UNIQUE
We have been requested for a live, on air interview for our latest release, and for the love of God, I want to go home.
There was a clamor of young, female adolescents desperate for autographs and pictures with the bassist. Yeah: the bassist.
The crippling social anxiety that evoked within me was like two angry men in a boxing ring. Nothing made sense at this point.
We're on air so it's making me nervous cause we're on air, your mistake is on television and everyone is seeing you live. Doesn't that bother these unfeeling people?
I was trembling as my fingers sweated inside my gloves embellished with those holographic crystals shone so blindingly in the light.
I don't like it here.
As soon as we went to the room where we are getting interviewed, my heart pounded so fast inside my chest, beads of sweat rolling down my temples as I faked a smile at the crew who were ready to pretty us up.
"Are you okay, Unique?" Badjao asked.
"Yes." I stammered. The nervosity took over me so awfully that I felt I was going to explode. If not, implode.
Zild was just out there, confident as hell. He was talking to Shanne at the back of the camera and things weren't fine between them (It seems like it).
I expected this. Zild is a self-centered homophobe who secretly is into men. Now, he's trying to calm down his girlfriend like he was taming a rabid dog as the curly-headed girl in her hippie, bohemian jewelry vociferated about a matter unknown to the rest of us.
The interviewers arrived in their extravagantly embellished clothing, dressing like Elton John when it obviously didn't suit them.
"The interview will start in ten minutes. Uh, if you all would try to do so, it would be really nice if you guys promoted your album ─ I fucking know, Shirley! Go get the dresses! ─ I'm sorry about that. Uh, you got what I'm sayin─ you're a dumb bitch, Shirley!"
Awfully, my arm was still is in the same condition as it was before, and awfully as well, it still hurts.
It's my fault anyway. Fuck it.
"So how's your arm?" asked Zild.
"It's alright. The dilemma is just that it hurts. But all in all, it's fine. Feelin' groovy now."
"Can you move it now?" asked he briefly. I moved my other arm in a tweaky manner and nodded.
"Maybe. Doin' fine."
"Bitchin'."
It was evident he was still in an awful state. Shanne was no longer behind the camera, and it was as if they weren't able to patch up their little wound. Instead, it caught an infection in the open.
"Y'all ready, folks?" Tanong nung staff.
"We're fine."
And the countdown ran as the clapper made this startling sound right in front of the video camera.
"And we're rolling! You are watching The Renato Paglinawan Show with a special guest, IV of Spades!"
The studio audience cheered as the camera faced us. I smiled awkwardly and tried my best not to look nervous. It was as if I wasn't myself. I have never been this agitated, if anything, I would've been in a fit of rage right now.
"Hi! I'm Unique," I greeted.
"I'm Zild,"
"And I'm Badjao!"
"Y'all feeling pretty groovy up in here?" the host, who I presume is the Renato Paglinawan guy, crossed his legs and rested his hands on his lap. We nod in response as I stared at him listlessly.
"And it is..?"
"Mundo." said Zild.
"Who's the lovely composer?" asked the interviewer as he eyed me from head to toe. I felt this crippling sensation that shook me distress when he smiled at me, then averting his gaze to Zild who always talked.
"This guy right here!" said Badjao and ruffled my hair. I fix it back while I try my best to hide my face?
"And this song is for whom?"
"For a certain person remaining confidential even to myself. But just for the kicks, it's about our fans." I said, spine tingling at the words I've uttered so unawarely.
Lies.
"Do you all have a special someone? Your mundo, if you will?"
"My girlfriend!" said Badjao whose smile reached his ears.
"Dandan."
I didn't bother answering. All I felt was a void filled with shaking, quivering agitation that left me overwrought.
I couldn't breathe.
"Unique, are you really okay?" whispered Zild, for once, with actual concern.
"N-no-- yeah."
"Sure?"
"No."
Zild upped and whispered something inaudible to the interviewer who nodded right after. The woman said we'll just rush through the interview, and I couldn't just let that happen.
So agitatedly, I stood up and walked out, trying my very best not to cause a scene.
But my attempt ended to a fail.
"And that's it for today! We hope to have you guys as guests again! Please tell us again about your new single!" Sabay na sabi nung dalawang interviewer.
"Hi! We're IV Of Spades and we hope you guys support our new single, Mundo and it is out on record outlets nationwide! Once again, We are IV Of Spades!"
Nagbow kami at agad akong pumunta backstage dahil hindi na talaga ako makahinga, I was chasing my breath and my running isn't helping me.
I stopped at one corner, heavily breathing in and out.
As minutes passed by, I felt a little bit okay.
"Okay ka lang?" Sabi nung isang interviewer.
Nagkatinginan kami sa mata at nagkaiwasan rin ng tingin.
"Oo, okay na ako." Nginitian ko siya.
"Ingat ka ah." Sabi nung interviewer at naglakad papalayo, pero pinigilan ko siya.
Napansin ko, maganda yung interviewer. She's around my age, i think.
Hindi naman siya pangit.
Maganda naman yung katawan niya at maputi siya. Makinis ang balat niya at mukhang natural ang puti niya.
"Uh, bakit?" Pag gising sakin nung interviewer sa katotohanan.
"Ano pangalan mo?" Tanong ko.
"Magdalena, bakit?"
"Maybe, uh, let's hang out some time?"
"Yeah, some time, probably when the both of us are on our free days."
"Yeah, Saturday?" Aya ko.
"Deal."
Maganda siya.
no proofread
5:14 pm x
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whispers and mutters • blasnique
Fanfic[CURRENTLY BEING REWRITTEN] The year 1978 was already much of an intoxicating, drug-filled chaos itself for Unique Salonga and his band, until his untainted, innocent best friend unwittingly meddled in when his stardom rose to its hazy glory. ° VOLU...
