TRACK 9: Preparation

The man's face was pale like his body, and his lips lost its redness, fading into brown. Nangiitim ang butas sa nito sa leeg, galing ito sa tama ng bala. Ganito i-describe ang itsura ni G.I., Giancarlo Guevara sa totoong buhay, matapos siyang makita ng leader nitong si Dino sa morgue.

He covered G.I's face again with his blanket. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala na patay na ang isa sa mga miyembro niya, at hindi pa rin niya kilala kung sino ang gumawa ng karumaldumal na krimen laban dito. Dino sat down on one of the monobloc chairs at the hall. He looked to his right side and saw some of G.I's relatives, mourning. Suddenly, he turned his head to the left when Shazam called him.

"Do you have any idea who owned him?" the guy asked.

He slowly shook his head, looking down on the floor. Hinampas siya ng kaibigan niya sa balikat.

"What's that head-shake for? I'm just asking if you had any Idea who killed him?" iritableng tanong muli sa kanya. "Nako, bossing, wag mo akong daanan sa body language mo!" Shazam added.

"Hindi ko alam kung sino...," he mumbled.

"Boring mong kausap," Shazam commented. Dead air was filling in and nobody dared to start a conversation.

A place like this is too sad for everybody. Dito kadalasang dinadala ang mga patay... literally mga patay. As Dino gets slowly eaten by the melancholic atmosphere of the place, napaisip siya.

It's their doing, want me to hunt them down for you, Shaz? Gusto niyang sabihin sa kaibigan niya, pero wala na ito.

"Buiset," he muttered, throwing his hands in frustration.

Matagal na niyang mortal na kaaway ang Jodeci. Maybe everybody from the group, he's been in bad terms with its members since his childhood, take note na hindi pa sila grupo noong mga panahong iyon. Especially, the two singers... sila ang dahilan kung bakit miserable siya mula noon hanggang ngayon—their family killed somebody dearest to him: his uncle John Lennon Dela Peña.

Pumasok siya sa mundong ito para maghiganti because there's so much hate in his heart and he needs a place to channel it, the loathing wasn't even obvious in their H-Town songs as they're always filled with sensual desires.

"Basta promise mo sa'kin na magiging best friends forever tayo, ha?" Tinig iyon ng isang bata on one of his memories.

Tumayo na si Dino sa kinauupuan niya. He was supposed to hate that kid. Bakit niya pa kasi siya inaalala kung hindi naman dapat? Everything about that boy should have been buried to the ground, six feet under like his uncle and his recent member, a long time ago!

Hindi rin siya pumunta rito para mag-reminisce. He went here to be reminded of what he's supposed to do—ang pabagsakin ang Jodeci. Walking all over the hall, natatanaw niya ang pamilyar na pigura ng isang babae. Kulay pula ang buhok niya, naka-itim na v-neck, itim na leggings, at naka-doll shoes ito.

She turned to Dino with sad eyes, frowning. He scowled at the woman.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" he asked angrily.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Then she moaned, going towards him.

She cupped his face, moving them close to hers. She licked, and puckered her lips, ready to give him a hot tongue kiss... and the next thing the red-haired woman knew; she fell to her butt on the floor. Dino just pushed her away.

Mga babae talaga! Walang ibang iniisip kundi libog, he ranted in his thoughts.

"This is going to be the last time you touch me, now stay away from me," mariing sabi niya.

Tumayo ang babae. "Sige, pero hindi ko na kayo tutulungan," she responded and walked away.

Dino knows how gullible women like her are. He knew that she'll just come back. Iba ang pagkaka-intindi ng "Bahala kayo diyan," na sinabi niya because for him, it just means that...

...the party is just getting started, everybody is invited.

Meanwhile, the members of Jodeci just woke up. Today is Thursday, tanging si Dalvin lang ang may hangover sa shopping spree nila with Kyle, ang pinsan ni Sisqo. Devante and K-Ci went out to buy bread leaving his brother watching a movie with Dalvin at the unit.

~

[Devante]

Pinarinig ko kay K-Ci ang beats na ginawa ko kaninang madaling araw. I made sure to sleep early to make this. I'm sure na babagay ito sa vocals nilang dalawa, napakinggan ko na rin ang acapella ng susunod naming kanta.

"Bet," tipid niyang sabi.

"Ha?" I asked to make sure. "Pakiulit nga, K. Parang ayaw mo eh."

Kung kausapin ko itong K-Ci na to akala mo bingi. Ewan ko doon kay JoJo kung bakit ganito magsalita ang kuya niya. Hindi rin niya gets ang mismong kuya niya, eh.

"Who listens to R&B music nowadays?" said that one guy na mukhang galing pa siya sa gym.

"Ang bagal ng ganyang tugtugan eh, boring tuloy." Sabay tawa ng kasama niyang mapayat na mukhang dugyot.

I'm literally going to kill these two, kung dala-dala ko lang ang baril ko. I saw K-Ci na mukhang handa na niyang sugurin ang mga nag-sabi nun before he could, pinigilan ko sila.

"Chill, bro," sabi ko sa kanya.

Nasa labas kaming dalawa; bibili na kami ng tinapay. And it's only 5 in the morning once again... five-thirty to be exact. Pareho kaming puyat. Sadyang mga maknae namin ang nagising nang maaga kasi akala nila may shopping ulit. Haha!

~
[JoJo]

"Ano ba yang magkapatid na yan!" reklamo ko.

Nanonood kami ng Blades of Glory dito sa laptop ni Dev na naka-kabit sa flatscreen TV dito sa kwarto ni Dalvin. Mas mayaman pa talaga ang mga Castro kaysa sa'min, nakakainggit tuloy!

Devante really needs to change his TV. When does he think he is, the Stone Age? Hay nako!

Tumawa si Dalvin sa'kin, yakap-yakap niya ang Chopper na binigay ko kahapon. "Hayaan mo na nga sila, Jo!"

Pero after nilang magsampalan, they kissed, and it made me grimace so much...

...gusto ko nang masuka! Ilang beses na rin namin pinanood ni K-Ci yan.

"Tingin mo ba, Dal?" I pointed at the screen. "Gawain ba yan ng magkapatid?!" I raged. Tumawa si Dalvin... or should I say tinatawanan niya ako?

So annoyed to be with him! Pumunta ako sa may bintana para tingnan kung andito na nga ba ang asungot kong kapatid. I heard the door open and saw K-Ci panting. Devante went straight ahead to the sofa.

Bakit ito, parang tumakbo ng marathon?

Gutom na gutom na ako! Ayaw ko na mag-diet. Nakipag-special handshake muna ako sa kuya ko bago ako humingi. I gave him the puppy eyes, but K-Ci ignored the hell out of me! Ganun lang, hindi niya bibigyan ng tinapay ang kapatid niya rito?

"Kuya, pahingi ako!" I begged? It's not really begging when you call it that, pagalit kasi. K-Ci walked towards me then shoved a piece of bread on my mouth.

Ang sarap na sana, but next time he should have asked because I almost choked!

"Ang caring mo naman masyado sa kapatid mo, K-Ci! Same talaga kayo ni Dev." Kay aga aga, pambobola ang inaatupag ng isang ito.

"K-Ci, pa-almuthal ka naman dyan!" Dev requested. He just nodded. Parang lalong lumamig ang umagang ito, ganun yata talaga kapag nalulusaw ang yelo.

After namin kumain ng breakfast at nag-prepare, pumunta kami agad sa training hall sa loob ng mismong building ni Mr. Lee. Need namin mag-practice para sa darating na laban which will take place in three months.

Noticed namin na nandito ang tatlo sa member ng Dru Hill, dalawa na taga-Jagged Edge. By this time dapat si Sisqo ang mag-handle sa'min dito. Several minutes have passed and I became bored, inilabas ko ang phone ko para mag-Pokémon Go. I turned to Dalvin.

"Dalvin, nagpo-Pokémon Go ka, 'di ba?" He was bragging about the cute fictional monsters he's 'caught' in the past week. Nainggit ako!

"Oo, Jo. Bakit, ilalaban mo 'yong mga alaga ko?" He smiled at me foolishly na nagpaikot sa mga mata ko.

"Did someone say Pokémon Go?" asked Brandon. Nakalimutan kong nandito ang kumag na ito! Certified weeaboo pa naman ito.

"Wala kang naririnig," pagsusungit ko, pero pinilit pa ni Dalvin na sumali ito sa'min!

"Brandon, sali ka sa'min! Naghahamon ng Pokémon battle ang kasama namin dito." Mag-Pokémon battle kayo magisa nyo!

"Sige, Dalvin... and JoJo. First pahingi ng ID niyo sa laro."

Kanya-kanya kaming share ng ID sa laro, next thing we knew naghuhulihan na kami ng Pokémon around the room tapos nag-labanan din kami hanggang sa may mag-bukas na ng pinto na nagpatahimik sa'ming lahat dito.

He's not supposed to be here yet! Not at this jolly hour. Tiningnan ko nang masama ang kung sino man yun... I thought his cousin was supposed to guide us?

"All right! Magsisimula na tayo," Kyle exclaimed, smiling as he clapped his hands that echoed around the room. "Tigilan na yang pagpo-Pokémon Go nyo, pakitago na lahat ng mga cellphone ninyo." And then he counted from one.

Binilisan ko ang pag-tago sa precious Cherry Mobile kong Android phone sa backpack ko at saka tumayo. So... nasa business pa rin ang dearest insan ng isang 'to?! Anong klaseng business kaya yun? Sira na agad ang araw ko, yay!

Kung si Kyle ay strikto, ang pinsan niya naman tamad (to the point na halos hindi na nya kami binabantayan) kahit mukha siyang strikto kaya madalas chaotic ang mga training namin kapag si Sisqo ang nagbantay sa'min.

Pumunta agad ako kila Rufus para mag-sparring, at baka sakaling mailabas ko ang disappointment ko ngayong araw. Umaray siya sa'kin. Bakit naman siya aaray? Naka-safety gear naman siya ah!

"Jo, kumalma ka lang! Masyado ka nang hard," he complained widening his already wide eyes even more. I squinted at the guy.

"Eh anong magagawa ko? Dahan-dahan lang ako, ganun?" Pilosopo kong tanong sa kanya. He chuckled at me, sumimangot ako dahil doon... anong nakakatawa?!

Nilapitan niya ako. "Here, let me show you how to do this," sabi niya sa'kin. Nag-demonstrate siya sa kung anong next na gagawin ko.

~

"Baby, won't you just staaaaaaay... for a little while?" I sang as I sat down on the sidewalk, taking a rest from jogging far. Sabi kasi ni long hair na nag-alok na mag-jogging, five minutes daw ang rest time... ang tanong ay kaya ba?

Tumingin ako kay Kyle na biglang tumabi sa'kin sa pagupo. He offered a bottle of water. May lason ba yan? I want to ask. I couldn't tell if his smile at me is plastic kasi pilit... or sweet and apologetic. Kinuha ko na lang ang tubig nang hindi nagdadalawang isip sabay inom.

It was refreshing. I just overreacted and I stand corrected. Nakita ko si Kyle na nakatingin pagilid sa'kin, I even heard him sigh.

Pinaglaruan niya muna ang nakatali niyang buhok bago tumingin sa'kin, pero bago pa siya makapagsalita sa'kin, pinanungunahan ko siya.

"Wala kang kasalanan sa'kin. I'm the one who should apologize," I told. He just kept the closed-lip smile plastered on his face. "I'm sorry for being shallow, petty, for letting my emotions get the best of me—"

"Jo, slow down! Para ka namang iiyak," he reminded. It made my eyes widened.

"Di naman ako mabilis ah!" I whined. "Also, naiintindihan mo naman!"

"Okay, apology accepted, JoJo." He stood up and was about to walk.

"Sandali!"

He took a glance at me as he points on his watch. "Five minutes," he mouthed.

"Wala akong pake sa five minutes mo!" I exclaimed. "Looks like you're forgetting something."

"Ano yun?"

Don't tell me, nakalimutan niya ang isa pang key element sa tipikal na apology? I won't ask him to forgive me right away; I'm not that type of person, no way!

"Is there anything I can do for you? You know... hindi ka agad tatanggap ng sorry sa'kin."

He smiled at me and shook his head. Wala?! He proceeded to place his finger under his lip, looking up the sky. He looked at me again.

"I have this request," he stated. "One of my members didn't get to buy this limited-edition Gucci bag. He was bugging me for weeks, just because his sister didn't get to buy it for him..."

Wait. Kapatid pala ng member ni Kyle ang babaeng yun? Bago pa siya magpatuloy... "Okay, Kyle. Ako na ang bahala doon, so... pwede na ba tayo mag-jogging ulit?"

He chuckled. "Sige ba."

"Yosh!" I exclaimed, raising my fist up high. Kinuha ko sa bulsa ko ang earphones ko at isinaksak sa audio jock ng cellphone ko.

Tumugtog sa earphones ko ang 'Galvanize' ng The Chemical Brothers. Bumagay sa takbuhan ang beats, I could already feel my chest pounding every step I take with this song. I even saw Devante beside me, running with us.

Tumigil ako sandali. So did Dev and Kyle, who tilted their heads.

"Parang nakita kita doon sa shooting range, Dev," sambit ni long hair. "Kayo ni Dalvin?"

Tinawanan lang siya ni Dev. "Baka ibang tao yun," he snickered.

Pero naglabas si Kyle ng cellphone niya at pinakita ang stolen shot ni Dev. "O, sabihin mong hindi ikaw yun." Sabay inilipat niya sa video where he shouted Nokio's name.

"Ikaw Kyle! Nagkakalat ka ng fake news, bawal yan." Dinuro duro pasiya ni Dev but he just remained chill in his place.

I stretched my arms upwards. "O, ba't 'di natin 'pagpatuloy ang jogging natin?" I asked, looking at these two fools.

Kyle laughed. "Mauna ka kaya muna, Jo!" he told me. Ang killjoy mo, boy!

I fixed my shoes and readied myself on the way to run. Bahala kayo magbiruan diyan!

~

[Sisqo]

"Naks naman, first date pa natin ito ah!" she exclaimed, smiling her teeth out at me.

"Oo nga eh," I affirmed. "Really worth it na gumastos ako ng pangkain natin dito sa café."

Inubos ko na ang kape ko, pati na rin itong cheesecake namin pero yung kape niya, maligamgam na. Ibinigay na niya agad sa'kin.

"Ayaw mo na ba?" I asked her.

"Sa'yo na lang 'yan," she said sweetly. "Pwede mong ibigay sa pinsan mo kung ayaw mo."

Speaking of, I just saw Kyle with JoJo and Devante taking a jog. I can't let him know that we're already dating... di ko pa siya nasasagot.

I already stood up. "Actually, may aasikasuhin ako." But she held my hand.

"Stay for a while," she requested. I don't know if it's a demand or a plea. I can't escape her sad eyes.

Women are great pretenders; you can't just trust them right away.

"Hindi ko na pwede ipagsabukas ito," I reminded. "Because if I stall this more, then the deal is off. Magagalit si Ama sa'kin kapag binitiwan ko pa ang offer na 'to."

She still kept her "pabayaan mo na" smile at me. But I shook my head. I stood up and didn't mind her and left. I know it was a jerk boyfriend thing to do–leaving without saying goodbye, but I really can't stay by her side any longer. Hindi ko hahayaang bumagsak ang business dahil lang sa'kin.

I saw my cousin talking with the two H-Town members. Nakita ko lang din na tumatakbo paalis iyong si Dino. JoJo was there too. Hindi ko masyadong nadinig kung ano ang pinaguusapan nila.

"Hi, Sisqo!" bati ni Lelee sa'kin. They're having a practice right now... all of us are. Um-absent lang ako because of both of my businesses.

"Hinahanap mo ba si Tamara?" asked Coko. "Sabi niya sa'kin nakita ka niya kanina ah, hindi kayo nagusap?"

"Nag away ba kayo?" Lelee questioned, siniko siya ni Coko. "Aray!" she exclaimed.

"Chisimosa ka, girl!"

"Naman, so Sisqo. I'd like to know what's up with you both, saka ka namin papakawalan."

Girls really have this code that men don't understand. They're a mystery to us, indeed.

"Actually girls, I have some important business to do." Tiningnan ko ang watch ko, 4:45 na ng hapon. "It's almost cut off time. Hindi ko na pweding sabihing 'bukas na lang' sa kanila—"

"Oh sige, bye na Sisqo!" bati ni Coko sa'kin sabay siko kay Lelee. "May monkey business pala itong si lover boy!"

"Oo nga eh," Lelee assured, giggling. She was the last person to say her goodbyes to me.

After kong makipagusap sa kanila, dumiretso na ako sa unit ko. Naabutan ko si Kyle na nakahiga sa sofa, tumingin ito sa'kin.

"Where have you been, cous?"

"Sorry kung natagalan ako," I began. "May importante lang akong inasikaso."

"Ganun," he replied. "By the way, may pasalubong ka diyan?"

"Itong kape, pero maligamgam na ito, pwede mong i-microwave... isalin mo muna sa mug."

Kyle accepted the coffee. Nag-iwan ako ng pera niya sa side table para bukas. Lumabas ako sandali, pupunta kasi ako kila Devante... hindi ko muna siya sisingilin.

"Sisqo!" JoJo exclaimed. "Hinahanap mo ba si Devante?" he asked me. Silang dalawa ng kuya niya, may dalang mga maleta. Magbabakasyon ata sila.

"Yes. How did you two know? Saan kayo pupunta ni–"

The two were out of my sight when I was about to ask another question. Bahala nga silang dalawa! If those two dawdle more, then papalpak ako sa plano ko para sa kanila! 

We all compete against each other, both in the music industry and the world of Thugs; it just doesn't always work that way. Nagtutulungan din kami. Tinutulungan ko kasi sila on how to beat their enemies out of the Thug world, that way hindi na sila mahihirapan pa.

I rang the doorbell of their unit. Agad na bumukas ang pinto, I saw Devante grinning from ear to ear. But I cleared my throat and shook my head.

"Hindi ako pumunta dito para singilin ka, Donald. May kailangan kayong malaman..."

~ 

BONUS: GROUP CHAT

The four horsemen

Devante:

 Helloooooo \(^O^)/

Dalvin:

 were literally in the same room rn.

Devante:

 sorry hahah

JoJo: 

Ano yang chat nyo?! (_ _7)

Devante: 

Punta raw ulit kayo rito, sabi ni Dalvin.

Dalvin: 

may sinabi ba akong ganyan kanina?

JoJo: 

May sepanx ka, Dev

Devante: 

sepanx?? Ano yun, pancit?

JoJo: 

Separation anxiety. Duh -_-

Devante: 

Ok. 

gets ko na

Dalvin: 

hahahahahahahaha

JoJo: 

Anyway, may lakad ako ngayon. 

Bakit di nyo i-invite ang kuya ko, sabagay seen lang sya nang seen dito sa GC

Dalvin: 

lagot ka KC hahahahahaha

Devante: 

baka naman ibang lakad yan ha. luma-lovelife ka na. 

Ayie! 

someday ako rin

Dalvin: 

Jo, pwedeng pabugaw naman?

K-Ci: 

anong nangyayari? 

Bakit ako nadadamay dito?????

JoJo: 

Sa wakas! Nagsalita ka rin... 

at nagseen ka na naman. 

Dalvin bahala ka sa buhay mo, ikaw ang maghanap ng jowa mo!

Dalvin: 

Ha?!?!?!?!?!

Devante: 

O, siya. alis na ako rito, magluluto pa ako. 

JoJo, ingat ka sa "lakad" mo, ha?

JoJo:

 >:(

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A/N:

Sorry kung sabaw. This is what I'm gonna offer to you all, for now. Don't worry kasi babalikan ko rin ito pag na-cringe ako ulit.

I won't guarantee that the first season of this will be finished by early 2023, like I promised myself, pero susubukan ko rin i-work ang braincells ko for this.

Thank you! See you next time.