Cadenza [BINI Mikha X OC]

Chapter 10: Request

"How on earth did you manage to perform a song with Ma'am Mikha?" Martin's curiosity was evident as he bombarded Jon with questions.

"Ma'am Mikha? You do realize you're older than both of us, right?" Jon teased.

"It's a sign of respect! But that's beside the point!" Martin shot back, clearly flustered.

"Alright, alright. I just asked her if she wanted to jam—uh, play a couple of songs," Jon explained, answering Martin's initial query.

"That's it? You just casually invited her to sing?" Martin was incredulous, finding it hard to believe Jon's straightforward approach.

"Yeah. It's not rocket science, buddy."

Martin felt a twinge of disappointment. It really was just a simple request. But then again, why did he expect anything else from Jon? Jon wasn't like most people; he had a certain charisma, a knack for making things happen. Maybe that's why he almost had a moment of doubt—almost.

"So, why did you choose to play 'Porque'?" Martin inquired, his curiosity piqued once more.

"She suggested it."

"She did?"

"Yeah. She probably knows and likes the song. She sang the Chavacano version flawlessly."

"Ohhh. Good thing the system recorded it!" Martin's excitement grew.

"Wait, the system records even when it's not in active use?" Jon asked, surprised.

"Yeah, it's set on smart mode," Martin explained. "If someone's using the microphone and the instruments are playing, it'll record the sound from the glass room."

"Huh. That's pretty cool."

"It is. So, don't go spilling secrets in there—consider this your only warning," Martin joked, with a hint of something more.

"Why? Got some firsthand experience with that?" Jon teased.

Martin paused for a moment, the silence telling Jon all he needed to know. Jon couldn't help but chuckle at the implication.

"Oh, come on, you've got to tell me what happened!" Jon pressed, still laughing.

Martin opted to ignore the teasing and continued with his barrage of questions. Jon answered each one patiently, most of which were about his interaction with Mikha.

"Are you finally done?" Jon asked when Martin seemed to run out of steam.

"Yeah. I guess I'll just have to take your word for it."

"Spoken like a man who doesn't have a choice," Jon quipped. "Now, should we get back to finishing the last five songs I've prepared?"

"Oh, right. I almost forgot," Martin realized. "But don't you want to take a break first?"

"For what? And what have we been doing this whole time?" Jon pointed out. "We've already wasted enough time. Let's just finish this, and then we'll grab something to eat or drink."

Martin had no choice but to agree. Jon was all about efficiency, and Martin knew better than to argue. Jon spent the rest of the session switching guitars to suit the songs they were about to play. Fortunately, he had brought three types this time, two of which he'd already used. The last one was a PRS guitar, renowned for its versatility and comfort.

Meanwhile, time seemed to catch up with Mikha as she and the group resumed practicing their dance routines after their break. They incorporated new moves into their older songs, recognizing the value in revitalizing previous hits. This strategy not only allows older fans to reconnect with the group's roots but also introduces newer fans to their earlier work—a win-win scenario in the music industry.