#NewClassicILIB

Chapter 1
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New Classic is a new Filipino alternative rock band signed under Top Star Records. It consists of lead vocalist and keyboardist Isaiah Kalen Mallari, lead guitarist Jestin Ike Rolloque, bassist Jeraiah Amirro Salvare, and drummer Fransic Leo Jaranilla. Their debut single, Smile, is written and composed by its lead vocalist, and arranged by the other members.

"Isaiah Kalen Mallari..." I whispered his name, after reading a very brief information about him and his band. "New Classic..."

I didn't know how many times I watched their music video, after I got home. And while I was on the road, I purchased their single and streamed it on repeat. I couldn't get enough of it. It felt like I was daydreaming on the way home.

Jerlyn thought that I was going insane. She didn't believe me that the guy, who always gave me the reason to smile, is a part of the newly debuted band. She thought that I was living inside a fairytale.

However, I couldn't blame her for thinking that way. Even I couldn't believe it at first, thinking that I was jut being pranked.

Who would've thought that I'd see him again? Who would've thought that I'd get to hear his song after four years? And to think that it's already a full song?

I pulled out his guitar pick and read the initials on it.

I.K.M.

After four years, I finally got to know his name.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I decided to check if they have social media accounts. Fortunately, a new account was created for their band, New Classic, with only ten thousand followers. It was following all the members in their personal accounts.

I followed all the members, who all had more followers than their official band account, before I went to stalk Isaiah's account. He had over a hundred thousand followers already. It looked like he already gained attention even before his debut.

His pinned tweet was a tweet promoting their debut single with links from different music platform. And his most recent activity, he retweeted a tweet of the New Classic account. It was a link to a video of their interview about their debut single and their band.

Without thinking much, I clicked on the link and I was directed to Youtube. It was an interview with ENT TV Music, one of the largest entertainment or music channel.

Once the video had loaded, I put it on fullscreen. As soon as I hit play, it played some kind of montage, made out of video clips from the New Classic's Smile music video.

After that brief highlight of their debut single and music video, the members of New Classic and the interviewer appeared on the screen. They were at a cozy interview room.

My eyes immediately focused on Isaiah. He was wearing a powder blue v-neck shirt inside a black suit, which sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. They actually wore the same style and outfit, except for the color of their shirts inside. Pink for Ike; green for Sic; and yellow for Jirro.

"We have here with us, the new band under Top Star Records, New Classic!" the interviewer announced, and the members clapped their hands. "Why don't you all first introduce yourselves?"

"Okay, one two three..." Ike led the greeting.

"Got music? New Classic! Hello, we are the New Classic!" they all greeted in unison, which stunned me a bit.

"Hi, I'm Isaiah, the lead vocalist and keyboardist of New Classic."

I couldn't help but to clap my hands, after he was done with his introduction. I had never felt this proud in my life. He was just a teenage boy before, making music at the park, who suddenly became the lead vocalist and keyboardist of a band. Not to mention the band was even under a trusted and famous record label.

"I'm Jeraiah Amirro, Jirro for short," Jirro introduced himself. "I play the bass guitar in New Classic."

"Hey, guys! I'm the drummer of New Classic, Sic!" The next one who introduced was Sic. I laughed when he tried to reenact how most vloggers tried to greet their viewers on their vlogs. Jirro and Ike chuckled, while Isaiah broke into a smile.

I paused the video to try and take a screenshot of the smiling Isaiah. He looked so charming. I suddenly remembered how he smiled at me that night.

It's that one memory which can make me just stop and smile like a crazy person. It can hypnotize me to feel happy and relaxed no matter how anxious or lonely I am.

"I'm Ike, the leader and lead guitarist of New Classic."

Once they were all done introducing themselves, they all clapped their hands. The female interviewer was all-smile, while watching them. I wondered, was she aware that she was in a very lucky position when she got the chance to interview them?

"Wow! So, Isaiah, Ike, Jirro, and Sic," she recited their names, one by one. "So, how did you four meet? Is it because of your label or you all know each other beforehand?"

"We met during first year of college," Jirro answered. "We kind of play as a band for fun since we all have interest in music, but we also went to a lot of gigs during weekends."

"Oh! So how are you scouted by your label?"

"We have a regular gig at The Frozen Lounge. Top Star heard about us, so they secretly came to watch our performance." It was Sic's turn to speak. "It so happened that we played the song Isaiah composed. After our performance, we were surprised when a talent scout approached us."

"How did you react, then?"

"We thought we were being scammed at first." Sic laughed as he answered. "But he gave us his business card and told us to come to Top Star the next week for an audition. When we arrived at the company, it was the only time we believed that it was a real thing."

"They let us play three original songs we composed and then, the next thing we knew, we were already given a recording contract," Ike added.

My eyes shined in amusement as I stared at four of them. I was sure that the label liked them so much that they only had to play a couple of songs to get signed.

Well, I mean, it was worth the risk! They have great songs and all of them are good-looking. They're worth the investment! They would surely garner many fans.

"So, all of you know how to write songs?"

"Isaiah and Ike write most of the songs that we play, but Sic and I are mostly responsible for the arrangements," Jirro answered. "Whenever we composed a melody, Isaiah and Ike would team up to write the lyrics."

Each and every one of them is so talented, and I could tell that they don't just have a great friendship, but they also have a great team as bandmates.

"Well, let's talk about your debut single." The interviewer shifted the topic. "Can you say something about it, Ike?"

Nodding his head, Ike looked at the interviewer. "Our debut single is entitled Smile. It is an alternative rock ballad, which is written and composed by Isaiah, and arranged by all of us," he introduced their debut single. "This debut single will be included in the upcoming mini album that we will release in two months. It contains five songs, which are all composed, written, and arranged by all the members."

"What is it about?" she got curious. "Can we hear more about the song, Isaiah?"

"Uh, yes," Isaiah awkwardly answered.

Pumangalumbaba ako nang si Isaiah na ang magsasalita upang mas maging kumportable sa aking posisyon. I wanted to hear his speaking voice more.

"I wrote it four years ago," he said. "I was seventeen that time."

My lips parted. So, he was two years older than me. I thought he was just around my brother's age.

"Seventeen? Wow!" the interviewer looked so amazed as I was.

"It's about making someone smile," he said, then a small smile touched his lips. "I want the song to serve an uplifiting purpose to people who are sad or having a hard time."

All of a sudden, I was starting to get emotional. I bit my lower lip as I felt the edges of my eyes getting hot.

It did serve its purpose, Isaiah.

I don't think he even knows how much strength I got from his song. It's way more than just a music to me. It's everything to me.

"What inspires you to write that song?" she followed up a question. "Is there some kind of anecdote?"

Kumaripas na naman sa pagtakbo ang aking puso. Napaupo ako nang maayos habang hinihintay ang kanyang isasagot. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan, ngunit kabadong-kabado ako.

Maybe it's because of the fear that he already forgot the memory―which is something very precious to me. It made me anxious to think that there's a possibility that he might not remember something that I'll never forget. It felt like all the butterflies in the world had come into my stomach.

"Uhm, yes, there is..." he said, somehow hesitating.

My lips parted.

He didn't forget?!

"I met a girl at the park in the subdivision where we used to live before," he started talking about that special night, and it made me smile because he could still remember it. "I would always come there, back then, to get inspiration in writing songs. I happened to see her. She's uhm... she's crying. It inspires me to write a song, which can make her smile that time."

All the worries and anxieties I had inside melted away in an instant. Like an ice cube thrown into a pit of fire.

"Oh... So, you wrote that song for the girl?"

I hated how the interviewer made it sound so scandalous, but I hated myself more because I was blushing so badly. It felt like my cheeks were on fire.

"Well, yes, you can say that..." Isaiah answered, his voice was hoarse.

"Did that girl get to hear the song?" she probed more.

"She did." Isaiah nodded his head a bit. "But she only heard the chorus because I only got to finish it when I got home."

"No, Isaiah..." I told him through the screen. "I already heard the full song, and I love it so, so much."

Ang ngiti sa aking labi ay hindi mapawi-pawi. Kung alam niya lang kung gaano ako binabaliw ng kanyang kanta na ginawa para sa akin.

"So, you are not in contact with the girl anymore?"

Isaiah shook his head. "I don't really know the girl. I just randomly saw her at the park that night," he explained. "I never saw her again, after we moved to a different subdivision."

"Oh, then, why don't you use this chance to send a short message to her? You wrote such a beautiful song because of her." The interviewer was so excited with her idea. "You can look at the camera over there."

His bandmates chuckled, teasing him. They were urging him to do what the interviewer asked him to do.

As for me, I didn't know how to act anymore. If he would really send me a message, my heart might just stop. I couldn't control myself already. I was going out of my mind.

"Uhm... Hi."

Before I even had the chance to mentally prepare myself, Isaiah already started staring onto the camera and spoke with so much cautiousness. Euphoria filled my heart up to the brim, until it stopped beating. It was like the time stopped for me to feel this happiness without any obstruction.

"If you're watching this, thank you for inspiring me to write a beautiful song," he said, and a tear escaped from my eye―hearing how despite his hesitation, he was still sincere with his words. "Wherever you are right now, I hope you're happy. And if you happen to hear our song, I hope it can make you smile again like before."

Once again, my lips automatically curled upwards. The interview continued, but I couldn't concentrate anymore. Everything they talked about, after Isaiah sent a message for me, was just some kind of gibberish to my ears. I was just absentmindedly staring at Isaiah, until the screen turned black, marking the end of the interview.

I had never idolized someone so much in my life. But at that moment, I was determined to dedicate my life to the band, and especially to Isaiah. I swore that I would support him and his band in any way that I could.