Lumabas na sila ng backstage nang matapos ang mga staff sa pag-aayos ng mga gagamitin nila. Kita ko kung gaano katuwa ang mga kababaihan nang masilayan ang kanilang mukha.
"Sino sila? OMG, ang astig talaga lagi ng mga singer dito sa Argos. Ibang klase ang mga mukha. Pak na pak!"
"Mas gwapo pa 'yan kay Kent. Apat pa, OMG!"
"Ang yummy nilang lahat! Can't wait to hear them sing."
I slightly chuckled as I hear their different views about them. Mabilis naman silang pumwesto ng kaniya-kaniya.
He started the song softly, but with a bang. Nakapikit lang siya habang kinakanta 'yon.
Tumahimik ang lahat ng marinig nila ang boses ni Rash. Kung kanina ay sa mukha lang sila na-inlove ngayon - panigurado mas lalo silang na-fall dahil sa boses niya. I didn't know he has this kind of voice.
Hindi ko naman akalain na ganito kasarap pakinggan ang boses niya. The way he sang it soothes all my insides. He's good, mas magaling si Kuya Kent, but the emotions that he bring everytime he sings - felt really good.
I stopped myself from banging my head with the rhythm they're making. I heard this, the real singer is good, but this version is very soothing. He has this calm deep voice.
Hindi rin maipagkakaila na magaling din 'yong iba. The way they play - you can really see how passionate they are about this. May kaniya-kaniya silang role na bumubuo sa Fifth Avenue. Siguro ganito din ang naramdaman ng iba noong narinig nila silang kumanta.
I clapped my hands as soon as he stopped on singing. Girl, they're great! Sobrang laki ng potential ng bandang ito. I think I know why they really wanted to get Rash only, but I think mas okay talaga kung buong banda ang kukunin.
The way they harmonized as a group. Kitang-kita mo na talaga na nagkakaintindihan sila through music. May nakitang ako sinenyas kanina ni Rash kay Jax, then biglang may naiba sa tono - but that adds the feels.
Fifth Avenue will soon get to the top. Hinding-hindi ako magsisi na kinuha ko sila bilang singer dito sa Argos. And I know soon they will be known here in Sitio Verdi - hanggang sa mas lalo pa 'yong lumawak.
"Great! That's really great. Kailan ba kayo nagsimula as a band?" I asked as soon as we get to the backstage. They're all smiling genuinely. Makikita mo talaga kung gaano nila ka-mahal tumugtog - and that for me- is the stepping stone for success. The passion - it gives off those feels to the audience.
"First year highschool noong nabuo ang band. Last year lang nagkapangalan," paliwanag ni Rash. He lick his lips, then drink some water. I can clearly see how his Adam's apple move as he take large gulps.
That's kinda hot, can't deny it - but this line should stay in my mind only. Hindi magandang pakinggan kung basta ko na lang 'to sasabihin.
"Oh? Why didn't I know? Iisang school lang tayo right?" nagtataka kong tanong. Malakas naman tumawa si Creon na lalo kong ikinakunot ng noo.
"Masyado ka kasing busy. Matagal ka na naming kilala, lalo na si-" napatigil siya ng bigla siyang batuhin ni Rash ng bote. Wala na 'yong laman, but I still heard the impact. Napa-ungol naman siya at sumimangot.
"Hmp! Tatahimik na nga," nakanguso niyang wika habang pilit na hinihimas ang noo niyang natamaan ng bote kanina. Saktong-sakto talaga e.
"Siguro nga," nagtataka kong wika - still puzzled by the way they act. Kada may sasabihin na ganoon si Creon it's either si Jax o si Rash ang pipigil sa kaniya. Though mas savage ang way ni Rash kaysa kay Jax.
"Anyway. Are you up for being regular? Hanggang 10pm lang naman kayo kakanta dito, since halos puro part timer din ang nagtatrabaho dito kaya hanggang 12 lang ang bukas. The 2 remaining hours will be your free time," pagsisimula ko sa kanila. I hope they will agree. Kailangang-kailangan ko talaga sila dito.
"I believe that's up to Rash to decide. Siya ang bahala kung tatanggapin niya since siya naman ang kakanta," Jax shrugged.
"Shut up, Jax. I need your view about this. Hindi pwedeng ako lang," Rash hissed. Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi niya. That... was something - I mean kadalasan kasi oo na lang agad, but the way he said feels like for him the group is very important. Ayaw niyang magdesisyon ng siya lang. What a good leader he is.
"I can give you until tomorrow. Discuss it with the group. Tutal magkaklase lang naman tayo. Madali ko lang kayong makaka-usap," I smiled. Baka mamaya ma-pressure ko sila. I really want them to work here, pero kung hindi nila kaya - I guess I've got no choice, but to sing here on my own.
"We'll tell you tomorrow. Thank you for the experience, Astra," Rash said. The way he said my name feels like something different. I can't explain it, pero iba talaga 'yong way nag pagkaka-pronounce niya - it gives off certain feelings for me. Like kilig - oh god!
Argh! Ano ba 'tong mga pinagsasabi ko sa utak ko. Heck, I think I'm still stressed about the assignments. Kung ano-ano pumapasok sa utak ko.
"Aalis na kami. May klase pa bukas. See you tomorrow, Astra," tumango naman ako sa paalam niya.
"I'll walk you out. Iyon na lang ang ma-i-ooffer ko sa inyo."
"Huwag kang ngumiti masyado, Astra. May kinikilig," natatawang wika ni Creon. Napatawa naman nang malakas si Jax dahil doon.
"Man, shut up. Patay ka niyan mamaya," natatawang banta niya. Mukhang natauhan naman doon si Creon.
"Nakainom ba ang isang 'yan? He looks drunk," nagtataka kong tanong.
"A bit. Nakasanayan na namin na uminom bago mag-perform. Pang-hype lang," paliwanag ni Rash. Pumungay naman ang mata niya. Mukhang may tama na din siya.
"You drink too?"
"A bit. Mga 3 shot din ata 'yon," he said tinaas niya pa ang daliri niya na may tatlong nakataas. I chuckled at what he did. Sigurado ba siyang tatlo ang ininom niya?
"Woah. Mas maganda siguro kung mas konti sa tatlo ang iinom mo, Rash. You kinda act different," natatawa kong wika.
"Nah, sanay naman akong uminom. Dahil lang siguro 'to sa kaba dahil kanina. You know evey time we perform in the middle of the crowd, kahit na hindi halata - pero sobrang kinakabahan ako. Para bang anytime, magkakamali ako - resulting para masira ang image ng banda," kwento niya. Napatingin naman ako sa unahan dahil naiwan na kaming dalawa ni Rash sa paglalakad. Ang bilis noong tatlo.
"But you did great," I comforted him. Totoo naman, they did great.
"Really?" his eyes almost sparkled with delight because of my compliment.
"Yup. You and the band did great. I assure you," ngiti kong wika. He smiled too, his eyes smiled too. Tahimik na ulit kaming sumunod sa kanila. Naramdaman ko naman ang abnormal na pagtibok ng puso ko habang magkasabay kaming naglalakad.
And I know since this day - I'm doomed. I should've stopped, but my heart went crazy for a while... for beating too fast... for him.