Cadenza [BINI Mikha X OC]

Chapter 7: Rising Expectations

Two days had passed. For some, it was an ordinary Friday, a prelude to the weekend. But for Jon, it was a pivotal day that could define his career. Though he was experienced in performing for crowds and competitions, the pressure still lingered. However, he was much more in control now, thanks to his past experiences.

Finally got here. The noon traffic was so bad. Let's hope I still have some time to prepare.

It was 1:30 in the afternoon. Jon quickly headed upstairs to the third-floor recording room. At the door, Martin was already waiting for him.

"Let me guess, traffic?" Martin questioned.

"God, the traffic during lunch rush is unbelievable."

"That's why you should always leave around 10 in the morning."

"But I start work at 1 pm. What would you take me for, showing up at 10 in the morning?"

"There are plenty of things to do here!" Martin exclaimed.

"Yeah, but I have a system in place. Can't just change that all of a sudden now," Jon retorted.

Martin sighed. "Anyway, you're still in luck since the producers haven't arrived yet."

"Oh good. I've got time to set up the gear," Jon said, sounding relieved.

"Yeah, but Director L might come later, though."

"A director? Why?" Jon questioned, sounding slightly stressed.

"Not sure yet. He's really busy these days with all the paperwork he has to go through for Bini."

"But why is he coming here?"

"To watch you perform, of course!" Martin said proudly. "He and I go way back. I just had to brag about the unknown talent I brought into this establishment!"

"Sure, sure" Jon said sarcastically.

"Although Director L might have his hopes up" Martin uttered. "So do your best, okay?"

Jon sighed. "I better be given just a musician role, okay? I just want to stay low-key."

"Oh please," Martin responded. "Don't you want more pay? Maybe they would even offer you some extra roles"

Jon was unsure, but it was probably wise to hear what the producers and the director had to say afterwards.

"I have to prep this stuff," Jon said. "Keep an eye out for any of the producers."

"Will do," Martin replied.

---

In the dance hall, the song "Salamin, Salamin" was playing. Even though Bini had performed the song multiple times, they were still practicing, incorporating new choreographies and adding steps between the verses.

"Salamin, Salamin" is one of Bini's top songs. On their rise to national stardom, it became part of Bini's triumvirate that garnered them fame and influence. Apart from Bini's harmonious vocals, the instrumentation is notable. The rhythmic hooks, adlibs, and boosted bass guitar that resonate throughout the song provide the necessary "pop and funk" that made it one of Bini's three famed songs, alongside "Pantropiko" and "Karera." It was a meticulously crafted recipe for success.

However, musicality was just part of the equation. Their innovative dance moves set trends that propelled the song and its singers onto platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

As the song drew to a close, applause could be heard from Bini's choreographers, signaling a job well done.

"Magnificent. So, any comments on the new choreography, girls?" one of the choreographers asked, directing the question to the Bini members.

"The added variety looks and feels good," Sheena commented. As the main dancer of Bini, her opinion was highly valued. She drove the dancing factor with the energy she portrayed. Even though she was the youngest, she already had valuable insights to offer.

"However, we can add a little more flash if we switch the parts from this line closer to the bridge portion of the song," she added.

The choreographers were surprised but also delighted. Over the course of Bini's rise, Sheena had developed a keen sense of choreography. The Bini girls agreed unanimously with Sheena's suggestions.

After the modifications, practice continued until the clock showed 3:00 pm. As usual, it was the intended 30-minute break time for Bini. Each member dispersed, seeking to do any activity that would satisfy their personal needs, be it a water break, a snack, or just rest in general. For Mikha, though, she was curious to know if the recording room was in operation today.

She had checked the past two days, but there was no such luck. It baffled her. Why would she go and check the one room that she happened to stumble upon only once this week? Although she subconsciously knew the answer to the question she posed in her head. It was something new. She had met someone else in this studio. 

People normally didn't come and go in their circle. There was a controlled number of people, usually the same ones. This was primarily because of two reasons: it helped maintain stability, and it was a hassle to change people frequently. If a person did their job well, they stayed.

Jon, however, was newly hired. Mikha probably wouldn't have known about him until Sir Z introduced him to their group as the new musician, but she had met him regardless. It didn't seem special at first glance because people meet others every day. It's a normal occurrence, but Mikha felt otherwise. It felt... nice, to meet someone she could potentially get along with.

Thus, she left the dance hall, driven to see if the recording room was in operation today. Perhaps she could hear Jon play again. It was her third time checking this week, and as they say, the third time's the charm.

As she approached the designated room, she noticed the door was slightly open. This was a good sign. Since the first time she had stumbled upon the room, the door had also been slightly open. She peeked through the narrow gap and saw three people outside the glass room.

One was definitely Martin, the designated sound engineer of the studio. The other two wore white long-sleeved dress shirts, indicating they were likely higher-ups at the studio Bini was contracted with. And beyond the glass door was someone playing an electric guitar, wearing a plain black shirt, and singing his heart out.