Chapter 3

Pagkarating nila sa Duveen College of Music ay napatingin si Naya sa paligid, 'ah Duveen I am here again' she thought. Her pain and suffering intensified when she auditioned in this school, but her decision to enter the school again never wavered. One reason was because her mother used to teach here and second, because of him. Naya's heart trembled by merely remembering the face of the man that occupied her thoughts from time to time. She's really looking forward of seeing the man again.

Pagkababa nila ng sasakyan ay may staff agad na sumalubong sa kanila at tinanong kung mag-oaudition ba sila. Sinagot ni Emily na si Kenna at Naya ang mag-oaudition. Tumango naman ang staff at sinabing dadalhin sila sa auditorium.

Sa paglalakad ay nakaramdam na naman si Kenna ng kaba ng maalalang magpiperform sila ng live sa harap ng judges. Sumulyap siya kay Naya at di niya ito nakikitaan ng kahit konting kaba. Palagi niyang nakikita na kalmado lang si Naya pero nagugulat pa din siya na kahit sa ganitong panahon na may audition ay mahinahon pa din ito. 

Naramdaman ni Kenna na may marahang bumangga sa balikat niya. Pagtingin niya sa gilid niya ay nakita ang kambal na nakangisi sa kanya. Alam niyang mang-aasar lang ito kaya di niya pinansin.

Kenneth chuckled and nudged her shoulder again. "Kinakabahan ka no?" Biro nito.

"Tss as if. Dun ka nga! Tignan mo mamaya ang mukha ko pagkatapos ng audition at yun ang mukha ng nagperform ng kabado." Sabi ni Kenna sabay irap.

Napatawa si Kenneth sa walang sense na sagot ni Kenna. Lihim na napangiti si Naya sa paraan ng pagpakalma ni Kenneth sa kambal nito. Tumingin siya sa pamilya niya at napangiti. Di daw nila palalampasin ang araw sa paghakbang nila ni Kenna sa susunod na kabanata ng buhay nila.

Mahinang tinampal ni Emily ang braso ni Kenneth para patigilin ito sa pagbiro sa kambal. Nang makarating sila sa auditorium ay may iilang pamilya ng aplikante na ang naghihintay sa kani-kanilang mga anak. Sinabihan ng staff si Naya at Kenna na mag check in, para makompirmang nasa listahan ang pangalan nila para sa mag-oaudition sa araw na yun. Pagka check in ay nagpaalam na ang dalawa sa pamilya nila. Nag good luck naman ang mga ito na tinawanan pa ni Naya at Kenna dahil medyo nag ingay ang dad nila.

Dinala ng staff ang dalawa sa loob ng elevator at sinabing tutungo sila sa third floor. Pinapasok sila nito sa isang malaking room kung saan may iilang aplikante nang naghihintay. Kapansin pansin pa sa mukha ng iilan na kinakabahan at tensiyonado. Pinaupo sila ng staff sa loob at iniwan.

Napansin ni Naya ang panay na pagsulyap ng iilan sa side nila at ang mahinang bulungan ng mga ito. Pinag walang bahala iyon ni Naya kahit na narinig niya ang pangalan niyang binanggit ng mga ito. Alam niyang siya ang pinag-uusapan pero wala siyang pakialam sa kung ano ang iniisip nila.

Si Kenna na medyo malapit sa mga babaeng aplikante na nagbubulungan ay narinig kung ano ang pinag-uusapan.

"That's Naya."

"Who?"

"Naya, Nayasha Lopez. You heard of kidnapping years ago? That's her. Her mother, Yannie Lopez died during the kidnapping." Some gasped after hearing the person's statement and they glanced at Naya with pity.

"You mean she's the daughter of Yannie Lopez? That kid? That was her?"

"I've heard she never appeared in public after what happened."

"Apparently she'll study here at Duveen so I guess she's okay now?"

"Don't know but I've read some information about her years ago. She's good, she won an international piano competition at the age of eleven."

Tumikhim si Kenna at inagaw ang atensiyon ng mga nagbubulungan, tinaasan niya ng kilay ang mga ito nang tumingin sa kanya. Effective naman ang ginawa niya dahil tumigil ang mga ito sa pagbubulungan. Napangiti siya sa sarili at tumingin kay Naya. 

Naya who had saw everything, chuckled lowly. This had not happen in her past life. What happened before was Kenna would only give them an annoyed look but never bothered to shut them up. On her past life, Naya who had roughly heard what they were talking about would get affected but she would try her very best to remain calm. They would pity her which she hated the most. They would look at her with pity on their eyes but still continued talking about her life, how stupid was that? But that was all in the past, the her now had heard so much and her temperament had been better after rebirth.

The door of the room opened and an angelic face appeared in front of them. 'Ah never forget the little devil.' Naya thought. The girl walked inside the room with a gentle smile on her face. She gave a folder to an applicant who will be called after fifteen minutes for audition. Then the girl gave her encouragement with a warm smile. The girl glanced at Naya's side and was startled seeing Naya's face. Naya didn't really want to associate herself with this kind of person but she knows too well she can't avoid crossing path with her, and sooner or later they'll meet. While walking towards her, the girl spread her arms to hug Naya.

"My dear cousin." She greeted and was about to put her arms around Naya's body but Naya raise her hand to stop her. The girl looked at her confused.

"Vanessa, it's really you." Naya acted surprised seeing the other and added, "you know I don't really like getting physical to people I am not close with." Vanessa's face started to turn ugly hearing her reply. She put her arms down and was about to say something but Naya didn't let her. "Yes I know, you don't have to say it. I've heard your encouragement from here, you don't have to repeat it. I don't really want to waste your time, I know you're a busy person right? Look, the applicant is waiting for you." Naya said pointing the applicant while smiling sweetly. Vanessa was angry but managed to control it instantly and smiled back. She nodded and went out with the applicant.

'Tss sayang, would have been a great show if she had exploded', Naya thought.

Naya heard giggles, when she looked at her side she saw Kenna's amused face. "You're so mean and annoying," Kenna said. "But that's really your cousin?" She asked.

Naya hummed and nodded. "But not by blood thank goodness." Kenna looked at her with questioning face. "Adopted. The husband of my mother's sister is a sterile, they can't have children. So they adopted Vanessa." Naya answered and Kenna just nodded understanding her words. 

Naya looked intently at Kenna and remembered what Vanessa would have to say. She knows what that two-faced person would say to her. Vanessa will comfort her, give her encouragement and will open her wounds saying 'I'm sorry for what had happened to you, Naya. My late condolences. I hope you hadn't seen it, I hope you hadn't seen your mother being shot in the head in front of you. Stay strong and forget everything during the audition okay?' Then her lips would smile gently but her eyes would triumph seeing Naya's wavered and hurt expression.

Back then Naya was fed up with people's gossips, with their eyes looking at her with pity, plus the two-faced person's so-called encouragement, she can't control her emotions and stepped out of the room crying.

Walking the hallway and seeking for a restroom, she bumped into someone. The person apologized and was startled seeing her current state. The person looked at her intently and then offered a hankie. She was about to reach it when Kenna, who had followed her grabbed her arm and brought her to a restroom. Kenna wiped her tears with tissue and just silently comforting her, standing and waiting for her to calm down. Then she brought her back for audition. Back then her mind was preoccupied to realize there are still people with good intentions towards her. Kenna who had stayed with her, silently comforted her and brought her back to audition. And that man with unique hazel eyes, who hadn't looked at her with pity even after seeing her messy state.

She hadn't met him earlier because she hadn't went out of the room. She'll meet him in a while, he'll be at the audition room.

Naya hadn't realize she was looking at Kenna for a long while, the latter asked what's wrong with her. "Nothing, just thinking." Naya replied and smiled. May pumasok na naman sa room at may binigay na folder sa isang aplikante, lihim na napangiti si Naya dahil hindi na bumalik si Vanessa sa loob.

Medyo matagal din ang paghintay ni Naya at Kenna. May pumasok ulit na staff, nagbigay ng folder kay Naya at ang paglabas nito kasama ang isang aplikante. Alam ni Naya kung ano ang nasa loob ng folder, material iyon para sa sight reading. Pagbuklat niya ng folder ay napangiti siya, ito ang isa sa pinagpapasalamat ni Naya sa audition ng Duveen. Minamatch nila ang sight reading material sa intrumentong mayroon ang aplikante. Kaya hindi na maguguluhan o sasakit pa ang ulo ng aplikante sa pagpapatugtog niyon. Saka binibigay sa kanila ang material fifteen minutes bago mag audition para makapagprepare sila mentally.

Nang si Naya na ang dadalhin ay nasulyapan niyang may pag-aalala sa mukha ni Kenna habang tinitignan ang sight reading papers nito. Nilapitan niya muna ito bago umalis. "Hey you're gonna be alright. Nagpraktis tayo ng ganito diba? You'll do good. Relax. I'll be there when you play your pieces remember?" Bulong niya at nginitian ito. Tumango at nagpasalamat naman si Kenna.

Lumabas si Naya kasama ang staff na magdadala sa kanya sa audition room. Pagpasok ay bumungad sa kanya ang isang drum set sa gilid at dalawang grand piano na di gaanong malayo sa isa't isa. Tumingin siya sa tatlong judges, two men and one woman na mga professor din ng school. Then she glanced at the person who was sitting in one of the piano. Their eyes met 'ah finally saw that gorgeous pair of hazel eyes again,' Naya said to herself. The person seems startled seeing her, she doesn't know why. Naya slightly nodded at him and looked away. She stood in front of the judges and smiled. They exchanged greetings and chatted.

"Nervous?" One of the male judges asked.

"No, not really. I think I'm feeling good." Naya replied smiling.

"Good, good, we don't really intend to make the kids nervous when they audition here." The man said. Then they asked about her instrument and the piece she prepared and why she chooses it.

Naya had noticed the other judge on the right side of the table. A woman on her late thirties kept glancing and looking like she wanted to ask something. She knows what it is and she knows who the woman is. She's a Duveen and a good friend of her mother. The woman kept contemplating to ask her and finally was about to try when suddenly a sound of messy notes from a piano echoed in the room. They all looked back, then the man in the piano looked embarrassed. He faked a cough.

"Sorry about that, please continue." He said and meaningfully looked at the woman's eyes who was about to ask something.

Naya chuckled lowly. Naturally, this had happened in her past life. In the past, she also had sense the woman would like to talk about her mother but was interrupted. Naya would looked at the man in piano gratefully and then looked back at the judges, respectfully saying she doesn't really like to talk about family matters. The judges, of course understand and just continued by letting her play the piece she prepared. But she had messed up her piece, missing some notes. Fortunately she did good the rest of the audition and successfully passed.

Naya after rebirth had a good control of her emotion whenever talking about her mother to someone else. She knew that the woman in front of her who was once a friend of her mother is only worried so she looked at the woman intently.

"You can talk about my mother, I don't mind. She used to teach here so I know you all knew her." Naya said calmly. The judges glanced at each other and looked at her with worried eyes. She knew they're worried it might affect her audition. "Don't worry I'm fine, it won't affect my audition. You should know that my mother is my motivation and my inspiration into coming here." She added.

The woman looked relieved and smiled at her. "I'm glad. Your mother is a good friend of mine and I just want to know if you're okay. You're a brave person." 

The judges didn't talked or asked much and just let her continue with the audition. Naya settled herself in the other piano. Basically the first part of the audition is to play the prepared piece. 

Ang isa pa sa maganda sa audition ng Duveen ay di mo kailangan magpatugtog ng pinakamahirap na piece para magpakitang gilas at ipakita kung gaano ka kagaling sa instrumento mo. Ang gustong makita ng Duveen judges ay ipatugtog ang piece kung saan pinakakomportable ang aplikante na ipatugtog. Gusto nilang makita ang sinseridad at potensiyal ng mga aplikante sa pagiging musikero. 

Naya inhaled and held her breath for a few seconds before exhaling. She positioned her fingers and start to zoned herself to the piece. 

Her piece is called Liebestraum by Franz Liszt. The first time she heard the piece was when her mother played it. Her mother, a skilled pianist made the piece sounds so effortless but when she herself tried to play for the first time, it was nowhere near an easy piece to play. Nevertheless Naya had loved the piece since then, it just sounds so dreamy and magical when her mother played it. She learned the piece and it became the piece she was most comfortable to play with.

Liebestraum refers to a three set piano works and also called "dream of love". If Naya describes the three sets piano works, it would be about a very romantic man pursuing and showing his unconditional love to someone. The beginning melody sounds so beautiful and smooth like a man courting someone and showing his love. The second melody sounds like the man begging to someone to recognize his love and then the melody reaches to the climax where one's heart would feel agitated like roller coaster bringing you to a height, here Naya would describes it as the man crying desperately, asking for someone to love him back the way he love that someone. Then when you hear the beautiful and graceful run up and down of the piano, it sounded like that someone had agreed to the man. The ending is so dreamy and enchanting like the man had successfully obtained his love and fall into a dream of love with that someone.

The man in the other piano was enchanted looking at the girl who is playing a piece by Liszt. The piece was undoubtedly one of the most difficult piece to play, not overly hard but one can't perfectly play it without learning for months or even a year. The piece is melodically beautiful. The girl was very expressive in playing, the emotion and her passion can be seen and heard. At the beginning he saw how she carries and let the melody flow effortlessly through her hands. Then the second, she looked agitated playing the same melody in different key. So passionate and graceful.

His heart almost stopped beating when he heard those runs and jumps, she made it perfectly sounds exactly like what love feels like. The man smiled to himself, it made him feel what he had felt the first time he saw her playing in that international competition. Only now he saw her playing up close, so near to him which was so much better in the past.

Mukhang nagustuhan naman ng judges ang piece na pinatugtog niya. Tumango tango ang mga ito. Hindi sila masyadong nagcomment at sunod sunod na 'good' ang narinig. Pagkatapos ay nag improvisation sila. Sinabi ng judge na sabayan niya ang melody na gagawin ng lalaking nasa kabilang piano at mag-isip siya ng notang babagay sa tugtog sa gagawin nito. Naging madali naman yun kay Naya dahil bukod sa napagdaanan na niya ay napraktis niya pa iyun. Nagtawanan pa sila ng binata at mukhang nagustuhan naman ng mga judges dahil tumango tango sila at nakitawa sa tugtog na ginagawa nila. 

Pagkatapos ay tinanong siya ng judges kung nagpapatugtog siya ng jazz. Tumango tango naman si Naya at sinabing may alam siya na mga basic jazz accompaniment na pwedeng ihalo sa classical. Tumango ang mga judges at sinabing magpatugtog siya. Pinili ni Naya ang piece ni Chopin na Fantasie Impromptu at ginawang jazz version. Lihim na napangiti si Naya nang makitang may ngiti sa mga labi ng judges.

Ang sumunod ay ang sight reading. Ang sight reading ay ang pagpapatugtog ng music piece sa unang tingin o pagbasa mo ng slight reading material. Patugtugin mo yung piece kahit na di mo pa nakita o napraktis noon. Kaya bago ang audition ay binibigay iyun sa kanila para maprepare nila ang sarili. Di kailangan perfect ang pagplay ng music piece. Ang gustong makita ng judges ay ang kakayahan at potensiyal ng aplikante sa pag identify ng notes, sa tamang pag identify ng time signatures at key signatures at sa tamang paglagay ng tempo at markings habang pinapatugtog ang music piece.

Di naman binigo ni Naya ang mga judges at napatango ulit ang mga ito pagkatapos niyang magpatugtog. Sumulyap si Naya sa lalaking nasa kabilang piano, nginitian siya nito at nag thumbs up na nginitian naman niya pabalik. Pagkatapos ng audition niya ay hindi siya lumabas at nagtanong sa mga judges.

"Pasensiya na po pero pwede po ba akong mag-stay? The next applicant is my sister and she will have me as her accompanist."

Ang babaeng judge ang sumagot sa kanya. "Yes of course, but you will have to step outside first. We have to talk about your audition in a bit." Sabi nito ng nakangiti sa kanya. Naya nodded and said her thanks before stepping outside. Pagkalabas ay natanaw ni Naya si Kenna at ang staff sa hallway papunta sa audition room. Bumilis ang hakbang ni Kenna palapit sa kanya at nagtanong.

"How did it go?" She asked with worried tone.

"It was okay, it went well. You don't have to be nervous, they're less formal than you think."

"Excuse me, kailangan mo ng pumunta sa admission area for interview." Sabi ng staff kay Naya ng nakangiti.

"Oh, I have asked the judges to play accompaniment with my sister and they already agreed. Can you wait for a bit?" Naya asked and the staff nodded. The door of the audition room opened and the man with unique hazel eyes pecked through the slightly open door and stated that the judges are ready for the next applicant.

When they went inside, Naya sat in the piano again and Kenna stood in front of the judges while holding her instrument. Like what had happened to her, the judges tried to loosen the nerves of Kenna by chatting a bit. 

The judges let Kenna play her pieces after chatting. Kenna remained standing facing the judges. She prepared four music pieces which she had improvised. The pieces were by Prokofiev, Bach, Schubert and Paganini. She had asked Naya's opinion about her choices and the latter said it was good and perfect for her. They practiced it together and she was comfortable playing it with Naya as her accompanist so she asked the other to play it with her in the audition.

After playing accompaniment with Kenna, Naya excused herself and went outside. The staff who had been waiting for her, brought her to another room to do her interview. Nang makapasok siya sa loob may dalawang lalaking aplikante pang naghihintay para sa kanilang interview, tahimik sa loob kaya agaw pansin ang pagpasok niya. Napatingin sa kanya ang mga ito kaya binigyan niya ng maliit na ngiti ang dalawa at umupo. Nagkuwentuhan sila sa kani-kanilang audition experience at nalamang iba-iba ang kanilang perspective dahil magkakaiba sila ng instrumento, isang drummer at isang guitarist ang kausap ni Naya.

Di nagtagal ay lumabas na ang kasalukuyang iniinterview at isa-isa na din silang tinawag. Nang si Naya nalang ang naghihintay ay saka dumating si Kenna, nginitian niya ito at tinanong kung kamusta ang audition nito. Umupo si Kenna sa tabi niya at huminga pa ng malalim.

"Thank goodness that part was so totally over." Napatawa si Naya sa maarteng pagsasalita nito. "But it was fun, I think I did pretty good and I think I'm going to pass." Taas noo pa nitong dugtong.

"Cocky are we?" Naya teased.

"Tss no, I did really good and the judge looked like they enjoyed my performance throughout the audition."

"Uhuh? And we still have an interview." Naya said pointing the close door where the interview is going on.

"Oh please, you might not know it but I'm good in talking and answering questions. I'm quite smart so..." Sabi ni Kenna na sinadyang di ipagpatuloy ang sasabihin. Napahagalpak si Naya dahil kanina lang di niya madrawing ang mukha nito pero ngayon ang lakas ng magyabang.

Napakurap kurap si Kenna kay Naya. Di siya naiinis dito, di lang siya makapaniwala na palagi na itong nakangiti at maaliwalas ang mukha. Malayo sa taong kilala niya noong nakaraang mga buwan. Their relationship just suddenly turned a hundred and eighty degrees. She's happy to have a comfortable relationship with Naya like totally having an instant sister. Naya even guided her and practiced with her for audition. Thinking about audition, she remembered something. 

"Hey you remember that guy in the piano earlier? He's Seth Lawrence Duveen, he's a Duveen."

"Hmm how'd you know him?" Naya asked.

I saw him once, I don't know if you knew but Duveen College of Music held a concert last year. It happens once a year to celebrate Duveen's anniversary. Anyway, that guy, Seth Lawrence played violin for like more than ten minutes and he's good, very good. The concert last year was live on the school website but you have to pay for an access and you knew Duveen is my dream school so I visit the website occasionally and that's when I saw the concert." Medyo mahabang paliwanag ni Kenna.

"Oh, and you like him?" Di alam ni Kenna pero parang may naririnig siyang warning sa paraan ng pananalita nito.

"What? No! I just happened to remember seeing his face before, that's why I told you about it." Kenna was a little annoyed. How could she like someone she barely knows?

"Hmm," tumango tango si Naya. "Good, good" she added.

"What do you mean?" Kenna asked confused. Then she remembered the weird exchanged of glances between Naya and the guy earlier when they entered the audition room. Her face lit up and her eyes grow wider. "No way! You! You--" Hindi niya natuloy ang sasabihin dahil bumukas ang pinto at susunod na ang interview ni Naya. Narinig niya pa ang mahinang tawa nito bago tuluyang pumasok sa silid. 'Ugh I really hate this kind of interruption' Kenna thought annoyingly.

Nang makapasok si Naya sa loob ay nakita niya ang babaeng nasa early thirties nito, mas bata sa mga judges sa audition room. Nakangiti ito at bumati habang tinuro ang upuan para umupo siya. Bumati naman pabalik si Naya at umupo sa upuang tinuro nito.

Naging madali lang ang interview. Friendly ang interviewer at hindi gaanong pormal. Walang tensyon at para lang silang nag-uusap. Ang babae nagtatanong at si Naya sumasagot.