#NewClassicRTMC

Chapter 25
Competition

Everything escalated quickly.

Matapos akong pangakuan ni Ike ay agad siyang umalis upang tumungo sa Top Star. Hours had passed but I hadn't heard anything from him yet.

Mr. Joel tried to call me but I ignored him. He just sent me a text message afterwards to check on me and told me not to go online—but I did. I didn't listen to his warning. I wasn't really into surfing the internet but curiosity killed the cat.

The top article was about me.

"Road to Record's finalist - Aleena Caringal's attitude problem"

Biting my lower lip, I gripped on my phone tighter until my knuckles turned white. The headline of the article would surely gather attention from the public who wants to seek pleasure from my downfall. It was a strong clickbait.

Earlier this morning, the soundcheck rehearsal for the final live broadcast of Road to Record took place. An insider reported that Aleena Caringal was supposed to perform second. However, last minute changes were made by the production team.

The rising star, who is currently holding the top position, showed a distasteful attitude and walked out of the arena without explanation. The rehearsal was disrupted because of her absence which put a lot of pressure and inconvenience on the other finalists, mentors, and the whole production team.

In addition, Willow Abella, one of the finalists and a member of Team Ike, is experiencing an emotional distress. The sweet gem of Top Star Records blames herself for the disturbance that happened during the rehearsal. A staff of Road to Record said that Willow is supposed to perform last, but due to the production of her performance, she is pushed to exchange order with Aleena.

Willow Abella already expressed her concern to Aleena and posted a public apology on social media. Meanwhile, Aleena Caringal is still silent about the issue.

I gritted my teeth as I finished reading the whole article. I even came across some mean comments which were directed to me, along with words of encouragement for Willow.

I underestimated her. I didn't expect that she prepared a large scale plan to bring me down.

With her sweet and innocent looks, you wouldn't expect that she was capable of doing something so evil. She stole my song and took advantage of the situation to make the public stand behind her. Pinapabango pa ng media ang kanyang pangalan. Sigurado akong nakangiti siya habang pinapanood ang aking pagbagsak. Everything was going according to her plan perfectly.

To be honest, I was trying my best not to be affected by the hate and mean comments that I read. I knew it wouldn't do good to my mental health. I was also aware that I was emotionally vulnerable. Although I know myself well, their words were eating me up inside. It felt real and honest. It felt like they were speaking the truth even if they didn't know the whole story.

They don't know anything, yet they are so quick to judge. Instead of knowing both sides, they will choose to side with people who paint you to be bad.

It sucks because the people who say the worst things about you are those who don't even know you at all. Most of the time, they are even the same people who are close-minded. They won't care if their words give you wound and make you bleed. You are nothing to them. Even when they go overboard and below the belt, they won't feel guilty.

After all, at the end of the day, they are not the ones who are scarred—it's the people they chose to hurt. That's what makes them scary. They can stab people with words sharper than knives and feel nothing but satisfaction for their evil pleasures.

I decided to put my phone away and prevent myself from feeling worst. At the same time, I heard the keypad door lock opened. Napalingon kaagad ako sa aking likuran upang makita kung sino ang paparating.

I wasn't surprised when I saw Ike stepped inside the unit. Nilingon ko ang bintana. Wala na akong nakikitang liwanag na tumatagos mula sa manipis na kurtina. Inabot siya ng gabi galing sa Top Star.

The Ike Rolloque who went out of the unit earlier with a determined and confident expression was approaching me carefully. When his eyes finally met mine, his lips parted. Agad din siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. Hindi niya ako matingnan nang diretso.

He went to war like a very brave and powerful soldier, but why does it seem like he lost through raising a white flag?

What happened, Ike? Why can't you look at me in the eye?

Hindi pa siya tuluyang lumapit sa akin at nanatili lamang siyang nakatayo malapit sa pintuan. With still a bit of hope I had left in my heart, I braved myself to stand and face him properly.

Kahit papaano, naniniwala pa rin akong hindi niya ako bibiguin. Kahit hindi na lang para sa akin. Kahit para sa pangako niya na lang kay Auntie Divina na hindi niya ako papabayaan.

"Nakausap mo na ba ang Top Star?" Namamaos ang aking boses. "Ano ang sabi nila?"

"I did talk to them," he replied, his voice was also hoarse.

"Ano ang mangyayari? Will I get my song back?"

"Willow registered the copyright of the song under her name ahead of us..." he said, very hesitant, looking so lost. Para bang hirap na hirap siyang maghanap ng mga tamang salita upang maipaliwanag sa akin ang nangyari. "In the eyes of the law, she owns the song—"

"Pero alam mong sa akin 'yon!" Hindi ko napigilan ang pagtaas ng aking boses sa galit. Hindi ko na rin siya pinatapos magsalita. "Alam na alam mo 'yon, Ike! You can testify! Si Mr. Joel din! He was there at the studio when I was working on it."

Pumikit siya nang mariin. Hindi siya agad nakasagot sa akin.

"Please, Ike..." pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya kasabay nang pamumuo ng aking luha.

Once he opened his eyes, he exhaled deeply. "I'll help you write a new song to sing in the finals, Aleena," he said like it was the only option we could take. "We can start now—"

"Hindi 'yon ang gusto kong mangyari! I want my song back!" I cried out, my lips were trembling. "You promised me! You told me you'll fix this! You told me to trust you! Ito na ba 'yon? Ito na ba ang ipinangako mo?"

Seeing me going out of control as I freed my held-back emotions, he stepped closer and reached out for my hand. But before he could even hold me, I took a step back to move away from him.

The thoughts inside my head were shifting into their darkest forms as the anger I was suppressing rose to surface and replaced the pain in ruling my heart.

The color drained from his face. His hand froze, hanging in the air when I avoided his touch. He seemed speechless. His eyes lost focus. However, pain and anger clouded my mind and heart. I had no time to worry about him.

"Alam mo kung gaano kaimportante sa akin ang kanta na 'yon, Ike... It's a song I wrote for my mother... Pagkatapos ay ayan lang ang sasabihin mo sa akin?"

Sa lahat ng tao ay siya dapat ang nakakaintindi ng lubos sa akin. Hindi ako makapaniwala na bibitiwan niya lang agad ang lahat.

Like a criminal on the loose who had just been caught, he slowly looked up to me. "I'm sorry, Aleena..." he whispered his apology. "I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you."

Regret and guilt were etched on his face. That look on his face broke my heart and the trust that I had for him.

I knew it. They wouldn't sacrifice Willow's growing career just for me. They invested so much on her that they couldn't just throw everything away. They wouldn't let her get ruined. The issue of plagiarism would stain her name badly as an artist. Of course, they would do their best to protect her. Gagawin din nila ang lahat upang masigurado ang kanyang pagkapanalo.

These entertainment agencies or record labels are not just existing to make someone's dreams come true. Their number one priority is to earn money and make business. If the issue would come into light, Willow isn't the only one who'd be affected. The whole company and its artists would also be under a great pressure. Their credibility would be questioned by everyone.

And as the leader of New Classic, one of the top artists who is representing Top Star Records, Ike is also responsible to protect the image of the company.

Sino ba ako upang protektahan kumpara doon?

"Right..." I nodded to myself. "Dapat ay naniwala na lang ako noong una pa lang..."

It looks like Willow's telling the truth, after all.

Siguro ay alam niya na noong una pa lang. Nasabi sa akin ni Mr. Joel na binisita ni Ike si Willow sa practice. He should've known the song that she was writing that time. Given her character, she wouldn't write a melancholic song, but Ike didn't get suspicious when he saw the grand piano on stage.

"Ang galing-galing mo..." wala sa sarili kong bulong nang mapagtagpi-tagpi ang lahat sa aking isipan.

Ang galing niyang umarte. Napaniwala niya akong wala siyang alam. Nagawa niya akong pagmukhaing tanga.

I was used to getting betrayed, but I didn't expect he would do it to me. It never crossed my mind that the man with principles would condone a wrongdoing. I never thought that a man of his word would break his promises.

The man in front of me wasn't the man I love. The man I love went astray, and I had no idea if I'd still be able to find him.

"What do you mean by that?" His brows furrowed. "What are you talking about, Aleena?"

I grinned as I hated him more. Instead of answering his question, I just said, "You can leave now."

"I won't leave until you tell me what you're thinking."

"Umalis ka na."

"Aleena," his voice became firm.

"Please, Ike," pakiusap ko sa kanya. Sa matinding galit at sakit ay pagod na pagod na ako. "Umalis ka na. Gusto kong mapag-isa."

He bit his lower lip. Even though he looked unwilling, he nodded his head calmly. Nagawa niyang pigilan ang sarili na magpumilit.

"I'll come back tomorrow," he told me before he finally left the unit.

Once he was gone, like I was gradually being pulled down by a quicksand, I slowly dropped myself on the floor. Tears streamed down on my face. I silently cried while I hugged my knees closer to my chest.

But when I was still a mess, my phone suddenly kept ringing. Noong una, akala ko ay sina Mr. Joel o Ike lang ang tumatawag sa akin. Inabot ko ang aking cellphone para sana patayin. Kaya nga lang ay hindi ko inaasahang si Auntie Divina ang tumatawag sa akin.

Kahit na ayoko munang makipag-usap kahit kanino, hindi ko siya kayang hindi pansinin. I didn't want to make her worry, too. Ayoko mang mangyari pero sa tingin ko ay nakarating na sa kanya ang balita. One thing I could do to give her reassurance was to answer her call.

After I took a deep breath and dried my tears, sinagot ko na ang tawag at saka itinapat sa tainga ang cellphone.

"Hello, Auntie!" I tried my best to sound cheerful as I could. "Bakit po kayo napatawag? Nakauwi na po ba kayo galing resort?"

Auntie Divina didn't speak right away but I could hear her heavy breathing from the other end. My chest was getting tighter every time she would sigh.

"A-auntie?"

"Ayos ka lang ba riyan, anak?" she softly asked after being silent for almost a minute.

Napaawang ang aking mga labi. Muling bumagsak ang aking luha. Sa tanong niya pa lang na iyon ay nakasigurado na akong talagang nakarating na sa kanya ang balita.

Hearing her voice made me want to go back home so bad. I was longing for the comfort she could give me.

"Aleena, umuwi ka na rito sa atin..." sabi niya, nanginginig ang boses. "Dito ka na lang..."

Parang nilalamutak ang aking puso.

"Uuwi rin po ako," paninigurado ko sa kanya upang hindi na siya mas lalong mag-alala pa. "Malapit na malapit na po akong umuwi. Huwag ninyo na po akong alalahanin. Ayos lang po ako rito."

If they thought I would quit the competition and give Willow a free pass, that'd never happen. I already came this far. I will not give up that easily. I will never give them the satisfaction that they're looking for. Unlike them, I'd fight fairly and head on. I will show them that I'm not just someone they can trample.

The competition is not yet over.