Part 5

After I introduced the band to the staff in the set with me, we started the interview right away. There's no time to waste when dealing with celebrities, specially those with multiple schedules in a day. Time is money for them.

While the interview was on-going, I couldn't help but notice how different the personalities of the members of Saint Claire from one another.

There's Rosco, the lead vocals. Heavy voice, strong presence. He's mostly the one who answers questions since the members relied on him most.

Then there's Shun, the half-Japanese bass guitarist and the youngest of them. He was probably the most silent one from the band, a little introverted while being surrounded with loud personalities like Sancho and Jarvis.

Jarvis, the drummer with American blood. He's distracted most of the time and couldn't stay still like a hyperactive kid. The first thing he and Sancho did when they arrived at the conference room was stuffed the manager's bag with the candies and chocolates we have prepared for them.

"Jar, hati tayo 'dyan." Are they not being fed?

Then there's Sancho, the lead guitarist of the band. In the middle of messing around with Jarvis, I caught him several times staring at me while playing with the ring on his lower lip, as though he's contemplating.

We had short breaks throughout the interview. The members seemed  like the type of people who couldn't stay serious and formal for a long time. For every question or two, they would start fooling around and Rosco would glare at them to stop.

"Ms. Eula."

I was reviewing my notes during the break when Jarvis called me.  "Yes?" I inquired.

"Isa ba siya sa staff?"

I followed his gaze and almost choke on air, completely forgetting  Kayla was on the other room. Now I know why the drummer was distracted.

"She's a writer under the company," I told him, suspicious of his  sudden interest.

"Siya ba nagsulat ng libro?" he referred to the stacks of books in the room.

"Yes."

Jarvis remained distracted throughout the rest of the interview, like he just saw something interesting for the first time. He had his elbow on  the table, face planted on his open palm, watching the other side of the room with a sparkly grin on his face.

Should I worry about this?

We resumed the interview after the break. The band, though loud and chaotic, was surprisingly decent to talk to, specially when the questions were about their passion to make music.

"Music is the only thing that can slow down time. It transcends generations, it slows down years and decades."

"One song can make you feel the same emotions you felt when you first fell in love with it, regardless of the scope of time."

"If you look at it this way, it's a time machine."

I admired how their passion reflects from their different answers and  they were actually smart in stringing words. No wonder their compositions went viral.

And they're not trying to sound smart. Believe me, I know the  difference. I've encountered several celebrities who gave me headache with their answers, trying to use heavy words and phrases they didn't need.

I pushed through with my remaining questions.

"Is it true that most artists' source of inspiration are the times before  their fame?"

There was a brief silence before Rosco came up with an answer. "It is true. Art often comes from the darkest times and the most painful memories."

"Is there a fear then, that fame would keep you from creating great and relatable music?"

"I think it's about the perspective. As long as you don't allow the attention and popularity to get in your head, your perspective of the  world remains. It's a good thing when you think about it. Fame can  make you see the things you've missed and took for granted in your everyday life."

To stray from the prepared questionnaires was something only experienced host or interviewers do. But one of my beliefs in being a good host is not to rely on the prepared questions alone but to come up with questions from the answers presented. This way, guests would  know they're being heard.

"Are there things you've missed and took for granted that you can see clearly now?"

Sancho stopped from tapping the tip of the pencil against the table. Without staring at me, he muttered. "You."

I blinked. I was glad my smile didn't falter. I should confirmed what he said as a host, but I couldn't, afraid that I misheard things.

Thankfully, Rosco came up with a safe answer, somehow saving  Sancho and I from the silence. "These are the things we put into our music."

After the first part of the interview, I lead the group to the creatives department on the same floor, a full professional studio where photoshoots for the magazines were done.

The photographer, art director and their staff were already inside. I let them lead the photoshoot since it's their field and we've already talked about the concept during the meeting.

I stepped out of the studio to check on Kayla, knocking lightly on the door.

"You okay here?"

She raised her head from the page she was signing. "Yeah, I'm half done."

"I'll send you lunch when the food arrived," I told her.

"And treat me to dinner." It wasn't even a question. She literally just commanded me.

Smiling, I nodded. "Of course." I paused for a moment, trying to come  up with a suitable way to ask her. "Did someone approach or talk to you?"

"Who?"

"Nothing, just making sure no one's disturbing you."

"I didn't know most of the people here anyway," she muttered before getting back to signing.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag sa sinabi niya bago muling nagpaalam. I was pretty protective of Kayla, specially after the things she's been through.

Ang hindi ko lang talaga malinis sa buhay niya ay ang walang-hiya niyang boyfriend. Sa oras na may ginagawang katarantaduhan ang lalakeng yon, I would crazy murder him.

I walked back to the studio at the same time the crew started with the  solo shots. The band members were wearing leather jackets, coats and formal blazers over casual T-shirts and jeans.

The stylist made a great job of making them look classy with a  laid-back appeal, perfect to the concept of the photoshoot. No wonder  this band has a lot of fangirls. They have the talent, that's for sure, and the looks to complete the package. They could all honestly pass as models or actors with their face and heights.

Sancho walked in front of the crew for his solo shots. Posing for the camera was something he used to hate. Yet he could do it with  confidence now.

I still remember how I used to be the only person screaming his name during gigs. His number one fan. But now, all eyes were on him, admiring what he had become.

After the shoot, we went back to the conference room to have lunch. I helped the staff prepare to make sure the members and their team were comfortable.

But in my mind, I was in disarray.

The photoshoot took longer than I expected and cut the remaining time for the last part of the interview. I had to think of ways to merge the remaining questions that's been initially approved without sounding rushed or forced.

"Ms. Eula, kumain ka na din," alok ng stylist.

"I'm fine," I smiled bago binalik ang tingin sa mga cue cards habang nakaupo sa isa sa mga stool sa sulok ng conference room.

The art director must have thought the shoot was the last part of the interview. I should have warned them in the first place. There's no point in crying over spilled milk now.

While busy editing my notes, someone placed a plate of salad and croutons on the empty seat beside me. When I raised my head to check, Sancho was the one walking back to the conference table.

The last part of the interview was done swiftly. After answering the remaining questions and did a short live for the social media accounts  of the magazine, we still had time so I ordered them coffee before leaving.

By the time their manager was regrouping them, all the members were  no longer in the conference room. They became too laid-back because  of their short free time. I couldn't blame them though. They have too tight of a schedule.

"Nasaan na sila?" inquired the manager who was always the first one  who gets stress in a situation.

"Nagpasama si Shun kay Rosco to check on the lego set being shoot in the studio," answered the stylist. We indeed have a shoot for the newly released set to be featured in our website today.

I stepped out of the room to help them search for the members. The earlier they leave the premises, the better.

In the corridor, my eyes  widen after seeing Jarvis stepped out of the room where Kayla was signing.

What the heck was he doing in there?

Before I could even approached him to ask, the stylist called him,  telling them their manager was raging. But there was no haste from  Jarvis na prenteng naglakad pabalik sa conference room.

A moment later, Rosco and Shun came back and Sancho was the remaining one missing from the group. The manager looked so done  with them, considering the band still has guesting schedule for a radio show after the interview.

"Do you have a smoking area here, Ms. Cardona?" Rosco asked.

"Only in the lobby," I told him.

They started packing their things, expecting Sancho to be already in the lobby.

Smoking. I guess some bad habits of him didn't change. I excused  myself for a brief moment and walked to the fire exit at the end of the corridor.

I used to catch Sancho smoking in fire exists after gig to let off steam.  He isn't here... right?

I pushed open the heavy steel door and almost stumbled on my heels upon seeing Sancho on the landing, with flights of staircase below and above us.

He was leaning against the wall with his tall physique, blowing off  smoke from a cigarette between his fingers.

"Mr. Santana," I started. "Your manager and the others-"

I stopped when I heard a scoff from him which made me raise an eyebrow. Did he just scoff at me?

"Really, Eula?"

My steady gaze remained on him. "What?"

"Mr. Santana?" His own words rolled out of his lips like a sinister joke. Smiling, he shook his head with his back still against the wall and the cigarette remaining between his fingers.

"Can't you even acknowledge that we knew each other?"

"You're a stranger to me, Mr. Santana. But thanks to the interview I got to know exactly who you are." I plastered an impersonal smile on my  lips. "Your group is ready to leave so please finish your cigarette  break."

I pushed open the door and walked back to the corridor when I heard my name from him.

"You're not good at lying, Eula."

I remained on my spot, forcing myself not to face him.

"You still know where to find me."

I blinked, unable to respond, before biting my lower lip and walking away.

Damn you, Sancho.

I was all smiles in front of the elevator, waiting for the group to finally  leave. Once the steel door closed, the last thing I saw was Sancho  staring at me. Thank God I didn't have to see him again.

I went straight to the room where Kayla was signing. I immediately closed the door and took a deep breath.

"What's wrong?" tanong niya. "Was the interview that exhausting?"

Bumuntong-hininga ako bago humarap sa kanya. "Sobra. Are you  almost done?"

"Kanina pa. I was just waiting for you."

I noticed a cup of take-away coffee from her desk. "Saan galing 'yan?"

Kumunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko. "Hindi ba galing sa'yo? The new staff gave it to me."

"New staff?"

Despite the situation, I couldn't help but chuckle. It was obvious Jarvis gave her the coffee. He even wrote his number on the cup. But of  course, Kayla had no idea.

She grabbed the empty cup and throw it away to the nearest trash bin before leaving the room with me. Poor drummer. Looks like he got rejected before he can even start.

I had a pasta and wine dinner with Kayla after the stressing day. Kayla was a bit worried with me ordering wine. But it was only a glass. It's not like it could make me drunk.

Back in the condo, I dipped myself in a warm bath and let myself ease away today's tension. I was just glad it was over. I didn't have to see them again.

That's what I thought.

At ten in the evening, while wrapped in bathrobe in front of the vanity mirror, applying moisturizer on my stressed skin, I received a text message from Ms. Cee telling me to check my email.

I don't usually check work related notifications after ten in the evening but it seemed urgent. But upon reading the email I almost threw my laptop on the floor.

What the fuck?

//