He fixed himself in front of the mirror. The black and white tuxedo fitted him well.
Satisfied with his official look for the night, he went out to meet everyone.
"Saan si Ford?" The question, however not intended, was always popping out of his mouth every time he can't see his other bandmate.
He doesn't even know why either. It's like an automatic impulse.
Tristan smirked, but João was better at ignoring him. It was getting on his nerves but he kept in mind that the more he entertains his bandmate's fantasy, it'll get worse.
Finally spotting the missing bandmate, João held up his phone for a selfie. "Smile, guys!"
Making their way to their manager's big birthday celebration held at the hotel's ballroom, Ford suddenly stopped and crouched down.
"Una na kayo, bros," Ford said, not even bothering to look up.
"Bakit?" João found himself asking. He stopped as well, leaving the other three to continue walking towards the venue.
"Wala," Ford chuckled, his hands still busy. "Sintas ko lang."
It doesn't seem like it's nothing for João, because Ford's contorted face screamed help. The boy clearly doesn't know how to properly tie his shoelaces.
"Ako na nga," João laughed slightly, amused at his bandmate's struggle. He crouched down, swatted Ford's hands away, and started tying his laces. "There. All done."
Looking up at Ford's face probably was a mistake, because it seemed like he was hypnotizing João.
João stood up, shaking his head.
"Salamat," Ford smiled at him warmly. He squeezed João's shoulder for quite a bit and his hand lingered a second longer.
"No problem."
He looked frozen.
Was he frozen? He couldn't tell.
"Tara na," Ford slid his hand lower to clutch João's on his own. He tugged gently and João had no choice but to follow.
He didn't let go of Ford's hand until they were at BoybandPH's table.
/
He finished his second glass of Asti Martini for the night. He liked this brand of champagne. It tastes much like sparkling water but has a bit of a kick.
"Saan ka pupunta?" He heard Niel asking Russell.
"They're asking me to play over there," Russell pointed to the golden piano that sat in the middle of the ballroom. He stood up, buttoned his tux, and went his way.
João stood up as well. He had other destinations in mind.
Sliding over the bar counter, he found himself ordering another glass of wine.
Wine actually makes him happy. It calms his nerves and it never ever fails to make himself feel light.
"Good evening everyone," Russell's voice made him swivel his head to the stage. The dark haired boy is now seated at the grand piano in the center of the room and a band was positioned behind his back.
He's probably going to sing a song for the party.
João smiled and sipped on his glass. That's Russell for you.
"Kakanta raw siya."
He didn't even notice Ford when the other guy slid beside his seat on the counter.
When did he get here?
"Alam ko," João replied. "Si Russell yan eh."
"Bentang-benta talaga si Dodoy no," Ford snickered, covering his mouth with his left hand.
João laughed as well. Ford outstretched his hand to grab the glass of wine that he ordered from the bar. Bringing up the drink to his lips, João stopped for a while and stared.
The glass left Ford's lips.
There was a bit of wine on his bottom lip and João couldn't tear his eyes away when the other boy's tongue peeked out and swiped over the liquid. He couldn't even blink when Ford's teeth began to bite off the remaining liquor.
He eventually did stop staring when Ford was looking at him teasingly.
"Ano kakantahin niya?" João looked down at his glass, the wine swirling in it like a vortex. His face was burning with embarrassment.
"Hindi ko alam eh," Ford answered before taking a swig of his wine.
A moment after, music started to fill their ears. Russell was playing something more modern and chill, unlike his usual genre.
"I know you're sick of me belting all the time, so here's something chill," he joked, which elicited laughter from the crowd.
Both Ford and João have always admired their bandmate's ability to capture the people. They smiled to themselves before clicking their glasses together and saying, 'Cheers'.
When you smile, everything's in place
I've waited so long, can't make no mistake
All I am reaching out to you
I can't be scared, got to make a move
Ford rested his glass on the counter.
They just talked as if it's only the two of them. They even found themselves playing some games while Russell was singing.
"João, andaya mo talaga. Lagay mo kasi mga kamay mo dito oh."
João wasn't sure what exactly is the name of their game. Basically, (as Ford had explained) the first player has to put both his hands, facing down, on the other player's facing up ones. The second player has to try and slap the back of the first player's hand.
It's a matter of gut feeling, Ford said in a matter-of-fact tone and João wasn't sure why his bandmate was suddenly speaking in English.
"Ay hindi pwede yan," Ford was having a hard time making the younger one follow the rules, which João enjoyed breaking.
He kinda likes it when Ford has to use some force to make him compel.
Inch by inch we're moving closer
Feels like a fairytale ending
Take my heart this is the moment
I'm moving closer to you
He just laughed at him, and soon Ford got tired of explaining that he just laughed it out too.
Who'd have thought that I'd breathe the air
Spinning 'round your atmosphere
I'll hold my breath, falling into you
Break my fall and don't let go
"Ang sakit mo kasi manghampas ng kamay. Akala mo sino talaga kalaban niya eh," João shot back, in his defense.
Ford attempted to slap Joaõ's hands for the last time and he succeeded, because the latter let out a loud and resounding groan.
"Aray!"
They didn't even realize that Russell has finished singing because they were so engrossed with their little game.
Being the good sport that he was, João just playfully swatted Ford's shoulder while the older guy was dying of laughter, clearly amused with what just happened.
João was sure that the back of his hand is extremely stinging and red but pain didn't matter as long as he can put Ford in a laughing mess.
