Dear Dumpling (Wala na, Finished na; Completed)

Chapter 10: We're Getting the Band Back Together

Dear Dumpling,

Nag-resign na si Pipette sa kanyang trabaho.

Tatlong salita lang ang nasabi ko: "What's next then?"

"Miss ko na tumugtog, Dad."

"Nakausap mo na ba mga kapatid mo?" Usisa ko sa kanya.

"Opo, Dad."

"Ano sabi nila?" Pag-aalala ko. Madalang silang nag-gig sa loob ng limang na taon. Isang beses lang yata isang taon. Alam mo na, nagkaroon na sila ng kanya-kanyang buhay. Nag-aral ulit at nagtrabaho si Pipette. Si Crucy madalas nasa spaceport. Si Burette nag-me-med. Si Aki naman nagpipinta at nagtetrain. Di ko alam kung kaya pa nilang isingit pa ang banda sa kanilang mga buhay.

"Gusto rin po nila. We'll try to make time."

"How about your division of labor? Composing, writing, the creative process. Rotation in playing instruments." Naalala kong pinag-awayan nila yan dati. Nagreklamo kasi puro si Pipette ang nasa spotlight. Totoo, siya naman ang sumulat ng mga kanta para sa dalawa nilang album.

Naalala ko yung write-up tungkol sa banda nila noong lumabas yung huli nilang album anim na taon na ang nakakaraan. Di ko pa yata ito nai-share sa iyo kaya ito:

"New Direction (as usual) for The AM Project

These sisters are no stranger to taking risks, from their career choices to their musical style. Just as with their last albums, their newest album Introspection marks new territory for The AM Project. This is to be expected, with another sister at the helm.

Crucible, although the second eldest, becomes the last one to have her own album. She had creative control and wrote many of the songs, although composing duties was shared with her sisters. She assures, "the album is a labor of love of all of us."

We asked why it took her a long time before she decided to head an album. "I wasn't confident about my writing skills. To tell you the truth, I'm still not really confident about performing front and center."

"This album is about reflecting, looking back. It's a bit slower than our previous work, in keeping with the theme," Crucible said, "We hope to take our fans, who have grown with us, to a trip back memory lane."

The AM Project's first two albums, Flight and Heaven, were made under the creative control of Pipette, the eldest. They remain the most popular work of the band, with its concerts mostly composed of songs from these dream pop albums.

The third album, Pag-Ibig, was led by Aki, expressing her gratitude for her adoptive country and family and a statement of Filipino pride. Reminiscent of OPM from the 1970s and 80s, it is not as fondly remembered, but has its fans.

The last album, kinesis, was headed by Burette, a former Olympian (no wonder). Filled with dance songs, it's a high-energy work popular with exercise circles.

The first single from Introspection comes out July 21."

Hindi naging matagumpay yung album na yun. Ito yung isang review na hindi ko shinare sa iyo noon, "The AM Project has been able to project sadness through dance and dreamy music in their songs before. Why not continue doing that? Why slow things down?" Na-typecast na ang mga anak natin.

Kaya nagpaalam na sila bilang isang banda. Inedit ko pa nga yung farewell message nila e. Sabi ko sa kanila, let your hearts out muna. Aayusin ko na lang. Shinare ko sa iyo dati yung edited version ko, pero hindi ang original:

"Sabi namin dati, basta nag-eenjoy kami at kayong aming fans, patuloy kaming gagawa ng paraan para ituloy ang paggawa ng musika at pagtugtog.

Pero pagod na kami.

Hindi maganda ang naging pagtanggap sa aming latest album. Nakakasawa nang ma-typecast kami sa musikang ginawa naming para sa una naming dalawang album. Kahit na gusto na naming mag-move on at mag-grow, nawawalan naman kami ng gana.

Bumigat na ang aming mga responsibilidad sa labas ng banda, at wala na kaming incentive para pa isingit ang banda sa aming schedule. Kahit tour, di na namin kaya.

Pero higit sa lahat, di na maganda ang aming samahang magkakapatid. Nag-aaway-away kami at nagtuturuan kung sino may kasalanan kung bakit di matagumpay ang aming mga huling album. Lalong kawawa si Pipette. Siya na nga inaway namin noon kasi pakiramdam namin sinosolo niya ang spotlight. Siya pa itong inaaway namin ngayon, kasi nagkamali siyang pagbigyan kami. Oo, inaamin naming, inaaway namin si Pipette. Pero aminado kaming lahat kami dito may pagkukulang.

But we are sisters first and only bandmates second. Unang-una, magkakapatid kami. Hence, if retiring the band is the best way to make amends, so be it. Para magkaayos kaming lahat.

Salamat sa inyong lahat at paalam."

Malayong-malayo sa edited version na ni-release nila, di ba?

"Napagkasunduan naming magpahinga muna para subukan ang mga bagong bagay. Panahon lamang ang makapagsasabi kung magbabalik kami bilang The AM Project. Pero isang bagay ang mananatiling totoo, habang-buhay kaming magkakapatid, at mahal naming ang isa't isa. Sa aming mga tagahanga, maraming salamat sa inyo at sana maintindihan niyo ang aming desisyon.

We have decided to take a break to try new things. Only time will tell if we will return as The AM Project. But one thing remains, we are forever sisters, and we love each other. To our fans, thank you very much and we hope you understand."

Bumalik ako sa kasalukuyan. Sabi ni Pipette, "We'll share duties, Dad. This time, we're mixing our styles. Mag-co-contribute kami na mga kantang gawa namin. Nagkasundo lang kami sa tema."

Sagot ko, "Okay, hands-off ako sa inyo, gaya ng dati. Pero gusto ko lang masigurado na magkakasundo nga kayong magkakapatid. Family meeting tayo. I'm excited for your work."

"Thanks, Dad," Humalik sa pisngi ko ang anak natin, bago umupo sa kabilang dako ng mesa. Ang huli kong napansin ay tinitignan niya ang larawan nating dalawa sa Ferris wheel sa Enchanted. Bagong kasal pa lang tayo noon at buntis ka sa mga anak natin.

Miss na kita, dumpling. Mahal kita.

Dad.

---

Version 1.0, 30 March 2020