#NewClassicILIB

Chapter 26
Welcome Back

"I'm sorry for always asking, but are you really okay now?"

I couldn't keep count how many times Mr. Joel asked me that, but I really appreciated the concern he was showing me. Even though I was only a part of the fandom, I could tell that he really cared about me. Maybe it's because he already got close to my mother.

"I just wanted to make sure. We don't want to pressure you or add to your stress," he explained.

"Okay na po. Huwag po kayong mag-alala," sabi ko. "Kaya ko na po ulit bumalik."

Tumango-tango naman siya at napabuntonghininga. "But are you sure you won't take your previous position?"

Smiling, I replied, "I'm fine just being one of the admins."

After almost two months of taking a break, I finally decided to go back. As I was recovering well, I was confident enough to enter the world that I tried to shut down. I even consulted this decision to my father. It was unexpected that he fully supported me, unlike before when he was a bit unsure about his stand on my dedication to the band. I guessed he really just wanted me to start socializing again with other people.

However, I didn't want to take back the position I passed down to Dawn. Mr. Joel briefed me earlier that she was doing a great job. I already experienced it anyway. I wasn't greedy for it. And because my graduation's getting nearer, I wasn't confident enough if I could juggle both things while I was busy adapting to adult life. I was fine with minor roles. The important thing is I still could help around the fandom.

"By the way, I'm not sure if Dawn already told you about it, but Aya already stepped down as the admin," Mr. Joel informed me.

My eyes widened as I had no idea about Aya's withdrawal. I had not talked to Dawn yet. Ang balak ko sana ay pagkatapos kong kausapin si Mr. Joel ay saka ko lamang sasabihin kay Dawn na magbabalik na ako.

"Ang sabi raw ni Aya sa kanya ay sobrang naging busy na siya roon sa New Zealand. Pakiramdam niya rin ay wala siyang masyadong maitutulong lalo na't nasa ibang bansa siya kaya naisipan niyang bumitiw na sa posisyon," paliwanag sa akin ni Mr. Joel. "But she said she will still support New Classic and their music."

Pursing my lips, I felt a bit down. I wished I could've talked to Aya before she quit. Hopefully, I could still contact her through her fan account.

"So, to avoid such instances, the management decided to just get two New Classic staffs to help Dawn out. They are technically working as admins of First Class," pagpapatuloy ni Mr. Joel. "Buti na lang at babalik ka na. Kampante na ako dahil magkasama na kayo ulit ni Dawn."

I could tell how relieved Mr. Joel was. Siguro ay naging mahirap din talaga lalo na't kasabay ng pagpapahinga ko ay ang pag-alis ni Aya. I suddenly wanted to contact Dawn right away and apologize for causing trouble while I was gone.

While Mr. Joel and I were trying to catch up, his phone suddenly chimed. Sinulyapan niya iyon ng isang beses. It must be important because he picked up his phone right away.

I watched him as his brows furrowed while reading the message he received.

"Uh, Zendaya..." He was slightly hesitating when he called my name.

"Bakit po?" agap ko.

Ibinaba niya ang kanyang cellphone saka muling nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. "Puwede bang pumunta ka muna sa may visitor's lounge?" pakiusap niya sa akin. "Mayroon lang akong kailangang gawin. Hintayin mo ako roon."

I creased my forehead a bit. "May dapat pa po ba tayong pag-usapan?"

I didn't want to sound rude, but we had been talking for almost an hour already. I believed I already said everything that I had to say. Madami na ring nasabi sa akin si Mr. Joel. Kahit ang mga bagay na hindi ko naman kailangang malaman ay naikuwento na niya sa akin.

"Well, uhm, may pag-uusapan lang kami ng management saglit," sabi niya sa akin. He looked so uneasy that his movements seemed suspicious to me. "I will tell you kung may importante kaming pag-uusapan about New Classic at sa upcoming events nila na kailangan namin kayo ni Dawn."

Though I was a bit skeptical, I still did what he told me to do. He would usually let me wait inside his office. Waiting in the visitor's lounge wasn't something I was used to.

The moment I opened the door to the visitor's lounge, it confirmed my suspicion. Though even if I was cautious, I let my guard down and got surprised by the sudden explosion of party poppers.

"Zendaya!"

I just found myself being attacked by Dawn with a very tight embrace. I let my eyes wander around the lounge and found the members of New Classic, looking at me with smile on their faces. There were also simple decorations on the wall, along with foods set up on top of the long table.

My eyes fixed on Isaiah standing beside the 'welcome back' sign. They used metallic balloon letters to create the phrase.

Isaiah's smile was brighter than the atmosphere. I remembered that I told him about my plan to come back to the fandom. He was the first one to know about it actually.

Feeling hot in my cheeks, I averted my gaze away from Isaiah as I recalled that night.

He was still surprised when he lowered his eyes back to the guitar pick I gave back. His face was screaming disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell me?" His voice was hoarse. "You should've told me."

Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin sa aking ay halo-halo ang mga emosyon sa kanyang mga mata na hindi ko mapangalanan lahat. He wasn't even trying to hide all those emotions away.

"I just don't feel like there's a need to tell you about it," I told him my reasons. "And to be honest, I don't want to look like I'm desperate for your recognition. I don't want to look like a creepy fan."

Isaiah passionately shook his head. "I won't think that way," he said. "You don't know how much I wanted to thank you personally. You inspired me to write the song which led us to where we are right now. Through this song, we were recognized by our management. It was unfortunate that I didn't know your name and... well, you matured. You look different from before."

Like what my brother told me, puberty did hit me hard. He pointed out that I had undergone an unbelievable physical development. Maybe those who could see me regularly could still recognize me, but it wouldn't be the same case for Isaiah.

"The guitar pick!" He suddenly exclaimed like he was struck by something. "You gave me a guitar pick with a smiley face... You tried to tell me, right?"

My lips parted. I almost forgot about the guitar pick I gave them during their first fansigning.

"That time I had a feeling that you might really be the girl I met that night, but you didn't tell me anything, so I thought I was wrong." He shook his head again. "It's my fault. I should've asked you. I'm sorry if I didn't recognize you."

I smiled to assure him that I was already over it. "It's okay. You don't have to apologize."

Without a word, he just stared at me. Though his eyes looked gentle as it locked with mine, it still made me feel uneasy. I couldn't stare straight back at him.

But then, out of the blue, Isaiah chuckled huskily. "I don't know if it's really okay with you or you're just being kind as you naturally are..." he mumbled to himself as he reached out for my hand like what I did earlier.

I felt my hand froze, though his heat was radiating on my palm. He carefully placed down his guitar pick that I just returned to him. Parang naglalaro lang tuloy kaming dalawa ng pasa-pasahan.

"Bakit mo binabalik―"

"I told you before that it's already yours. You don't have to give it back to me," he reminded me.

"But―"

"You already gave me a guitar pick." He still didn't let me finish and smiled like an innocent boy. "A smiley face is already engraved on it, too. I have that. You should just keep this, so we both have something to make us smile."

And so, though I braved myself to return it to him, I still kept it with me in the end. However, instead of being regretful, I was happy that I got to keep it.

Ever since that night, we kept in touch through direct messages on Twitter. I had this feeling that we got closer to each other. But I still got this awkward feeling, meeting him in person.

"Surprise, Zendie!"

Pagkalayo ni Dawn ay si Sic naman ang bumungad sa akin. He gave me a small balloon. It didn't have a string nor a stick attached to it, so I had to hold the whole balloon.

"Why are you giving that to Zendaya, Sic?" Ike retrieved the balloon from me and let it fall on the ground, along with the other balloons scattered on the floor. "Welcome back, Zendaya." He then, smiled to me. "Pasensya ka na kay Sic."

Nagreklamo naman si Sic kay Ike. I laughed seeing them bantering with each other. Jirro didn't join them. It was unusual that I noticed it. He gave me a smile, but it seemed like he wasn't in a good condition.

"Oh, right!" Sic pulled a woman forward to face me. "This is Cloette!"

Medyo nagulat ako, pero namumukhaan ko siya. I was thinking if I had seen or met her somewhere because she really looked familiar.

Cloette may look simple, but she is a beautiful woman. Her hair was tied in a messy low ponytail with loose strands of hair on both sides of her temple. She was wearing a printed white tee, tucked in fitted jeans.

"She's a close friend of ours," Ike introduced her to me properly. "And she's currently working as one of our staffs."

Since Ike mentioned that she's one of their staffs, I suddenly remembered her from the Utopian World: Encore Concert. She was the one arranging our line for the meet and greet backstage. I never thought that she was a close friend of the members.

"Hi, Zendaya." She warmly smiled at me. "Cloe na lang itawag mo sa akin."

"Ayaw mo ng Cloette?" singit na tanong ni Sic sa kanya.

Cloe gave Sic a quick death glare. Sic immediately zipped his mouth and raised his hands. When she faced me back, she wore a smile again.

"I'm sorry about that," she timidly apologized. "But it's nice to meet you, Zendaya."

I smiled back. "Nice meeting you rin."

Nang matapos ang pagbati nila ay lumapit ulit sa akin si Dawn. She was excited to talk to me again. Umupo kami sa isang couch. Hindi pa kami masyadong nakakapagkumustahan ngunit natadtad na ako ng kuwento ni Dawn. I was overwhelmed by her presence and her stories.

"Dawn."

Natigil si Dawn sa pagsasalita nang tinawag siya ni Ike.

"Can you help me get the delivery downstairs?" Ike asked for her help.

"Oo naman!" Dawn excitedly got up from the couch.

Of course, she'd gladly accompany her bias.

"Iyong chicken wings ba 'yon, Ike?" Singit ni Cloe sa kanila. "Ako na lang kung gusto mo. It's my job―"

"Huwag na, Cloe," pagtanggi ni Ike. "Si Dawn na."

Ngumuso si Cloe pero tumango-tango rin siya.

Ike looked hesitant as he left with Dawn. He glanced on someone at the back, but I didn't pay attention to it much when Cloe suddenly sat beside me. She casually took Dawn's place.

"Okay lang ba kung tumabi ako sa 'yo?" maingat niyang tanong sa akin.

While nodding my head, I beamed at her.

"Sorry kung nandito ako kahit 'di tayo close, ah?" pahingi niya ng paumanhin sa akin. "Wala kasing tigil kakakulit sina Ike at Sic sa akin."

"Okay lang," agad kong sabi. "I'm actually glad to meet you."

Her mouth curled into a smile while staring at me for a few seconds. "Isaiah's right..." she said. "You're very pure and kind."

As I didn't expect that, my lips went apart.

Isaiah talked about me?

"He's the one who had the idea to organize a small party for you," she told me.

Knowing that he was the one who made this simple surprise possible, it made my heart pound excitedly. I warned my heart not to get its hopes higher than it already was.

"He did?" paninigurado ko.

Cloe chuckled as she nodded her head. "Huwag kang maingay, ah," pakiusap niya sa akin. "He didn't ask us not to say anything, but I feel like he doesn't want you to find out."

"Uhm, hindi naman ako mag-iingay..." sabi ko na lang kahit nagwawala na ang aking puso sa nalaman.

"Zendaya."

Natigil kaming dalawa ni Cloe sa pagku-kuwentuhan. I turned to Isaiah who came right on time.

Kita kong mabilis niyang sinulyapan si Cloe bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung nadinig niya ba ang pinag-uusapan namin ni Cloe, pero saktong-sakto ang kanyang pagdating lalo na't siya ang pinag-uusapan namin.

"Sandali lang, Zendaya ah. Maiwan ko muna kayo ni Isaiah," biglang paalam sa akin ni Cloe at nagmamadali rin siyang lumabas sa silid.

I was left with Isaiah. I struggled to keep my composure as I looked at him. I couldn't bear to meet his gaze. On the other hand, he was so calm and relaxed.

"You haven't eaten anything yet," he pointed out. "May pizza at mojos. But if you want, may padating na wings din. Kinuha lang saglit nina Ike at Dawn."

"Uh, kahit pizza na muna," sagot ko at akmang tatayo para kumuha ng sariling pagkain.

"Just stay there," he told me, making me stop midway. "I'll get your food."

Hindi ko na siya napigilan nang agad niya akong tinalikuran. I saw him put two slices of pizza on a plate and grabbed a can of soda drink from a brand that they were currently signed with. Mabilis siyang nakabalik sa akin.

He flashed a smile as he met my eyes again like he was trying to steal my heart from me, without knowing that he already owns it.