Mic Drop Harmony (BINI_Aiah & Female!Reader Fanfiction)

CHAPTER 13 - RUMOR

Relief, long-awaited and fiercely defended, finally settled over you and your bandmates. The shackles of your contract with ABS-CBN finally ended, the taste of freedom sweet on your tongues. But with newfound independence came another hurdle – the question of management. Last night, an email arrived from BrightLight, a rising agency with a promising reputation. It was a tempting proposition, a potential launchpad for your ambitions.

"Just when we thought we were free, you guys want to jump back into a management contract?" Zild groaned, burying his face in his hands. The frustration in his voice was palpable, a reflection of the struggles you'd all endured under your previous management.

Syd interjected calmly. "We're just saying it might not be a bad thing. Being under a good management team could open doors for us – better exposure, wider promotion."

"Better how?" Zild countered, his voice laced with skepticism. He had valid concerns. After all, your previous experience left a bitter taste in your mouth, a constant reminder of unfulfilled promises and stifled creativity.

"Look," Syd explained, pulling up the email on her phone, "it says here we'll have full creative control over our music." You and Donny leaned in, a flicker of hope igniting in your eyes. Creative freedom was paramount, the very essence of your artistic expression.

Syd continued, "They seem to understand our vision, and the contract looks fair on paper. But of course," she added, glancing at Zild, "we'll scrutinize it with a magnifying glass this time."

A reluctant nod of agreement from Zild signaled a shift in the tide. The sting of past betrayal still lingered, a cautionary tale etched in your memory. But the promise of creative freedom, coupled with the potential for growth, made BrightLight's offer a gamble worth considering. This time, you would be armed with not just talent and determination, but also the hard-earned wisdom of experience. The road ahead was uncertain, but with a united voice and a healthy dose of cautious optimism, you and your band were ready to navigate the choppy waters of the music industry, on your own terms.

The aroma of simmering sinigang thag wafted through the condo, a savory symphony that usually brought smiles to the faces of your bandmates. Tonight, however, the air crackled with a different kind of tension. You had invited Nadine over for dinner, hoping for a lighthearted evening filled with laughter and music. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

As you stirred the pot, a snippet of conversation from the living room sliced through the rhythmic clinking of the ladle. It was Nadine and Syd, their voices light and carefree, discussing the latest industry gossip. But one particular sentence sent a jolt through you, causing you to freeze mid-stir.

"There's a rumor," Nadine said casually, "that BINI Aiah might be pregnant."

The ladle clattered into the pot, the sound echoing your thudding heartbeat. Aiah. Pregnant. The words were like a sucker punch, knocking the wind out of you and leaving a dull ache in its wake. You forced yourself to continue stirring, the movement a desperate attempt to regain control. Yet, your mind was adrift in a tempestuous sea of emotions – a cocktail of confusion, hurt, and a strange sense of betrayal.

Syd gasped in response to Nadine's news, then her eyes darted towards the kitchen, meeting your gaze. You offered a weak smile, hoping to disguise the turmoil churning within.

Nadine, oblivious to the undercurrent of emotions surging through the room, simply shrugged and said, "I don't know if it's true, just something I overheard. Don't worry about it!"

She flashed a reassuring smile, completely unaware of the chasm her words had opened within you. It hadn't been easy to walk away from BINI, to relinquish the dreams you'd once shared with Aiah. Months of therapy and songwriting sessions had allowed you to build a fragile scaffolding of acceptance around your shattered heart. But tonight, that scaffolding threatened to crumble.