After She Died | √

Chapter 3: soul



———

Judge had a deep breath as he took his earphones off, he glanced at the mirror with his bright green eyes. Instantly, it drifted down to his white tees and traveled to his fitted jeans. After that, he ran his fingers through his hair and got out.

When he heard the host called his name, Judge immediately walked across the stage. He plastered his bright smile as he strummed the strings of his guitar and started humming the familiar tune of his song.

''You can take my watch,
you can take my phone
You can take all
I've got 'til
I'm skin and bone . . ." 

Judge closed his eyes. Immediately, the whole area was filled with the sound of his music and the cheers from the people who believed in him. It felt like he's floating in space. It's overwhelming and ecstatic. 

"Boo!" Sigaw ng karamihan sa crowd.

That was a wishful thinking.

He didn't even know that he's actually capable of hopelessly thinking that way, but it was great floating in space with dreams and fantacy as his fuel, yet he was awaken and pulled back to reality.

This is his reality.

"Bumaba ka! Such a waste!" Sigaw ng isang babae sa crowd.

"Stop singing! Boo! We want Jett!"

At first Judge ignored the crowd. They're just words, it couldn't hurt him. His talent is way more precious than those obnoxious remarks. He'd say he's beyond what the people limit him to be. At least that was he thought, but his exhausted body betrayed him.

Ilang sandali, nawala sa tono ang gitara niya at mas lalong nabigyan ng gana ang mga tao na paalisin siya roon. Dahil sa pinaghalong kaba at hiya ay maging sa pagkanta ay nawala rin siya.

". . . So turn down the heat,
I've been burnin' in hell
But now
I'm back with my own story to tell . . ."

"Judge!" Matinis ngunit malakas na sigaw ni Lyca.

"Kaya mo yan!" Lyca even shouted louder than the prior one.

"Judge Arthur, he's underrated don't you think? I mean he got the voice," Lyca said while intently looking at Judge. She means— It had been more than two years since she first saw this guy. First time, noong sophomore siya. Noong una silang nag-tour at nag-training sa Human realm. She saw this guy with his bright green orbs singing and a lot younger at that very same spot: tiny stage, overlooking bay and small crowd, with the same passion.

But why isn't his face in billboards yet? Bakit parang hindi siya naalis sa kinalalagyan niya?

"He can't play," Sadako said with boredom written all over her face. "Look, he sucks at guitar."

Pagkatapos ng performance niya ay agad siyang bumaba sa stage. Pagpasok na pagpasok ni Judge sa dressing room, sinalubong kaagad siya ng dismayadong mga tingin. Dere-deretso ang lakad ni Judge patungo sa headphones na inilapag niya kanina.

Hindi niya pinansin ang baklang producers at dumeretsong pumunta sa hamba ng pintuan ng dressing room.

Napahinto si Judge sa paglalakad ng makasalubong niya si Jett.