three

𝗗𝗘𝗘

𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟵, 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟯 𝗽.𝗺.

It was our second day of school pero uwian na. Gwen, Helen, and I were in the quadrangle, sifting through the wave of students walking from every direction.

Today was the day to search for the perfect club to join. Unlike sa previous school namin where it was not required na sumali sa club kasi considered as extracurricular activity lang siya, here in Miwako, mandatory na sumali dahil part siya ng curriculum.

Club booths dotted the perimeters. We were supposed to be looking for one, signing up, and that was it. The effort that the clubs put in sa booths nila was amazing. There was the Chess Club na naka-costume pa ng chess pieces yung members na nagha-hand out ng leaflets.

"Kapisanan ng Musika! If you love music, come and join us!"

"Dee, music enthusiast ka, 'di ba?" Gwen nudged me.

"Music lover nga, musically impaired naman," sabi ko. I tried playing drums once because of Zach but that was clearly not enough. Baka professional musicians ang nasa club na 'yon, nakakahiya.

"Cooking Club! For chef wannabes, here's the perfect club for you!"

"Dee, d'yan ka bagay!" Helen laughed and so I did as well.

"Kahit hindi ako marunong magprito?"

Honestly, wala akong silbi. Hindi ako marunong magluto, maglinis ng bahay, maglaba. Not that I needed to, kasi may helpers naman kami, but of course, part ng pagiging tao para sa akin to learn those things.

"Shogi Club! If you play shogi, join us here!"

"Volleyball Club!"

"Tennis Club!"

"Soccer Club!"

"Boxing Club!"

Some dude in a basketball jersey ambushed a tall middle school kid na napaatras dahil sa gulat. "Do you play basketball? Sumali ka na sa team namin, Miwako Macaque!"

Tumawa sila Helen at Gwen, but I did not. Zach would have joined that club right away if he were here. And I was glad he was not.

"Archery Club!"

"Fencing Club!"

"Japanese Literature Club!"

"Miwako Movers! Open to all dancers out there!"

Sa thirty minutes na paglilibot namin, wala naman kaming nagustuhang club. School ended at two-thirty but the teachers asked us to alot at least an hour after classes to look for a club to join kasi nga bago pa lang kami. Yung iba namang students, lilipat ng club kaya marami pa ring tao.

There was a club na pwede sana kila Gwen at Helen, the Sining Club. But there was a limit of one hundred members per club and puno na agad ang slots. Sobrang artistic kasi nilang dalawa. They knew how to draw stuff like pros.

As for me, hindi ako athletic dahil sa asthma ko kaya hindi ako pwede sa kahit anong sports club. Wala rin akong alam sa board games kasi boring ang mga yun para sa akin. I knew how to dance a bit but hindi ko naman yun passion. Hindi rin ako gano'n ka-smart girl para sumali sa mga academic clubs.

In the end, wala kaming nahanap na pwede naming salihan.

"Saan na tayo nito?" Helen asked hopelessly. "Hindi pwedeng wala tayong club, eh. I don't wanna spend another hour tomorrow to look for a club. And ngayon lang nakatayo ang mga booths dito. Bukas wala na."

Tiningnan ko yung hawak kong manual ni Helen. "Nasaan kaya yung Otaku Taishikan na club?"

"Right!" Gwen exclaimed. "Doon na lang tayo sumali! That means embassy, right? Taishikan?"

"Yeah, but where is it nga?" Helen put her hands on her hips. "I didn't hear any Otaku Taishikan kanina."

"According to this cute little thing, it's in the empty music room sa third floor ng Nana," I said.

We agreed to check it out. If that club really was still alive, their clubroom should still be open kahit wala silang booth sa quadrangle.

The majority of the rooms in Nana's third floor belonged to clubs so it was packed with people. There were a couple of student council officers doing crowd control naman, although medyo magulo pa rin.

I saw a poster of Kapisanan ng Musika plastered on the wall beside the door to the Shogi Club and I wondered for a moment kung saan ang club ng Vandalics. Maybe it was the guitar and the microphone sa poster that reminded me of them, but I shook the thought off agad. Hindi ko naman sila dapat iniisip but maybe out of curiosity lang din. Naalala ko pa si Shishi kanina na nabangga ako sa pinto ng classroom kasi palabas na ako pero inunahan niya ako. Maybe dito ang club nila because it was fitting.

"Magtayo na lang kaya tayo ng sarili nating club?" I suggested. "Para wala nang hassles."

"Mahirap kayang mag-manage ng club," sabi ni Gwen. "Yun ang puro hassles."

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Sabi ko nga, eh."

Finally, we found the clubroom. Nasa pinakadulo siya ng hallway and sarado ang pinto where a small plaque hung with the words OTAKU TAISHIKAN engraved on it. Underneath it, naka-engraved din siya in Hiragana. It was just weird kasi ang tahimik sa loob. Of course, it was a club so we were expecting na bukas ang pinto at maingay sa loob dahil sa members.

"Gosh, nonexistent na ba sila?" Helen said, then she pressed her ear against the door when we heard a voice inside.

"Ang tigas ng ulo mo! Doon na nga tayo sa kabila!"

The voice sounded quite familiar. I had a stinking suspicion and for some reason, gusto kong magkatotoo yung hinala ko. The prospect of having a conversation with him intrigued me in a way that it made some feel kapag tinapakan nila yung grass even if may sign na KEEP OFF THE GRASS. Well, that was the most badass thing I did. And that felt amazing kasi I knew I did something wrong, but not that wrong to warrant extreme repercussions, and I walked away grinning foolishly like I did something cool, like being a revolutionary for instance. That was a bit too much for a comparison, but that was the gist.

"Ayoko pa nga do'n, Kuya Shishi."

So tama nga ang hinala ko.

"Shishi?" Helen wondered in a whispering tone. Then she looked at me like saying, Siya yung classmate mong high blood, 'di ba?

"Ang kulit mo!" Sa tone ng voice ni Shishi, halatang napipikon na siya. "Tutugtog pa tayo, hindi mo ba naiintindihan 'yon?"

"Is that Kyo?" Gwen's eyes were wide. She even put a hand on her lips. "He's in this club? It's not surprising but—"

Inirapan ko siya. "Yung totoo, kailangan ganyan ka-OA, Gwen?"

"Oh, shut up," she said and rolled her eyes heavenwards so I spanked her sa braso nang mahina.

"Mamaya na nga 'ko pupunta sa kabila," sabi pa ni Kyo. "Dito muna 'ko. Baka may sumali pa dito, sayang naman."

"Hinihintay na nga tayo do'n ni Paris," giit ni Shishi. "Nagse-set up na siya."

"Mamaya nga," giit din ni Kyo. "Mauna ka na lang muna."

"Bahala ka! D'yan ka na lang sa bulok mong club!"

So Kyo had two clubs he was a member of. I did not know na pwede pala 'yon.

Nakarinig kami ng footsteps so hurriedly, we ran inside the empty classroom na kaharap ng clubroom ni Kyo to hide kasi ayaw naman naming malaman nila na we were eavesdropping. Then sumilip kami.

Nakita naming lumabas ng room si Shishi. He was headed sa stairs on the opposite end of the hallway so we could only see his back profile. But for me, I could immediately recognize him kahit nakatalikod siya or malayo. Maybe it was because he had such distinguishable features to me. Kanina noong binangga niya ako, I had to look up to frown at him kasi hanggang lips niya lang yata ako. He did not see that frown kasi dirediretso siya and I seriously doubted na nakakakita pa siya kasi squinted yung eyes niya dahil nakainom siya. And the way that his shoulders were tensed like he always had his guard up was not that easy to forget, so there was that.

"We definitely have to join this club," sabi ni Gwen.

"So maharot," Helen teased.

Lumabas na kami sa pinagtataguan namin nang makalayo na si Shishi. It was very funny to see how students made way for him like he was Noah and they were the sea. Lahat, binabati siya at tinatanong kung gusto ba niyang sumali sa club nila but, of course, he ignored them all like the wind.

It was surreal to see something like it in person. I had met quite a few famous people pero sa events lang so it was only natural na pagkaguluhan sila. But ngayon lang ako nakakilala ng sikat talaga, in a way na kilala ko sila in their everyday lives. I did not have a grand social life because I spent most of my time at home or at my best friends' homes so there was no time for me to meet famous people. Unlike some other people I knew na friends pa with artists.

"Papasok ba tayo?" Gwen asked us. "Si Kyo na lang yata ang tao sa loob, eh."

"Of course!" I said with a cheshire grin. "Gusto mo dito, 'di ba?"

Gwen fired all the known curse words in the dictionary at me as I dragged her to the clubroom's door.

"Come on, Gwenny!" I urged. "Bakit ka ba nahihiya kay Kyo? He's nice naman, 'di ba?"

"Who said na nahihiya ako? Ayoko lang kasi hindi naman natin siya ka-close."

"So what kung hindi pa natin siya ka-close? Kaya nga tayo makikipag-close, eh. Dami mong arte. We won't judge you naman for crushing on a younger guy."

"Shut up!"

I went to slide the door open and we were greeted with a gloomy scene kaya napatigil din si Gwen sa pag-try niyang makawala sa grip ko.

Kyo was alone indeed, sitting in front of a long table in the middle of the big room, with action figures of Ace and Luffy in each hand. He was listlessly playing with his toys and didn't even notice us if only Helen did not clear her throat to get his attention.

He looked over his shoulder with a startled look on his face. For heaven's sake, he did not have to look so cute when he did that but he did. I wished I had a younger brother like him. Kaso baka masyado akong matuwa and I might dress him up at mainis lang siya sa akin.

"Hi," bati ko sa kanya. Nahihiya ako na hindi ko maintindihan. Siguro kasi tumatak na sa isip ko na they were kings here and I was just a peasant in their kingdom.

Binitiwan ni Kyo yung toys na hawak niya and he stood up, returning my awkward smile with a brighter one. "Hey. Kumusta?"

"We're fine," sagot ko, trying to ignore yung masasakit na kurot ni Gwen sa tagiliran ko. "You? How are you?"

He smiled at us again. "Okay lang. Ano nga palang ginagawa niyo dito?" Then nagpalipat lipat ang tingin niya sa aming tatlo but his eyes rested for a second longer kay Gwen.

Mas madiin akong kinurot ni Gwen because of that. I fought the urge to spank her again.

"We were just..." I looked at my friends before continuing. "This is Otaku Taishikan, 'di ba?"

Napatingin siya saglit sa baba, then he drew a deep breath before looking at us again with barely a smile this time. "Oo, kaso baka ma-dissolve na rin 'to."

"Why?" Helen asked. "Sayang naman."

Kyo shrugged. He picked up his Ace toy and rubbed its head with his thumb. "Nag-quit na lahat ng members dito pati yung president. Matagal ko nang club 'to, unang club ko since grade school pa. Kaso hindi ko na 'to napupuntahan simula nung naging member kami nila Kuya Paris ng Kapisanan. Ako na lang natitirang member ngayon. Akala nila kasi nag-quit na 'ko. Di na kasi 'ko napunta."

I felt bad for him. The sad look in his eyes was not helping. He had no business looking so innocent like that, but there he was. Initially, gusto ko lang asarin si Gwen kasi I saw kahapon na nag-blush siya when Kyo noticed her pin. Today, she added another pin of Ace sa kabilang strap naman ng bag niya. So I suspected na crush niya si Kyo. But nawala yun sa isip ko kasi he looked really heartbroken, like he really loved this club but he just had been too busy handling his career and the other club which nourished that.

"We want to join," biglang sabi ni Gwen in a very determined tone which was not really like her because she was more of a don't-look-at-me-I'm-shy person. "Is there any way we can save this club?"

"Meron naman," sabi ni Kyo, his brilliant smile back as he looked at Gwen without even blinking once. That might be an exaggerarion but whatever. Kinikilig ako sa kanila, na gusto ko nang mapamura sa kilig. It was like watching a chick flick. "Kailangan kasi at least apat na tao para makapagtayo ng club. 'Pag hindi ko napasa sa student council mamaya yung updated na listahan ng mga member, pupunta na sila dito para tanggalin yung plaque sa labas."

"No, we can't let that happen," sabi ni Gwen. "We want to join."

Napatingin kami ni Helen sa kanya.

Gwen nudged us. "Right?"

"Of course," sabi ko.

"That will make four of us na," Helen said. "So pwede mo nang i-declare na active 'tong club na 'to."

Kyo beamed. He even raised his toy to us like saying cheers. "Salamat."

"So tell us more about this club," I said and pointed to the seats on the table. "Is it okay?"

"Sure, sure, upo kayo." Kyo pulled chairs for us pa. What a gentleman. Then naupo na rin siya sa head ng table where he sat kanina. "Dito yung lobby." He gestured at the table and the chairs pati sa shelves na naka-align sa isang wall. "Kita niyo yung mga pinto na 'yon?" Tinuro niya yung limang pinto na nandito sa loob ng room. "Maliliit na kwarto yung mga 'yon. Para yun sa limang guilds dito. Cosplayers Guild, Gamers Guild, Collectors Guild, Streamers Guild, at Mangakas Guild. Ako, sa Collectors Guild ako. Mga action figures ng One Piece and Gundam ang kino-collect ko."

"Mangakas?" Helen asked. "I'd like to join that guild. Ikaw, Gwenny?"

"Umm, sure," Gwen agreed meekly. Siguro ngayon lang nag-sink in sa isip niya yung inarte niya kanina. 'We can't let that happen' pala, ah.

"Nagdra-drawing kayo?" Kyo asked with a significant rise in his tone na parang he was so amazed.

"Yup!" Si Helen na ang sumagot kasi Gwen suddenly found the cactus in the middle of the table too interesting. Helen brought out her sketch pad from her bag and showed Kyo some of her works which were all drawings of anime characters she had a crush on.

"Ang galing, Ate Helen." The compliment sounded so genuine coming from him. He turned to Gwen next. Kahit siya, parang nahihiya na rin kay Gwen dahil sa inaasal ng friend kong pabebe. Masyado siyang halata na crush niya si Kyo. "May dala ka ring sketch pad, Gwe—Ate Gwen?"

Muntik na akong mapatawa because of that.

"Sorry, wala, eh," Gwen said and doon na natapos ang nakakakilig at napaka-meaningful na pag-uusap nila. Naiinis na talaga ako kay Gwen, gusto ko na siyang itulak from her chair.

"Sayang naman," mahinang sabi ni Kyo before turning to me next. "Ikaw, Ate Dee? Saang guild ka sasali?"

I looked to my friends kasi I had no idea how Kyo knew us by names kahit we did not introduce ourselves to him. I could not remember a point from our meeting yesterday na nagpakilala ako sa kanya, although I referred to Gwen by name at some point yata. But maybe Paris had something to do with this. After all, they were cousins.

"Streamers Guild maybe?" I said. "They watch anime do'n, right? Read mangas? Or sa Collectors Guild siguro? Kaso sobrang few ng action figures ko, it's all Naruto pa. I only play Tekken and Mortal Kombat. I never learned DOTA. I'm not a heavy gamer. And I don't really draw unless may kopyahan."

"Sa Cosplayers Guild?" Kyo suggested.

I laughed silently. I did not want to be rude kaso ni hindi pumasok sa isip ko 'yon. "Ayoko, sorry. Cosplaying's not for me."

"Oo kaya," Gwen said. "Kamukha mo nga si Alodia, eh."

"Do you need your eyes checked?" I asked her sarcastically.

"Not only that," singit ni Helen. "You know how to make costumes. Remember when we were in second year, middle school? We had a play, Peter Pan. You did the costumes of Captain Hook and the rest of his crew. Why don't you try?"

I clucked my tongue inside my mouth. "We should reestablish this club muna. Saka na 'yan, we'll get there naman."

"Fine," Helen said.

"Thank you talaga," sabi ni Kyo. "Sobrang importante ng club na 'to sa'kin. Ayokong pakawalan basta-basta."

Without actually meaning to, nagkatinginan kaming tatlo. But we shrugged it off because that was our business no more.

"What about your other club?" Helen asked.

Kyo shrugged din, pouting his lips like he did not care. "Alam naman nilang mahahati oras ko kasi alam nilang hindi ko kayang bitiwan 'tong club na 'to. Balak kong ayusin ulit 'tong OT this year."

"Why didn't you make a booth kanina? Para alam ng lahat na active pa 'tong club na 'to," sabi ko. "Popular ka naman sa school so siguradong madaming sasali."

"Sasali nga, kaso sasali ba sila kasi gusto nila yung ginagawa dito o dahil lang kasali ako?"

"Yeah, you've got a point naman."

"Gusto niyo, pumunta na muna tayo sa office ng student council para i-declare na active 'tong club? Kasi baka ma-dissolve na talaga, eh. Kailangan nating agapan."

We agreed and went on our way back to the main building where the student council's office was. As expected, sa hallway pa lang, nagtilian na ang mga babae. Sa pagbaba ng hagdan, tumabi ang lahat para paunahin kami. Hanging out with a PAD member was making our lives convenient in some ways.

Helen and I teased Gwen on the way. Bumubukod kaming dalawa sa kanila ni Kyo and pinapauna sila para sabay silang maglakad. Kinukwentuhan siya ni Kyo kaya she had no choice but makipagkwentuhan kahit namumula na siya sa hiya.

When we got to the student council's office, we were immediately attended to by the president who happened to be a PAD fangirl din yata. Yung mainit ang ulo na senior na nagpapila sa amin nang ayos kahapon while we looked at the class rosters was the vice-president pala. After a few minutes of filling up some papers, Otaku Taishikan was reestablished as an active club. The plaque on the door would not be removed anymore.

∘ ⸻ ∘

𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗡

𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟵, 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟰:𝟮𝟬 𝗽.𝗺.

Our booth was set up in haste sa quadrangle along with the others na sobrang grand. Ours stood out in a not-so-nice way but that was okay. We borrowed some chairs and a table from the student council and asked for a stack of membership forms. We split managing the applicants for each guild between us four. I handled Streamers Guild, Gwen handled Mangakas Guild, Dee handled Cosplayers Guild, and Kyo handled the other two.

Sobrang haba ng pila ng mga gustong mag-join. I expected it, actually. Most of them lined up kay Kyo which was expected na rin.

Kyo told us to just list the names and give them the forms. They would give those back to us tomorrow and Kyo would set them up for an interview. I knew most of these applicants were only in it because gusto nilang makausap si Kyo nang one-on-one sa interview na yun.

I had only gotten about six applicants in the last half hour since we set up the booth. Next to Kyo, Dee had it the most. There were fewer people than earlier before we found OT. It was way past after-school hours na rin kasi, but the number was not as few as I would have expected at this hour.

Then my attention was caught by a big booth—no, a big tent—na nasa bandang right side, malapit sa garden. Ang daming tao sa labas ng tent.

"Yun yung Kapisanan, Ate Helen," sabi sa akin ni Kyo. He sat next to me, then Gwen, then Dee at the other end.

"Kaya pala," sabi ko.

A girl walked past in front of us from the booth of the Archery Club. She was biting the nail on her thumb as she read a paper like what was written on it was something she found repulsive. She stopped not too far from our booth, still reading it, and I watched her. Eventually, she crumpled the paper and tossed it in the bin. She shook her head as if to wake herself up, kaya nag-fly around yung purple hair niya na hanggang balikat lang.

I knew her. She was the girl who told me that Advil could cause stomach bleeding or increase my chances of heart attack yesterday in the clinic. Before I could answer, she left. As she walked out the door, I saw that she put back her nose ring. I assumed na ayaw ng nurse sa body piercings kaya niya ginawa 'yon.

"Hi, Kyo. Can we have a selfie?"

"Okay."

Umikot yung random girl sa likod ko papunta kay Kyo and napailing na lang ako. I was a fan of a lot of famous people too, but I would never ask a picture from any of them unless it was a meet-and-greet or show. What if they had something else to do na hindi involved ang career nila, right?

While I was handing out a form to the first guy na pumila sa harap ko, nahawi ang mga taong nakapila sa booth namin because of someone's arrival.

"Paris is here!"

I looked down to hide my scoff. Kanina sa classroom, he made conversation with Gwen and me about where we came from and invited us to watch his band. Si Gwen lang ang naging kausap niya until that invitation, to which I said na pupunta kami because Dee liked bands. That shut him up, though he smiled from ear to ear.

"Hoy, Kyo, hinahanap ka na do'n ni Shishi," he said. "Nag-aalburoto na. Nakalimutan mo yatang tutugtog pa tayo."

Kyo scratched the back of his neck. Para siyang bata na naiinis kasi inutusan siya habang naglalaro. Hindi ko alam kung anong kakaiba do'n but nagtilian ang mga babae na nasa paligid namin. God, this school was so comical. If I did not love Dee, I would not leave Fairfield talaga. Buti na lang, IB World School din ang Miwako like Fairfield.

"Nagtatayo ka na naman ng kulto d'yan," sabi pa ni Paris. "Tara na."

"Sorry, kailangan ko munang pumunta sa kabila," Kyo said as he stood up and dismissed the other students who were still in the queue. He apologized to them and told them to go to the clubroom tomorrow instead.

We followed his example and nagligpit na rin kami. Dee wanted to come with Kyo and Paris kasi nga tutugtog sila. Now I knew why marami pa ring students ang nasa school. Not because they were still looking for a club to join, but because they were waiting to see Vandalics perform.

When we reached the tent, gusto ko na agad lumabas. Sobrang daming tao sa loob, ang init, at nakaka-suffocate yung amoy. I had grown to love gigs because of Dee and Zach but I was not feeling this one.

Kyo and Paris were in the backstage na. Shishi followed with a pair of drumsticks in his hand. Last night I created an account in Kurai Miwako, but I had not been logged in for ten minutes before I logged out because I failed to relate with their topics. I tried listening to one of PAD's songs na available yung lyric video sa site, it was titled Paksa, and it was really good and catchy naman talaga, but that was it.

"That girl's so pretty talaga, 'no?"

I followed Dee's finger with my eyes and I was led to the girl standing by the edge of the stage. We saw her earlier today rin, on our way back to our building after lunch sa cafeteria, and Dee pointed her to us that time as well. Dee said we saw her kahapon while we searched our names from the rosters, but I could not remember. Gandang ganda siya sa girl na yun, but for me she looked a little above basic lang. "Yeah, hindi siya panget."

"She's cute," Gwen said. Napatingin siya sa akin and the stare lasted a while so I looked away. Parang humihingi pa kasi siya ng validation from me.

"Whatever," sabi ko na lang.

"Hello, Miwako!" Paris greeted everyone from the stage. I found out through Dee that he was the Vandalics' vocalist before they joined PAD, but he still played the role kapag tutugtog sila without the other members of their main band. "Akala ko hindi kami makakatugtog sa school agad kaso iba kayong mag-demand, eh."

Hollers filled the tent kaya napapikit na lang ako. It was annoying to say the least. Sana hindi na siya nag-speech. Sana he went straight to singing na lang para hindi na nagka-chance mag-ingay ang crowd.

"Isa lang kakantahin namin ngayon kasi hindi talaga kami prepared. Nahatak lang kami kanina." Paris chuckled. "Title nito, Paksa. Ang all-time favorite ng lahat."

Shishi lightly tapped the cymbals twice before the rest of the band followed. There was another guy with them, playing the guitar, but I did not think he was a member. Maybe back-up lang.

𝘚𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢

𝘐𝘬𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢

𝘚𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘥𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢

𝘐𝘬𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢

𝘋𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘺

𝘒𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘺

𝘚𝘢𝘥𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰

𝘕𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢'𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘬𝘰

𝘓𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢 𝘣𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘢

𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘱 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢

𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢

𝘐𝘬𝘢𝘸 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢

The real vocalist sang this song really good, but Paris' voice had a different kick. Like, yung real vocalist nila had that angas sa boses niya na parang he had hidden anger or something kasi nga he was in pain as the song implied. Typical voice na naririnig ko sa rock songs. There was an attack in it. Medyo husky, malamig, at ang taas.

But Paris' was different. Mataas din ang boses niya, but it was so fluid. He sang it like he really went through it, like he wrote the song because it was his suffering he put into words. I mean, sabi sa video he and the real vocalist co-wrote it together kaya siguro may meaning talaga sa kanila and they just sang it differently kasi everyone goes through different kinds of pain. I over-analyzed it, but who cares?

𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘨 '𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪 𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘬

𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 '𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨

𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘬𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘪 𝘪𝘢𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘯

𝘋𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘺

𝘒𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘺

𝘚𝘢𝘥𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰

𝘕𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢'𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘬𝘰

𝘓𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢 𝘣𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘢

𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘱 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢

𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢

𝘐𝘬𝘢𝘸 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢

"Hey, matutunaw na si Shishi," Gwen said kaya napatingin ako sa kanila ni Dee.

"Shut up. Silang lahat pinapanood ko."

"Could've fooled me." Gwen chuckled and nagkatinginan ulit kami. She smiled at me and pointed to Paris with her puckered lips, so I laughed and gave her the middle finger.

𝘐𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘩𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘬

𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘨 '𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘬

𝘕𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯

𝘐𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯

𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘬𝘰 𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢

𝘕𝘢𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘨 '𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢

𝘚𝘢𝘥𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰

𝘕𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢'𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘬𝘰

𝘓𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢 𝘣𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘢

𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘱 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢

𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢

𝘐𝘬𝘢𝘸 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢

𝘚𝘢𝘥𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰

𝘕𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢'𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘬𝘰

𝘓𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢 𝘣𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘢

𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘱 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢

𝘈𝘬𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘬𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢