Cadenza [BINI Mikha X OC]

Chapter 1: Pitter-Patter

Rain. Jon always liked it. He always regarded how water was the reason life even began. Without water, most of the organic beings in this planet would die. He sure liked rain, but not so much when it's literally deterring him from reaching a location that he needs to get to.

It was raining that day. In the city of Quezon, it usually is, especially with August fast approaching. The streets were slick from the constant downpour, the pitter-patter of raindrops echoing through the city alongside the sounds of bustling vehicles and honking horns, as traffic snarled around flooded areas. Despite these challenges, Jon, a newly hired musician for ABS-CBN's events, was undeterred. He arrived at the studio drenched, his clothes clinging to him and his hair a damp mess. As he stepped inside, one of the personnel recognized him immediately.

"Hey, Jon! Glad you could make it," called out a young man wearing a blue jacket with a name tag that read "Martin." He approached Jon, offering a towel. "Looks like the rain got you good, huh?"

"Hey, Martin," Jon replied, accepting the towel with a grateful nod. "Yeah, it was like swimming upstream just to get here."

"Welcome to Quezon in the rainy season," Martin chuckled.

"So, pray tell, what's my first assignment here?" Jon asked as he finished wiping off his damp hair.

"Hmmm... there's a recording room on the third floor. The boss wants you to record a few covers."

"Covers? That's not a problem. But I'm curious, why?"

"The boss just wants to assess your skills as a musician. Though, I already know you'll do better than anyone we've hired in the past."

"You put too much faith in me, Martin. Remember, I only agreed to this because of the pay."

"Yeah, yeah. Just get yourself cleaned and dry first, then head upstairs. There are directions on the stairs and a map too, so just check them out as you go."

"Got it. Thanks."

The studio building had five floors in total, spanning quite a wide area, designed for practicing and recording content like music, shows, and films. After drying off, Jon headed straight for the third floor, spotting some familiar artists in the distance shooting scenes for teleseryes. He wasn't overly familiar with this form of entertainment; the last Filipino show he watched was "100 Days to Heaven," 14 years ago. However, music was a different story. He had learned to play four instruments during his youth, studied composition, and mastered various techniques and skills. Music was more than a passion; it was a bond he shared with his mother.

Upon reaching the third floor, Jon saw different rooms partitioned and located adjacent to one another. He approached the first one labeled "Recording" and saw Martin sitting at a control panel filled with buttons for recording, mixing, and editing sounds. Beyond the control panel, a room partitioned by glass was filled with instruments: a drum set, multiple guitars, a keyboard, various brass instruments, and a percussion set.

"You've got almost a full setup here. Impressive," Jon said, approaching the recording room.

"Gotta keep it updated. Word is there'll be a lot of events in the coming months. We need to keep you practiced, at the very least."

"Sure," Jon replied with a condescending smile.

"Okay, okay. I know you're confident in your skills, but you gotta prove your worth to the producers."

"Fine, fine. Do you have the records I prepared in advance?"

"Yeah, I checked them. But why are most of them just backing tracks, minus the lead guitar?"

"I plan to record the lead and vocals here. That's fine for a show of skill, right?"

"You already recorded the backing tracks, and you still want to record the lead and vocals?" Martin said with a bit of disbelief, though he knew Jon's talent well.

"Over the top, but it has been a while since I did something like this."

"Been a while, huh" Martin wondered. "Let me guess, past band probably in college?"

"It was high school. We had to disband after graduation due to location constraints."

"That's too bad. What kind of music did you guys play?"

"Mostly rock and a bit of alternative. We covered a lot of 90s hits."

"Nice. Maybe we can jam sometime. I play a bit of bass myself."

"Really? That would be fun. But for now, let's get this recording done."

"Alright, why don't you start prepping now?"

Jon entered the soundproof room, took out an electric guitar, connected it, and started tuning it. The metallic twang of the strings always calmed Jon down. As he plucked the strings, the notes resonated through the amplifier, filling the room with sound. It was a great feeling, Jon thought to himself.

"Martin, play the first track," Jon said, ready to immerse himself in the music.

Martin nodded, flipping a few switches and adjusting the levels. "Here we go. Show them what you've got, Jon."