Regret 6 (Will We Be Okay?)

Reign's POV

Today's the performance day. I did not feel nervous for the past few days until yesterday when Neil showed us a weakness. It was the first time we saw him so distracted. That's making me nervous.

I wanted to ask Leila about it, but I stopped myself from doing so. If there's really a problem between them, Leila can't keep it from me for days. I'm sure there is. That's why I'm expecting Leila to ring me for it.

It's already 3 o'clock in the afternoon and Kyle is on the way here to fetch me. My family's complete in the living room, watching documentary series I don't even remember the title.

Sitting in the living room, watching something educational, and with snacks on the small table in front are all family traditions we have every Sunday afternoon. But I'm exempted today since I've got to prepare early for the competition.

I'm still not done fixing my hair into just a simple ponytail as usual when a horn blows from the outside. Kyle is already here. My brother's the one to open the gate to welcome Kyle, as agreed.

After 3 minutes, I'm done with everything. Walking down the stairs to the living room, I hear my parents' laughters. I guess Kyle is in it again. He always brings humor with him when talking with my parents.

We both smile as soon as we fix our gazes at each other. He is sitting adjacent to the sofa where my parents are on. He whispers something to my parents before standing up, and walking towards me.

Kyle's a great guy. He's very attractive, the good-son type. He's very talented, also. But what I like the most is his sense of chivalrousness. He has got so much in him that every woman would dream for a husband. Yeah.. He's more of a husband type than a boyfriend type of guy. And if I hadn't laid my eyes on Neil that day, I think I might have fallen to Kyle.

I shrug myself in my mind, and tiptoe a bit to give Kyle a cheek-to-cheek kiss.

"We have to go", I inform my family.

"Take care!" and the 3 of them reply, all smiling to us.

I know Kyle's their ideal type, and they are shipping the both of us. But it never occur to me to date my bestfriend. Plus, Kyle has a girlfriend.

I'm wearing a navy blue dress paired with sneakers, and some simple body ornaments such as pendant, earrings, and watch.

Navy blue's the color assigned to us. So Kyle is also wearing a navy blue coat paired with a black t-shirt. He's kinda bad-guy looking today with the silver chain on his dark blue jeans. He also got his hair stand up with gel, and his eyes covered by eyeliner. But if you take a closer look, the gentleness is still there in him.

After almost 15 minutes of a ride, we're already at the venue.

"You think we're gonna be okay?" I ask him nervously.

He clasps my hand on his, "Why not?"

We walk inside the biggest bar I have ever been. It looks like a closed university gymnasium with chairs, table, and colorful lights. I can't stop feeling amazed and at the same time, nervousness covers me again due to its ambiance. Well, we already came here before to try the instruments and sound system we're gonna use, but today's different. Every corner if this place shouts that we're gonna perform hours from now. How much more later when people arrive?

"Relax", Kyle squeezes my hand.

As we open the door to the backstage, Neil is the first one I laid my eyes on. He is wearing same coat with Kyle. They both bought it before because they liked it. He is sitting at the corner but very visible from here, his head leaning backwards on the sofa. His eyes are closed.

Oh, what lovely a sight.. My heart starts pounding with it's usual rhythm when Neil's around, and it's now mixed with the nervousness for later.

We approach Neil, passing by the other contenders.

"Hey, bro", Kyle calls him out with a tap on Neil's shoulder.

Neil opens his eyes. Kyle lets go of my hand to do their signature hand gesture: slapping their front then back then front hands together, clasping it afterwards, grabbing each other to bump each other's right shoulders, and lastly, bumping their fists.

Neil then lays his eyes on me and gives a tap on my shoulder.

"The chairperson gave me the program", he then hands me the program. "We're the 3rd to perform", he points our band name listed on the paper.

"Nice", comments Kyle, without looking at the paper on my hand.

Yes, that's nice that we're the 3rd one to perform among the 8 bands. But it doesn't ease the nervousness I am feeling right now. I study Neil as he goes back to his position earlier.

I sit beside him and Kyle sits on Neil's other side. Neil closed his eyes again, so I get the chance to stare at him to study him more. I think he's calmer today than yesterday, but it doesn't give me assurance that he'll be okay later as we perform.

Will he be too emotional that he'll gonna ruin the performance later? Or will he be emotionless like yesterday? I don't know.

Few minutes passed, the other members of our band and other's bands are eventually coming. It's already 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and the staffs are starting to distribute the packed dinner for the contenders. The program will start at 6 o'clock in the evening.

I'm busy thinking how things will work out later that I haven't even touched my food.

"Reign, aren't you going to eat?" asks James, one of our guitarists.

I look at them one by one and find out they have started eating already.

"I'm sorry, I was spacing out", I honestly say, and start to eat.

5 o'clock in the afternoon, other vocalists are rehearsing near us. We just keep silent and put our headsets on. We agreed that we're not going to stress ourselves out by practicing hours before the performance.

Then, the program starts..