Music of Fame

22

"Ayaw mo sa deal na 'yon? Kasi diba, pangarap mo 'yon? Nung nagsisimula pa lang kayo, gusto mo na ng manager diba?" 

I looked at him, kinakabahan din ako sa isasagot niya. Sino ba naman kasing gusto na itago ka? Na hindi ka ipagmalaki? Diba? For me, that's a stupid idea. 

"Ayoko. Meron namang ibang management na kumukuha kahit hindi kami single. Talaga ba? Kailangan single talaga? Nakakapikon. Parang ang bobo." He looked away, galit na galit. 

"What are your plans?" I held his hand.

"Plano ko? Hindi ka iwan." He looked at me sincerely. "Marami pang management. Meron at merong magtitiwala samin." He slowly nods, convincing me. 

"That's right! Don't lose hope, babe. Better days are coming!" I smiled at him, while tracing his hand with my thumb.

After a day, Aj was already discharge from the Hospital. Pero, may bandage pa rin siya sa may temple niya. We can remove it if the wound is healed already. For now, hindi pa pwede. After a week, natanggal na rin ang bandage ni Aj. May scar nga lang duon, maliit pero recognizable pa rin talaga. I felt sorry for that. Anyway, our finals is coming. Patayan na naman kami nito sa sched pati sa oras. 

"Finals na ah? Next week. Tapos clearance, malapit na rin." I looked at my friends. Sunshine, Grey, and Makie. Parang hindi kasi sila abala sa paparating na exam. 

"Hindi mo ba narinig 'yong isa nating prof kanina? Sabi niya, lahat daw ng nasa media platform ang course, may ipapasa daw." Grey leaned his elbow on the table while seriously looking at me.

"O-Oh? Talaga? As in? Jusko, may exam na tapos may ipapasa pa!" Nilapag ko nang padabog ang mga notes ko sa lamesa. "So, tungkol saan 'yong ipapasa na 'yan?" 

"Short film ulit. Pero, wait! There's more!" Makie waved his eyebrows. Talaga naman. "50 minutes minimum time each film. Lupit no? Nakakatanga!" Makie sarcastically laughed. 

"Tangina," I heavily sighed. "Kailan pasahan nito? Don't tell me, next week na rin kasabay ng exam schedule?" I looked at them. Onti na lang, magdidikit na 'tong kilay ko.

"Ah, hindi naman ata." Sunshine assured.

"We need enough time for this. May script writing pa tapos tsaka tayo pwedeng magproceed sa shooting." I shook my head out of frustration. Nakakaewan. "Pero, baka nga sa clearance 'to? Hindi ba?" 

"Hindi namin sure," Makie laughed a bit. "Pero basta alam ko may exam pa rin tapos may short film na ipapasa." Makie nods. 

"Tanungin ko na lang si Sir. Ako bahala!" Grey confidently said.

Our exam days went smooth than I thought. 'Yong ibang inaral ko nga, hindi naman lumabas sa exam. It's like more on common sense. During our last day of exam, we spend our time at the Coffee shop near our University. My friends and I decided to start the script, kami na rin ang behind the camera people. The rest of our groupmates, they're the actors and actresses for the short film.