Chapter 7

Sing offs, isang tradisyong muling nabuhay at napa-uso ng Grade 9 students. Eto ang solution kapag ang isang groupo na musekero or feeling musekero pero hindi naman marunong kumanta ay hindi nagkaroon ng isang mahinaho na usapan at may dalawa o higit pang mga myembrong pinaglalaban ang gusto nila pwesto. Naikwento na ni mama tungkol dito, napasali si mama sa Sing offs dati para ipaglaban ang titolo nya as "The New "It" Queen". Nanalo naman sya, at nakuha nya ang mga mata at puso ng maraming lalaki pero naging loyal parin daw siya kay papa. I'm here in HLI na napasabak sa Sing Offs nato dahil may umepal at gumustong sumali. I am not competing for a title, no no no, I'm competing for a spot para mapasali ako sa myembro ng Jazz Chant performers at....Baka naman, makuha ko ang puso ng isang dalagang nagpapatibok ng aking puso.

"Uy Kangkong, good luck pala. Deadly ata yang kalaban mo, Kit Jonah yan, he's professionally trained by some of the best vocal coaches in the Philippines, but don't worry mahiyain daw yan at may stage fright." Sabi ni Damien, at bumagsak self-confidence ko ng marinig ko ang inpormasyong iyon. "Professionally trained by some of the best vocal coaches in the Philippines". My onlu hope is that he gets stage fright at mag-backout. It may seem evil to wish that on someone pero gusto ko talagang mapasali sa Jazz Chant performers and this is a opportunity that I couldn't refuse.

"Wow, no pressure, Damien gago ka." Biro kong sinabi. I may be joking pero kinakabahan na ako, parang natatae o naiihi na ako and I hate that feeling.

"You'll be fine, wag kang OA. Kaya mo eto."He replied sabay hampas niya sa ulo ko.

"You're the "It girl's son", you are born with talent."He added, later on he was called out of the backstage.

"O, sya, uupo na ako, bestpren." Biro nyang sabi.

"Sigwe bestpren." I replied sabay tawa.

This is it, Sing offs against Kit Jonah, I didn't sign up for this, first-week ko palang dito sa HLI at ganito na ang nangyayari sa buhay ko, I should've stayed quiet, kapag may nangyari sa aking nakakahiya I would probably die from embarrassment. I just don't want to be a laughing stock on this campus and experience the life stories of my mom when she was a high school student. Especially that she's here, watching me.

"Good luck nga pala." I turned my head to the person that gave me those words. Unexpectedly, it was Kit, naghahanda na siya at parang namumutla. Na guilty agad ako sa naisip ko kanina, he's showing good sportsmanship while I was wishing him bad luck.

"Okay kalang ba? Namumutla ka." I asked, kahit na kalaban ko siya, he's still my classmate and a part of Dracarys. The family name of our batch, apparently coined by Damien from his favorite TV show Game of Thrones. It was coined before the new HLI was built at nasa old building pa sila ng Hellviana. It symbolizes their passion and bond as classmates, friends, and family, dragon fire. It also means "Burn them all", a chant they use when everyone was against them. Now I'm a part of that family, us newcomers are.

"Just a little nervous that's all." He said as he entered the stage.

"Good morning Mr. Imperial." Our teacher began. Kit snapped the second he heard his name.

"G-Good m-morning too ma'am." Kit said, naririnig mo talaga gaano siya kinakabahan pero parang hindi ito namamalayan ni ma'am patuloy lang siya sa event.

"Can you give us your full name, age, and the name of the song you're gonna sing." Sabi ni ma'am.

"My name is Kit Jonah Imperial, I'm 15 years old and I'm going to sing Don't Stop Believin."

"Good luck."

Our teacher motioned to the man behind the operation, the music started and Jonah breathed. Pero walang boses ang lumabas sa bibig ni Jonah, a couple of seconds passed he didn't even budge. Namumuo ang mga malalaking pawis sa noo niya, instantly I knew what was going on. He's having a "Black-out". My mom made up this word para maintindihan ko kung ano ba eto. "Black-out" is a feeling I wish I can experience pero natatakot akong matupad ang hinihiling ko. It's a feeling of extreme nervousness to the point na hindi kana makagalaw at tanging nakikita mo ay ang isang itim na bilog sa mga mata mo and your eyes' vision blurs. My mom had that when she was little and had to perform in a huge audience, I don't want that to happen to anyone not even Jonah. I have to help him somehow. I need to crash his performance in order to save him from embarrassment.

Just a small-town boy

Livin' in a lonely world

I started the song, nagulat sila sa biglang pag-pasok ko, I looked at Jonah and he had this expression na para bang he was thanking me. I smiled at him and continued to sing.

He took the midnight train goin' anywhere...

I looked at him, tinaasan ko siya ng kilay na para bang nagsasabing "This is your line". He got the message and took the mic in front of him.

Just a city boy

Born and raised in south Detroit

Ngumiti ako sa narinig ko, parang nawala na ang kabado and he let out a killer note sa bandang huli ng line, belter pala tong hayop na to.

He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Pumasok ako sa bandang huli at nag-blending sa part ni Jonah. Hindi rin ako magpapatalo noh. Our classmates clapped and cheered at us, I took a quick glance at our teacher, I was happy to see her smiling.

A singer in a smoky room

Lumapit siya as he continues in singing, lumamit din ako at ngumiti. Nangangamoy friendship talaga to.

A smell of wine and cheap perfume

Flinex ko ang dancing skills ko, I busted out a sexy belly roll para sa mga chix dyan, narinig ko ang hiyawan and I knew the move was right. Lumakas ang pag-checheer ng mga classmates namin.

For a smile, they can share the night

It goes on and on, and on, and on

I noticed the amount of people watching is getting bigger. Naglabasan ang mga estudyante sa mga classroom nila at nanuod sa performance namin. Tinignan ko si Jonah, I thought his "black-out" might kick in but I was thankfully wrong, parang nag-eenjoy siya and that's good enough for me.

Strangers waiting

Up and down the boulevard

Their shadows searching in the night

Streetlights, people

Living just to find emotion

Hiding somewhere in the night

Emotion was pouring, parang concert na talaga ang nangyayari, and I feel like a rockstar. It feels good. Really good. Too good. Knowing my history of luck and happiness, I know paparating ang isang delubyong papalit sa sayang nararamdaman ko.

Strangers waiting

Up and down the boulevard

Their shadows searching in the night

Streetlights, people

Living just to find emotion

Hiding somewhere in the night...

Malapit na ang chorus, nagkasundo kami ni Jonah sa gagawin sa bandang chorus. We ran towards each other and stopping inches away at magcocolide na ang mga mukha namin. We crossed our arms and used the other one's mic. Naghiyawan ang mga tao at ngumiti lang kami habang kumakanta.

Don't stop believin'

Hold on to the feelin'

Streetlights, people

Don't stop believin'

Hold on to the feelin'

Streetlights, people...

Pumapalapit naman ang ending ng song, we snapped turn the direction of our heads, away to each other, sumakit kaagad ang leeg ko sa biglaang pag-ikot. Saktong sakto pumasok ang ending.

Don't stop!

Boom. Wasak buong HLI. We made history that day, we turned the rules of the tradional sing offs and turned it into a friendly duet. Tumayo lahat ang aming kaklase, nakaupo kasi sila sa ground while we were performing. We bowed and exited the stage, forming an unexpected friendship.