Anthology

First meeting AU: Nickelback Sucks (Chester x Barbs)

Prompt: we're strangers but I absolutely hate your music taste and I feel the need to tell you this in a crowded MRT

Day 8 of my October Ficlet Writing Challenge.

***

"Oh my god seriously? Nickelback?"

Nilingon ni Chester ang babae sa kanan niya na nakasuot ng Eheads baseball cap. "Excuse me?"

She threw him a judgemental eye roll. "Did you know this is my worst nightmare? Ang mastuck sa isang public transpo kasama ang isang Nickelback fan? Holy shit, this is the worst. Ang aga-aga pa para marinig ko yang Rockstar. So 2008, man."

It's already 10:30 am, and that's not early for his standars. Late na nga siya sa job interview niya sa Quezon City. "Uhh... okay?" he said dismissively.

The girl eyed him for a second. "Seryoso, big fan ka ba ng Nickelback? Answer me honestly."

"No. Random Spotify playlist lang 'to."

"Oh good Lord, pati Spotify?" Her grimace was tad dramatic. Ba't ganito siya makareact sa Nickelback? "My goodness, dapat tinatanggal na yang Nickelback sa Spotify! O sa buong internet! Ibigay dapat ang space sa mga totoong musician!"

"Bakit ba ayaw mo sa Nickelback?" Chester couldn't help but ask out loud. "They're pretty decent--"

"Decent? Si Chad Kroeger, decent?" Tumawa nang malakas ang babae. "Dude, that guy's a Kurt Cobain copycat. A douchebag. And to answer your question, I fucking hate that Nirvana-wannabe band. Masyadong trying hard. Hindi man lang pinag-isipan nang mabuti ang lyrics. Have you heard the song Figured Out?"

Chester shook his head.

"Fuck! Buti ka pa! Kung pwede lang ma-unhear ang mga kanta, una yang Figured Out sa listahan ko. Ano ba namang klaseng lyrics 'yong And I love the way you pass the check / And I love the good times that you wreck / And I love your lack of self respect / While you passed out on the deck / I love my hands around your neck ? Bullshit. Sobrang shitty! Dark Ages talaga ni Avril Lavigne yang si Chad Kroeger grabe. I can't."

Marami pang sinabi ang babae tungkol sa irrational hate niya sa banda pero hindi na doon ang focus ni Chester. Paulit-ulit lang sa utak niya ang pagkanta ng babae. The shitty lyrics sounded different when she sang it. Parang nag-iba ang meaning nito.

At... parang familiar ang boses na 'yon.

"Dude." The girl slapped his shoulder lightly, bringing him back to reality. "If you want to hear real music, listen to Staind and Puddle of Mudd. You'll thank me later."

Tumigil ang MRT sa Araneta-Cubao station at dali-daling nakipagsiksikan ang babae papunta sa may pinto. He was about to ask her name, damn it.

Chester looked at her one last time. Palabas na siya ng tren nang nahagip ng mga mata niya ang peace symbol na tattoo sa may leeg nito.

Well... shit.

Si Barbs Ramirez pala 'yon, ang paborito niyang bokalista.