fifteen

labinglima

nexus

"Are you guys there, already?" I said through the phone.

Rinig na rinig ang ingay ng mga estudyante sa tawag. "Oo, sa'n ka na ba? Ano pala suot mo?" tanong ni Maeve.

"I'm wearing denim shorts and a halter top. Dala ko rin 'yong flannel ko."

"Ha?! Da't sinabi mo na magsho-shorts ka! Akala ko ba usapan natin, jeans? Nag-jeans tuloy ako!" natabunan ang boses ni Maeve ng malakas na anunsyo ng M.C. for senior's night. "Sino pala naghatid sa'yo?"

"Si Kuya— nakikita ko na kayo!" I waved my hand in the air, earning weird looks from the people around me.

As soon as Maeve saw me, I ended the call. Running to her with open arms, muntikan pa kaming matumba dahil sa sobrang lakas ng puwersa ko sa pagyakap sa kanya. I hugged Helios as well, kinirot ako ni Maeve.

"Aray naman!" I rubbed the sore spot from her deadly nails.

"Tse! Ang init-init, ta's naka-jeans ako. Helios, can you believe her? 'Di 'man lang niya naisip na sabihan ako!" tumango-tango lang si Helios ngunit ang atensyon niya ay nasa performers.

Music blasted from the large speakers, madaming magjowa o hindi kaya'y magkakaibigan ang narito. May iilan ding food stalls sa loob ng campus para sa audience, para 'pag nagutom sila ay merong may mabibilhan at hindi na keilangan lumabas pa. And as usual, Helios gobbled on a piece of corndog. May dala pa 'tong drinks. We took our place on the grassed ground. Naglatag ng isang malaking picnic blanket si Helios, ang iilang mga estudyante ay nagsi-puntahan na sa harap para maki-jam o 'di kaya para sumayaw.

Malaki ang stage, mero'n ring isang malaking screen na pinakapakita ang performer sa gilid nito. The school's budget must be loaded if we could afford this. Last year, we barely even had fun. I tapped on Maeve's shoulder.

"Hey," lumingon siya sa'kin. "Who funded for this year?"

Tumingin siya sa mga bituwin, tila'y nagiisip bago ako sagutin. "I don't know, anonymous daw sponsor, eh. Pero for sure, it's one of those extremely wealthy students."

I was gonna ask her another question but the MC's voice interupted my train of thought. The large screen faded from the band to the sweaty host. He wiped his sweat using the back of his hand, his heavy breathe audible within the microphone. The MC was from TVL, I saw him wandering around campus a few times. He's quite the host.

"Good evening, Northride Charter!" maligayang pagbati niya sa mga estudyanteng naghihiyawan. "Before we move on to the next performers, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank our following sponsors: Avriel, Breeze, Gantila&Co.,..."

Helios offered me a bite of his chicken nuggets. I waved a hand as a way of respectfully declining his offer. He shrugged before putting it in his mouth. Si Maeve naman ay busy sa pagtipa sa kanyang cellphone. Sino naman kaya ang kausap nito?

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... Handa na ba kayo?!" The crowd went wild. "Ladies and Germs, I present to you... Nexus! Let's give them a round of applause!" They did more than a round of applause, everyone went on fucking havoc once the cameras faded to show Vortigern with his sinister smirk.

"Holy cow, holy cow, holy cow, shit! kinikilig ako bakit ang gwapo!"

"Vortigern panagutan mo 'ko!"

"Trevion!"

"Sana ako nalang 'yong gitara at mic!"

"Akin 'yan!"

"Sinong may sabi?! Pila tayo dito, 'no! Kala mo naman mapapansin ka nila. Ganda ka, girl, ganda ka?"

"Sabi ni mama, oo! kaya tabi!"

"Ang gwapo talaga ni Zemex 'pag naggi-gitara, sana ako nalang yung gitara!"

"Beh, nanginginig ba 'ko?! Shemay, kinikilig ako kahit ang layo nila sa'tin!"

"Bhaltair akin ka nalang!"

"Excited kayo, hindi pa nga sila nagsisimulang tumugtog!"

Iba't-ibang reaksyon ang narinig ko nang dahil lang sa pagngisi ni Vortigern pati na rin ang iba pang tungkol sa Nexus. The girls really do go crazy for them, huh? Natawa na lang ako nang may mga babaeng nagaaway na dahil sa kung kanino dapat si Vortigern. Sorry to say girls, pero ako na ang magwawagi. Charot.

"Good evening, NCU! Before everything else, I would like to dedicate this song to one particular girl. I heard her mumble this song with her nose stuck in a book. If anything, this song truly reminds me of her, this is No One by Alicia Keys. Enjoy!" My heart raced at his introduction.

He noticed... after watching movies and baking for him, I was reading a book while waiting for the cupcakes to cook. I don't wanna assume anything; But, it warmed my heart to know that if I really was the girl he hinted, then I've been wrong about him not noticing me. Because he did. I sang softly, I doubt he could barely hear what the lyrics were. The first strum of his guitar got the crowd hooked immediately, he's got them mesmerised.

"I just want you close..." his eyes scanned the crowd, like he was searching for something— or someone. "Where you can stay forever."

"A scouting agent is actually here tonight." Maeve confessed. "They've come here to search for new talents, I think Nexus will get this one. They're good."

"And their visuals are top tier, too." Singit ni Helios habang kumakain ng brownie bar. "They'll snatch that offer with a snap of a finger, just wait and see."

You and me together through the days and nights

I don't worry 'cause everything's gonna be alright

People keep talking they can say what they like

But all I know is everything's gonna be alright

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feelin'

"What are you looking at?" Tanong ko kay Vortigern nang mahuli ko siyang nakatitig lang sa'kin. Umiling siya at sumipol ng isang tono. "Anong oras ka pala uuwi?"

He leaned his elbow on top of the table, his chin resting on the palm of his hand. Titling his head, "Hmm? Pinapaalis mo na ba 'ko?" He chuckles.

"Oo," hindi ko napigilan na ngumiti. "Baka dumating na si kuya at mapatay ka pa no'n. Kilala mo naman siguro 'yon."

"Kilala naman ako ng kuya mo, 'di n'ya ko paaalisin."

"Yabang!" Hinampas ko siya gamit ang librong hawak ko.

"Minsan lang."