A/N: What's up Madlang pipol? Happy Friday! Pretty sure you won't get to see another update after this, but try ko mag-type some words if I'm free. Oki?

Also, I'm on Discord now. Do message me there about joining "theoldskulcronicles" the private server dedicated this story, I'll be updating y'all there from now on. Ayoko na sa Twitter lol.

I'll enable friend requests for the meantime, and then I'll turn it off later once you readers got the memo. 

Kita kits!

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Track 14: The Show Part 1 "Rain on the Parade"

They say it's still the beginning but it's ending. You, dear reader, have been warned that what the writer says will be filled with exposition. These may or may not be important to you, you will be asked to react accordingly. And so, the author of this entire post on this website would like to thank you for going this far.

This story didn't begin with a protagonist waking up late for school and crashing into their love interest... but somehow similar. Everything began with a man in his twenties, driving his car, rushing to work, when he crashed into the flowers that his brother was watering. And at that building, he's reunited with two close friends.

In the Philippines, the 25th of February was celebrated as another independence—from a dictator who once ruled the country for over two decades. Now those who support the strongman in his tyrannical rule, more than forty years ago, are trying to distort history in this digital age... by making him a hero, despite the presidency's countless human rights violations. Why was this date relevant?

Because in this story, the day since the first EDSA Revolution, the year of our Lord 2016, Jodeci began.

They're the voice behind the sexy bedroom anthem, Freek'n You. They're dropping singles left and right while they tour around the country. They eventually gained a following because of K-Ci's deep, drowning, ear-gasmic voice and JoJo's lively, soulful high notes. Not to mention Devante Swing's genius behind every song they make, and Mr. Dalvin's instrumentals. Does it sound great to your ears?

If you'd love to hear more drama than good with these men, just days after the group was formed, their Makati apartment was set on fire by an unknown source. Mukhang may mga taong ayaw na agad silang sumikat! At sa kasagsagan ng pagto-tour nila at every school, at every stadium, all over the nation, their vocalist K-Ci accidentally exposed his privates in front of hundreds of spectating fans. This caused a major outrage all over the archipelago. They're dubbed as a negative influence by many critics.

The indecency happened again two weeks ago, a clip of Devante making a dirty pickup line to a TLC member during an interview with a showbiz news host made rounds all over social media that earned the ire of the public.

"I honestly DON'T feel good about this group."

"Their fans are crazy too! Mga palamunin lang naman sa bahay, feeling matalino..."

"Like idols, like fans. Parehas toxic. Perfect combo!"

"I'm glad I stayed with Dru Hill. ^v^ mas disente pa faves ko kesa sa mga yan."

"Pinagtatanggol nyo yung bad influence nyong boyband? Don't stoop that low, mga Jodecidal!"

Danny turned off her phone after reading the showbiz article. Annoyed that she threw it on her soft bed and not at the wall. She crossed her arms, pouting.

"Ano ba yang apektado ka na naman sa hate comments about sa boyband mo?" katwiran ng kapatid nyang si Julianna. "Di mo tanggap na hindi all the time na magugustuhan ng madla ang iniidolo mong Josie ba yun?"

"Jo-De-Ci! Ate," Danny said carefully, correcting her. "Hindi ko matatanggap yun, hindi ko sila maintindihan! Bakit grabe silang judgemental sa kanilang apat?"

"Kasi may mga sari-sarili silang preference."

"At yung gusto nila ay yung i-bash ang Jodeci?" tanong ni Danny. "Sana isinarili na lang nila mga masasakit na salitang tinatapon nila!"

Julianna sat down on Danny's bed. Right hand on her back.

"Hwag mo na lang silang pansinin. Gawin mo na lang is panoorin mo na lang mga live performance nila, just don't look at the comments."

"Iisipin ko lang din naman ang sasabihin nila eh!"

Julianna puts her hand on her chin before saying another word.

"Oh, eh di break time ka muna sa social media. Tama na kaka-Facebook at Twitter mo. Now ipakilala mo naman ako sa Jocelyn mo—"

"Ate paulit ulit na lang ako rito," Danny scolded. "JODECI!".

"Okay, okay!" Julianna surrendered. She sat down on Danny's pink office chair as she intently looked at her.

"Sila po ang tinaguriang "Bad Boys" ng R&B..."

~

[Dalvin]

From MrsDalvinSwing: Dalvin, ang cute mo, oppa saranghae!! Ako to, si Danny, love na love ka!! ><

"Aww, thank you," I whispered to myself when I read the tweet reply to one of our group page's posts.

I didn't find that comment myself, aaminin ko sa inyo. Kyle went through all that trouble to cherry-pick kindhearted comments among those that straight-up tear us apart, and then show those to us. Totoo guys, ito ang consequence ng pagiging sikat naming apat.

"Thank you talaga kay Kyle," JoJo complained. "Now we'll never know what kind of hate comment we'll get next! Probably another death threat to dodge?" The way JoJo said it was as if he doesn't want the truth to be suppressed. Not minding about the situation na damay din siya sa mga binabato sa'ming mga bala... kaming lahat dito.

Naalala ko na naman na umiyak at nagwala na parang batang inagawan ng stuff toys si JoJo sa bed dahil sa mga nababasa niyang mga pambabatikos sa'min kahapon. People online should really take it easy on what they're typing on their keyboards! Tao pa rin naman kami.

Devante was checking backstage kung pwede na ba kami mag-perform. Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, we're the second to the last performing act. I'm confused if they're doing this on purpose to make a fuss about us four, or nagkataon lang since kasisikat lang namin ngayong panahon. Lalo na ngayon, we're going to have a solo concert later this month.

"Hala nahulog! Hala nahu... log log log lo-lo-log!!"

Naririnig ko na naman ang viral clip na yan, habang tinatawanan ito ni Kyle. Sumilip ako sa phone niya only to find that Vine of that scene from Eat Bulaga!, yung nahulog si Jose Manalo sa ilog tapos in-edit.

"Next na raw kami," Devante chimed in.

"Ha?" hindi makapaniwala na tanong ni JoJo. "Ang bilis naman. Akala ko pa naman mamaya na kami!"

"Tangek!" tawag ni Devante. "Tinatawag na tayo ng host sa stage."

K-Ci just went ahead without saying anything to which JoJo pulled him by the collar of his black jacket that exposes his toned body. Nainggit naman ako dahil nakita ko na naman ang six pack abs niya!

"Excited ka masyado." Rinig kong sabi ni JoJo sa kuya niya. Nahiya na naman ako dahil wala akong ma-contribute na laway dito sa scenario na 'to. I just stretched my arms upward and stood up from the white monobloc chair.

I grinned from both corners of my face. Not that I was told na hindi ko dapat dinadamdam ang mga hate comment na binabato sa'min but I was honestly looking forward to this moment. Kahit na pang-ilan na ito sa mga gig namin, it should always feel like the first time on stage, ika nga ni Kyle.

The four of us went on stage to a booing crowd instead of a lively, cheering one. We waved hello at them, regardless.

"Get off the stage, mga bastos!" one heckled.

To be honest, nakakalungkot lang na nakaraan lang ang init ng pagtanggap nila sa'min sa Fort Boni pa lang. Unlike today, this audience is giving us the ice cold stare, and those distasteful remarks! My lips quivered, faking a smile, already on the verge of shedding a tear.

"Gusto lang namin sabihin kung gaano namin kayo ka-mahal," JoJo announced. "And that we're excited to perform our songs–"

"Eh 'di wow!" sigaw ng nasa awdyens. "Wala dapat singitan, respeto naman o!"

"Hindi kayo ang hinihintay namin dito! Boo!" Another one even made a thumbs-down gesture.

"Sino ba makikinabang sa mga kanta ninyo!?"

"Mga B.I.!"

"Sino sa inyo may bugok na itlog? Ibabato ko sa mga yan."

Pinipigilan ko sarili ko na pagsabihan ang mga ito. I just can't take it anymore. I need to be as professional as I can be.

"Please, pwede po bang manahimik na lang po kayo at hayaan nyo na lang po kami kumanta dito? Mamaya na lang po kayo mag-comment..."

"Anyayabang ninyo a!" Naputol yung sasabihin ko when a guy threw a coin at my shoulder. Ha! Daplis lang, malayo sa buto.

"Bumaba na nga kayong mga bano! Nakakahiya naman kay Jona! Kantang kanta na sya o!"

Lumingon kami at nakita namin ang kampo ng isa pang R&B singer, si Jona, na masama ang mga tingin sa'min. I heard K-Ci singing nevertheless. Just because kinukuyog na nga kami rito ng madla, doesn't mean it could discourage us from spreading our music. Mindset na kung mindset.

"I think we should go down now," rinig kong bulong sa'kin ng kuya ko. Sinundan ko yung tinitingnan niya ngayon: si Jona at ang team niyang mukhang na-badtrip kaya sila nagsi-alisan sa entablado.

Maybe this is our destiny. Sa una lang kami magaling, parang lyrics sa isang kanta ni Skusta Clee. This is tempting us to give it all up despite ang layo ng narating namin mapunta lang kami sa ano kami ngayon.

The crowd continued to heckle at us, may nagtawag na nga ng security sa labas.

~

[Tamara]

"Uh hi, good evening!" bati ni Jona sa audience niya. "Actually kaninang 6pm kami nandito, pero nakikiusap sana kami na wala sanang bastos, wala sanang sumisingit sa'min." Teka lang, pinariringgan niya ba ang apat?

And whose side should I take? Not that gusto ko yung nangyayari sa Jodeci, but I felt worried!

"Yan ba yung kahapon? Sa Taguig?" asked Coko, pertaining to the video I just watched.

"Bastos talaga apat na yan!" Lelee complained. I could hear a little bit of foreign accent when she said that. Mala-Sandara Park ang Tagalog, I wanted to add. "Pa-relevant sila masyado. Di naman pogi." She frowned.

"Wow, kung makasalita ka about Jodeci, Lelee, akala mo 'di ka naglalaway sa abs ni Dalvin kahapon," I heard Coko call out, but my focus was on Sisqo who was preparing food on the kitchen.

I wanted to ask that question about sa kumakalat na video ng Jodeci at ni Jona. Naririnig ko na ngang nagtatalo sa likod ko ang members ko, ang ingay kaya! I went to where Sisqo was, nakita ko na siyang dala ang merienda naming barbecue french fries.

"What are your thoughts?" I asked shyly, not looking at him. Lord, bakit ang gwapo naman niya? Siya na ba ang para sa'kin?

"About what?" tanong niya pabalik.

"Yung video."

"Video ng alin?" he asked again, seems like hindi niya alam.

"Ng Jodeci, kakanta sana sila sa event pero pinaaalis sila ng mga tao duon kasi kakanta raw si Jona." I made sure to explain this the best I can, pero kumukunot pa rin ang noo ng lalaking ito. My God! Kailan ba siya makakaintindi? Hindi naman siya ganito before!

"Di ko pa napapanood," he answered with a straight face. "My members were talking about it, I'll check mamaya." Inalokan naman niya ako ng cola pagkatapos.

But my impatient self complained, "Gusto mo ipapanood pa sa 'yo, eh!" Then I rolled my eyes at saka tinawanan niya ako.

"I'll watch it later Tamz," he dismissed. "Sinabi ko na yun kanina."

Alright! Now he mentioned that his members have already seen it. "But kung viewpoint ng members mo ang basehan dito, ano kaya ang iisipin mo about doon?" tanong ko sa kanya instead.

"Ayokong sabihin sa'yo 'to, Tamz..." Sisqo holds his chin before niyang ituloy. "but it's better if we look at all sides kung ano talaga ang nangyari. We can't just rely on either side after all. Uuwi na ako sa'min."

I just nodded as I watched him go out the door to my apartment. Nilapitan naman ako ni Lelee at itinapat niya sakin ang mangkok niyang may kaunting tirang barbecue powder. Nanghihingi? Grabeng buhay, di pa ako nag-aanak, nasistress naman ako sa members ko sa sobrang takaw!

"Tammy, Lee, nag-message si Kyle sa GC. Sabi nya EK daw tayo," banggit ni Coko, and with that my face lightened up.

Kasi Enchanted Kingdom yun! Though napuntahan ko na yun noong nag-aaral pa ako sa elementary, gusto kong pumunta muli doon!

"Tinanong mo ba kung sasama pinsan niya, Coko?" I asked. Wouldn't it be romantic if Sisqo's with me?

"Pass," diretsong sagot ni Lelee.

"Si Sisqo na naman bukambibig mo, girl! Itigil mo na yan." Coko rolled her eyes at me. "Ikaw Lelee, bakit ayaw ko? Pwede ko naman sabihan si Kyle na–"

"Basta. Ayoko."

KJ naman ni Lelee! Ano kaya problema niya?

"Alright," sabi ko. "Sabihin mo dyan kay Kyle na ako na lang sasama kasi pareho kayong bitter."

"Wow kung maka-bitter ka diyan Tamara!" reklamo ni Lelee.

"Akala ko ba broken ka?" With my hands on my hips, I raised an eyebrow on this girl. Kanina pa siya!

"Girls," singit ni Coko. She was raising her palms at us. "Hwag tayo mag-away. Let's discuss this calmly, ako na bahala sa EK trip natin."

"Give me your phone nga! Ako kakausap dyan kay Kyle."

Dito nagmukhang nervous itong si Coko. Nanlaki ang mata, napakagat sa labi, at nanginginig ang kamay nang nagabot siya ng telepono sakin.

Ibinigay sa'kin ni Coko ang phone niya. Tumambad ang Facebook convo nila ni Kyle about sa trip namin sa Laguna. Inisip ko na what if sumama rin ang Jodeci? Syempre di titigilan ng mga mata ni Coko iyong si Dalvin!

~

[Dalvin]

Pader na naman!? Kanina pa brownout dito samin at wala akong makita. Pati labas, walang streetlight at gabi na. Di rin ako sure kung nagsindi na ng kandila sila K-Ci sa living room. My outreached hands served as my eyes baka bigla akong mauntog. Naririnig ko naman ang tatlo na naguusap.

Pinaguusapan nila sa sala ang sausage incident kay K-Ci sa Fort Boni last month. They mentioned that Kyle will post a statement later on behalf of our label tonight. On cue when I described, nagkaroon na ng kuryente, malamang naghihiyawan na mga kapitbahay namin while blowing their esperma candle singing a happy birthday song. Anak Ng Tokwa! Di ko na namalayang malapit na ako sa door frame ko.

"Isa pa, guys," sabi ni Dev. "Iniimbitahan tayo ni Kyle na mag EK!" This made my heart jump out of joy, kumukurba ang mga labi ko from both sides. Elementary field trip pa namin yung huling punta ko sa amusement park na yun.

"Enchanted na naman!?" reklamo ni JoJo. "Di ba kayo napapagod doon sa pambatang lugar?"

"Dami naman nilang pera," rinig kong bulong ni K-Ci.

That's when I decided na lumabas na ako ng kwarto at magpakita sa kanila to somehow jump in to their convo. Narinig kong umangal pa itong si JoJo, typical JoJo, pero di ko na siya maintindihan dahil kalalabas ko lang sa aking silid.

"Baka Angeles mga 'to?" JoJo commented. "Take note, Dev. Di pa bayad sa'yo si N–"

Devante cut him off. "Let's focus on this agenda: going to Laguna. We should take this opportunity to promote our music, 'di ba K?"

Sabi ko nga may sasabihing hindi maganda itong Kung-Fu Panda na ito.

"A-ano..." I finally had the courage to join the conversation. "Uunahin pa ba natin maglabas ng statement?" I asked.

"Statement, or no statement, Dal. The show must go on." Nginitian niya ako. I remained bewildered at them. "Sama ka samin, kapatid, need namin ng genius mo."

Ha? Bakit ako!? I wanted to question my brother.

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