BANDED 2 (JUNIOR JAM!)

Chapter 2 (Let Them Smile - The First Battle)

              Monday, September 12, 1994. When Kris and Kim arrived at school (after meeting in the park), they were met by Tina at the gate. From the look on her face they knew she has good news.

“Hey, what’s up, Tina?” asked Kris.

“Good morning…” Kim said.

“Oh, hi guys! I already saw you from afar so I decided to wait…” Then she paused and took a deep breath for effect. “Principal Perez would formally announce your participation in the Battle of the Bands in assembly today!”

“Whoa… really?” The ‘couple’ asked.

“Yes!” Tina said, hopping again, “if you remember Paolo and I went to the principal last week… he said he’ll think about it and so today, he’ll be announcing it and encourage the students to watch it!”

Kris and Kim were both happy. Now is the final proof that they put Paolo and Tina in the correct spots. In a very happy mood, the three went inside and by the time they got to the high school building, Paolo had made the announcement to the other members in their favorite third floor ramp landing. Robbie, Ernie and Noy had been told.

“Wow, thanks again to our ‘managers’ for helping us”, said Robbie.

“You two work so well…” Noy said, “Hey… maybe you’re…”

The others smiled at this and the ‘managers’ got their meaning at once.

“What?!” Tina shouted, “this cretin?!”

“Hey, you watch out, you leprechaun!!”

And it would have gotten worse, if assembly was not called at the very exact time. Paolo and Tina scowled fiercely at each other as all the students went down to the Quadrangle.

After the usual proceedings, the Principal went on with his announcement, the one that our main characters are waiting for.

“Okay… I have a special announcement for today… on September 24, next next Saturday, there would be a contest held at Alabang Town Center which proceeds would go to the less fortunate of this and our neighboring town… it is the Let Them Smile Battle of the Bands, and our very own BANDED would participate!! Good luck to them and I encourage everyone to watch!!”

Cheers came from more than half of the students (some of the hip hops still did), and the band members amongst the crowd couldn’t help but feel elated… and much more so when the principal called them onstage.

The five (Kris, Kim, Robbie, Noy and Ernie) went up, and each one agreed that this feels way different than when they are performing. The cheers went on, but obviously, there are those in the audience who didn’t feel all too well about this… Sam Puerto had been clenching her fists ever since Kim first walked to the stage while JC de Cepeda did the same when Kris walked up, for now the rumors of Kris and Kim being a couple are beginning to circulate. Brando and his gang scowled at Noy and Ernie.

“I wish you good luck in representing our school”, said the smiling principal, apparently forgetting for a while that Noy Reyes is among those he is wishing good luck. Noy got the irony as well. He is the principal’s ‘best friend’, but now he is being endorsed.

The assembly was finished, and then the five members of the band and their two managers set to work.

“Now, what do we play?” asked Kim as they immediately went to rehearsal that late afternoon. She went home and took a shower first before meeting with Kris in the park and walking to MASGIM because she just had some volleyball activity. They all met at MASGIM (the band and the ‘managers’) after going home and changing from the infernal uniform.