Seven and Nine (FIN)

Fifty Three

"I can already compile an album"

"That's great! Why aren't you handling those to me? With that, you can already make another comeback!"

"I can't"

"But why?"

"I want that someone to hear it first"

"Don't tell me it's Sujin?"

"Of course not, President. It's someone I've been dying to see"

"So who's that? I can make arrangements so we can hustle everything"

"Someone very complicated to see personally"

There's this moment of silence between us afterwards. She's thinking of something while my mind is thinking about Shan.

"Why not make a comeback first? It will eventually reach that person you're saying don't you think?"

"Forget my comeback, President. I'm not here for that. No need to pursue me. I'm fine. Really"

"Wait, Seven. Hello?" she said after picking up the phone. "I'm coming over"

"Seven, I think we'll discuss this matter some other time. I need to go right now. Tell me asap if you have made a decision"

"Sure, President"

Nauna pa syang lumabas ng office nya and she seems in a hurry. Ngayon lang sya nagkaganyan na parang natataranta. I wonder if that's because of that Rafael.

"Ju-hee let's go"

Pumunta kami sa isang resto na napili ni Ju-hee as per her treat. Kahit anong insist ko na i-save nya na lang yun some other time kapag may ipon na sya, she demanded to pay for it kaya hinayaan ko na lang. I asked her to come over to my house after we eat.

"Seven, hindi ba nakakahiya na pinapasok mo pa ko sa bahay mo?"

"Bakit naman?"

"Hindi ko kasi naisip na makakapasok ako sa bahay ng isang superstar. Idol ko pa. Grabe dream come true!"

"We almost see each other everyday pero para ka paring lagiging nasstarstruck haha"

"I can't help it. Fan na fan mo kaya ako!"

"Ikaw talaga. This way, Ju-hee. I'll show you something"

Naalis ang tingin ni Ju-hee sa pagtingin sa kabuuan ng bahay ko at sumunod sakin sa taas kung saan nandun ang Music Room ko. As expected, amaze na amaze na naman sya at mukhang nananaginip pa din na nandito sya.

"Look at this"

I handed her a music sheet I composed over the past month. That's the piece I want her to sing.

"Can I hear you out to sing this song?"

"Uhm hindi ko pa alam ang melody"

"That's why we can work it out today para maisama natin sa upcoming album mo"

"Really?? Para sakin to?"

"Ayaw mo ba?" I asked smiling.

"Gustong gusto ko! Yung idol ko pa ang nagcompose nito bat ko pa tatanggihan!"

"Haha. So? Let's start?"

I walk towards the piano habang nilalapatan namin ng melody ang lyrics. I can't help but smile habang ginagawa namin to. It's like working with someone like Ju-hee na full of enthusiasm and passion, lalong nabubuhay ang music sa puso ko.

"Now sing it from the top. I want to hear the full song"

I said after a couple of hours we put to adding melody. Actually meron na yun so I guided her and we just arranged it and revised some verses.

"I really like this song, Seven. Feel na feel ko bawat lyrics. Sino ba ang inspiration mo to write this song?"

"I made that especially for you, Ju-hee"

"Wow! Ako talaga??"

"Yup. It's all yours"

"Thank you talaga, Seven. Sobra"

"You're welcome, Ju-hee. Keep dreaming and treasure what you have right now"

"Sana soon makakanta din ako sa isang stage kasama ka"

Ngumiti na lang ako kay Ju-hee. I'm still unsure if that would be very soon pero now, masaya ako para kay Ju-hee. I walk near the window para ayusin yung guitars na hindi ko pala naiayos kahapon.

"Uhm Seven...para kanino tong kantang to?"

"Which one?"

I ask and walk towards her para makita. Pinakita nya sakin ang hawak nyang music sheet ng When I can't sing.

"You want to hear it?"

"Binabasa ko pa lang sya, ang ganda na. What more if I hear the melody from you. Okay lang ba talagang marinig ko?"

"Okay lang. Hindi ko rin naman kasi sigurado kung maririnig nya pa ang kantang to"

I sat back at the piano at tinugtog ang song. As I sing it, nakatitig lang sakin si Ju-hee. When I finished the song, napapalakpak pa sakin si Ju-hee na teary-eyed.

"What happened to you?"

"Ay sorry hehe. Hindi ko kasi mapigilan maiyak. Nakakadala. Sobrang ganda. I really like that song you gave me pero this one it's like...majestic. Para kanino ba to?"

"Someone I met back in Cuba. Someone I'm dying to see again. Someone I want to see in the front row of my concert if I'll be given a chance to sing again. Someone I promised to see my own world"

I can't help but dream of that scene kung saan nasa isang concert stage ako at nakikita ko syang nakangiti sakin habang nagpeperform ako. Kung sana lang posible pang mangyari yun. When was the last time I heard her voice? Parang napakatagal na.

"Siguro mahal na mahal mo sya noh?"

Nabalik ako sa sarili ng magsalita si Ju-hee. Even her question surprised me too. I never admitted to anyone that I've fallen in love with Shan. How can one song shows how I truly feel?

"Huh?"

"Sobrang iba kasi tong kanta na to than those music you launched and we heard before"

Those songs I composed for Sujin, it all screams love even if it was painful. Those before that na hindi man painful, I'm still in love with her kahit pa nasa secret relationship kami. I don't get it.

"Panong naging iba?"

"That music you had before kasi, para bang sobrang painful and getting tired. Not that I mean na hindi sila maganda. You're songs are really the best and outstanding. But this one, it's like over the top. Yung kahit pa kagaya ngayon na wala na sayo ang lahat ng bagay na pwede mong ipagmalaki sa lahat knowing na may isang taong naniniwala sayo kahit wala na lahat ng yun, that made this song moved my heart and I know hindi lang ako kundi kahit sinong makarinig dito. Seven, this song can touch any hearts"

Napatitig na lang ako kay Ju-hee. Posible kayang this time, kaya ko ng makabalik ulit? Am I ready to start dreaming again like Ju-hee? Unti unti akong napangiti.

"I'll be chasing back my dream again, Ju-hee. I'll put you on the third spot waiting for me to get my music back. This time...hiatus mode is signing off"

Wait for me, Shan.

And I don't let you punch me even if you're too late, three month stalker.