I Wish I Had Her Life

2.

"May hinahanap ka?" Lea asked, tumingin naman sa kanya ang babae. Ito'y nagulat knowing that Lea Salonga was in her front. Hindi alam ni Katherine kung ano sasabihin, gagawin. She's totally frozen in her pose right now.

"Ms?" Kinakalabit ni Lea ang tao na ito kasi para siyang na-paralyze. Alam mo ba 'yung pakiramdam na nakita mo 'yung idol at gustong-gusto mong makita? Tapos, nasa harapan mo na ngayon, talking to you, making a conversation with you.

"H-hi." Reply naman ni Katherine, as she shakes her head. "Sorry po, I was spacing out." She was trying to speak in English knowing the Broadway diva was in front.

Ngumiti lang naman si Lea dito pero parang sobrang gaan ng pakiramdam niya sa babae. "Napansin ko kasi may hinahanap ka?" Tanong naman ni Lea dito. She was not yet revealing the necklace because alam naman nating lahat na maraming manloloko sa paligid. Lea was just being careful.

"Ahhh. Opo, eh." Napakamot naman sa ulo si Katherine. "May necklace po kasi ako na sobrang importante. I don't actually know the reason why but my Dad told me to keep it no matter what.  I guess I have lost it." Naiiyak naman si Lea sa naririnig niya sa bata. Dahil kahit pagmasdan niya ito, kamukhang-kamukha niya 'yung taong totoong minahal niya. "Anyway, Ms. Lea, I don't wanna invade your privacy. Kasi kakatapos mo lang po sa musical mo. I can see how tired you are. By the way, congratulations po." Pagbati naman nito, "Ang galing niyo po kanina. As always." Ngumiti naman si Katherine revealing her dimples just like her Dad.

"But, if any one of your staff po, saw this necklace." Pinakita naman niya kay Lea 'yung necklace na hinahanap niya at suot suot niya sa picture, "Please, here's my calling card. Call my Dad na lang po as I'm not yet allowed to text or call anyone. I have my cell phone naman po, pero walang sim." Ngumiti siya ulit and realizing how embarrassing it is to explain this to Lea, but little thing she didn't know that Lea finds her cute.

Aalis na sana siya nang bigla siyang hinila ni Lea at napatingin naman si Katherine dito. "Wait." Ngumiti siya. "Can I invite you for a coffee?" Katherine was again stunned and doesn't know what to do. Parang all in her life, lahat naman ng fan, ito ang gustong marinig from Lea. So, she didn't hesitate to say yes kahit alam niyang nawawala ang necklace niya. Ang mas inisip niya ang kaligayahan niya that once in a blue moon lang nangyari.

They went to Lea's car and sobrang tahimik lang si Katherine, hindi niya alam kung maiilang ba siya or kikiligin as Lea keeps looking at her.

"You really look like him." Bulong naman ni Lea. But, not loud enough para marinig ni Katherine. They saw the nearest starbucks sa may bandang Tokyo. So, bumaba na si Katherine to order their food and coffee. Within just 15 minutes, bumalik na si Katherine with their order at pumasok naman si Katherine sa kotse ni Lea. Nabibingi na si Lea sa katahimikan so she initiated a conversation. "So, how are you? How's life?"

Up to now, as Katherine's drinking the coffee, hindi pa rin ito makapaniwala na nakakausap niya si Lea sa personal all she knows na palipad na ito ng Japan. But, it would be rude if she didn't answer her.

"Okay naman po." Casual na sagot ni Katherine. "Pinipilit lumaban." She chuckles at mas lalo namang naging interesado si Lea.

"Lumalaban saan?" She asked.

"Sa buhay." 

Lea wanted to ask for more information but all she can see is the pain.

"Ikaw po?" Balik naman na tanong niya dito. "Am I not disturbing you po ba?" Nagtaka naman lalo si Lea, kaya naman mas lalong nagpaliwanag si Katherine. "I mean, 'di ba, kapag po may show or musical, non-stop po ang rehearsal?" Natuwa naman dito si Lea.

"So, you're a fan?" Napangiti ito.

May kinukuha si Katherine sa bag niya as a proof that she's really a fan.

"Oh!" Lea chuckles. "I didn't expect that." Nagulat din si Lea nang makita niya ang dalawang VIP ticket na hawak ni Katherine, ngayon lang niya naramdaman na ganito kasaya. I guess, lukso ng dugo? Ang dami niyang gusto sabihin na nasa isip niya. Pero, ni-isa walang lumalabas sa kanyang bibig.

Napansin naman ito ni Katherine na parang halos natulala sa kanya si Lea. "Okay ka lang po?" Sabay tago ng kanyang tickets.

Nagulat naman si Lea at bigla siyang natauhan, she pretends that it's nothing. "Yeah." Awkward na sabi niya, "okay lang ako." Ngumiti siya at nilabas niya ang necklace na hinahanap ni Katherine.

"Ito ba ang hinahanap mo?" Sabi niya dito, tumingin naman si Katherine at nakita niya ang necklace.

"O-opo. Pa-paano mo po nalaman? Saan mo po ito nakuha?" Gustong-gusto sabihin ni Lea ang totoo. But, there are things that's better to be left unsaid. Kaya, pinigilan niya ang sarili niya, pumikit siya at humingang malalim.

"Well, I just found it somewhere. Tapos, I saw you na parang may hinahanap ka. So, I wondered or kinda thought that this belongs to you." Pagkasabi na pagkasabi naman na gano'n ni Lea, agad naman niyang sinuot ang necklace at ito'y parang naiiyak. She couldn't belive that this kid has already grown up. If she could turn back the time, her decision and things might have ended differently.

She can't help herself. So, she has decided to hug the kid that was in front of her. And, the kid didn't know why Lea became emotional all of a sudden.