KAHIT SANDALI: Part 10

Nagising ako nang may kumatok sa pintuan ng aking kwarto.

"Daddy, kakain na po." sabi ng isang maliit na tinig na alam kong si Jake.

"Ganun ba anak, sige, susunod na ako." sagot ko naman.

Nakatulugan ko palang bukas ang laptop. Muli kong naalala ang mga napanood ko kagabi. It was heartbreaking - seeing him again. Seeing him yet not being able to even hold him hurts like hell.

Muling nangilid ang mga luha sa mata ko. I was on the verge of crying when a knock on my door brought me back to reality.

"Dad, may pasok pa po ako. Kain na po tayo." si Jake

That's right, may anak pa pala ako. Kung may premyo lang ang pinakawalang kwentang tatay, malamang nanalo na ako nun.

"Palabas na anak. Magtoothbrush lang ako. You can start eating without me." sabi ko naman habang pinupunasan ang mga luhang di na napigilang umagos mula sa mga mata ko.

Mabilis kong inayos ang sarili ko. Naghilamos, nagtoothbrush bago bumaba. Nang marating ko ang kusina ay tapos nang kumain si Jake. Lumapit ito sa akin at humalik sa pisngi saka nagpaalam.

"Bye dad." sabi nito. Saka tumalikod at dumiretso sa kotse.

Tiningnan ko lang siya habang papalayo. Andami ko nang pagkukulang sa anak ko.

Nang umaga ding iyon, hindi ako kumain, naligo nalang ako at dumiretso na papuntang office. Nagpatayo ako ng talent center kung saan ang mga independent artists ng Pilipinas ay sinasala namin at kung sino ang magagaling at may ibubuga ay sinusuportahan at pinapasikat.

Marami na rin kaming napasikat at ngayon ay may auditions kami uli. We've had dance auditions the week before and now we're holding auditions for those who have singing potential.

Nang makarating ako sa office ay marami na ang nakapila. Kung kaya naman the moment I stepped inside the audition room, we started the auditions. Some auditioned in pairs and some did solo acts.

Marami na ang natapos sa audition at wala pa ring nakakakuha ng atensyon ko. Most of them are good singers pero para bang may hinahanap ako. Ngayon, I'm down to the person na mag-o-audition.

"Byron Dela Cruz please come in." sabi ng assistant ko.

I was checking out his application form and saw that he had no picture attached.

"So, Byron, you're 25 years old, a B.S. in HRM graduate and is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Dela Cruz. Is this correct?" tanong ko na nanatiling nakatingin sa application form.

"Opo sir." sagot naman nito.

"Ok, so what are you going to sing for us today?" tanong ko ulit.

"Uhmm, Forever po sir ng Rascal Flatts." sagot naman nito.

"Forever, hindi ko pa naririnig 'yan. Pero sige. You can start." sagot ko naman.

I miss you so much

Your light, your smile, your way

and everything about us.
Now you're gone,
You're still here in my heart and in my tears.
Yeah you sure left your mark.

We were just getting started

[Chorus:]
It wasn't long enough,
It wasn't long enough together
but it was long enough,
yeah it was long enough to last forever.

Sometimes I get so mad, I scream, I swear at this
cause this isn't how we planned it.
I sit here in a cold room
prayin', waitin' on you,
to run back through that door,
to the way is was before
you left

[Chorus]

Been cheated (I've been Cheated)
Defeated (defeated, to believe)
To believe that you're gone.
(You're gone, you're gone)
Ooh it was wrong (so wrong, so wrong)

It wasn't long enough
It wasn't long enough
It wasn't long enough

No

[Chorus]

It wasn't long enough [x6]

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero naramdaman ko nalang nang tumulo ang mga luha ko. Maraming mas maganda at mas magaling kumanta kaysa kay Byron pero sa pagkanta niya, he has this quality that when he sings, he makes you wanna listen. Full of emotions, iyon bang parang ginawa ang kanta para sa kanya. Para bang napakasakit ng mga napagdaanan niya sa buhay.

Pinahid ko ang mga luha ko bago nagtaas ng tingin. I was stopped when I saw Byron. He was at least 5'11 sa tantiya ko. Moreno, may biloy sa kaliwang pisngi na lumabas nang ngumiti siya sa akin nang tingnan ko siya. Slim built ang katawan but what captured me the most was his facial features which resembled Eric.

Medyo matagal bago pa ako natauhan at nang matauhan ay agad akong nagbigay ng komento.

"Congratulations Mr. Dela Cruz. Looks like you'll have to be ready for the recording of your first album." sabi ko.

"Talaga ho sir? Naku, maraming maraming salamat po. Ang laki ho ng maitutulong nito sa akin." sabi nitong halos tumalon sa tuwa.

"Yes, so we'll give you a call para sa isang meeting and we'll talk about the details."

"Sige po sir. Maraming salamat ho ulit."

Iyon lang at natapos din ang mahabang audition day. Nang tingnan ko ang oras ay alas-nueve y media na.

“Sige na Rachel, mauna ka na. Magliligpit lang ako ng gamit at aalis na rin ako. Lumalalim na ang gabi.” Sabi ko sa assistant ko.

“Sige po sir, ingat ho kayo.” Sabi naman nito.

“Sige.” Sagot ko.

Agad kong tinungo ang office ko mula sa audition room. Nang papalapit ako sa office ay bigla akong kinabahan, hindi ko alam kung bakit. Nang makapasok ako sa office ay narinig kong tumutunog ang cellphone ko. May tumatawag pala at unregistered number ang nakadisplay.

“Hello?” pagsagot ko sa tawag.

“Hello, is this the father of Jake Alfonz Imperial?” tanong ng nasa kabilang linya.

“Yes, this is him speaking, bakit po?” sabi ko naman.

“This is doctor Paul Lacson, you’re son is in critical condition. I’ll explain the details when you get here. He’s at St. Paul’s Hospital. Please come quickly.”

Iyon lang at naputol na ang linya.

Hindi ako makagalaw nang mga oras na iyon.

“No, not Jake. Please don’t take away my son.” Nausal ko nalang.

Itutuloy….

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by: Ji Jei (kiLL_joy145@yahoo.com.ph)


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