lea so much. And for her, it was a dream come true to finally share a stage with her coach.
“Okay, calm down you guys. We’re not yet finished.” Sabi ni Jhyleanne and everyone stopped clapping and stopped screaming. “As what I am saying earlier.” She looked at her Coach. And Lea looked back at her. “Coach, can we sing together? Sing on my own with me, Coach. If that’s okay.” Sabi naman ni Jhyleanne and wiated Lea to answer.
“Sure, hon. But, I’m not so sure if our voice will blend. It’s been a long time since I last had a practice.” Hiyang sabi nito kay Jhyleanne.
Jhyleanne just smiled at her, “You’ll always be our broadway diva, Coach.” Sabi naman niya. And, the piano starts to play. And then, they started singing “On My Own” from Les Miserables.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Lea Salonga. First ever woman who won Tony Awards on Broadway sa buong asia.” Jhyleanne proudly introduced her coach. And Lea, knows the etiquette of theatre. So, she bowed her head and then kumaway siya.
“This is the best play ever. Thank you so much, everyone!” Jhyleanne said and finally the curtain closed.
“Thank you so much Coach for being with me.” Sabi naman ni Jhyleanne.
“You’re welcome, Hun. It’s just that I’m not getting used to the stage anymore. Hope I did well.”
“You always do well, Ms. Lea. the stage knows you better than I am. Kahit ilang years ka pang nawala Coach, the pride that you gave us would never be forgotten.” Sabi naman nito sa kanyang dating Coach. At niyakap niya ito.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I am so speechless.” She says while her heart is melting.
“You’re always welcome, Coach. I do hope to watch your concert. Very soon.” Sabi naman ni Jhyleanne at ngumiti ito.
Nagpaalam naman na si Lea sa kanyang dating inaalagaan. At hindi niya mawari ang ngiti na meron siya sa puso niya. Kay tagal na panahon simula ng nakaramdam siya ng ganitong saya.
While they are walking outside in the park, Lea was just silently walking habang pinagmamasdan ang langit na parang sobrang maaliwalas at nakangiti sa kanya.
“Sandali lang.” Sabi naman nito sa kanyang mga kasama at tumingin saglit sa langit na para bang naaaninag ang katauhan ng asawa. “Thank you, Babes. I love you so much. Thank you for not leaving me.” Muli, nakaramdam siya na paunti-unting tumutulo ang luha niya sa kanyang mga mata. At nakaramdam siya ng para bang may humalik sa kanyang mga labi. Alam niya, alam niya ang asawa niya ‘yun. “I’m now ready, Babes.” Sinabe niya itong muli. At ngayon, malaya na siya. MALAYA NA SIYA SA NAKARAAN.
BINABASA MO ANG
MINSAN.
Fanfiction"Ngunit ngayon, kay bilis mag-laho ng kahapon. Sana'y huwag kalimutan, ang ating mga pinag-samahan. At kung sakaling gipitin ay palaging iisipin na, MINSAN tayo ay naging TUNAY na MAG-KAIBIGAN."
