Eight Letters

Chapter 2

After class ay dumiretso agad ako sa auditorium, Kuya Ice made an excuse letter for the members of the club para sa short meeting at pag practice. He told us last night about the collaboration of our club and the university's official band na hindi ko naman kilala. Naupo ako sa isang vacant seat malapit sa center stage, I was slouching when Kuya Ice entered the hall, he's wearing a jogger pants good for dancing, a plain lose white shirt and a white big shoes. 

"Good morning, everyone! Medyo nadelay yong excuse letter natin because of some errors kaya magsisimula pa lang tayo sa practice. The band for the collaboration will be here any minute now they'll be using the left side of the hall." Pagpapaliwanag niya sa aming lahat. Sinabi niya din na iilang kanta lang ng banda ang sasayawan namin at kailangan lang nila ng sampung katao para di masyadong magulo unfortunately isa ako sa sampung iyon. Kuya Ice ordered us to change if we want to since may locker room naman kami sa loob ng club auditorium so I changed my skirt and wear a jogger pants almost same as Kuya Ice but mine has a bit slits on the thigh part at pinaresan ko ng puting croptop jacket. I tied my hair in a ponytail dahil hindi naman siya kahabaan at naglagay ng powder saka liptint para 'di ako magmukhang pale. I took my bottled of water saka sumali sa warm up ng iba. 

"16th shot bum dap up dadat pak" 

I almost giggled because of Ate Gwen, siya ang choreographer naming girls sa ibang parts she's also good, may lock ang bawat galaw niya pero hindi nawawala ang sexiness. Patuloy lang kami sa pag practice ng biglang bumukas ang pinto, pumasok ang ilang maintenance crew ng school na may mga bitbit na musical instrument. Napataas ang kilay ko ng may marinig akong impit na tili mula sa likuran ko.

"Alright andito na ang banda upo muna kayo." bago umupo ay kinuha ko muna ang water bottle ko at wet wipes  para punasan ang pawis ko saka ako naupo sa tabi ng lalaki na kasamahan ko din na sasayaw para sa banda. Limang babae ang sasayaw at limang lalaki para equal ang galaw, sinabihan na din kaming sampu na gagawa daw ng sariling group chat ang banda at isasama kaming sampu para sa mga updates.

Kuya Ice cleared his throat to get our attention especially mine because I was preoccupied, he smiled showing the dimple on his cheeks, he clapped his hands at nagsitilian na ang mga kasama ko, tumayo sa harap namin ang apat na lalaki they are wearing different id lace na nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang courses. Napako ang mata ko sa lalaking huling tumayo sa harap namin, he was wearing the I.D Lace of the law students, his eyes locked mine and he almost tremble when he saw me.

"Zysk bat ngayon ka lang?" tanong ng isa niyang kasamahan, he cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the guy beside him. I murmured some curses inside my head. Shit!

All the time nakayuko lang while he is there owning the center stage patuloy lang siya sa pagsasalita as the lead vocalist of the band, I gulped when someone tap my shoulder indicating that we we'll start to collaborate with the band. Nasa likod lang ako habang naglalakad kaming sampu patungo sa left side na gagamitin namin, hindi ko alam kung paano ako titingin sa kanya, should I approach him? 

'Damn it Erin it was years ago  you left him with your nonsense excuse,isa pa bakit ba apektado ka?" I pursed my lips when I saw him staring at me.  I look away  and approached the guy beside me.

 He's name is Dave Jewel but he won't let me call him Jewel because he prefers to be called Dave, we keep on talking about nonsense topic and I chuckled.  

"We'll only play two songs and those are Eight Letters of Why Don't We and Believer by Imagine Dragons." Pagsisimula ni Zysk habang nakatingin sa folders ng song lyrics at name lists namin. 

"Since we only have 10 minutes left before lunch I want you to write your facebook name and contact number for practice purposes." binigay sa amin ng kasamahan niya ang folder saka namin isinulat ang hinihingi nyang information.

"Kirby will add you in our group chat so be responsible enough to always check your inbox to be updated. I have some few rules hanggang magkakasama tayo during practice." he paused for a while and glared at me.

"First rule, do not be late we are only a week and few days left before the date of the welcoming rites. Second, do not do unnecessary actions such as flirting while having a meeting or a practice.And lastly, whenever I am talking keep your ears and eyes on me. Only me."

Bakit feeling ko sa akin niya sinasabi ang mga salitang yon? O sadyang assumera lang ako. 

"The practice will start at 2:00 sharp enjoy your lunch."

I rolled my eyes and walk to get my bag. Walang pasabi akong lumabas ng audi saka hinanap sina Samanta at Yong sa canteen because I promised them na sasabay ako sa lunch. Mabilis lang ang naging lunch namin kaya naman pagkatapos non ay dumiretso agad ako sa audi hindi dahil sa excited akong makita si Zysk kundi dahil takot akong mapagalitan. 

Nagbihis ako ng croptop dahil basa ang damit ko kanina kakasayaw, saktong pagbalik ko ay nandoon na ang apat na mokong habang tinitesting ang kanilang instruments. The guy with an architect ID Lace saw me and he smiled. Tinawag niya ako kaya naman lumapit ako habang pinipigilan ang puso ko sa pagtambol dahil baka marinig nila ito.

"Ang aga mo naman,Miss natakot ka ata kanina kay Zysk hahaha"I smiled at him ignoring the pair  of eyes beside me.

"I'm Jacques you are?" he held my hand for a shake hand and I gradually accepted it.

"Erin" he talked about stuffs ng tawagin sya ni Zysk, Jacques patted my head tsaka binalik ang atensyon sa drum. Zysk is their lead vocalist as well as their  guitarist, si Kirby naman ang kanilang bassist , si Jacques sa drum habang si Harrison ang  lead guitarist dahil minsan ay hindi naman naggigitara si Zysk kapag nagp-peform sila. I took my phone and saw Sam's message, naiwan ko daw ang tubig ko kaya ihahatid na lang ni Yong. 

We practiced until 6:00 pinauna ko na din ang dalawang umuwi dahil nga sa practice at sabi ko babawi ako bukas dahil half day ang practice namin. Naisipan kong sa condo na lang maligo at kumain kaya dumiretso na lang ako sa parking lot para kunin ang kotse ko na di kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ni Zysk at babaeng hindi ko kilala kung sino. Naka tagilid silang dalawa na mukhang nag aaway, maybe a girlfriend of him kaya pinasawalang bahala ko na lang at pumasok sa kotse. I started the engine and maneuver my car to my condo unit. Pagdating ko ay dumiretso ako sa banyo para maligo, nag order na lang din ako ng kakainin dahil napagod ako at tinatamad akong magluto. 

I opened my facebook account accepted Jacques' friend request, pagkalipas ng ilang minuto ay nasa groupchat na ako. Akala ko pa nga ay maling groupchat ang nasalihan ko dahil sa pangalan na 'JACQUES IS THE BEST AMONG THE REST'. Nagbackread lang ako at halos si Zysk lang ang nagsasalita doon, takot ata ang lahat sa kanya. After we broke up and left Philippines I deleted all of my social media account para walang contact sa lahat ng naiwan ko dito, ngayon lang ulit ako gumawa ng makarating ako sa Pinas para makiupdate kina mommy at daddy. 

I reacted on Zysk's message saying "Our practice tomorrow will be held at 1:00 do not be late." before I dived in to my bed and sleep.