#NewClassicILIB

Chapter 4
Poster

That night, I went home with a heavy heart. But then, as I stared at his face on the poster I framed on my room and dwelt on my brother's words when we got home, I came with a deep thought that it was all right if he couldn't recognize me.

"Aren't you happy that you saw them today?" Kuya Zedrick asked, following me inside my room.

Seeing me painted with blue, I knew he wouldn't let the day pass without talking to me. I tried not to let it show, but my brother could read me like an open book.

With a smile on my face, I said, "Of course, I'm happy," I told the truth. "I'm really happy."

I wasn't lying.

I was really happy that I got to see them in person. Not every one had the chance to see them, so why wouldn't I be happy? To see them up close wasn't something that I should take for granted. I cherished every second that I was there. In addition, I also got to thank Isaiah, which was what I had been wanting to do.

However, I admitted that I was also feeling a bit down, knowing that Isaiah couldn't remember me. It was regretful.

"Then, why are your lips protruding?" he said, then casually pushed my lips using his fingers.

I dropped my head as I sighed heavily. "Remember what I told you about the member of the band that I really like?"

"Of course," he replied like it was an absurd thing to forget about it. "You keep on talking about him nonstop. How could I forget him? Isaiah's the name, right?"

As I saw his reaction―showing how sick he was of hearing about Isaiah―I chuckled a bit.

"So, what about him?" he probed.

He was acting like he was ready to fight Isaiah for making me sad.

"Four years ago, I met him here in our neighborhood."

Kuya Zedrick looked surprised. "You already met him before?"

I nodded. "The night when I went to the park, after mom and dad fought, I met him there," I said. "He saw me crying. He made a song for me. It was the same song I played over and over again."

"Smile is it?"

Once again, I bobbed my head. "He gave me this pick." I pulled the yellow pick out of my pocket to show him. He got it from me, and I pointed on Isaiah's cute faded drawing. "He put a cute smiley face, telling me how he wanted to see me smile."

There was no doubt that he made me happy with the song he made. It healed me in so many ways. It became my happy happy pill.

Ngumuso ako at binawi ang aking kamay.

"He said in an interview before that he remembered that night," I told Kuya Zedrick. "But earlier, he didn't recognized me. I guess I'm just expecting for something more, that's why I'm feeling so down and slightly disappointed."

It wasn't Isaiah's fault, actually. It was my on my own accord to get my hopes up and lift my expectations from him. He shouldn't be blamed for the disappointment I was feeling. I did this to myself.

My brother lonely gazed at me, when he looked up again. "Look at this, Zendaya..." He took my hand and placed the guitar pick back on my palm. "Look at the smiley face he drew."

I did what he told me. I focused my eyes, looking at the smiley face.

"The smiley face he drew on this pick had faded out now. It was almost unrecognizable." He pointed out what was obvious. "You may have taken good care of the pick, but the smiley face still faded. You told me it's been four years, so I didn't question more on why it happened."

My lips parted, starting to get his point.

"If you can still remember how it looked like before, it doesn't change the fact that it looks different now," he said. "And this isn't the only thing that's changed. You changed, too, Zendaya."

My eyes were still glued on the pick, while my brother tucked my loose hair strands at the back of my ear.

"I watched you grew to be a very beautiful lady."

I lifted my face to look at my brother. He had this proud smile on his face.

"When you were still in high school, the time when you met him, you were like a budding flower that time. You were still undeveloped," he told me, still wearing a smile. "And now, you are like a beautifully bloomed rose. You look different, but still the same. Just like the rose when it was still a bud."

As I took by heart and understood what my brother meant, I finally understood. It had been four years, I consoled myself with that thought. Madami na ang nagbago―hindi lang sa akin, kung hindi pati na rin sa kanya. I should, at least, be thankful that he could still remember what happened that night. It only meant that he valued what happened before as well.

And besides, his song still made me happy. It helped me get by for years. Through his song, I found the reason to smile.

Even though he couldn't remember me, I still love him and his band―as a fan. Their songs gave me strength and inspiration. I would continue to support them as long as I could, especially that my determination to keep on supporting the band had heightened up, when the official account of New Classic followed the fanbase account I created. They also invited me for a meeting at Top Star.

@NewClassicOfficial:
Good day! This is the manager of New Classic, Joel Lacson. Are you free on coming Sunday at 1PM onwards? We would like to invite you for a brief meeting at Top Star Records HQ in Quezon City, in regards to the official fanclub, which we are planning to establish for New Classic. If you are interested, your reply would be very much appreciated.

It felt like I was walking on air as I stared at the notification and message that I screenshot. Out of the six accounts it was following, my fanbase account was one of them. I created a simple post to tell the followers of the account that it was noticed and followed by the official account of the band. It received a lot of pleasant and harmonious responses from my fellow fans, congratulating the fanbase. At the same time, the number of followers also sky rocketed that I almost couldn't keep up with it. My notifications were going wild.

@dawnramos:
Congrats, Zendaya! Kinikilig ako para sa 'yo!

After the event, Dawn and I constantly communicated and kept in touch. We also attended one of New Classic's mall tour together last month. Siya ang pinakaunang fan din ng New Classic na naging kaibigan ko. I sent her the message I received from New Classic's official account. She was genuinely happy for me.

@zendayabrielle:
Thank you, Dawn!

Kuya Zedrick decided to accompany me at the meeting with New Classic's manager. He was skeptical about it, telling me that I might get scammed, so he forced me to take him with me. Kailangan ko rin naman siya para hindi ako mahirapan sa pagpunta roon dahil mayroong kalayuan sa aming bahay. Hindi na ako umangal.

"May I help you, miss?" The attendant at the lobby of Top Star Records asked me, but her eyes were on my brother beside me. However, my brother was oblivious to her stare. His eyes were roaming around the lobby where pictures of legendary recording artists of Top Star were displayed.

"Uh, I have a meeting with Mr. Joel Lacson at 1PM," I told her. "I'm Zendaya Gregorio."

Mr. Joel told me that I just needed to tell the receptionist about our meeting and my name, and he'd be waiting for me at his office.

"Oh, you're Zendaya!" She smiled brightly before she got a logbook and a ballpen. "Write your name and contact number here."

Ginawa ko ang sinabi niya at mabilis kong isinulat ang aking pangalan at numero sa visitor's logbook nila. Pagkatapos ay binigyan niya ako ng visitor's pass.

"Second floor lang ang mga office. Once you're out of the elevator, turn right. May mga nakalagay na name sa gilid ng pintuan bawat office kaya malalaman mong office 'yon ni Mr. Joel."

I kept in mind the simple intructions she gave me. Mabilis naming nakita ni Kuya Zedrick ang office ni Mr. Joel. We knocked a few times on the door, and he welcomed us inside.

"Hello! Thank you for coming. Zendaya, right?" He was enthuasiastic as he greeted me and offered his hand to me.

Nodding my head, I shook his hand. "Thank you for inviting me," I told him, and then looked at my brother. "I'm with my brother. I hope it's okay."

Napatingin naman siya sa kapatid ko. Nakangiti siyang umiling. "Of course, it's okay." Inilahad niya rin ang kanyang kamay kay Kuya Zedrick. "Joel Lacson."

"Zedrick Gregorio," my brother simply introduced himself and shook hands with him.

After the brief introduction, we settled down on his office's small receiving area. Pinaupo niya kami sa two-seater couch habang naupo naman siya sa aming harap. Mayroon siyang inilapag sa coffee table na mga papel at saka juice na inumin.

"It's a legal agreement that the company prepared for you," he informed me.

Napakunot naman ang aking noo. Kinuha ko iyon para mabasa.

"It's just to make it legal and official that you're going to be New Classic's official fanclub President," he made it clear right away. "We're also going to promote the fanbase account on New Classic's official account."

I continued reading what was written on the legal contract. There were a lot of clauses that I had to consider. Hindi puwedeng basta-basta lamang ako pumirma.

"Sa totoo lang ay hindi na sana aabot sa ganito, pero nagkaroon kasi ng gulo sa fanclub ng isang talent ng Top Star Records dati. We don't want that to happen again, kaya gusto namin ay may maayos na pagkakasunduan between both parties," he explained to me why establishing a fanclub became this complicated. "Your fanbase account will also be given a minimum salary every month. We considered what you're doing for New Classic is a great social media promotion for the boys, so we want to compensate you for it as well."

Sakto at nabasa ko ang tungkol sa monthly minimum salary na nakapangalan sa fanbase account. Kung mayroon pang ibang admins bukod sa akin, we would have to share it fairly or we could use it for fanprojects.

"Mayroon ka pa bang kasama na naghahandle ng New Classic PH?" he asked me.

Pursing my lips as I read, I shook my head. "Ako lang po."

I just reached my goal. Plano ko nang magrecruit ng kahit dalawa pang admin na tutulong sa akin magpatakbo ng account dahil nagiging abala na rin ako sa mga school works na mayroon ako. I didn't want to leave the fanbase account inactive.

"Oh! Mas maganda sana kung may katulong ka para hindi ka gaanong mahirapan," sabi niya sa akin. "We also plan to have the first fan gathering next month, so if you'd sign this agreement, we would have you cooperate with us to organize the event, along with our organizer."

I couldn't help, but feel excited for the first fan gathering. It was a great opportunity to build a solid foundation within the fandom. Mas madami rin akong puwedeng maging kaibigan na fan din ng New Classic gaya ni Dawn.

"No commitments needed, though. If you think you can't handle the account anymore and be the President due to personal reasons, just give us a heads up," he told me. "Pero kaya mas maganda rin sanang may ibang admins ang account para mayroong papalit sa puwesto mo na mapagkakatiwalaan mo rin."

And so, I did a few reconsiderations, before I decided to sign the legal agreement with them. I told Mr. Joel that I had plans to get two more admins, and he was pleased with that. Kuya Zedrick was cool with the decision I made, and I quote, "Fine with me. As long as your studies won't be affected."

It was a rollercoaster ride for me as a fan. When I first started to create the fanbase account, all I wanted to do was to support the boys. I never thought I would be given such an opportunity by their management. It was a huge responsibility to be the President of the fanclub, but it was the least I could for them―and especially for Isaiah.

Pagkatapos magpirmahan, nauna nang lumabas sa akin si Kuya Zedrick para kuhanin ang kanyang sasakyan. Ako naman ay nanatili sa lobby ng Top Star Records pagkatapos ibalik ang visitor's pass.

While waiting for my brother, my eyes drifted on the same poster of New Classic I had in my room. I stood up and walked closer to their poster, displayed along with the legends and popular artists of Top Star Records.

I couldn't believe that I was already a part of their team. I may had already sworn to myself before but this time, I promised to them that I'd support them in all the ways that I could.

"Got music?" I whispered and smiled as I said, "New Classic."