Consequences

Chapter 7

Carlos on the multimedia

Chapter 7

Cassandra's Point of View:

"Places, everyone!" Dinig na sigaw ni Ate Mikay para sa final practice namin.

July na ngayon at bukas na ang battle of the bands.

"Yo." Biglang sumulpot sa tabi ko sa Xav.

"Oh, bakit?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Kinakabahan ka?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"Kaba? Ako kakabahan? Hindi." Sabi ko naman.

"PLACES SABI EH!" Sigaw ni Ate Miks.

At napagalaw kaming lahat.

***Battle of The Bands

Ang daming tao.

Nasa ibang school kami.

Hindi ko lang alam kung anong pangalan ng school na to. At hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan.

"Let us now welcome, Band Royale from Alvarez-Alcantara University!"

Pagkatapos kaming tawagin, napuno ng matinding hiyawan ang auditorium.

Aaminin ko, medyo kinakabahan ako kasi ngayon palang sasabihin yung positions namin sa banda. Vocalist, drums, etc.

"On drums, Kenneth Gamboa."

Jusko thank the lord.

"On the keyboards, Christopher Jazkhiel Alvarez, Michael Raymond Segundo and Ray Madison Dela Cruz."

Jusko. Sana huwag bass. Okay lang na kanta. HUWAG LANG BASS.

"On the bass, Jacob Xavier Fontanilla."

Okay, cool!

"Lead guitar, Carlos Jackhiel Alvarez."

Jusko, umayos ka Kuya Carlos.

"Rhythm Guitar, Mikaela Charisse Bartolome."

Jusko kasama pa kalablayp niya.

Nako, hindi to maganda.

"On the Electric Guitar, Carl Jeckhiel Alvarez."

Hindi ako natawag. It means, kakanta ako!

Hindi 'to maganda!

"Finally, vocalists, Ethan James Go and Cassandra Angelica Alvarez."

Patay.

Kinancel namin ang One of Those nights. Bale, ang kakantahin na lang namin ay Clarity at Wildest Dreams.

Nagtap ng tatlong beses ang drumsticks ni Kenneth, simula na.

High dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain, it was worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash 'cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'til it breaks your glass and I drown in you again

Si Ethan ang nagsimula ng kanta, at ngayon, part ko na.

Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Humarap ako kay Ethan. Nakatingin siya sa akin. Don't tell me, bilib rin to sakin?

Asa.

***

"On the third spot. Advancing to the regional battle of the bands, Congratulations. GREENVILLE HEIGHTS!!" Sabi nung emcee.

Andito sa stage ngayon ang GH, school namin, Phantom University at Jameston Academy.

"On the second spot. Congratulations. JAMESTON ACADEMY!"

Naghiyawan ang mga taong nakasuot ng yellow shirt. Ahh... mga Stones pala to.

Gets niyo? Stones? JameSTONES.

K bye.

matatalo na ata kami.

"And the Champion, wait. Ang tatawagin ko ay ang champion. Yung matitira, yun ang first runner up. Technically, ang top 4 ay kasali na talaga sa regionals. CHAMPIONS. ALVAREZ ALCANTARA UNIVERSITY!"

Yes!!!

Nagtakbuhan kaming lahat papunta sa gitna ng stage. Talon kami ng talon.

Nag-group hug kami. Pati si Sir Jay, nandito rin. Niyakap kami.

Buti hindi umulan nung kumanta ako.

Nilapitan ko si Kuya Carlos.

"Kuya, buti nakapag gitara ka nang maigi. Kasama mo pa si Ate Mikay nun." Sabi ko.

Namula siya. "Andami mong alam! Dun ka na nga! Haha." Sabi niya tapos niyakap ako.

"Cass!" Someone called my name. At tila tumigil ang mundo nang tumakbo siya papalapit sa 'kin.

Mali, Cass! Mali, mali! Hindi pwede! I-uuncrush mo na 'di ba? Ang rupok naman talaga kahit kailan!

"Uy, James!" I greeted. He was smiling and he looked genuinely happy. "Why?"

"Ah, nothing. Congratulations nga pala." He extended his arm and I shook it. "I didn't know that you sing, though. Back then, I thought you're just a kid who does Math and that's all." He chuckled.

"Grabe naman ata 'yung taas ng paniniwala mo sa Math skills ko." Natawa ako at binuhat 'yung guitar case ko. "I actually suck at Math,"

"Maniwala ako—tulungan na kita diyan!" He snatched the guitar case out of my hand.

"Hala, no need!" I tried to get it pero mas lalo niya itong inilayo sa akin. "James, ako na kasi. Bitbit mo pa 'yung bass mo, oh." Turo ko sa isa pang bag na nakasabit sa shoulders niya.

"Nope." He shook his head. "Mas mabuti nang ako 'yung mahirapan kaysa ikaw."

Ano daw?

"A-Ano?"

He quickly shook his head and waved his hands defensively, "D-Don't think about it the other way! I'm just trying to be friendly." He smiled. "Mukha kasing nahihirapan ka, eh."

I only shrugged as an answer and started walking.

"Okay, then." Nakita ko 'yung driver namin and I called his attention. "Kuya!" I waved my hand so that he would see me. At nang makita niya ako, agad naman siyang tumakbo sa direction namin. "James, pakibigay nalang kay kuya." I said.

Binigay naman niya and nagpasalamat sa driver. "Ano, tara na? May gala pa tayo." He said

"Oo pala." I just remembered na may cash prize pala ito. And napagkasunduan namin dati na gagala kami pag nanalo kami. "Sige, tara na."

Pero hindi ko inaakalang gagawin niya yung susunod.

He held my hand tapos bigla siyang tumakbo.