Sing Me a Song, Soleil

Chapter 7: The Start of Something New

*Soleil's Point of View*

Mag-aalas dos na ng hapon at nakahiga pa rin ako sa kama ko. Kanina pa ako nakatitig sa cellphone ko at paulit-ulit na nirerefresh ang Twitter feed ko. Even my Instagram is blowing up with messages from people I don't even know. 

Tama si Matthew, number one trending topic sila sa nakalipas na dalawang araw. Pero mali si Leo sa sinabi niyang makakalimutan ako ng mga tao, dahil dalawang araw na rin akong trending topic.

My face is plastered on news articles online and people are following my social media accounts. There were too many of them that I had to put my Facebook on private. So far, puro naman positive ang nakikita ko online at pinakapinag-uusapan ang performance ko kasama ang apat sa limang member ng TP. Hindi ko naman sila masisisi kasi kahit ako ay sobrang natuwa sa performance na 'yon. It was an experience like no other.

Ilan rin sa mga nakakakilala sa akin ay nagsi-share sa forums ng experiences nila kasama ako. I haven't read any of them because it made me feel awkward having this many people scrutinize my life. Haaay, so much for wanting to be a celebrity.

An Instagram DM popped on my screen. It was from Jessica. We started following each other after the event. Sabi niya magpopost daw siya ng picture kasama ako. Bago pa man ako makapagtype ng reply, isang notification na naman ang lumitaw about Jessica tagging me.

Other artists I've met also posted pictures with me and I felt bad not being able to post anything. Buti nalang binigyan ako ng pictures ni Sarah from the event kaya kahit papaano ay may napost naman ako.

"Kevin?" sambit ko nang mabasa ang notification mula sa isang thekevinalvarez.

The Kevin Alvarez? Wow, even his username says a lot about his personality.

I was instantly redirected to a post by him. Biglang umikot ang paningin ko nang makita ko ang picture naming dalawa. Kuha ito noong after party kung saan lasing na lasing ako. They said drunk people won't remember anything in the morning when they wake up. They lied. I remember everything. And I mean, every thing.

Mula sa part na sinagip ako ni Matthew mula sa isang awkward na encounter with actresses, hanggang sa pagkakaligaw ko sa suite ng TP kung saan naroroon si Kevin. 

I closed my eyes tightly, pounding my temples as if doing it would magically erase the events of that night.

"God, why am I so stupid?" bulong ko sa sarili saka bumangon.

Buti nalang hindi ako makalat malasing at mukha pa rin akong tao sa picture na 'to. I doubt Kevin would post a picture with someone looking ragged. But then again, what do I even know about the guy?

'Taking a picture with the Next Big Thing before she officially becomes the Big Thing.'

I smiled upon reading the caption. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Paolo na dito na magsisimulang magkakulay ang career na pinapangarap ko at naniniwala naman ako sa kaniya.

"Here's to starting something new," bulong ko at pasayaw-sayaw na tinungo ang banyo upang maligo.

"Welcome, Miss Hidalgo! It's a pleasure to have you," bati sa akin ng isang nakasalamin na babae.

She looked like she was around 40-something years old and wears a tiny ribbon hairpin on top of her head.

"The pleasure is mine," magalang na sagot ko. "Hindi ko talaga ineexpect na tatawagan niyo ako."

Tinignan niya ako na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko. "Oh but it's the best thing to do. Call you up and talk business. Considering how impressive you are."