Purple's deep gazes was now glued on the two performer. Tapos na sina Valora at Marion sa kanilang performance, on the other hand... Purple can't belive that the nerd has a talent to strum the electric guitar on her own.
"Tutugtog lang kayo?" tanong niya.
"H-Hindi... Kakanta din ako." Shania responded.
"Oh, sige. Mag simula na kayo." one of the students who is a judge too stated. Nahagip ng mata ni Shania sina Zioquel at Ione na nasa audience chair.
"GORA MAHAL KO!! KAYA MO IYAN!!" Namula si Ione sa hiya dahil siya din mismo ay pakiramdam na napagkakamalang sira ulo dahil may kinakasama itong takas mental. Siniko nito si Zioquel at sinita.
"Ano ka ba namang abnormal ka! Manahimik ka na nga!"
"Ano ba? Pake mo? Eh ano naman kung tumingin sila sa atin?"
"NAPAGKAKAMALAN KANG ISANG BOANG!" Gigil na gigil na ito kay Quiel.
"Ok lang, totoo naman na Boang ako sa aking iniibig." Quiel pouted like he's inside the dream and imagined Shania attempting to kiss him. Dahil sa inis, binatukan ni Ione si Zioquel.
"HOY, WAG MAINGAY!" Sita ng isang judges.
"Pag napalabas tayo hindi na talaga natin makikita kung paano umawit si Shania. Hays, ang sakit kaya sa tenga ng boses mo. Ang sarap pukpukin ng pako gamit ang martilyo." Ione is still wondering kung bakit ba sila naging close ni Quiel in the first place. Sa sobrang bilis ng pagpapatakbo ng oras ay hindi niya na din namalayan sa sarili na magiging ka close niya ang binata.
Parang kahapon lang ay nagkita sila at ngayon ay sobrang close na.
Sienna started to play the Piano and Shania started to strum the electric guitar.
"MGA BEBE! PATUGTOG KAYO BANYO QUEEN!!" Quiel suggested when he noticed na walang kaideya-ideya ang dalawa kung ano ang tutugtugin.
"Nah, not that. We'll just going to perform a cover song. Maybe... 'Stronger' Song by Kelly Clarkson." Hindi alam ni Asteria kung ano ang kakantahin. She wanted to protest but her body controlled her mouth to keep it shut. Parang pakiramdam niya ay may nakatahi sa kanyang bibig.
Each tap of the piano was gracefully and elegantly presented by Sienna. Ang mga kamay ni Shania ay gumalaw na din ng kusa sa sarili at kinapa ng daliri ang strings ng electric guitar. Their dynamics as a duo is compatible! The harmonies of their music rhymed perfectly too!
Huminga ng malalim si Shania at itinapat ang bibig sa mic na naka pwesto sa kanyang harapan. Before, she could feel her glasses being the bother in her eyesight. But now that she's not wearing the glasses, she feels like an opposite person.
'Ito ang unang pagkanta ko bilang si Asteria. At ako, na isang kaluluwa na dumadalaw lamang sa mundo nila Shania ay maglalaho din ng parang bula. Ibibigay ko lahat ng aking makakaya. Dito na din magsisimula ang pagbabago.'
NOW PLAYING : Stronger, Song by : Kelly Clarkson.
"You know the bed feels warmer.
Sleeping here alone.
You know I dream in color.
And do the things I want."
Nanakit ang dibdib ni Ione. Dapat siya ang nasa tabi ni Shania, dahil lang sa isang insidente... Nagbago ang kanilang takbo sa kani-kanilang mga buhay. Noong nasa grade 8 sila, nabanggit ni Ione na gusto niya din gumawa ng banda kasama siya.
"Maalala pa kaya ni Shania iyon?" tanong niya sa sarili at hindi napansin na medyo napalakas na ang kanyang bulong.
"Na ano?" Binasag ni Quiel ang pag-eemote niya.
"Wala. Sa susunod ayaw na kitang makatabi." Ione rolled her eyes.
"You think you got the best of me?
Think you had the last laugh?
Bet you think that everything
good is gone.
Think you left me broken down?
Think that I'd come running back?
Baby you don't know me,
'cause you're dead wrong."
"Sh1t, lalo akong napapaibig sa kanyang boses. She loowks hawt diba?" natawa si Ione dahil ito na naman ang matigas na English ni Quiel. Nagmumukha talagang clown ang lalaki dahil sa matigas na pagbigkas nito ng english.
When the chorus started, Ione started to lip sing along in sync. Ganoon din si Quiel at dinama ang kanta ng buong puso.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?
Stand a little taller.
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter?
Footsteps even lighter.
Doesn't mean I'm over
'cause you're gone."
On the other hand, Jairuss was at the other corner who is steadily watching Shania's performance. Para talagang nasa concert siya kahit iilan lamang ang mga tao sa loob ng Music Room. Nagulat na lamang ang lalaki ng biglaang may sumulpot na babae sa kanyang gilid. He thought it was Beatrice Gillian because both of the girl and Bea posses a pink hair. Turns out, her style looks like a rock n' roll outfit and her strands has a lot of blue highlights.
"What doesn't kill you
makes you stronger, stronger.
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Stand a little taller.
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone."
"Hi President, would you look at that. Shania looks better than before right?" the unknown mysterious girl asked.
"Sino ka?" Jairuss asked.
"Hindi ako sinuka. Iniri po ako." she joked pero yung babae lang ang natawa sa kanyang kalokohan at hindi si Jairuss. His straight face remains the same.
"Tinatanong kita ng maayos. Huwag mo akong pinipilosopo."
"Chill, Mr. President. I know we're not that close. Pero I am curious why are you here." her playful tone makes her even more annoying.
"I don't talk to strangers. And it was none of your business to poke with someone else's problem." he shutted her off. With his rude response, inaasahan ng lalaki na umalis na ang babae pero nasa tabi pa din niya ito.
"Haysss... Jairuss. Wala naman masama kung magmamahal ka. Ang masama, kung kailan pa siya nahulog sa iba ay saka ka pa lang aakto. Don't be such a slow poke." she tapped his shoulder like a concerned friend who is giving a piece of advice.
"Shania can fall in love with anyone. Ano ba ang pinupunto mo?" tanong nito na nakapagpatawa kay Annalise.
"Oh sige... Sinabi mo iyan. Basta, huwag mong pagsisisihan ang lahat okay?" Annalise started to walk away and leave out of no where.
"Darn it. I forgot to ask her name." nanghihinayang na saad niya. Pakiramdam ni Jairuss na nakasalamuha niya na ang babae pero ang tanong...
Kailan?
"You heard that I was starting over with someone new. But told you I was moving on over you."
The lyrics of the song feels like a slap. Pakiramdam ni Jairuss ay pinaparinggan siya sa pamamagitan ng pagkanta. It's like the full performance was wholly dedicated for him.
"You didn't think that I'd come back.
I'd come back swinging.
You try to break me but you see.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Stand a little taller.
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter.
Footsteps even lighter.
Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone."
Familiar sensation of pain struck inside his heart. Kinapa niya ang dibdib at mahinang tinapik ito. Sabay na binulungan ang sarili – "Ano na ba ang nangyayari sa puso ko? Kailangan ko na atang kumunsulta sa clinic saglit."
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,
stronger! Just me, myself and I.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller.
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone."
He left the place due to unknown reason. Tumindi din ang pagkirot ng dibdib nito at napagdesisyunan na saka niya na lang aayanin si Shania na bumalik bilang isang Vice President. There's no one in their school who is willing to take the position. Tanging si Shania na lang ang magdedesisyon kung kanino ipapasa ang kanyang posisyon.
"Thanks to you I got a new thing started.
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted. Thanks to you I'm finally thinking 'bout me. You know in the end the day to left was just my beginning." the performance ended smoothly. Their reaction was priceless and the music room felt way more warm than before.
Hinihingal si Shania, hindi dahil sa pagod. Kung hindi ay dahil sa pakiramdam niya na sasabog ang kanyang puso. Pakiramdam niya na lahat ng bigat niya ay maayos niyang nailabas sa paraan ng pagkanta.
"Salamat." she ended it. Nagpalakpakan lahat ng tao na nakarinig sa kanya habang si Quiel ay todo ang paghiyaw na parang nanalo sa loto.
"GORAAA!!! IYAN ANG MAHAL KO!!! SI SHANIA YAN! WHOOOO!!!"
Purple raised his hand and smiled.
"You passed. Manang Prinsesa." he complimented na nakapagpasimangot kay Shania.
"Manang Prinsesa?" tanong ng ibang judge kay Purple.
"I am the only person who could call her like that. May rason kung bakit ko siya binigyan ng ganoong pangalan."
"Ang baduy naman nun." pagbibigay ng opinion ni Sienna saka pumunta sa gawi ni Shania upang hawakan ang kamay nito.
"Congratulations to us. We passed."
"Her vocals are unique. Pero I suggest na mag practice pa kayo para mas lalong mag improve ang skills niyo sa instrument. Not to mention, mukha kang may sariling mundo Sienna. And Shania, if you're going to perform make sure to make an eye contact to the audience." saad ng isang judge.
"Ayoko silang tingnan kasi ang pangit nila." bulong na insulto ni Shania na nakapagpatawa kay Sienna.
━━━━━❘༻༺❘━━━━━
Habang nasa Hallway at masinsinan na naguusap si Valora at Marion, aksidenteng nabangga ni Annalise si Valora sanhi ng pagkataray ng babae sa kanya.
"Hey, watch where you going." pagtataray ni Valora. Her brown eyes were glued on the unknown person's eyes. Ang berdeng mata ni Annalise ay tila'y pamilyar kay Valora.
"Teka Miss, bago ka pa lang ba dito? Mukha kang pamilyar." pati si Marion ay napatitig sa babae. Suot ni Annalise ang kanilang uniform kaya obvious na taga dito ang babae.
"Yes, bago pa lang ako dito. Have I mentioned to you before? Ang ganda mo Ms. Valora." Annalise complimented with a bright smile. Namula ang dalaga dahil ito ang unang beses na naka tanggap siya ng diretsong salita mula sa babae. Some people can give her compliments but they cannot confess straight to her face.
Nakaramdam ng pagkainis si Marion. Knowing that Valora is bisexual, ipinalibot niya ang kanang braso sa bewang nito to give her a false hint na they're a couple.
Bumaba ang mata ni Annalise sa baywang ni Valora at napatawa ng malakas.
"You guys... Look like a perfect couple. May the two of you commit a happily ever after."
"Hala, Miss– NOO! Hindi ko kaano-ano si Lamok!" depensa ni Valora pero lalong humigpit ang pagkakayakap ni Marion sa kanya.
"Huh? Anong hindi kaano-ano? Grabe ka naman saakin Kitty." paglalambing ng binata sa kanya. Umalis na lang si Annalise sa kanilang harapan dahil alam niya na nakakaistorbo na siya sa kanilang oras.
Humming happily, Annalise sighed na parang pagod na pagod na siya sa buhay.
"I am glad... That Marion and Valora's third life become stable. Nawa'y maging payapa na sila at hindi na magambala ng nino man."