Serendipity [ Eli and Pen ]

EPILOGUE - Revised

E P I L O G U E
( R E V I S E D )

"Ready ka na?" Shae asked me. I nod.

"Hey, yung advice ko ah? Smile lang!" Aud said.

Shae and Aud volunteered to be my make up artist and stylist tonight. I am wearing a white underwired corset dress with puffed sleeves. Pinlantsa ni Aud ang buhok ko and nilagyan ng clips sa magkabilang gilid.

I rehearsed in front of the mirror. I am hella nervous. Hinawakan ni mama ang balikat ko.

"Proud ako sa'yo, anak. You're doing good. Relax lang, be yourself." Sambit niya while patting my back. I smiled. Niyakap ko siya.

"Thank you, ma." I whispered.

"Go, Pen pen!" Ate yelled. Lumuhod ako sakanya at saka niyakap siya ng mahigpit.

Maya-maya, may dumating na staff. He escorted me to the backstage. Sunod-sunod ang buntong hininga ko. I closed my eyes to pray. Pagdilat ko, nakita ko si papa sa harap. He is smiling at me, uttering that he is proud of me. I felt like crying, pero pinigilan ko. Sa halip ay ngumiti ako.

"Ready ka na ma'am?" The staff asked me. Tumingin ako kay papa but he's gone. It's been 6 years since he died.

Ngumiti ako at saka tumango. Kahit wala si papa rito, I am sure, he's watching me.

"Let's all welcome, Miss Penelope Ariba!" The host yelled. The audience clapped their hands and cheered for me.

Nakangiti akong lumabas from the backstage at umupo sa tabi ng host.

"How are you, Miss Ariba?" The host asked.

"I am doing fine. Overwhelmed pa rin sa lahat ng nangyayari." I responded.

"Well, you deserve all the recognition that you're receiving. Napakagaling mong kumanta!" She complimented me. Napahawak naman ako sa batok.

"Anong pakiramdam na sobrang taas ng sales ng latest album mo? Balita ko, naka-platinum ka na raw," She asked.

"It felt surreal. Hindi ko nga po inakalang magkakaroon ako ng album someday, tapos nag-platinum pa 'yun. Parang hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa akin. But I am so grateful to all my fans." I said.

"Anong message mo sakanila?"

"Thank you so much for supporting me. I will do my best to make you even prouder," Tumingin ako sa audience, I saw him smiling. "And to my number one fan, thank you for always being there, from the very beginning up until today. I love you."

"I heard ito na raw ang last time na ia-address ka namin as Miss Ariba," The host said. I nod.

Nagbulungan ang audience.

"Gusto niyong malaman kung bakit?" The host asked. The audience shouted 'yes'.

"Then let us all welcome, Miss Ariba's fiancè, Mr. Elias Sullivan!"

Umakyat sa stage si Eli at umupo sa tabi ko. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at saka tinaas 'yun, showing our engagement ring. The audience went wild.