Chapter 75

Ashley noticed the faces of her family and realized what was happening.  She quickly changed the manner of how she was speaking, "Sir, it's ok. I can manage!" Then she faces Arman.

"Thank you, elder brother Arman, but I can do it.  I just faltered because I was too excited. Hahaha!" She straightened her back and breathed deeply before walking straight towards the stage.

The host gave offered his hand to Ashley to help her go up the stage.  Ashley accepted while smiling, demurely, "Thank you!" She gently said to the host. 

"You're welcome!" The host responded with a sweet smile while looking at Ashley.  This did not go unnoticed by Tanaga, and his face soured again, which Arman saw.

Sophia welcomed Ashley with a beautiful smile as she went up the stage.  She held Ashley's hand and guided her towards the microphone. She could clearly sense Ashley's nervousness.

To ease Ashley's nervousness, she thought of teasing her…"You're so lucky, and your husband loves you very much.  I wonder when would I meet someone like him?"

Ashley was surprised and looked at Sophia with what she heard.  She could help but look at Tanaga's direction and smiled, which Tanaga saw and made his chest beat.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you my singing partner for tonight, Ashley Gusman.  Let's give her a round of applause." Sophia asked the audience.

The crowd quickly followed and clapped their hands but not as loud as Ashley's family, who just not clapped loudly but also whistled, "Ptttt! Ptttt! That's my sister!" Arnel shouted loudly.

The audience laughed loudly, amused that the family was more excited than Ashley.

"Are you ready?" Sophia whispered to Ashley while rubbing her hands, which were so cold with nervousness.

"I think so?  Even if I am not, I'm already here...Please excuse my voice." Ashley softly said that Sophia almost could not hear her with the loud cheer of the audience.

Sophia signaled to the band to start playing…"I'll go first, and then you can join me anytime, ok?"

Ashley just nodded while obviously very nervous.  When the band started playing, her eyes grew big because the song is her favorite. [1] "Please Be Careful With My Heart."

Since she was a kid, she always heard this song being sung by her father and brothers, so she made sure to study it very well so that she can sing a duet with her father when they will sing at the karaoke.  Ashley breathed deeply and got ready… then she looked again at Tanaga.

When she saw that he was also looking at her, she thought to herself…. ' This song is for us. '

Sophia sang first, then Ashley joined her afterward….

[1] If you love me as you tell me

Please be careful with my heart

You can take it, just don't break it

Or my world will fall apart

You are my first romance, and I'm willing to take a chance

That til life is through, I'll still be loving you

I will be true to you, just a promise from you will do

From the very start, please be careful with my heart

I love you and you know I do

There'll be no one else for me

From the very start, I'll be careful with your heart

....

....

....

Right after they sang, Sophia whispered to Ashley. "That song was dedicated to you, according to your husband.  How sweet, I envy you." while smiling at Ashley. 

Ashley blushed after hearing what Sophia told her.  She did not know what to answer. Good thing, she got ready to go down the stage so she need not respond.

When the two finished singing, Tanaga almost couldn't hear anything with the loud cheers and clapping of the audience.  He did not cover his ears with his fingers because he wanted to hear Ashley's voice as she sang.  

After the two sang, Tanaga suddenly stood up and clapped loudly like Ashley's brothers and parents.

"Bravo! Bravo!" Tanaga shouted while still clapping.  Mang Jessie was close to tears while holding his cellphone.  He apparently recorded the duet of Ashley and Sophia.

'My child, you made your father so happy.  I can leave this earth happily because I saw you sing a duet with my idol. Hahaha!' Mang Jessie thought as he continued recording.

Meanwhile, Fely was crying tears of joy.  At first, all she did was clap and cry, but in the end, she kept on shouting to boast, "That's my child! Hahaha! That's my child!!!" She shouted to the people behind them.

One of the audience shouted back, "Mother! Can I court her?  I am still single!!!"

Another one joined him and shouted back, "Me too! I'm also single with a job!  I will not make your daughter hungry!"

"Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

The audience all laughed when they heard what the single guys told mommy Fely.

On the other hand, Tanaga, who was very happy at that time, suddenly changed his mood and sat there like a statue with no feelings on his face, obviously thinking deeply...

'Hmph, if I will not endure this, I would kick you all out.  Let me see if you could still do anything. If you only knew, that one is already tied … to me! And I will make it for a lifetime.' Tanaga thought to himself while staring at Ashley, who was on her way back to her seat with Sophia to introduce her to her family... 

When Sophia and Ashley were near, Tanaga suddenly stood up.. "Excuse me first.  There is an emergency, and Ashley, and I need to go." He also apologized to Sophia.

"Miss Sophia, if you don't mind...I promised them that you would have a picture taken with them.  I hope is not a problem, is it? We'll be right back!" Tanaga held Ashley's arms and pulled her out of the club...

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[1] Source: LyricFind / Google

Songwriters: Jose Mari Chan

Please Be Careful With My Heart lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc