Project Bata

Chapter Twenty-two: Swirling Emotions

I stopped as my phone chimed a few times. I fished it out from my uniform skirt' pocket and stared at it, Kuya Jan!

"Hello, Van?"

"Bakit po? Meron na naman po? I need it! Naputulan ako ng ilaw Kuya!"

I heard Kuya Jan's laughter from the other side, "Timing Van! Nagkasakit ang keyboardist ko, sakto at naalala kita."

"Yes, naman! Salamat Kuya, kailan ba?"

"Ngayong gabi. Pasensya na at apurado hah? Free ka ba ngayon, mga 10? Tayo kasi ang opening act. Few minutes rehearsal, hintayin ka namin Van mga 30 minutes before performance? Sensya na talaga Van."

I pulled away from my phone from my ear and checked the time. Almost 9pm, I still have an hour to change and get ready. "Okay! Walang problema Kuya! Salamat."

He ended the call, I got up and turned on the torch on my phone. I climb the stairs, I held my phone up and carry my bag heading to my bedroom. I quickly showered, brushed my teeth and changed into my gig worthy clothes, black jeans, and black blouse -- not so fancy and sexy. I never do sexy, I think it doesn't suit me best. I tried my best to clean up good, chapstick on my lips, I combed and let down my straight long hair. I wore my authentic black Vans for comfort, unable to see the full simple ensemble I pull off because of the poor light source I decided to ditch checking myself out. Exiting my bedroom and my house with a little black pouch, I locked up my place and trudged towards the subdivision's main exit.

As I reach the exit, I decided to have a quick stop at 7-Eleven. It was always my go-to place, bought a cup of noodles. I got my hot cup noodles and trudged towards the empty table. I felt like I was slowly drifting back to my old life before Vanness and thinking about it scared the hell out of me. I hope it won't happen, I can't imagine what life would be without him.

I'm ready for my future with him, I can find a good and cheap law school here. Work and study law at the same time, I can do it again. Vanness would graduate next year, take his licensure exam. It would be good, there will be challenges and turbulence along the way but it will always be temporary and we can make it. I wonder what Vanness's plans for his future though? I never opened it up, I might pressure him and I don't want that. Even so, I guess we have to talk about it as my graduation date is fast approaching and the scholarship I applied for is just lurking around the corner.

I finished my cup and exited the convenient store and hailed a taxi to be earlier than expected. As I climbed down the taxi, I looked at the familiar premises. The bistro is jammed pack since it's Friday night, means acoustic night. Kuya Jan's band have always been the opening act for the famous bands during Fridays. If I get lucky, I could encounter famous bands and singers in the music industry. That would be a rarity for me because I seldom notice them -- they do not stand out much within the crowd. Much to their liking, it would be free for them.

I got a call from Kuya Jan, thankful that he waited for me outside the bistro. I got the easy access, we proceeded to the dressing room. Since I knew all of the members of the band, we didn't do many greetings. I was brief with the song line up, score sheets and changes of each song. Although I was familiar with all the song line up, I was unable to have much practice on the keyboard and the song we will cover would be much slower. I practiced tapping on my lap, imagining it as it was the keys of the keyboard. Cracking my knuckles time to time to relieve the stiffness.

Kuya Jan tapped my shoulder, "We got you covered Van, kalma lang." I saw his bandmates nodding in agreement and raising a thumbs up on me. I grinned and raised my thumbs as we climbed up to the stage. I shakedown my hands and trudged towards the keyboards. I touched the few keys to test it and exhaling a lung full of air. Since the drummer started a few beats, the guitarist and bassist started rhythms, I matched the beat and rhythm subtly to cool off. Kuya Jan started talking as the front man, me and the others just playing rhythmic music. Often times, technical staff checked the amplifiers and pedals here and there and once I said okay. Kuya Jan started to count, I focused on the score sheets and songs as we started to play.