Busking
Just like any other night in BGC, the streets were alive and buzzing with energy. The conversation, the sound of shoes hitting the pavement, occasional sounds of passing cars and laughter. In the middle of it all, Jhoanna adjusted her guitar strap, a playful grin lighting up her face.
“All right, guys, last song for the night na, kasi baka ipa-barangay na ako sa ingay ko,” she joked, her voice brimming with good humor.
The small crowd that had gathered burst into laughter, but it was Sheena and Maloi, her ever-loyal friends who cheered the loudest.
“Hindi na kami magugulat!” Maloi shouted.
“Kantahin mo na yung favorite song mo na dedicated din sa crush mo, Jho!” Sheena yelled, her voice loud enough to make Jhoanna roll her eyes, though she couldn’t hide her smile.
“Grabe, exposed na exposed ako,” Jhoanna replied, clutching her chest dramatically as the crowd laughed along and teased her. Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, but she immediately dismissed the shy away that she was feeling. Instead, she leaned into the microphone. “So, vocal naman ako na all time favorite ko ang bandang Parokya ni Edgar. At tulad ng sinabi ni Sheena, dedicated ‘to sa long-time crush ko.”
“Uy, sino yan?!” someone from the crowd asked.
“Crush reveal, Jho!” another chimed in, making the crowd laughed.
“Sana all crush tapos dinededicate-an ng kanta!” someone shouted making Sheena and Maloi cackle. They seem to enjoy seeing Jhoanna's flustered reaction.
Jhoanna raised an eyebrow. “O, gusto n’yo ng clue? Send-an n'yo muna ako ng five thousand sa Gcash ko, at sasabihin ko!” she joked, winking at the crowd. Laughter erupted, but Jhoanna waved it off as she leaned closer to the mic once again, preparing to start her song.
But before she could strum the opening chords, a notification flashed on her phone, which was propped up on the mic stand. Her eyes widened.
“Guys...” she started, her voice trailing off in disbelief and amusement. “May nagpadala ng ten thousand.”
The crowd gasped, then broke into cheers and teasing jeers. “O, sino na?! Spill!”
Jhoanna scratched the back of her neck, trying to process what had just happened. She glanced at Sheena and Maloi, who were throwing her a teasing glance and doubled over with laughter. “Grabe kayo! But okay, okay, kalma. Dedicated ‘tong kantang kakantahin ko sa long-time crush ko na member ng four member girl group!”
The crowd whooped, some throwing out playful guesses.
“Colet Vergara!”
“Walang agawan ng bias, Jhoanna!”
“Akin lang si Stacey!”
“Bagay kayo ni Mikha Lim!”
“Feel ko si Aiah ‘yan!”
“Secret! Kahit one chance lang,” She joked. “Gets n’yo naman ako, ‘di ba?”
The crowd erupted in enthusiastic agreement and teasing jeers, prompting Jhoanna to scratch the back of her neck with an embarrassed chuckle. “Buti naman, pero ‘wag na kayo. Kaya ko na ‘to. Hindi by groupings ang pagkakagusto ko sa kanya.”
“Sino sakanila?” someone shouted.
“Ako na lang, Jho!” another chimed in.
Jhoanna grinned, shaking her head. “Bawal. Makaka-talking stage ko pa s’ya! Joke lang po! I’m a fan lang din baka ipaligpit ako ng ibang fans nila.” She held up a peace sign.
Her quick wit earned another round of cheers and laughter, but as the excitement settled, Jhoanna took a deep breath, her fingers strumming the opening chords of Gitara. The crowd focuses on her as they grew quiet.
Bakit pa kailangang magbihis?
Sayang din naman ang porma
Lagi lang namang may sisingit
Sa t’wing tayo’y magkasama
At the back of the crowd, cloaked in a black hoodie and cap, Aiah felt her cheeks burn. She tried to calm her racing heart, but Jhoanna’s words played on repeat in her mind: Member ng four member girl group. Long-time crush.
Was it her? Could it be possible that Jhoanna’s crush was her? But she didn’t specifically say it was her. Jhoanna didn’t mention any name.
Counted ba dahil she saw Jhoanna reacted when her name was mentioned?
Jhoanna had a crush on her?
The superstar swallowed, the butterflies in her stomach growing more insistent with every note. It wasn’t new to her to have someone crushing over her, but this time, it felt different.
Bakit pa kailangan ng rosas
Kung marami namang mag-aalay sa ‘yo?
Uupo na lang at aawit
Maghihintay ng pagkakataon
Aiah felt her cheeks flush underneath her mask.
Hahayaan na lang silang magkandarapa na manligaw sa ‘yo
Idadaan na lang kita sa awitin kong ito
Sabay ang tugtog ng gitara
Idadaan na lang sa gitara
Mapapagod lang sa kakatingin
Kung marami namang nakaharang
Aawit na lang at magpaparinig
Ng lahat ng aking nadarama
Aiah’s grip on her phone that she was holding tightened. Every line of the song seemed to speak directly to her, and she couldn’t stop the small smile spreading across her face.
Pagbibigyan na lang silang magkandarapa na manligaw sa ‘yo
Idadaan na lang kita sa awitin kong ito
Sabay ang tugtog ng gitara
Idadaan na lang sa gitara
Oh-oh-oh-oh, idadaan na lang
Sa gitara
As the final note lingered in the air, the crowd erupted in applause. Sheena and Maloi whistled, their cheers drowning out everyone else’s. Jhoanna grinned, bowing dramatically. “Okay, okay, no encores na! Encores?! Joke! Quota na ako. Sa nag send ng ten thousand sa akin. Please reach out dahil ‘di ko naman kailangan ng ganoong kalaking pera baka mamaya sa barangay ang bagsak ko!”
As the crowd slowly dispersed, Sheena and Maloi made their way to Jhoanna, grinning from ear to ear.
“Ang lakas mo talaga, ate Jho! May nagpadala talaga ng ten kyaw! Sana all,” Sheena teased, nudging her friend.
Jhoanna laughed, shaking her head. “Baka naman ikaw ‘yun, Shee. Kung oo, sabihin mo na para maibalik ko!”
Maloi snorted. “Siya? Magpapadala ng ganun kalaki? Bente nga sinisingil n’ya pa!”
Sheena rolled her eyes playfully. “Sana tama kayo. Sana mali kami. Sana malibre kami ni Jhoanna Robles.” Her remark earned a laugh from Maloi and Jhoanna
Jhoanna smiled warmly at her friends. “Magpa-pack up lang ako ng gamit. Una na kayo sa apateu apateu tapos mag order na kayo. Send ko pambayad sa Gcash mo, Shee.”
Her friends nodded, throwing her knowing looks. “Sure ka, ha? Sumunod ka agad baka mamaya may id-date ka pa d’yan,” Maloi teased as they walked away, laughing.
Jhoanna rolled her eyes and began packing her things, humming softly to herself. She didn’t notice the figure approaching until a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Excuse me...”
Jhoanna turned around, her brows furrowing. “Miss, tapos na yung busking ko. Bawi ka na lang bukas! Nandito naman ulit ako around 6 PM to 10 PM!” she said kindly, shouldering her guitar case. She was about to turn away when the sound of a stomach grumble stopped her in her tracks.
Her eyes flicked back to the stranger, whose body language screamed embarrassment. The stranger took a small step back, trying to play it off, but Jhoanna wasn’t having it. She shook her head and chuckled.
“Grabe, parang naka-microphone yung tyan mo doon,” Jhoanna teased lightly. She hesitated for a moment, then grinned. “Alam mo, may nagpadala sakin ng 10k kanina. Tara, nasa mood ako manglibre tonight.”
Stranger danger? ‘Di ata uso kay Jhoanna pero kay...
The stranger stiffened, clearly caught off guard, and Jhoanna tilted her head curiously. “Ano? Libre na ‘to, sayang naman,” she added, her grin widening. “Bihira lang akong maging generous, ha!”
The masked woman hesitated but eventually nodded. Jhoanna slung her guitar case over her shoulder and gestured for her to follow. “Good choice! Tara, hanap tayo ng kainan na malapit lang.”
Survival instinct who?
Unbeknownst to Jhoanna, the woman following behind her was none other than Aiah Arceta, one of the member of the group she mentioned earlier, now blushing furiously under her mask.