MUSIC: Everything You Do by Christian Bautista
"I believe some things are meant to be. As sure as there is love, yours is meant for me..."
I have been a huge fan of Christian Bautista for quite some time but I had been unable to see him in person. When he had his major concert, I wanted so much to go but I was tight on money then for the tickets. Every time he had a mall show near our place, I really tried to watch it but either I had to go somewhere else or do something important. One time, my friend told me that Christian was having a show at a mall on a certain Sunday. I was available then and was able to go to the mall but when I saw the poster for the show, my friend had given me the wrong date. It was on Saturday and not Sunday! I missed it again! It became really frustating. I was already thinking that maybe I just wasn't meant to see him. But why?! Or maybe my patience and determination was just being tested. I really had no idea. I came to a point when I just told myself, "If I'll see him, I'll see him."
That happened one ordinary Friday afternoon. I was going home from work when I decided to pass by the mall to buy Christmas presents at a bookstore. I was still several meters from the activity center (the central part of the mall where a stage is located) when I heard it... a very familiar voice coming from the speakers... I didn't have to recognize the song to know whose voice that was. My heart took a leap! I rushed to the stage area to see with my own eyes if he was really there or it was just his CD playing. He was there right in front of me! And it was real!
I squeezed my way through the crowd to take a closer look. By the time I planted myself just a little behind the steel fence, he passed by singing and shook hands with people. By instinct, I grabbed my celphone and tried to take a picture of him. Shucks! I was only able to take a pic of the guy's head in front of me. Oh well, seeing him was enough for me.
Then I saw the table where they sell his CDs. Buying a CD would be your pass to have a seat beyond the fence, get closer, and probably get a handshake and an autograph. I already had both of his CDs so it wasn't an option. But then, an autographed CD would be different! I might as well give myself an early Christmas gift that can't be bought in the department store. So, I bought his second album and took a seat in the middle row. Ahh... it was such a bliss listening to him sing his famous ballads live. I couldn't have been more contented. An old lady next to me commented and told me that she found him cute. I was just able to nod and smile but deep inside, I was saying, "Oh yes... and more than that."
The show was simple but really nice. While he was singing, fans were able to have a picture with him. One mom even had him carry her baby and took a picture. There was also a Q&A game with prizes from his sponsors. He waved and greeted everyone he could see from the stage, even those riding the escalator or those at the back of the stage. His jokes were simple but entertaining. I had to agree to the lady, he was really cute.. and adorable, not just because of his looks but because of his personality and his overall presence on stage. He didn't sound or look arrogant at all. He was simple yet one of a kind.
The show ended and those who wanted his autograph were asked to line up in front of the stage. I found myself in the middle of the line. While waiting for him to return from the backstage, I was just calm and cool. "Yes, I'll get his autograph and that's that, nothing much to be excited about, " I told myself. But when he reappeared and the line started to move, that's when my heart started to go thump, thump, thump. "What will I do?! What will it be like?! Do I have to say anything?!" Fortunately, I was distracted by this guy who asked me if I wanted to have my name on the CD with his autograph. Of course! I gave him my name and wrote it on a piece of paper and gave it to me. Then I remembered, "How about having a picture with him?" I didn't have a friend with me to take it and I was too shy to ask just anybody there, so I just told myself that taking a picture of him would be enough. Finally, it was my turn. I won't ever forget that moment when I moved forward... gave him the piece of paper... He looked at it and said... "Hi Issa! How are you?" with a big smile on his face... I smiled back and said, "Ok". It was all I could do at the moment. He tried to make a conversation but I just stood there smiling like a post almost glued to the ground watching him sign. It was a good thing that one of his staff who saw me holding my phone asked me if I wanted to have a picture with him. Oh, a heaven sent photographer! I gave her my mobile and posed at his side. I didn't have to smile for I was smiling all the while, a really huge smile. After signing my stuff, he gave them back to me and again flashed that wonderful smile and thanked me. I thanked him back and reached out for my CD. I'm sure he said something else but I was too overwhelmed then to comprehend it especially with that smile never disappearing on his face. I don't know if he found me amusing or weird or what he was thinking but he continued to smile at me as I was already moving away from the table with my newly found treasures. It was really hard not to smile back at him. And then I was off the stage.
Those were probably two of the longest 2 minutes of my life! I was almost trembling while walking away. I was like floating in the air, glidng through busy shoppers of the mall and seemingly unaware of their presence. I decided to stop by a fastfood to calm myself and clear my muddled mind. I orderd an applepie and sat on an empty seat. It was only then that I was able to check out my CD, the cover and a postcard of him all with his signature. Looking at them while eating my applepie, I could only recall the wonderful experience I just had. I never thought such simple things and moments could be very precious to me.
So, that was how my wish came true. It was such a unique and memorable experience for me that I decided to preserve it in a scrapbook. I have always wanted to make one where I can put bits and pieces of memories instead of just putting them in a box like the rest of my treasured memorabilia. But I didn't start my scrapbok because I wanted to put things as they happen, not when they happened long ago, and the first entry in the scrapbook to be extra special. So I waited for another memorable experience to come along. At last, an extra special experience came my way inspiring me to creatively preserve that memory.
I guess there really are just wishes that do come true in the most unexpected time and place. I didn't plan a trip to a mall show, concert or somewhere else to see Christian but I was given the opportunity not only to see him but also to listen to him sing, meet him up close, have a picture with him, talk to him, and to smile back at him. Sometimes, God grants our wishes in ways more than we originally hoped for. We just have to wait and be patient.
"If I'll meet him, I'll meet him"... and so I did.
