BANDED 2 (JUNIOR JAM!)

Chapter 5 (Flower Power)

October 28, 1994 (Friday). It was a very happy, special and spectacular day… because the exams are over and it’s still very early to go home! The gang decided to rehearse after lunch because the Flower Power Music Festival would be tomorrow. They were already heading out to have lunch outside school when they heard the mike tested in the Quadrangle’s stage again.

“Haha! Somebody’s getting punished again!!” Paolo said (if you remember from the last chapter… hahaha!)

“Of course not!” said Tina, “No one else would be dumb enough to sing like that in a test!”

“And… hmm… no one would be dumb enough to dance a-la-cheerleader with blazers turned pompoms in the stage!” Paolo said (remember from the first book?).

“Which you and Kris partook!” Tina said, with those eyes signaling a ‘battle’ again.

“Anyway!” Kris said, “Before I get caught up in your quarrel, let’s see who’s onstage.”

They did, and to their surprise, it was Nancy.

“Hi all!” she said, “First of all, good luck with the exam results! And also, I would like to announce that due to unavoidable circumstances that are… well, related to Typhoon Katring, we would postpone the festival to the following Saturday, Nov. 5, 1994.”

There was a mixed reaction. Some were happy and some were not. Many had prepared while some wanted to do other things that Saturday. To the band, it was a relief.

“Well… this means we have more time to rehearse… and we don’t need to do that now!!” Kris said.

“Let’s hang out anywhere we like!” Noy said. “What do you say?!”

“Yosh!!” Kim said which the others shortly followed.

When they went down the building, Nancy went after them.

“Hey wait! Can I go with you guys?”

“Why, sure!” said Kris. “Actually, you don’t have to ask!”

“Really…? Thanks!”

“Of course”, said Robbie, “You’ve become a part of the gang anyway, eh?”

“Umm… speaking of that…” Nancy said, “Can I bring someone else…? Would you mind waiting, would you…?”

“And do the things that you want us to…?” said Kris, and they all laughed, as it’s a reference to the lyrics of their original song.

“Okay we’ll wait, Nancy”, said Kim. Nancy smiled and walked away.

“I wonder who she would bring eh, Noy?” said Paolo.

“Huh?” said Noy, who was uncharacteristically quiet in the last conversation. “Dunno… maybe… whoa! Pinky?!”

They all turned around when Noy saw his sister… hand in hand smiling with Nancy! (They’re both so cute…)

“What the hell…?” Kris said, “Robbie! What did you do?!”

“Hell, I didn’t do anything!”

“Hey…” Nancy was saying, “Can Pinky come along, Noy?”

“What…?” Noy said, startled but then recovered and said, “Why yes of course, her big brother’s here!”

“Thanks Kuya…”

“So… where to go?” said Tina, “The park is still in shambles from the typhoon…”

“Well… we can only go to the malls or someone’s house…” Paolo said.

“Let’s go to mine!” Kim said, “It’s closest and Mom’s not home.”