Star
With takeout paper bags in hand, Jhoanna led the girl to a quiet spot outside, where a few long chairs near some fairy-lit trees. The air was cooler here, a perfect place to unwind after a long day. Jhoanna set her guitar case down and gestured to one of the chairs.
“Dito na lang tayo kumain,” she said, setting down the takeout bags. As she unwrapped her food and took a bite, a light bulb went off in her mind, and she turned to her mysterious companion, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
“Nandoon ka ba para sa busking kanina, o assumera lang ako?”
The masked girl froze, her mind racing. She quickly shook her head, signaling that she wasn’t there for Jhoanna.
Jhoanna mouth formed into an ‘o’ shape. “Ay! Pinadala ka ba ng barangay? May barangay ba dito sa BGC? Parang wala, eh. Saling kitkit lang kasi ako dito,” she joked, scratching her nape in embarrassment.
The girl chuckled softly, her laugh muffled by the mask.
What does saling kitkit means?
“Akala ko talaga may penalty na ako kanina,” Jhoanna said. She set her food down, opened her guitar case, and pulled out her trusty guitar. “Sige, dahil hindi ka naman kamo fan, i-rate mo na lang ‘tong kantang inaral ko habang kakain ka d’yan. Malay mo ma-convert kita as fan ko!”
The girl stiffened, clearly not expecting this turn of events. She watched as Jhoanna adjusted the strings and cleared her throat.
“Coldplay song ‘to,” Jhoanna said with a proud grin.
Her companion only nodded, not trusting herself to say anything more.
Jhoanna began to play, her fingers dancing over the strings as a soft melody filled the air. Her voice was rich and clear, even more mesmerizing up close. Aiah found herself captivated, unable to look away.
‘Cause you’re a sky, ‘cause you’re a sky full of stars
I’m gonna give you my heart
‘Cause you’re a sky, ‘cause you’re a sky full of stars
‘Cause you light up the path
I don’t care, go on and tear me apart
I don’t care if you do, ooh-ooh, ooh
‘Cause in a sky, ‘cause in a sky full of stars
I think I saw you
Aiah’s food lay untouched in front of her as she focused solely on Jhoanna. The raw emotion in her voice made her chest tighten, and for a moment, she forgot about the risk of being recognized.
Jhoanna glanced at her companion mid-song, her brows furrowing slightly. “Uy, ba’t hindi ka kumakain? Masarap ’yan, promise. Walang lason. Kinagatan ko na nga yung akin, e."
Aiah’s heart raced, and she quickly gestured for Jhoanna to continue. Jhoanna chuckled, shaking her head.
“Ah, ganun pala ha? Ayaw mo muna kumain kasi gusto mo marinig yung kanta, no?” she teased, strumming the next chords.
‘Cause you’re a sky, ‘cause you’re a sky full of stars
I wanna die in your arms, oh, oh-oh
‘Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark
I’m gonna give you my heart, oh
I don’t care, go on and tear me apart
I don’t care if you do, ooh-ooh, ooh
‘Cause in a sky, ‘cause in a sky full of stars
I think I see you
I think I see you
Aiah sat frozen, staring at Jhoanna as if she were a star she couldn’t reach.
How ironic it was for her to think that way when she was the superstar between the two of them?
She had heard Jhoanna sing, but this moment felt different. There was no crowd, no distractions—just her and Jhoanna under the quiet glow of the city lights.
As Jhoanna sang the final note, she looked up and grinned. “O, how’d I do? Ano, one out of ten? Be honest, ha.”
Aiah finally managed to muster a small thumbs-up, her cheeks burning behind the mask.
“Thumbs-up?” Jhoanna teased, laughing as she set her guitar down. “Sige na nga, tatanggapin ko na rin. May bagong rating na pala ngayon. Thumbs-up out of 10!”
Jhoanna’s carefree energy made Aiah’s chest ache in the best way. For the first time in a long while, she felt something light and exciting.
A pull she couldn’t ignore and resist.
Jhoanna pushed her glasses up to her head with an annoyed huff. “Ang init na nga tapos nakakainis pa ‘tong buhok ko.” she muttered. Without them, her vision blurred, but she shrugged it off. “Grabe talaga yung init dito sa Bonifacio kahit gabi na. Parang nag c-cosplay as araw yung buwan, e.”
Aiah stiffened, watching Jhoanna talks. Despite her slightly squinted eyes, Jhoanna’s grin was as wide and bright as ever.
“Alam mo, ang saya talaga mag-busking,” Jhoanna began. “Dati, sobrang nakaka-nerbyos kasi nag start ako mag busking around 2nd year college ata ako. Nakatingin kasi lahat ng tao lalo na sa malls, tapos iniisip ko pa, ‘Magugustuhan ba nila? Pipiyok kaya ako?’ Pero ngayon, ibang klase. Medyo hindi na ako nahihiya. Sobrang grateful talaga ako sa lahat ng nakikinig, nanonood tsaka nakikipag interact sa’kin.”
Aiah listened intently, her heart softening at Jhoanna’s candidness.
“Ay, alam mo kung anong ginagawa ko sa tips?” Jhoanna continued, her face lighting up. “Dinodonate ko sa mga animal shelters. Nakakalungkot kasi minsan walang budget yung iba, tapos sobrang dami ng cats and dogs na kailangan ng help. Kaya kahit kaunti, tina-try ko talaga mag bigay pa rin. Ang fulfilling.”
“Kapag nag d-donate or volunteer ako in person, nakikita ko yung mga cats and dogs na masaya kasi nakakakain sila. Sobrang worth it yung pagod sa pag punta sa shelter lalo na yung pag b-busking.” She paused, her grin turning a bit sheepish. “Pero syempre, nagtitira rin ako pang-extra rice ko.”
Aiah couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips under her mask. Jhoanna’s warmth and passion were infectious.
So, eto pala si Jhoanna kapag hindi suot yung gitara n'ya at kumakanta...
Then, as if something clicked in her mind, Jhoanna's expression shifted. A dreamy, almost giddy look crossed her face. “Tapos, alam mo ba? May inspiration talaga ako kaya todo busking ako,”
Aiah tilted her head slightly, curious. Too curious that she forgot na gutom nga pala s'ya.
She's too invested.
“Secret lang natin ha,” Julienne said, her voice dropping into a playful whisper, as if she were sharing a juicy secret. “Grabe, yung vocals niya kasi talaga panalo. Ang lakas pa ng stage presence. Yung isa talaga bias ko dati, e. Hinatak lang ako. Aba, sino ba naman ako para pumalag pa diba?”
Aiah’s heart thumped loudly, and she instinctively pulled her cap lower.
Sino ba sakanilang apat yung tinutukoy ni Jhoanna?
“Minsan iniisip ko, paano kaya kung makita ko siya in person? Tapos, what if malaman niya na crush ko siya? Naku, baka mag-collapse na lang ako sa harap niya!” Jhoanna continued, her grin widening.
What if...
Aiah’s cheeks burned, and she bit her lip to stop herself from reacting too obviously.
“Ang funny pa nga,” Jhoanna said, her voice laced with excitement. “Kasi crush na crush ko talaga si—," Jhoanned stopped and laughed suddenly, shaking her head. “Ang daldal ko na pala. Sorry. Pero, basta, alam mo naman siguro yung feeling na yung sobrang crush mo na parang ang hirap abutin?”
Aiah nodded slowly and absentmindedly.
Jhoanna sighed contentedly, reaching for her food. “Hay. Anyway, na-activate nanaman ang talks a lot mode ko. Kumain na tayo, gutom na rin ako sa kaka-speech!”
But Aiah couldn’t eat—not yet. Her mind was spinning with everything Jhoanna had just said.
Aiah feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, slowly reached up and pulled her mask off, revealing her face.