Be Mine

57

"Whaaaat???"

Lianna and Bianca almost spilled the coffee that they are drinking with what Ella just told them. She doesn't know if she has a problem with her hearing or Ella was making a joke.

"Sige na, girls! Please!" Ella begs them and bats her eyelashes as if her request is just so easy to do.

"Sandali nga! Tama ba yung narinig ko? Paki-ulit nga Ella at baka nababaliw lang talaga yang utak mo!" Bianca tells their friend.

"Okay. I will say it again, but please say yes?" Ella says calmly.

"Pag-iisipan ko..." Lia says but Bianca looked at her. "Namin. Pag-iisipan namin."

"You know that I only do two to three concerts in Manila and that is during Valentines and my Anniversary. This year, for the Valentine's concert, Anton wants it as a birthday concert, too, since I will be away on my actual birthday. It's a two-night concert but the second night, which is Valentine's Day itself, my supposed guest, which is Sarah Geronimo, has a prior commitment. She can only sing during the first night. Anton suggested that the two of you will be my special guests na lang." Ella explains it to them once again and she couldn't believe what their friend is requesting. She knows how to sing but she's not a singer like her friends.

Bianca holds her palm up to stop Ella from talking. "Sandali! Sandali! Kami ang ipapalit mo kay Sarah Geronimo?" Bianca asked and Ella nodded. "Shet, Ella! From popstar to us? Ang laking difference nun! Hindi ba malugi ang audience mo?" and she couldn't agree more! She's not even a singer. Between the three of them, her voice is incomparable with Ella and Bianca.

"No! I believe you are way better because you are my best friends! Besides, ang gaganda ng boses niyo! And it's just one song! The audience won't know naman kung sinong mga surprise guests ko." Ella pleads once again and she knows that this woman won't back down from a challenge, especially if it involves her work.

"Ella, we love you, but I just want to remind you both that I don't sing!" Lia speaks up in protest.

"Yes, you do! Nag voice lessons ka when we were young. You were part of the school chorale also di'ba?" Ella justifies a point. Lia did those things but a concert with a diva is something else.

Lia rolled her eyes. "That was different, Isabella! Wala ka na bang mahanap na ibang artists? Ang dami naman diyan!"

Ella sighs. "The concert is just in a few days na rin kasi... Marami na ang may prior commitments. Last minute na kasi namin napag-planuhan na ituloy yung guest performers and Anton said it's a special concert. It's my first one after getting married and my birthday pa! Sige na, please?" This time Ella is already clasping her hands at them.

"Baka naman kinukuha mo kami para hindi ka na magbayad ng guests? Mataas kaya ang TF ko!", Bianca boasts and all she can do is to shake her head in disbelief.

"Magkano ba? Anton is willing to pay if he needs to! Basta please be my guests?" Ella tells Bianca and she can feel that the begging will never end.

"Ay okay, desperado si Kuya!" Bianca exclaims at Ella.

Ella clicks her tongue and Lia knows that the two are getting in each other's nerves. She needs to play the referee once again and the only way to do that is to give in with what Ella wants since they know that she won't stop bugging them.

"Okay. Tama na yan! Baka saan pa mapunta yang asaran niyo.", she says, and the ladies shut their mouth. She sighs. "Ella, we will say yes.." she declares that gained a raising of a brow from Bianca.

"Really?" Ella asked happily.

"Hep! Hindi pa ako pumapayag!" Bianca says.

Lia rolled her eyes. "Tigilan mo ako Bianca! Alam ko naman na pangarap mo kumanta sa MOA Arena kaya wag ka na magpakipot diyan." she says and turns her attention to Ella. "And you don't need to pay us. This will be our birthday gift and Christmas gift for the year!"