I went to work as usual kahit na paulit-ulit na nagmemessage sa 'kin yung girls na sumama na raw ako sa EP launch ng Lakanbini. Buong gabi ko pinag-isipan kung pupunta ba ako kasi palagi kong naaalala yung sinabi ni Mikha sa 'kin.
Nakakainis naman kasi talaga. Decided na ako kahapon na wag na pumunta pero ginulo talaga ni Mikha yung utak ko. Parang nakakaguilty naman kung hindi ako pupunta.
I glanced at the clock. The event's going to start in about an hour. Kung aalis na ako ngayon, siguradong aabot ako. Pero kung hindi pa ako aalis, sigurado rin akong hindi ko masisimulan yung event. Should I even go? Pero kung aalis na ako, sayang yung oras sa byahe na sana nakakawork ako. Bukod sa oras, coding din ako, so leaving now would mean that I would commute.
Naalala ko na naman yung sinabi ni Mikha. I sighed. Fine. I'll just take a peek. I rode a taxi papunta dun sa venue. Hindi pa kami masyadong nakakalayo nung driver, pero nagsimula na agad mag-traffic. Mukhang matatagalan pa ako dito.
After minutes of anxiety, finally dumating na rin ako.
The place was packed. Hindi nga biro yung sinabi ni Jho na sikat na sila even before their EP launch. The speakers seemed to be in full volume kaya halos nakakabingi yung lugar, pero mas nakakabingi yung tilian nung mga tao.
There were different banners and I almost couldn't see the stage. Andami ring phones na nakataas as everyone seems to be recording them. There was very limited air at medyo mainit na dahil sa sobrang siksikan, but I still chose to stay there. Ayoko namang pumunta sa harap since I don't have any intentions of staying long.
Despite that, you can feel the excitement in the air. Natatawa ako kasi halos sa cellphone na lang nung katabi ko ako nakikinuod kung ano na nangyayari. I finally saw the Lakanbini girls while they were on stage. There are two hosts who I instantly recognized as Ate Ai and si Kuya Robi who were standing there with their cue cards. They were instructing the girls to stay at the center habang inaabutan sila ng kanya-kanyang mic.
It appears they have just finished performing one of their songs judging by the fact na hinihingal pa silang apat, at pawis na pawis din sila. The crowd is still cheering for them. Mukhang blue and silver yung napili nilang motif.
"Grabe partner, ang galing ng Lakanbini girls talaga 'no? Alam mo ba partner, Red Convention days pa lang nila, sobrang fan na talaga ako. And now seeing them sing and dance, grabe parang mas kinikilig ako sa kanila." sabi ni Ate Ai.
"Ay totoo yan partner. Lalo na nung sumasayaw sila kanina 'no. Pero syempre, para mas makilala pa natin sila ng mas maayos, we are inviting the Lakanbini girls to give us a sample of their own dance moves. Gusto niyo ba yun?" sabi ni Kuya Robi.
The crowd cheered even louder and nakakatawa kasi parang wala namang choice yung girls kundi sumunod na lang.
Naunang sumayaw sa kanila si Gwen. Grabe naglalakad pa lang si Gwen, nagsisisigaw na yung mga tao. Nung sumayaw si Gwen, hindi ko alam kung bakit nagulat ako, pero she had so much swag kaya sobrang nag-sigawan pa lahat sila. Gwen is such a softie nung kasama namin siya pero ngayon na nasa stage siya, grabe yung projection niya. No wonder she's also a fan favorite.
"Gwapo." sabi ni Staku habang hawak-hawak niya yung mic niya at inaabutan ng tissue si Gwen.
"Grabe, sinasagot na kita Gwen. Ang gwapo." sabi naman ni Colet.
We all laughed.
Colet followed after and nakakatuwa kasi nagsama siya ng audience para sa sayaw niya kaya mas lalong naghiyawan yung crowd. After niya, si Staku naman yung sumunod. I've seen Stacey dance before so seeing her now is not new, but if anything, mas gumaling siya.
Natawa ako kasi naka-protect stance si Colet at si Mikha. Parang anytime na may gagawin si Stacey na kakaiba, haharang sila. Totoong siya nga talaga ang princess nila.
