The Travelling Corpse

6. The Show

I am in a bit of hurry now. The show starts at 9pm and it's already 30 minutes pass 8pm. It took me awhile to transform myself away from the shit I looked earlier. My eyes are still a bit swollen so I had to put on a great deal of concealer. Good thing choosing clothes to wear was a breeze. After all, I have prepared all these new clothes and planned these outfits months ahead of this trip. But that is when this trip served a different purpose now the purpose is to find something to wear for Arthur's gig.

I was about to leave when the room phone rang.

"Hi there! Good evening! This is Annie from the reception. We would just like to confirm your attendance to our Grand ball tomorrow night at 8pm."

"What Grand ball?"

"For your dinner reservations Ma'am..." I don't have a single idea what she's talking about.

"Yeah. Sure sure whatever." I said obviously showing that I was in a hurry.

"Okay then. Thank you. Have a great night!"

****
When I arrived at the venue, the show was already starting. Looking around, the crowd is composed of not so young but not so old people just like myself. This is expected, as this is a reunion concert tour for bands that gained fame during the late 90s up to the early 20s.The instruments were already set up on stage but I can't see Arthur anywhere. I was sending him messages while I was on the cab but he didn't reply.

Now, I stand here alone, unsure where to sit or where to go. I felt uncomfortable in this big room full of strangers.

"I knew this was a bad idea." I whispered to myself.

I was walking down the exit ready to leave when a girl tapped me in the back. It's a waitress.

"Hi! Are you Ms. Ria?"

I nod in reply.

"Your seat is this way. Come with me."

She led me into a couch with a table set up at the very middle of the venue. And then the crowd started cheering as the members of the band Hail Storm went out from the curtains one by one. Arthur went out last; this sent the girls into frenzy. They started screaming. But Arthur doesn't seem to mind. He is extending his head, looking from side to side as if trying to find something or someone from the huge crowd. And then his eyes landed on me. He smiled. I smiled back. And then, they started playing.

****

Listening to their music soothed me. Like a wonderful trip down memory lane; back to the time of innocence, before all this pain and hatred. Back when I was in highschool, back to the days when I had no idea that loving a person can devastate you.

I was enjoying the moment, standing with the rest of the crowd. Until, I saw a couple just a few steps away from me; dancing, kissing, having the time of their life. And now, my knees are feeling weak again.

Not being overly dramatic, but these days, anything under the sun remind me of him, of us. We used to go to concerts like this before. We were once just like the couple in front of me. My heart is starting to beat faster as I feel tears starting to form in the sides of my eyes.

I grabbed my bag ready to run outside before the tears outburst when suddenly, a warm blinding spotlight hit me. The crowd started to cheer loudly.

"What the!???" I said to myself slowly turning to face the stage.

You see I made a mistake by telling Arthur at the plane that I used to sing for a band as well during my college days. But I didn't thought that he was listening that intently or that he would even remember out of all the things we talked about.

"Come up here!" Arthur mouthed as he gestured the event personnel to assist me.

I was left with no choice. Before I knew it, I was standing up there on stage with a massive crowd in front of me.

The band started playing. I know the song too well. It is a heartbreak song.

"You can't cry in front of these people" I encouraged myself. Then to Arthur I mouthed

"I'll unfriend you after this"

He laughed. "You got this" he said.

I swallowed hard. Then, the words of the song started to pour out of my lips naturally.

And as if singing all the pain inside my heart, it felt good.

Few tears fell while I was at it but I didn't think anyone noticed.

****

"You were great!" Arthur shouted like a proud parent.

"I can't believe you made me do that." I jokingly rolled my eyes at him while I grab a drink. Again, I needed alcohol to calm down.

"But you were great! You're a natural out there! Right guys?" asking approval from his band mates.

Every one of them agreed. The show has ended and we are now all chilling at the backstage, Arthur had already introduced me to all the guys in production and of course to his band mates.

"Thank you guys! I actually feel great." I replied which is very much true.

And then looking at Arthur, I said.

"But you! Don't you ever do that to me again. I almost had a heart attack out there. "

Everyone laughed in unison.