following your
passion will lead
you to your purpose

CHAPTER 25 - Empty's Purpose

MABILIS NA LUMIPAS ang mga araw at kinabukasan na kaagad ang fundraising nila Kara. They were so thankful that last minute, Vera announced that she's going to make it to the event. It was last minute but they were still greatful.

Kasalukuyan silang nasa apartment ni Janus. They planned to sell some statement shirt to help raise a fund. Kasama niya sina Riella at Vera samantalang si Oddity, Janus, at Kohen ay nasa venue para tumulong mag-ayos.

"Ilang shirts pa?" she asked Riella.

Si Riella kasi ang nag-papatuyo sa mga shirts na na-print-an na nila ni Vera. They used screen printing. Nag-DIY lamang sila para makatipid and si Kohen ang nag-abono ng budget for the plain shirts. Napailing na lang siya. Iba talaga pag-Intsik.

"Hmm." Riella counted the shirts before looking at her. "Around 65 pieces pa, mga baks."

Kara and Vera both sighed. Mahigit tatlong oras na rin kasi ang nauubos nila sa pagtatatak. She never imagined it would be this tiring. Akala niya ay nakawawala iyon ng stress, well partly it does, pero sa una lamang. Ngunit kung ang tatatakan mo ay 300 pieces of shirt, siguradong mauubusan ka rin ng pasensya.

"Parang mas okay pang mag-ayos ng venue kaysa magtatak. Kapagod!" Vera wiped her sweat using her towel and faced her. "Makipagpalit kaya tayo sa kanila?"

Inilagay ni Kara ang shirt na katatapos lang niya tatakan sa sofa para patuyuin. Then she slouched on the sofa. "As if naman papayag 'yong tatlo. Mas magaan nga raw trabaho rito."

Riella nodded. "As if naman papayag iyong dalawang mahirapan kayo," she said sarcastically.

Pareho nilang pinukol ng masamang tingin si Riella but she just chuckled.

"Totoo naman. Akala n'yo ba, hindi ko napapansin? Special treatment kaya 'yong dalawa sa inyo. Kailangan ko na rin ba ng jowa? Teka nga, 'di naman ako informed." Umarte pa itong nag-dial sa phone. "Tawagan 'ko nga si Kuya Idol."

"Sira!" Binato ni Vera si Riella ng towel. "Special treatment ka diyan! Baka kay Kara."

Nakangiting parang aso ang dalawa sa kaniya na sinagot niya ng irap. At pinagtulungan pa nga siya.

Nakuwento kasi niya sa kanila ang nangyari sa rooftop. Parang wala namang nagbago sa pakikitungo ni Janus or maybe a little bit. He's still the typical Janus na matipid magsalita, medyo mas naging sweet at caring lang. Slight na special treatment nga. Pero slight lang.

Wala naman siyang reklamo roon. He doesn't need to change himself to prove something to her. Wala naman siyang ibang hinahanap sa manliligaw niya, gusto lang niya ay iyong totoo. Besides, he's her first suitor and she basically likes him.

Umiling-iling na lang siya pero hindi niya mapigilan ang ngiti. "Gagi! Nanahimik ako!"

"Ay, pa-demure? 'Di pa kayo nag-kiss?" Bigla siyang namula. Riella laughed kaya binato rin niya ito ng hawak na towel.

"Ang epal, Riella! Manahimik ka na nga!"

"Sagutin mo na kasi," she teased. "Gusto mo rin naman si bads, bakit patatagalin pa? Kung ako 'yon, tapos si Kuya Idol ang manliligaw, sasagutin ko agad."

"Sira! One week pa lang nanliligaw 'yong tao," Vera rebutted.

Umirap dito si Riella. "What I mean is, anong sense ng matagal na panliligaw kung sila rin naman sa huli? Balak din naman niya sagutin, why wait?"

Tumayo siya sa sofa at naupo sa inalisan niyang puwesto kanina. "Wala naman akong balak paghintayin si Janus nang matagal. I just want to know him better and I want to take things slowly. I need to focus on my studies and he also needs to. Ayaw ko lang madaliin. Because if things were meant to be, it can wait."

"She's right, Riella. Hindi naman basta-basta ang relasyon. Hindi porke gusto mo ang isang tao, sasagutin mo na kaagad. Kilalanin mo muna," Vera added.

Riella shrugged. "Para sa'kin lang, may mga tao kasing sa panliligaw lang magaling. Pakitang gilas. Pabibo. Pero sa una lang naman. Kapag kayo na, nawawala na 'yong mga front nila noong nanliligaw pa lang. I think mas makikilala mo kasi 'yong tao kapag kayo na talaga."

Natahimik siya sa sinabi ni Riella. May point naman ito. Iilan sa mga lalaki ang gano'n. Kaya nga ayaw niyang magbago ang pakikitungo sa kaniya ni Janus. She likes the way he treated her noong hindi pa sila nagkakaaminan at ngayong nanliligaw ito sa kaniya.

Kara's thought flew away when she felt a cold bottle on her cheeks. Mabilis niyang nilingon ang may ari ng kamay na 'yon.

"Kuya!" She glared at him, pero mabilis iyong nawala nang iabot nito sa kaniya ang bagong bili na Smart-C.

Kanina pa siya nagke-crave ng malamig. Sobrang init kasi sa apartment ni Janus. Although may electric fan naman, pero iba pa rin ang init kapag March na. Summer season kasi.

"Tapos na kayo?" tanong niya sa kapapasok na kapatid.

Naupo si Oddity sa inalisan niyang sofa kanina. Si Kohen naman ay mabilis na tumabi kay Vera. Janus went in habang hawak ang kahuhubad lang nitong helmet.

Their eyes met and the corner of his lips curved into smile. Lumapit ito sa kaniya at kinuha ang hindi niya mabuksan na Smart-C. He opened it at ibinalik sa kaniya.

"Kumain na kayo?" tanong nito saka ibinaba ang hawak na helmet sa center table.

"Hindi pa, bads." Si Riella ang sumagot. "Pa-Canton ka naman. Kanina pa kami nagugutom," reklamo nito. Umiling na lang siya. Wala talagang hiya ang babaeng ito.

Janus just chuckled. Dumiretso ito sa cupboad para kumuha doon ng Pancit Canton saka muling bumalik sa kanila.

"Anong flavor?" he asked.

"Extra hot!" the Empty answered in unison. Siya lang ang hindi sumagot.

She bit her lower lip. Hindi siya kumakain ng maanghang.

Janus faced her. "Ikaw, Kara? Okay lang sa 'yo?"

"May original flavor?" nag-aalangan niyang tanong.

Umiling ito. "Bili na lang ako."

Pipigilan pa sana niya ito ngunit mabilis itong nakalabas ng apartment.

"Speed!" Humalakhak ang kuya niya. "Ikaw lang pala makakapagpabili sa labas sa kumag na 'yon, princess."

"I can't believe it. Bumili sa labas si Juan tamad." Kohen laughed exaggeratedly.

Napailing-iling si Vera. "Hindi mautusan 'yang si Janus kapag nandito kami. Mas gugustuhin pa niyang magutom kaysa bumili sa labas."

Riella let out a silent laugh when Janus entered his apartment. "Hindi raw special treatment."

Hindi niya maiwasang mapangiti. Tsk. Sipag-sipagan.

Nang matapos si Janus magluto ng Pancit Canton, naghain na ito sa sala. Nakahiwalay ng pinggan ang Pancit Canton na iniabot ni Janus sa kaniya samantalang nasa malaking mangkok naman ang sa banda.

"Ay, ang unfair, bads," reklamo kaagad ni Kohen. "Bakit 'yong kay Kara, buo 'yong itlog, sa'min hati-hati." Itinaas pa nito ang kalahating nilagang itlog.

Hindi niya mapigilang matawa at kiligin. Special treatment na nga.

"Gusto mo 'yong itlog ko, Kohen?" aniya saka tinusok ng tinidor at iniabot kay Kohen.

Vera and Riella both giggled. Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Kohen. Saka lang niya naisip na double meaning ang sinabi niya.

Shit! Ang taba ng utak ng dalawang 'to.

"I mean ng nilagang itlog ko, Kohen." Nawala ang pamimilog ng mata nito. 'Tsk. Green minded. Kasing kulay ng buhok niya.'

Akmang kukunin ni Kohen ang itlog na inalok niya when Janus faked a cough. He glared at Kohen while eating his Pancit Canton.

"Hehe! Sabi ko nga, bads. Okay na sa'kin may kahati- este kalahati!"

After eating, she insisted on washing the dishes pero mapilit si Janus kaya sa huli, naupo na lang siya sa sofa at binuksan ang Instagram. Pagkatapos ni Janus maghugas ay naupo ito sa tabi niya. She just keep on scrolling her feed.

"Tapos na kayong magtatak?" he asked.

Umiling siya. "May around 60 shirts pa. So far, mukhang matatapos naman namin bago magdilim," aniya. Janus was about to open a new topic nang kausapin ito ni Kohen.

Hindi na niya pinakinggan ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa. She just continued scrolling, nagha-heart ng post ng kakilala and paminsan-minsan ay nagvi-view ng IG stories.

She was about to exit the app when she saw a post from Simple Plan seven minutes ago.

Impit siyang napatili nang makita si Sébastien Lefebvre sa promotion picture ng SP para sa Pop-Punk's Still Not Dead tour nila. He is her ultimate crush. Labis ang paghangga niya rito at idagdag pa na ito ang pinakapogi sa banda. 'Damn, he's hot.'

Nilingon siya ni Janus matapos kausapin si Kohen. "Ano 'yan?" curiosity filled his voice.

She chuckled. "Crush ko." Saka niya inilayo ang phone para hindi makita ni Janus.

His eyebrows furrowed. "Who? Patingin."

Muli niyang inilayo ang phone kay Janus. She was about to stand when Janus grabbed her hand and stole her phone.

Kumunot ang noo nito habang nakatingin sa cell niya. "Crush mo si Séb?"

"Why not? He's hot!" she reasoned out.

"Is that your criteria?"

"Of course not. At saka, magaling din siya sa rhythm. Backing vocal din." Iyon kasi ang rythmn guitarist ng SP.

"Sa vocalist, ayaw mo? I also do rhythm," he teased.

'Damn! Gustong-gusto. Vocalist ng Empty p'wedeng-p'wede.'

She shook her thoughs off and slightly punched him on the chest. "Sira ka talaga!"

Janus smirked and faced her phone. He stalked SP's profile and clicked their stories. It was a short clip where their fans were holding a banner saying, 'This band saved my life.'

Hindi niya namalayan na napangiti na pala siya. That phrase came from SP's song, 'This Song Saved My Life.' Isa iyon sa paborito niyang kanta dahil lubos siyang nakaka-relate. She almost memorized all of the lyrics of SP's song. Ganoon niya kaidolo ang banda.

"Wala pa ring Manila?" Janus muttered. He was now looking on the list of shows. They are going to Asia for their concert.

"Almost impossible na kaya na mapasama Manila diyan. Ang kaunti ng fans nila," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Janus shrugged. "What if 'di ba?"

"Too good to be true," aniya saka kinuha ang cell phone niya.

Imposible naman kasi talaga. If last 10 years ago siguro, maniniwala siya na mapipili ang Manila. But now? Walang kasiguraduhan. May iilan na lang yata ang may alam ng pop-punk songs sa Pinas. More on KPOP na kasi ang idolo ng kabataan. Well, she can't blame them.

"Wanna go to their concert?" Tinitigan niya si Janus. He seemed serious.

"Oo naman. Number one yata sa bucket list ko 'yon." She chuckled and forced a smile. "I want to see the band who helped me get through my darkest days."

Janus stared at her for a second and then smiled. "You will. Soon. I promise."

She smiled back at Janus and looked away. Her heart was thumping fast again. Tinuon niya ang tingin sa pagtatatak ng shirts nina Kohen at Vera.

Sana nga. Someday. She wants him to be with her when she goes to the concert of her favorite band.

"THANK YOU PO! Enjoy the event!" ani Kara sa pinakahuling customer na bumili sa kaniya ng shirt.

It was the day of the fundraising. The battle of the bands started at 3 p.m. and ended quarter to 6 p.m. Past seven na ng gabi nagsimulang tumugtog ang Empty. Habang naiwan naman siyang mag-isa sa booth na itinayo nila para magbenta ng shirts.

Nabitin sa ere ang kamay ni Kara na mag-aabot sana nang nakabalot ng t-shirt. Hindi niya inaasahan ang lalaking nakatayo sa kaniyang harapan. The guy stood firm in front of her. Tumingin din ito sa paligid wari ay tinitingnan kung may nakakilala rito saka ibinalik sa kan'ya ang atensyon.

"How much for the shirts?"

Dumukot si Mayor Ynares ng limang libo sa pitaka niyang nakatago sa black coat na suot saka inabot sa kan'ya. Hindi alam ni Kara kung paano niya ito papakitunguhan. Hindi naging maganda ang huli nilang pagkikita. She received a slap from him. Kahit na mukhang hindi iyon naaalala ni Mayor, kinakabahan pa rin siya.

"Two hundred fifty pesos, Sir," pormal niyang sinabi saka tumungo.

"One hundred pieces of shirts. My men will pick it up later," he said then took another portion of his money.

Inabot ni Kara ang binayad ni Mayor Ynares kahit pa pinagpapawisan na ang kamay niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang pakay nito sa pagpunta sa event nila dahil alam naman niya ang hidwaan sa dalawa.

Buong akala ni Kara ay hindi na siya mamumukhaan ni Mayor Ynares ngunit napakunot ang noo nito at tinitigan siya. He studied her face. Pinasadahan siya nito ng tingin na parang kinikilala siya. Nanginginig ang kamay ni Kara dahil doon. Kinakabahan siya na baka mag-cause pa ito ng komosyon. Alam niyang hindi ito sangayon sa pagbabanda ni Janus.

"Are you one of Axl's friend?" Bumaba rin ang tingin nito sa suot niyang name tag. "You're Kara, right?" kalaunang tanong nito sa malumanay na boses.

Boses na kailan man ay hindi niya inakalang maririnig mula rito. She remembered his voice when he shouted at Janus in their mansion.

Tumango si Kara saka inabotan ito ng sales invoice at receipt. "Yes, Sir. We're the one who organize the event."

Mayor Ynares lips slightly curve into smile. Kahit na medyo may katandaan na ito ay makikita pa rin ang mga feature na kapareho ng kay Janus. Isa ang ngiti ng dalawa sa napansin ni Kara na may pagkakapareho.

"Thank you for supporting him. It's nice to meet you."

Inilahad nito ang kanang kamay upang makipag kamay. Sandali iyong tinitigan ni Kara. Nag-aalinlangan at nalilito sa inaakto nito. Nang mapansin niyang parang napapahiya na ito dahil sa hindi niya pagtanggap ng kamay ay mabilis niya itong kinamayan.

"Nice to meet you too, Mayor."

Mas lalo pang natigilan si Kara nang may pamilyar na babae ang lumapit sa kanila.

"Dad! Start na sila kuya. . ." Haidee stopped then looked at Kara. Tipid itong ngumiti sa kan'ya saka binalik ang tingin sa ama.

"Let's go," ani Mayor Ynares kay Haidee saka tuluyan nang nagpaalam sa kaniya.

Kara was stunned by the presence of the two. They were here to support Janus? Akala ba niya ay against ang papa ni Janus sa pagbabanda niya? She's confused.

Pinunasan niya ang pawis sa noo saka sinimulang ayusin ang perang napagbentahan niya. Mabuti na lamang at na sold-out iyon bago ang huling performance nina Janus. Gusto kasi niyang manood kahit iyong pinakahuli lamang. Alam kasi niyang pinaghandaan talaga iyon ng banda.

Nang matapos niyang ayusin ang booth at makuwenta ang pera ay dumiretso na siya sa Creek Stage. Iyon ang parte ng Centro Novak na ni-rent nila. It is a park where a mini stage was placed on the upper part and the audience was located at the center. Open area lamang siya at may white na backdrop sa likod. The lights were placed on the lower part of the stage. Sa taas naman ay may light bulb garlands na naka-hang. The ambiance was pleasing lalo na't ang mga naunang kinanta ng Empty ay puro OPM songs, more on acoustic to be precise.

Nilapitan niya si Sir Jannick na nakapuwesto sa kaliwang bahagi ng stage kung saan naroon ang mga sound systems at ang nag-o-operate noon.

"Kumusta ang booth, Kara?" Sir Jannick asked.

The crowd was getting wild when the song changed to Stay by Cueshé.

"So if you'd still go, I'll understand
Would you give me something just to hold on to?"

"Sold out, sir!" she almost shouted in his ears para marinig siya nito.

Tumango ito saka siya binigyan ng thumbs up. "Good job! They already played seven songs. Second to the last na iyan. Mabuti nakahabol ka."

She nodded and faced the stage. They all looked tired, pero hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa mga mata nila. Napatitig si Kara kay Vera. Hindi niya maiwasang humanga. Napakaangas ng bawat patok nito sa drums. Samantalang sina Riella at Kohen ay naghe-head bang habang sinasabayan ang pagtugtog.

They really enjoyed playing their instruments. Dumapo ang mata niya sa Kuya Ei niya. A genuine smile escaped her lips. Buong akala niya dati ay hindi na muli ito tutugtog dahil sa trahedya, but look at him now, he is passionate on playing his keyboard.

"And if you'll stay
I'll hold your hand
'Cause I'm truly, madly, crazily in love with you"

Her glance shifted from her brother to Janus. He's now playing the refrain of the song. She stared at him as he played and couldn't help but smile. His eyes were blissful unlike the first time she saw him sing, the way that he plays changed from rough to smooth.

When the song ended, Janus looked at their direction and their eyes locked. She gave him a smile at saka kumaway. A slight smiled curve in his lips. Muli nitong ibinalik ang tingin sa audience.

"This is our last song entitled Crazy by Simple Plan. We prepared a short slide show for we assumed that most of you are not familiar with this song. We just want to remind you guys the real essence of this fundraising event. Please, enjoy!" Janus said and started strumming his guitar followed by Vera's drums.

"Tell me what's wrong with society
When everywhere I look I see
Young girls dying to be on tv
They won't stop til they've reached their dreams."

The white backdrop from their back flashed a video compilation with the lyrics of the song.

"Diet pills, surgery
Photoshopped pictures in magazines
Telling them how they should be
It doesn't make sense to me."

Hindi masyadong kilala ang kantang tinugtog nila kaya hindi kaagad ito nakakuha ng atensyon ng mga manonood hindi kagaya ng mga nauna nilang tinugtog.

"Is everybody going crazy?
Is anybody gonna save me?
Can anybody tell me what's going on
Tell me what's going on
If you open your eyes you'll see
That something is wrong."

Nang dumating na sa chorus ang kanta ay may iilang audience ang nakaintindi at ang iba naman ay nanatiling tahimik habang nakatuon sa short video sa likod.

"I guess things are not how they used to be
There's no more normal families
Parents act like enemies
Making kids feel like it's world war 3."

When the next stanza of the song played, a clip of fighting families flashed on the screens along with the clip of the recent wars.

"No one cares
No one's there
I guess we're all just too damn busy
And money's our first priority
It doesn't make sense to me."

The audience still remained silent but Kara can see the seriousness on their faces. Lihim siyang napangiti habang pinapanood rin ang slides na ginawa ng Empty. The lyrics of the song is an eye opener for everyone.

"Tell me what's wrong with society
When everywhere I look I see
Rich guys driving big SUVs
When kids are starving in the street."

Napatakip si Kara ng bibig nang nag-flash sa screen ang mukha ng mga bata sa ampunan. They were laughing while playing with the band. She felt a lump in her chest. Their smiles flickered with hope and sadness.

"No one cares
No one likes to share
I guess life's unfair."

The long silences remained. Akala ni Kara ay itutuloy ni Janus ang pagkanta sa huling chorus ngunit unti-unting humina ang pagpatok ni Vera sa drums, gano'n din ang pag-strum nina Kohen at Riella. Her kuya is the only one who's playing for the background.

Humakbang sina Janus, Kohen at Riella paatras ng stage.

"Anong gagawin nila?" mahinang bulong niya.

Sir Jannick smiled at her. "Its Janus' idea. Just wait," sinabi nito saka ibinalik ang tingin sa stage.

May mga batang naglakad paakyat ng stage. She can see how Rix walked shyly on the stage followed by Archie, Shakira and the other kids. Nang makaakyat na lahat ng bata ay saka sumunod sina Sister Ela at Sister Cristina. The video on the backdrop continued to play.

"It is sad and painful to witness that the smiles of these kids would fade because of the people with high positions in the society."

Nilapitan ni Janus si Kaizer saka binuhat nang humikab ito, saka nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"These kids here is the reason why we launched this fundraising. We, Empty, and the people behind this event wants to help this orphanage who's in danger of losing their home because of the industrial project of Cong. Cabrera. Gusto naming ibalik ang munting tahanang naiwan sa kanila na nais ding nakawin ng mga ganid sa kapangyarihan.

"We want to be the voice of these kids and you can also be part of this. A little kindness that you could give can help build these kids' futures. Together, let's open our eyes and see that there's something wrong in our society."

Muling lumakad sina Riella at Kohen papunta sa harapan at umatras naman ang mga bata. Kinuha ni Sister Ela si Kaizer kay Janus saka muling sinimulan ni Vera ang pagpatok ng drums.

"Is everybody going crazy?
Is anybody gonna save me?
Can anybody tell me what's going on
Tell me what's going on."

As Janus sang the last part of the song, everyone applauded. She bet he did made them realize the real meaning of the event.

"If you open your eyes you'll see
That something something is wrong."

After ng performance ng Empty ay naghiyawan ang mga audience at patuloy sa pagpalakpak. She can see that some of them were wiping their eyes.

A slight tears also escaped Kara's eyes. Hindi niya in-expect na gano'n ang kalalabasan ng event. Wala siyang alam na maging ang mga bata sa ampunan ay kasama sa fundraising nila. Walang pagsidlan ang tuwa niya.

Lumingon si Janus sa kinaroroonan nila. "May we call on here on stage, Mr. Jannick Asenjo and Kassandra Sandoval."

Wala sana siyang balak umakyat ngunit hinila siya ni Sir Jannick. Janus and Oddity smiled at her.

"Without them, this event wouldn't possible. Thank you, guys, for coming. Once again, we are Empty," sabi nito at sabay-sabay silang nag-bow.

The crowd cheered for them and she can't help but smile.

Naalala niya ang lahat ng paghihirap niya para maging proud sa kaniya ang ama. Now she realized how childish her plea was. The appreciation she received just because she won a trophy or medal in school was nothing compared to what she's feeling right now. This kind of thing, helping others without expecting anything from them is what she call real happiness.

She took a glance at Janus who's smiling genuinely at the crowd. Her heart felt weightless. This guy in front of her taught her a lot of things. She was glad that she didn't gave up on him because his music made her realize how wonderful life could be.