photograph // darren espanto

prologue

-Darren-

"...from the chandelier" I sang the last line softly with a little style to it. The whole crowd in the arena cheers and screams like maniacs. I wipe some sweat off my forehead and give the huge crowd a wide smile.

"Thank you again New York!!" I yell into the mic, making the whole arena scream more.

A second shot of confetti suddenly falls from the ceiling, piling up the confetti already scattered on the floor from what was supposed to be my final dance number.

My heart was pumping loudly from the song, I love singing chandelier, but man that song's just a whole workout

I run out of the stage then go backstage, seeing the whole crew there. One of the guys hands me a towel then a big bottle of water. I immediately take the water then chug it down, finishing the whole thing in like 10 seconds, with some of it just spilling on my shirt.

My fully suited manager walks up to me looking stressed. I could tell he was mad, but I don't think he'd wanna yell at me. After doing a last dance number, the crowd kept yelling encore, so how could I not? Made my manager kinda salty though.

"Was that encore really necessary, Darren?" He asked, looking a bit annoyed. "Your private jet's waiting for you"

"Sorry po, Mr. T. It's my fans, I just wanted to-" I start to explain, but then get interrupted by one of my RM's.

"Darren, the van is waiting outside with your dad. You're heading to JFK" He says to me, looking at a clipboard then checking something off with a pen. I nod my head then the RM runs off.

"Tell me later, tara na" Mr. T says, motioning me to go out of the arena. I follow my manager out then we walk our way through the backstage crew until we reach a backdoor leading to the outside.

I walk out with him then get in the car with my driver, dad, and manager. Before I get in the car, I noticed the bright orange and yellow colors in the sky. The sight of it with the tall buildings were really nice.

I let myself in the black van, the driver then starts the car and goes into the streets of the city. New York City's been fun for this concert, but it's time to go to back to Manila. I pull out my headphones from my backpack then put them over my ears. I start to listen to my music on shuffle then look out the window to see the sights. I had some time to just go around and see everything here, but I wanted some more time to just explore this place.

***

-Lei-

It's a kinda fun to get a little lost out here sometimes.

You never really know a place until you get lost in it.

And that's exactly where I am right now.

Lost. In New York City.

It's my last day here, second time visiting overall. It was mid-May, so Spring was the best time to be in New York. Well, for me at least. It's also right before sunset, so beautiful. My favorite sunsets are the ones in Hawaii. The place I was born and raised for a short time before we headed over to the Philippines.

My family uses the word 'home' pretty lightly, because we basically don't have one. We're not exactly homeless, but just spend our time traveling everywhere. But if my parents had to use it, Philippines would very well be their home. I mean, that was where my little brother, Nick, was born. We visit Hawaii sometimes, but the Philippines? We never looked back.

Until today, we're visiting again after like 12 years. I've heard my parents talk about this for a while now, and honestly I don't get the big deal.

*honk*

The car horn of a taxi cab snapped me back to reality. I gripped on to the leather strap of the purse I had across my body then walked my way through the many people walking around the streets of Manhattan.

The sun was going down, so I looked for the perfect place to take a beautiful sunset picture. I found this park where a lot of people were, probably to watch the sunset too. I fixed up my camera a bit to the perfect setting for this.

I suddenly felt vibrations on my right pocket and heard my ringtone. I slipped my phone out of my back pocket then looked at the screen. My little brother, Nick, wants to facetime me. I sigh then pressed the answer button, checking myself out on the screen.

My 12 year-old brother showed up on the screen. 12 year old boys, basically one of the worst kinds of people. He looked a bit like me, but not really. Nick had black hair, fairly boyish haircut actually. Shaved in the sides, long and fluffy at the top. He's also a bit paler than me, but still considered tan. I guess in some angles people find him attractive. Nick is basically an annoying little flirt.

"Yeah Nick? I'm kiiinda busy right now" I say, holding out my camera for him to see. Through the screen I saw Nick at the inn we were staying at the moment, he was loudly eating a bag of chips.

"Dad wants you home now. We're gonna be heading out soon. Where are you?" Nick said as he popped a potato chip in his mouth, with his puberty-hitting tween voice through the line.

"Tell him to calm his tits, and i'm just at this park, don't worry about it" I say as I flip the camera then show him the surroundings. "I'm only taking pictures out here so i'll just meet you guys there. Where we going?"

"The airport. Our flight's leaving in like an hour, stupid" Nick yelled with a 'you're so dumb' tone. He flips the camera to show our packed luggage, all except mine. I furrow my eyebrows then look at the time on my phone.

"Seriously?! You said our flight leaves at 8am!" I yelled back, switching the camera back at me.

"Oh I did? ....Whoops I meant pm" Nick tried to say innocently, trying to hold back a smile. I could tell he tried to get me back for embarrassing him in front of this one girl a few weeks ago. I glare at him through the screen then roll my eyes.

"Ugh, okay whatever. I'll be there in 10, bye" I say, then end the facetime call.

I hang up the phone then slide it back into my back pocket. I run my hands through my dark brown locks to get it out of my face then snap a few pictures of the beautiful view in front of me.

Between a taxi or the subway, i'd have to choose the subway. Not just cause it's cheaper, but because I like the diversity and the different kinds of people that go there.

I quickly walk over to the nearest subway station I could find. My family and I used the subway station a lot, so i'm not completely lost out here. I take a look at the map, but then get completely confused.

Where do I live again?

*****
-lemme just start off saying for the new peeps reading this, the first 10 ish chapters aren't my greatest writings, my newer ones i'm more proud of. just a heads up cuz this whole story won't suck like those chapters.

btw im gonna be putting pictures here sometimes so note that they're not mine and all rights go to them

anyways, hope you enjoy this wonderful story i'm sharing with you guys :)
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