Unrequited Love

f o u r t e e n

Zora

"What was the group chat for?" iritang tanong ni Kenji nang makumpleto na kami sa band room. 

"For you guys to know that practice is mandatory." sabi ko. Inaayos ko na yung microphone ko. 

"Test 123." sabi ko while testing the mic. 

"You're not incharge of this band." sabi niya sakin.

"Well, i am now. Pano tayo makakadebut kung ganyan ka?" naiinis kong sinabi. I'm trying my best to conceal my feelings for him. 

"What's the point of debuting kung aalis ka lang din naman at some point in time?" sabi niya. Sa inis ko ay nilapitan ko ito at kwinelyuhan. Suprisingly, Elijah and Noah didn't care what I was doing. They knew what i'm doing. And it's to make this band work and debut in less than a month.

"Why don't you just stop running your mouth and rehearse?" i said bago ko binitawan ang kwelyo niya. He didn't speak. I secretly smiled when i saw the fear in his eyes nung lumapit ako. That's what you get for encouraging me to leave this place. I'm tired of letting people control my feelings. I have to prove a point here. And that is to let them know that i'm something. 

"3.2.1. Cue!" nagsimula na kaming magrehearse. Bawat mali ay umuulit kami sa umpisa. Bawat maling nota ay nagsisimula ulit kami sa simula. Nang nasatisfy na ako sa rehearsal ay tinapos ko na yung practice.

"Wow. Napagod kamay ko dun ah." sabi ni Elijah. 

"Pwede ka nang maging Music teacher." sabi sakin ni Noah. Halata sa mga mukha nila na masaya sila dahil sa napagtunguhan ng rehearsal. Pilit nga lang na tinatago ni Kenji ang saya niya dahil alam niyang matatalo siya sakin pag pinakita niya iyon. He knew i was right all along. I could make things work. 

"Make sure to look at your schedules tonight. Looks like we have an event tomorrow." sabi ni Noah samin. Bumalik na ako sa kwarto ko after namin magligpit ng mga gamit. I took out my schedule sheet to see what's up for tomorrow. 

*10 a.m. Meeting with the CEO*

*2 p.m. Band TV commercial shoot* 

*4 p.m. Live with Band members*

*6 p.m. usual band rehearsals*

"Ang dami namang gagawin bukas." bulong ko sa sarili ko. I have to look presentable for tomorrow tho cuz these events are no joke. 

I've decided to wake up early para makahanap ako ng masusuot ko bukas.

—

I woke up and it's already 7 a.m. Naligo muna ako para masimulan ko nang ayusin ang buhok at mukha ko. I did loose curls and a natural make up look. Pumunta ako sa closet ko to find some decent clothes to wear. I saw this pair of fitted red long sleeves croptop and black mom jeans to go with it. Sinamahan ko ito ng black short boots and pant chains. Naglagay ako ng tatlong gold necklaces and gold butterfly bracelet.

I think i look decent enough to go out. May kumatok bigla sa kwarto ko.

"Zora? Are you ready? Nandito na yung driver." Sabi ni Noah. 

"Ah, yes i am ready! Just a second." Inayos kong muli ang buhok ko bago ko kinuha yung black shoulder bag na dadalhin ko. Lumabas ako at nakita ko ang isang Noah na noon mukhang inosente pero ngayon handa nang tapusin ang career ng pinakagwpong nilalang sa mundo. He looks really handsome. I smiled at him as soon as he saw me.

"Wow, Zora. I never knew you can actually dress up like that." Pangaasar niya sakin.

"Wow, Noah. Can i atleast get a 'you are so gorgeous'?" sabi ko sakanya bago ko siya inirapan. Tumawa siya.

"I mean you're not wrong. You are really gorgeous." sabi niya naman. I thanked him first bago kami pumasok sa van. 

"Dont' tell me-"

"Yup. They take forever to prepare." sabi ni Noah saakin bago ko pa matapos yung sasabihin ko. As usual, Elijah and Kenji are not here. Kami palagi ni Noah ang mga early birds. Matapos ang ilang mga minuto ay lumabas na rin si Elijah. 

"Dude, it's 9:45. Nasan na yung isa?" tanong ni Noah as soon as Elijah got inside the van. Napatingin ako sakanya. He looks like a total rockstar. Lalo siyang nagmukhang playboy. 

"Ewan ko. Don't ask me." Sabi ni Elijah. Tumingin siya bigla sakin. His mouth, wide open. Agad itong sinarado ni Noah.

"Mapapasukan ng langaw." pangaasar niya kay Elijah. Natawa kami ni Noah. Elijah cleared his throat.

"Y-you look stunning by the way." sabi ni Elijah sakin. 

"Thank you!" masigla kong sabi. Now we are just waiting for one guy. Nang makita naming bumukas yung front door ay parang naging slow motion para sakin ang paligid. Lumabas ang isang Kenji na nakared sweater with black leather jacket on top. Sinamahan niya ito ng faded ripped jeans and red and white jordans. He also has two different types of earrings on each ear and a cross necklace dangling from his neck. His black highlighted with red hair was neatly fixed. Mukha siyang bampira pero in a fucking breathtaking way. 

What am I thinking?

Agad akong umupo ng straight nang makapasok na siya sa van. Hindi man lang siya tumingin ni isa samin. I was kinda disappointed kasi i took my time to actually look presentable. But, who cares? I don't need his approval anyways. 

"We're here lady and gents." sabi nung secretary na kasama namin sa van. Bumaba na kami pero hindi ko ineexpect na maraming nakaabang sa labas ng agency. Nagsisigawan ang mga ito. Nakakabingi na sigaw. I've had audiences when i was still doing gigs but never like this. Pagpasok namin ng agency ay pinanlibutan agad ng mga security guards ang front door dahil maraming mga fans ang gustong pumasok to take a closer look. Malamang they're here for the guys. I'm a hundred percent sure na most of them are girls. Pumasok na kaming apat sa office ng CEO. 

"It's good to see you guys again." sabi ng CEO. Tiningnan ko yung pangalan na nakalagay sa table niya. Director Chang. So, the agency's after her name. It makes sense. Nagyon ko lang napansin na may marka ng sugat si Director Chang sa pisngi niya.

"What's this meeting for?" Inis na sabi ni Kenji habang nasa phone niya. Tiningnan namin siya. Is he nuts? Wala talaga tong nirerespeto. Director Chang cleared her throat.

"I called you guys here to let you know that starting next week ay aasikasuhin na natin ang road to debut niyo. Rest as much as possible dahil i guarantee you that it will be really tiring. Eat healthy. You guys can't be sick." sabi ni Director Chang. I think she's used to Kenji being like this but i was raised right so i'm not letting him do any of this shit. Tiningnan ko ulit si Kenji. He's still on his phone. This bastard. Without a word, i snatched his phone from him na ikinagulat ng lahat. I smiled at Director Chang.

"Please continue." I said as if nothing happened.