1 PROLOGUE

"Celine tara na, malalate na tayo sa contest" Venus shouted and pull me inside the car, papunta na kami ng university for a battle bands this 8pm and it's already 7:35 kaya nag mamadali kami. Malamang nagreready na ang mga kalaban naming doon.

"Bakit naman kasi sa dami mong pweding kalimutan ay yang guitar mo pa celine ano bayan" Venus is busy on driving but can still nag at me.

"alam mo naman na hindi ako makakatutog pag hindi ito ang gagamitin ko" I said while staring at my Acoustic Guitar and gently touching it's strings.

Venus just let a heavy sigh before focusing on the road.

Habang tinitignan ko ang guitar ko naalala ko siya, he was once my inspiration in life but we are not for each other.

"Andito na tayo" nagsimula ng tanggalin ni Venus ang seatbelt niya kaya ganon rin ako, I glance outside the car at nakita ko ang mga college students na manunuod ng contest, pati narin ang ibang fans ng banda namin.

"suotin mo to and check your shoes kung nakatali pa ayaw konang maulit yong last time na dinumog tayo dahil hindi tayo nakatakbo dahil sa sintas ng sapatos mo hmf" she rolled her eyes on me and I just chuckled at what she said.

Nalala ko yon last time kasi hinabol kami ng fans at nahuli dahil sa sintas ng sapatos ko na tinisod ako.

"ready" she said and wear her sunglass, ako naman sinuot kona yon facemask na binigay niya and put my guitar at my back.

We went out of the car and run as fast as we can to the fine arts building. Hindi kami nakaligtas sa mga mata ng fans kaya hinabol kami pero buti nalang nakapasok na kami sa loob ng building bago pa kami maabutan ng mga fans.

"that was close" napahawak ako sa tuhod ko while catching my breath ghad ang layo kaya ng tinakbo namin.

"buti nalang kamo hindi na pinapapasok dito sa building natin yong mga fans kung hindi patay na talaga tayo" venus seated on the floor dahil narin sa pagod.

I nodded on what she said, tama siya dahil patay talaga kami pag dinumog ulit kami ng fans.

"Oh andyan na pala kayo tara na sa loob" nakita namin si Otis na naglalakad palapit samin at tinulungan tumayo si venus mula sa sahig.

"Rehears na tayo bago mag start ang laban" he also pulls me close to him and put my hands around his shoulders para alalayan kaming maglakad ni venus.

"You know what my pakinabang ka talaga kahit kalian Otis" venus tease him, we just laugh at her and walk through the audio room.

Pagpasok naming sa loob andon na si Zake, setting our things up para makapag last minute rehearsal pa kami.

"tagal nyo ah andon na sa venue yong mga kalaban mukhang malalakas" Zake said habang inaayos ang pagkakaupo niya sa tapat ng drum set.

"Ok lang yon mas malakas parin tayo noh" taas noo namang sabi ni Venus ng makalapit na siya sa electric guitar niya.

"Tama, we are the Nefarious the unbeatable band" Otis said and raises his guitar using his one hand like he wins the contest already.

Umiling nalang ako sa kanila at pumwesto na sa gitna and fix the microphone.

In just a minute we're already done rehearsing out song, kaya inayos nadin naming iyon and time check it's 8:10 pm already kaya mabilis na kaming nagpunta sa field ng university kung saan gaganapin ang laban at sobrang dami ng tao rito at pati narin ang mga makakalaban naming ay natatanaw ko na.

Hindi naman ako kinakabahan sa mga laban naganito kasi 1 year na naming itong ginagawa ng banda ko pero hindi ko maintindihan ngayon kung bakit kinakabahan ako ng sobra.

"Dito daw tayo guys" zake gestured pointing the table at the back stage kung saan muna kami magstay habang hindi pa naming time magperform.

We seated and rest there while waiting for the contest to start.

We are surrounded by different kinds of bands mula sa iba't ibang colleges. Sila ang mga makakaharap namin. "Ahm sandal lang Cr lang ako" paalam ko sakanila, they nodded at me kaya naglakad na ako paalis doon.

Hindi naman ako nagaalala sa mga fans dahil bawal naman sila dito sa backstage, and I'm sure busy na sila sa field finding their own seats. Well we loved our fans so much pero kasi kailangan rin naming ng privacy minsan kaya tinatakasan naming sila.

I was busy walking through the restroom while fixing my bracelet when…

"AY!" I bump in to someone.

Napaupo pa nga ako sa sahig dahil sa lakas ng pagkakabangga ko, medyo kumirot ang kaliwang bahagi ng bewang ko kaya napapikit ako at ininda iyon.

Ng buksan ko ang mata ko a pair of shoe for men is the first thing I see at kinabahan ako bigla sa hindi malaman na dahilan.

My heart start to beat so fast…

Oh please don��t tell me….I raise my sight to the man in front of me.

"Tagan?"

His standing right in front of me, I can't find air around us the moment our eyes met.

Ang mga malalamig niyang mata ay nakatingin sakin, gaya ng dati still emotionless.

Unti-unti akong tumayo para harapin siya and I'm not breaking our gaze.

"Tagan" I said it again ng makatayo na ako ng maayos sa harap niya, I can feel my hands are trembling my knees are shaking and my heart is panicking.

"Long time no see" malamig na sambit niya sakin at lalong tumigas ang kanyang tingin.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko, it was a mix emotions inside of me.

I want to hug him and cry, how I miss him but I controlled myself, Celine stop it hindi ba tinapos mona kung ano man ang nararamdaman mo para sakanya bakit hindi ka pa umalis dyan.

I was about to talk ng dumating ang mga kabanda niya. " Tagan tara na magstart na yong contest….OH WAIT! Celine ikaw bayan?" sabi ni Aiden habang umakbay kay Tagan.

"shocks celine tagal nating hindi nagkita ah" sambit naman ni Tove sa tabi ni Aiden.

Tumango nalang ako sakanila at nagpaalam "I'd better go" I started to walk pass through them.

Naramdaman kong naglakad narin sila paalis and I also hear them talking "Hindi pweding madistract kailangan natin manalo dito para masalba pa natin ang banda" I heard Tove said.

"tama focus Tagan" napalingon ako sa sinabi nila pero lumiko na sila palabas, anong ibig nilang sabihin that this contest will save their band bakit anong nangyayari sa Cntrl S?

Pagpasok ko sa Restroom may dalawang babaeng nagaayos sa harap ng salamin, when they saw me they immediately smile at me. Tumango ako sakanila at pumasok na sa isang cubicle.

After I pee lumabas na rin ako agad at naghugas ng kamay, I notice that there from Mondrian University kung saan sila Tagan.

Well I was once a Mondrian student back then but not anymore.

"Satingin mo ba mananalo ang Cntrl S?" hindi ko sinasadyang marinig ang usapan nila pero I stop.

"Kailangan dahil kung hindi papatigilin na sila ni dean. Bakit kasi nakipagaway si Aiden sa anak ng dean yan tuloy nadamay pati ang banda, kaya sana talaga manalo sila" so that's the reason why they need to win.

I went back to our table, naupo ako sa upuan ko and remain silent.

The contest started and pangatlo kami and Cntrl S are next to us.

"Let's call on the Pride of Ethereal University, NEFARIOUS!!!" umakyat na kami sa stage dala ang mga guitar naming and positioned on our segnated spot.

"Once again NEFARIOUS!" nagpalakpakan ang lahat at tinignan muna naming si Zake.

He started to beat the countdown.

"1 2 3 let's go!" we started to play.

Tumapat na ako sa microphone and sing.

(Zara Larsson- Ruin my Life)

I miss you pushing me close to the edge

I miss you

I wish I knew what I ha d when I left

I miss you

My eyes got lock to Tagan who's standing beside his bandmates and watching us.

You set fire to my world, coundn't handle the heat

Now, I'm sleeping alone and I'm starting to freeze

Baby,come bring me help

Let it rain over me

Baby, comeback to me.

His eyes were so cold but I give me warn feeling for him.

I want you to ruin my life,

You to ruin my life,

You to ruin my life, yeah

This song is for you Tagan and you know what I still love you so damn much.

Hindi ko tinapos ang kanta at agad akong umalis sa stage leaving my band, tumakbo ako sa rest room at nagkulong sa isang cubicle.

Umiyak ako sa loob at niyakap nalang ang sarili kong tuhod, iniwan ko sa ere ang mga kabanda ko.

Because….

"THE WINNER FOR THIS BATTLE OF THE BAND IS NO OTHER THAN CNTRL S FROM MONDRIAN UNIVERSITY"

I want him to win this battle.

"TANGINA NAMAN CELINE!" napapikit nalang ako sa sigaw ni vinus sakin, andito kami ngayon sa condo ko and galit nag alit sila sakin dahil sa ginawa ko sa battle.

"sorry" tears started to fell in my eyes.

"hanggang ngayon ba naman magpapakatanga ka parin sa Tagan nayon, hindi ka pa ba nadala nong senior high tayo ano boba kana ba!"

I shook my head at her and let my tears fall.

"I still Love him" I whispered.

And I will always love him…

***

"Tagan" is pronounce as "Taygan"

Author: Errors and typos, wrong grammar and spelling are expected here. I am not professional at this thing but I'm trying my best to avoid errors. Feel free to consult to me if you have seen errors, I'll gladly appreciate it.