In your Heart Again

CHAPTER 25: BATTLE OF THE BAND

I am ready.

Always ready.

This is it.

"Grabe, ang bilis talaga ng araw, akalain niyong Battle of the Bands agad," napalingon naman agad kami kay Piel nang bigla siyang magsalita. "Para kelan lang nung nag-guest tayo sa Dashwood."

Napa-isip naman kaagad ako. Oo nga 'no. Parang nu'ng isang araw lang nasa Dashwood kami tapos ngayon Battle of the Bands na? Hindi namin talaga namamalayan ang oras at araw. We've been practicing for a weeks para sa preparation dito after kaagad ng guesting sa Dashwood kaya hindi talaga namin inaakalang ito na 'yon.

"Yeah, like, we didn't noticed it." sagot ni Raven habang nagsisintas ng sapatos.

We're here at waiting room sa isang building kung saan gaganapin ang laban. We're here for almost four hours, we already done with outfits, make up and hairstyle. We're just waiting to start the event.

Actually, if nag-start na, we are not able to watch others performance because our managers didn't agreed with that. Sabi lang sa'min ay manood nalang dito sa pamamagitan ng TV.

"Guys, just enjoy this and don't think that this is a competition, think that this is our stage to impress people." singit ni Alex.

Isa isa kaming tumango at bumalik sa nasa ginagawa namin. Napatitig naman ako sa reflection ko sa salamin na nasa harap ko, nasa tapat kasi ako nito na nakaupo.

I am totally nervous, this is my first time, first time to perform in a such a big platform. I can't think of anything, I'm just really nervous. My mind is really blow up.

"Hey, loosen up," I stared at Raven's reflection on mirror. She didn't look straight at me, instead, she's looking me in the mirror. She gave me a ensure smile, telling me that it's going to be okay.

"I'm nervous," I confessed.

She sat at the chair beside me and look at my face straight. She stared at me for a second before she held my hand. I can feel her sincerity 'couz her hand is warm, unlike me, cold.

"Hey, it's okay to be nervous, just think na makakaya mo, ikaw pa ba." she insisted.

"What if I cause trouble? What if I fail?" I asked her directly. That's the thoughts I really do thinking right now.

She looked at me with a confused face. "What the hell? You? Making mistakes? I doubt."

I hit her. "Raven, mag-seryoso ka. Hindi malabo mangyari 'yang sinasabi ko."

"Areese Leigh, you think I'm joking here?" she fired back. "If you make mistake, then continue, don't mind the failure, just enjoy."

I sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

She hugged me and whispered in my ears. "You're good, don't let the negativity ruined your special day."

I hugged her back. "Thank you, it means a lot."

Umalis sa tabi ko si Raven, nasaktuhan kasing tinawag na kami ng Managers kaya lumabas na kami. Hindi nag-tagal nagsimula na ang event, samantalang nasa backstage lang kamu throughout the performance of others. Bawal kasi kami sa labas dahil baka daw pagkaguluhan kami.

After that incident sa Dashwood, our Managers didn't let us go somewhere without other members or personal assistant. Natakot sila na mangyare ulit 'yon kaya nagsasama na sila ng tao sa'min ka'da aalis kami.

"The contestant number two and four was good. They have a charm." bulong ni Alex sa'kin.

"I noticed that too, they have skills. They're good." sagot ko, bulong 'din. Hindi rinig dahil sa ingay ng tao at ingay ng lugar.