#NewClassicRTMC

Chapter 15
Moments

The moment Willow entered the room, I stared at her in awe as I couldn't help but admire her beauty. I finally understood why Top Star Records casted her. Just by her looks, she's already worth the investment.

She was just wearing crop-top sweater and jogger pants, while her hair was tied in a ponytail, but she still looked elegant. Her natural rosy cheeks and red pinkish plump lips gave color to her fair skin tone.

Mabilis akong tumayo upang salabungin siya. I was feeling excited to meet her, thinking that I could find another friend in Manila. We were both going to be mentored by Ike. Naisip kong magiging magkasundo kaming dalawa dahil doon.

Nang papalapit na siya sa akin ay ngumiti ako. Naglahad ako ng kamay sa kanya.

However, it seemed like she didn't notice my presence. As soon as her eyes caught Ike who was still sitting on the couch, she didn't look away anymore. She walked past me like I was invisible. I turned to follow her and she went straight to Ike.

Out of embarrassment, I brought my hand down to my side. Although I understood her excitement to see Ike, I also felt a bit dejected.

"OMG! Ike!" Willow almost lost her elegance as she turned into a fan in front of Ike. "I'm Willow!"

Gaya ko kanina ay naglahad din ng kamay si Willow kay Ike. I saw how Ike smiled a bit as he shook her hand for a second before he stood up.

"I've been meaning to formally meet you since my manager told me that you're going to be my mentor for Road to Record," she expressed her excitement even more. I could see her eyes twinkling from where I stood. "Oh! And, uhm, I'm sorry if I'm a bit sweaty. I was practicing my performance for the pilot episode before I went here."

"No problem," tipid na sabi lang ni Ike at saka biglang naglakad papalapit sa akin.

I held my breath while he stood right next to me and his hand rested on my lower back. I was a bit startled and feeling bashful because of the sudden skinship. I didn't expect that, making me unable to school my expression.

Willow's brows slightly knitted. She looked very curious when she turned to us.

"This is Aleena," Ike introduced me to her with a slightly bright tone. "She's one of the contestants in Road to Record and also my mentee."

"Oh!" Willow was surprised to hear that. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you standing there earlier."

Humakbang na rin siya papalapit sa amin. Kahit humingi siya ng pasensya, hindi ko alam kung bakit mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng sama ng loob.

So, she didn't really see me even when I stepped forward to greet her...

"Uhm, ayos lang..." sabi ko na lang at saka hilaw na ngumiti.

"I'm Willow, by the way," she introduced herself to me without her hand unlike what she did with Ike.

"Aleena Caringal."

After that brief and awkward introduction, we all settled down inside to tackle our main agenda, especially when Mr. Joel finally arrived. I sat on the couch where I sat earlier with Ike, while Willow took the couch across mine. Umupo sa kanyang tabi ang kanyang manager at ganoon din si Mr. Joel sa aking tabi.

On the other hand, Ike occupied the single couch in the middle, like he was acting as a mediator.

"As we all know, I am going to be your mentor for Road to Record," Ike led the conversation between us. "And for the shooting of pilot episode next week, you two are given two minutes each to perform. I want to know your ideas and what you came up with―if you have one."

Ike gave me a quick glance. I sheepishly looked away from him. I knew I planned to tell him my idea three days ago, but I always got sidetracked whenever I was with him. Nakakalimutan ko ang aking importanteng sasabihin. Lagi akong nadadala ng kanyang presensya.

"We started planning Willow's performance last month and she started practicing two weeks ago," Willow's manager started to share what they prepared for the performance. "We coordinated with Top Star's performance director in order to make sure that she'll have an outstanding number."

Kabado akong napalunok nang madinig ko kung gaano sila kahanda. It seemed like they were preparing for a very grand performance, a huge contrast to what I had in mind for my own stage.

"What song is she going to perform?" Ike asked critically, his eyes changed its gaze.

"I'm going to perform a mashup of three songs with different genres to utilize the time given to me," Willow answered the question on her own.

"She's the one who thought of that idea, and the performance director agreed to it right away," puri ng kanyang manager sa kanya. "We hope that you can watch her practice to evaluate her performance as her mentor."

Tumango-tango si Ike. "I already set my schedule to watch her practice on Monday," sabi niya at saka idinirekta ang tingin kay Willow. "I like your idea to mashup songs. But I have to check the arrangement of the songs used to see if there can still be room for improvements."

"Don't worry, Ike," Willow stated, confidence was etched on her face. "I'm carrying the name of our company so I assure you that I'm going to do my best."

"That's good," sabi na lamang ni Ike.

Willow looked so happy because of that simple praise from Ike. It reminded me of myself a bit. I guessed it was really normal to feel that way when praised by your mentor.

Pouting my lips, I craned my neck to look at Ike. At the same time, his eyes flicked to mine. My breath almost got caught in my throat.

Ike's brow raised. He was wearing a ghost of a smile. "What about you, Aleena?" he asked me, and I felt like he was slightly making fun of me. "Do you have any idea?"

Napalingon ako kay Mr. Joel. His eyes spoke to me, telling me to speak my mind and share my ideas. Kaya naman ibinalik ko rin kaagad ang aking tingin kay Ike na naghihintay pa rin ng sagot galing sa akin.

"Uhm, may naisip ko..." nag-aalangan kong sabi.

He looked a bit surprise, but he just smiled to conceal it right away. "What is it?"

Napasulyap ako kay Willow. Mukhang inaabangan niya rin ang aking sasabihin.

"I want to do an acoustic performance," I stated after gathering my courage.

"Acoustic performance?" Ike echoed what I said.

"Don't you think that's too simple?" biglang pagsingit ni Willow. She sounded disappointed. "It's the pilot episode. You need to make a remarkable impression since it's going to be our first appearance."

Knowing that Willow made the right point, I pursed my lips. However, even though the performance I was thinking of might be risky for someone new to the industry, I still wanted to do it.

I saw Ike's jaw clenched. I figured he must not liked my idea as well.

"Why did you come up with that idea?" Ike asked for my reason.

"Uhm, naisip kong ganoon muna ang gawin ko. I want the viewers to see how I used to perform," I explained. "And hopefully, makikita nila ang improvements ko sa mga susunod na performance."

Also, I only had a week left to prepare and practice for my performance. I figured I should do something that I could master in a week, instead of cramming to perfect an all-out stage number.

"I have to admit that I don't really agree to a simple performance but your reasoning is good," Mr. Joel chipped in his opinion. "That way, the audience will be able to see your growth clearly. It's also a nice approach to get the viewers become interested in you."

A smile touched my lips when Mr. Joel actually commended me. I turned to Ike to see his reaction and I was pleased to see him smiling as well. A warm and comforting feeling began to rise up inside me. It was just a little reaction, but it really made me happy.

"In that case, I approve of that performance," Ike declared after a while. "We can make up for the emptiness of the stage by having a unique stage design and backdrop."

At that moment, I felt like my ideas and Ike's met a common ground. Our minds seemed to be connected with each other.

"Mr. Joel, make sure to try and contact Mrs. Molina after this meeting," utos kaagad ni Ike kay Mr. Joel.

"No problem," agad na sabi ni Mr. Joel.

"Mrs. Molina?" biglang singit ng manager ni Willow. "Isn't she the creative director for New Classic's promotional materials?"

Nilingon ni Willow ang kanyang manager at mukhang interesado na rin. "Is she famous?"

Tumango ang manager ni Willow. "I tried contacting her for your performance but she said her schedule's full," paliwanag niya. "She doesn't just work with random artist or celebrities. Mataas din ang kanyang fee."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata dahil hindi ko alam 'yon. I could tell that she's great with her job, but I didn't expect that her fee's high. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon ko lang naisip 'to. I didn't have any label or company financially supporting me or backing me up.

My eyes focused on Ike who seemed to be in deep thoughts. Sigurado akong nag-iisip na siya ng ideya na maidadagdag para mapaganda ang aking performance.

He's the only one who'd be willing to finance my activities and projects. I felt more indebted to him. I was grateful and guilty at the same time. Mas lalo kong gustong patunayan ang sarili ko, hindi lang para sa aking sarili, kung hindi para na rin unti-unti kong mabayaran si Ike.

"I advise na maghanap na lang kayo ng ibang creative director," dagdag pa ng manager ni Willow.

"No need," simpleng sabi ni Mr. Joel. "Mrs. Molina's willing to work with Aleena again."

"Again?" Willow caught that right away. "You mean she's worked with her before?"

Like it was just something trivial, Mr. Joel casually nodded his head. "She was Aleena's creative director for her shoot the other day," he confirmed it.

"Oh..." Mukhang hindi iyon inaasahan ng manager ni Willow. She then turned to me, looking intrigued. "Which company are you signed with again? I think I missed it when Mr. Joel gave me a brief about you."

"Uhm, independent talent po ako," nag-aalangan kong sagot.

"She's not signed under any label or recording company that's why Ike asked me to manage her temporarily," paglilinaw pa lalo ni Mr. Joel.

It was Willow's turn to be surprised. She looked really shocked that her doll-like eyes widened more. "If that's the case, how did you get Ike to be your mentor?"

Willow blurted out that unexpected question right on the spot. I was caught off guard. To be honest, I didn't know what to answer. I wasn't sure if I should tell her the truth.

"I begged her to come with me."

My eyes went wide open when Ike answer before I could even open my mouth. Willow and her manager went still like they weren't expecting that at all.

However,Willow recovered right away and laughed uncomfortably while she turned to Ike again. "I didn't know that you're the type of person who jokes around..." she said, still forcing herself to laugh.

"Who says I'm joking?" Ike responded with a serious tone as he looked at Willow who became speechless.

The room was filled with silence. Mr. Joel faked a cough as he let out an anxious laugh. I turned to him as he was the only one who dared to make noise. He looked really troubled.

"Aleena is very talented," sabi ni Mr. Joel. "Nang makita siya ni Ike na magviral sa social media ay pinuntahan niya agad para aluking sumali sa Road to Record."

"Oh... I see..." sabi na lang ni Willow at saka tipid na ngumiti na parang napipilitan lamang.

After eating some snacks and discussing more about Willow's performance, she finally left the room with her manager. Ang sabi ay magpapatuloy pa siya sa pagpractice dahil matatapos na ang pag-aaral niya ng sayaw para sa kanyang performance.

Saglit ko ring iniwan sina Ike at Mr. Joel para pumunta sa powder room. Medyo nagtagal ako dahil sa aking suot na jumper. Nang makabalik ako, naabutan kong parang nagtatalo ang dalawa. I stopped halfway from opening the door, not wanting to interrupt their serious conversation.

"I was just telling the truth," Ike said, his voice was firm.

"Of course, I know that..." Napabuntong hininga si Mr. Joel, tunog problemadong-problemado. "Hay, nako! Nababaliw talaga ako sa inyo. Akala ko pa naman ay mas madali kang kausap kaysa sa dalawang 'yon."

Hindi na sumagot pabalik si Ike. Ilang segundo pa ng katahimikan ang pinalipas ko bago ko itinuloy ang pagpasok sa loob. The room suddenly felt colder. I didn't know exactly what they were arguing about but I felt like it was something that happened when Willow and her manager were with us.

Agad na nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Ike. His stern face relaxed when our eyes met. Napansin kong nagpalit sila ng upuan ni Mr. Joel kaya katabi ko na siya ulit nang nakabalik ako sa couch.

"Aleena," tawag ni Mr. Joel sa aking atensyon.

Nilingon ko siya kaagad, kinakabahan na baka pati ako ay mapapagalitan. "Bakit po?"

"Mrs. Molina is asking what song you're going to sing for the pilot episode," he told me, and then lifted his eyes on me from his phone. "She wants to know the mood that you're going for para makapag-isip na siya ng concept sa stage design."

I gave a quick glance to Ike who was sitting beside me. His full attention was all on me. In his eyes, I could see that he was also curious to know the song I wanted to perform.

"Moments..." I uttered the title of the song, and I saw how Ike's lips parted before I continued to say, "By New Classic."

When Ike let me watch one of their performances, I got interested to be more familiar to their band and their music. Since then, I had been listening to all their releases, and I fell in love with Moments. I love the meaning of the song. It's a slow alternative rock that I felt like it'd be good to perform it in an acoustic arrangement.

"A few days ago, I did an acoustic arrangement for it that would fit in two minutes. I really want to try and perform it for the pilot episode," pagpapatuloy ko bago hinarap nang maayos si Ike. "Ayos lang ba 'yon?"

Ike's lips gently broke into a smile, giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling in my stomach. "Of course, I would love to see you perform our song,."

Muling napabuntonghininga nang malalim si Mr. Joel. I wanted to turn to him, but Ike was keeping me in place.

His hazel eyes and his gentle smile―how can I even look away?

The way he sincerely looked into my eyes told me that he really meant his words. "Can I listen to your arrangement?" he asked for a favor, sounding so eager. "I want to hear it."

The excitement and interest he had shown cleared the hesitation in me to perform their song. My heart started beating faster. And like always, he gave me strength, making me feel like I was capable of everything.