Shining Like Stars

Prologue

"Let us all welcome, Fifth Avenue!" the emcee shouted that brought screams to the whole crowd. Ako lang ata ang tahimik na pumapalakpak para sa kanila. 

The emcee was still saying something, but I can't decipher it because of the noise. Isa-isang nakangiting lumabas ang miyembro ng Fifth Avenue.

Rash — the vocalist walk his way boredly. Mabilis siyang umupo sa may stool sa harap ng mic. May hawak siyang gitara ngayon kaya siguro siya umupo sa may stool. The crowd went wild because of that. Alam naman nila na kahit ganiyan ka-suplado si Rash, talagang worth it ang sigaw nila.

Jax — the drummer walk his way — happily as he sit his way towards his drums. Lumakas lalo ang sigawan ng mga tao ng biglang siyang mag-wink sa harap namin. I chuckled because that.

Creon — who mainly play the guitar, but he usually play bass — walked his way like he owns the stage. Hawak niya ang gitara sa kaliwang kamay niya habang lumalapit sa tabi ni Rash na supladong nag-aayos ng gitara niya.

Sa lahat ata ng kilala kong vocalist ng isang banda, si Rash lang 'yong minsan lang tumingin sa crowd bago mag-perform. Mas gusto niya pang tumingin sa gitara niya o kaya sa mic habang busy pa sa pag-se-set up ang mga kasama niya.

Lastly, Girbaud — the lead guitarist sometimes plays the keyboard, enter the stage. Mabilis siyang nag-flying kiss sa mga fans niyang uhaw sa antensyon niya. Malalakas na tilian ang namayani sa buong covered court.

Music Fest ngayon sa school namin. Gabi ang ginawang oras kaya naman dama mo talagang para kang nasa isang concert ka. The school decided to held a contest where in acoustic bands are the participants. Natuwa naman ang marami doon dahil makikita ulit nilang tumugtog ang Fifth Avenue.

"ISANG TINGIN MO LANG RASH, HINDI NA KITA PAPAKALAWAN! AKO ANG MANANAGOT SA 'YO BEBE!" 

I burst into laughters nang marinig 'yon. Kahit ang tahimik na si Rash ay napailing din at mahinang natawa, pero dahil nasa harap siya ng mic ay nag-echo 'yon sa buong lugar na nagpalakas sa tilian ng mga kababaihan.

"OMG! TINGIN LANG HINHINGI KO, PERO HEAVEN ANG NATANGGAP KO! KYAAHHH!" nagsi-ilingan naman ang members ng makita kung gaano kalala ang naging dulot ng mahinang tawa ng isang Rash.

"SANAOL, PINAPANSIN! AKIN KA LANG RASH! AKIN!" rinig kong sigaw ng isa pang babae. Marami naman ang umalma dahil sa sinigaw niya.

"BASTA AKO BUONG FA ANG BEBE KO. DON'T WORRY MARAMI AKONG TIME PAGSABAY-SABAYIN KAYONG APAT. I KNOW HOW TO MULTITASK MGA BEBE!" 

Marami pa ang sumigaw pagkatapos noon hanggang sa umubo si Rash na nakapagpa-tahimik sa kanilang lahat. The whole crowd tame dahil lang sa isang ubo ni Rash, dang how powerful he is.

Umingay ulit noong sinimulan ni Jax ang countdown gamit ang drums niya. Umangat naman ang tingin ni Rash sa mga tao. He slightly smiled that brought so much butterlfies in my stomach. Ang gwapo niya talaga, his eyes look like he's always bored. Siya talaga 'yong kilala kong may resting bitch face, para bang anytime mumurahin ka na lang niya dahil sa mga tingin niya.

His lip piercing shines as the spotlight hit him when they dimmed the main lights. Those lip piercing that I used to play with when I'm bored. Even his ear piercing shined too, maliit lang 'yon pero noong natamaan ng ilaw — it looks like that little thing owned the whole place. Just like how they owned the stage.

"Used to be scared of the ocean
'Cause I didn't know how to swim
I took one sip of your potion
Now I'm just divin' right in"

First beat of the song, but I think I fall more as I heard him. They're singing In Too Deep by Why don't we — my favorite band. Does he still remember it?

"I heard your sirens call
It was beautiful
I am drowning
But, please don't save me"

Tahimik lang na nakikinig ang mga nanonood. Kung kanina dahil lang sa mukha kaya nila gustong manood ngayon I know they're hooked by the way they sing. Lahat sila maalam kumanta, but Rash is the main vocal, but right now — they really sounds like Why don't we.

"I'm in too deep
Can't touch the bottom with my feet
Don't know what you did to me
I can't breathe but I'm living
I'm in too deep
Can't touch the bottom with my feet
Don't know what you did to me
I can't breathe but I'm living"

I think I'm in too deep too, iba ang hatak nila ngayon. It's been so long since, I last heard them sing — 'yong lahat ng members ang nakanta. They really are so talented, lahat maalam gumamit ng musical instruments. Lahat maalam kumanta, hindi nga lang lahat maalam sumayaw.

"Treasure chest filled with your diamonds
I don't mind staying down here
Thought by now I would be dyin'
But your love gives me all my air"

"I heard your sirens call
It was beautiful"

I heard some groans when they suddenly stopped, but eventually they scream when the music continues. Nakakabitin naman talaga, hearing them sing this song only isn't enough. We need more. I need more of him.

"I'm in too deep
Can't touch the bottom with my feet
Don't know what you did to me
I can't breathe but I'm living"

"I'm in too deep
Ah ooh-ah-ooh-ooh
Ah ooh-ah-ooh-ooh
I'm in too deep
Ah-ooh-ah-ooh-ooh
Ah ooh-ah-ooh-ooh
Ah ooh-ah-ooh-ooh
I'm in too deep"

The fans scream when Rash suddenly stand and walk his ways towards the edge of the stage. Maraming umabot ng kamay nila para mahawakan siya. He runs his lips in his piercing — and that is the fucking end of the whole fandom. 

Halos hindi mo na marinig ang tugtog nila dahil sa ginawa niya. Lahat nagkagulo. He tightly smiled, then bowed — indicating the end of their performance.

Malakas na palakpakan ang sumabog sa buong court. They keep on chanting more, still drowned by the way they sang tonight. I'm so proud of him. I know mas makikilala pa sila. And by that time, ganito na lang din ang magagawa ko.

Watching them from afar. Cheering them internally. Smiling and crying because of the too much emotions that they brought. 

I miss the whole FA. I miss my home. I miss my love. I miss him... so much.