Only Time Can Tell

2: Sunday Morning

Nagising siya sa malakas na ring ng kanyang cellphone at kahit inaantok pa ay kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at sinagot ang tawag.

"Bamboo!"

"What's up man? It's still so early in the morning and you sound like you're on an adrenaline rush!"

"Mr. Stark is asking if you'd like to be a mainstay of the variety show! This is your chance dude! I think we're hitting the road to your stardom!"

"Mainstay? What's in it for us? I mean, would that do me any good?"

"You crazy man? Of course! More exposure, you'll get to promote your music, you'll get to perform and collaborate with other artists!"

"That is, if they'll let me sing my own songs which I don't think they would approve of since it's not mainstream."

"But you'll get a chance to promote them, right?"

"Well, not a bad idea. I'll think about it. I'll call back later."

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Isang linggo na ang nakakalipas sa nakakahiyang encounter niya sa kanilang guest collab artist at hindi makapaniwala si Asher dahil ngayong linggong ito ay silang dalawa naman ang magduduet para sa isang production number. At dahil sa ayaw niyang malate, maagang maaga palang ay nagtungo na siya sa studio. Ang saya saya niya dahil akala niya siya na ang pinakaunang dumating para sa rehersal, ngunit laking gulat niya nang makita niyang nakabukas na ang ilaw sa studio at may naririnig siyang tugtog ng gitara. Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa loob at hinanap kung nasaan nanggagaling ang tunog.

"Umaga na, wala naman sigurong mumu dito noh!" Kausap niya sa kanyang sarili.

Masaya niyang pinagmasdan ang pigura na manaka naka ay tinitigil ang pagtugtog sa gitara upang magsulat sa papel. Pakiramdam niya ay nag-iinvade siya ng private time kaya nakatayo lamang siya sa may pintuan ng studio at nakuntento sa pakikinig sa musikang nanggagaling sa gitara. Hindi niya namalayan kung gaano na siya katagal nakatayo sa entrada ng pintuan nang may narinig siyang mahinang kaluskos sa kanyang tabi. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata at pakiramdam niya aatakihin siya sa sobrang gulat

"Ipiiiiiiiiiiis!"

Nakita niya ang pagkagulat sa mukha ni Bamboo na tumingin sa kanyang direksiyon.

"Ah....Hi! Sorry, na-istorbo ba kita?" Alanganing tanong niya.

"You were saying?"

Napakamot siya ng ulo, 'Hindi ba to nakakaintindi ng Tagalog?' "Ahmnn..I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, I just saw a cockroach.."

Hindi niya inaasahan ang tipid na tawa ng lalake kaya naman napakunot noo siya.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you were amusing," he smiled. "You wanna start? With the rehearsals I mean. The band will be coming in a few moments from now."

"Ahhh, sure.."

Sinimulang tugtugin ni Bamboo ang kanilang aawitin para sa kanilang production mamaya. Nangangapa pa sila nung una kung paano nila aawitin nang maayos ang kanta ngunit sa huli ay nahanap nila ang kanilang harmony. Nakailang ulit din sila sa pag-rehearse, him giving more input on the arrangement while her listening intently like a student learning from a mentor.

"Ang ganda!" Narinig nila ang palakpak mula sa kanilang likuran at pumasok si Pablo, and manager ni Bamboo.

"Mukhang hindi nyo na kailangan mag-rehearse tapos na yata eh."

"Oh man, that was just an acoustic version, we need the full band here man!"

"Eh kung mag acoustic nalang kaya kayo?"

"Come on dude!" He was shaking his head at his manager's remark.

"So hindi mo ba kami ipapakikala sa ka-duet mo?" His manager was asking him.

At isa isang ipinakilala ni Bamboo ang kanyang mga kabanda at manager kay Asher.

"Mukhang excited kayong pareho na mag perform at pareho kayong maaga a."

"Ayoko po talaga ng nal-late sir Pablo."

"Ang pormal naman masyado Asher, you can call me sir P!"

"Ah sure po," at nagtawanan silang lahat maliban kay Bamboo na nakakunot noo.

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An hour before 12 noon, the studio is buzzing with busy people - busy artists, directors and other staff.

Sa kanyang dressing room, hindi siya mapakali. Oo, magaling siyang performer pero sa pagkakataong ito, kinakabahan siya nang sobra. Normal lang namang kabahan ngunit kaiba ang kanyang nadaramang kaba ngayon kung kaya't palakad-lakad siya sa kanyang dressing room.

"Asher, ako ang nahihilo sa'yo, pumirmi ka nga at maupo!" Sita ng kanyang PA sa kanya.

"Kinakabahan kasi ako eh.."

"Ilang beses mo nang ginagawa yan, at saka nagrehearse naman kayo kanina, ok naman kayo."

Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya.

Ilang sandali ang nakalipas at tinawag siya upang maghanda dahil susunod na ang kanilang production number.

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Paglabas niya ng kanyang dressing room ay siya namang paglabas din ni Asher sa kanyang dressing room sa dulo ng hallway. Hindi niya maintindihan ang kakaibang nadarama niya sa tuwing nakikita niya ang dalaga. 'There is something about her but I can't define it yet..' Nauna na siyang naglakad patungo sa studio.

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Isang masigabong palakpakan ang kanilang natanggap mula sa manonood pagkatapos ng kanilang performance. Hindi sila makapaniwala na tinanggap ng audience ang kanilang duet.

Pareho silang nakangiti at hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita nila sa kanilang paligid. The audience were clapping and screaming their names. Facing each other, hindi nila alam kung ano ang magiging gesture nila sa isa't isa. Asher being used to these kinds of stage performances broke the ice by introducing Bamboo

"Once again ladies and gentlemen, Bambooooo! I'm a fan!" She declared nonchalantly.

"Asher G! Thank you, thank you!" Bamboo bowed his head as a sign of appreciation and gratitude. Asher just did the same. Nangangapa pa siya kung paano pakitunguhan ang isang Bamboo Francisco.

Bamboo extended his right arm for a shakehands. Disappointted si Asher dahil nag-eexpect siya ng hug at beso, dahil yun naman ang normal sa showbiz, ngunit wala siyang nagawa kundi kamayan si Bamboo.

The moment that their hands met, there was an instant connection that they both felt. Bamboo tried to ignore the feeling, taking note that he already bumped into this girl last week.

Asher on the other hand was glued and frozen, astonishment written in her face, even though she's smiling, a small crease was formed on her forehead. They stayed in the shakehand position for a good couple of seconds before both came to their senses that they were up on a stage with many live audiences and televised in the media.

Both almost at the same time removing their hand from the handshake, Bamboo putting both his hands in his pocket while looking shyly at Asher, while Asher trying to mask whatever happened with a bright smile, that trained smile she flashes to the media. Asher was now being dragged by her PA and stylist to get her ready for her next production which felt like a part of him was being taken away. He was left standing at the stage still puzzled with what happened a while ago while the program went on commercial.

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A/N:

Tapos na ang Daboys. Let's get back to writing and dreaming and imagining. Goodbye In Real Life, Hello Alternate Universe.