OLIVER'S POV

Kanina pa sumasakit ulo ko dito kakaisip kung sino ang pwedeng maging kasama ni Althea sa concert para naman makapagpractice na kami agad. Itong mga kasama ko naman, parang wala silang pakialam. They were just sitting comfortably in their sit doing their own agenda.

"What now?" I asked them.

"What what now?" balik tanong sa akin ni Shiki

"Woah, you know now how to question others, improving." I said sheepishly.

I just heard him tsk-ed then continue what he is doing before I interrupted them.

"Who will accompany Althea?" I asked them seriously.

"Oli, hindi bagay sa'yo ang seryoso, nagmumukha kang old thug. Meron ng sasama kay Althea." -Ryoji

Napatayo naman ako sabay hampas ng lamesa na nasa harap ko. Nakita kong nagulat si Shiki at Ryoji sa ginawa ko. Si Ezekiel naman ay tumingin lang sa akin.

"Bakit hindi niyo man lang sinabi sa akin? Hindi na ba ako mahalaga sa inyo?" pagdadrama ko.

"Gay." Shiki commented.

I shot him a death glare. Makuha ka sa tingin.

"Sa ingay mo, hindi mo narinig na sinabi na namin iyan." Ezekiel said not looking to me.

"Sino yung kasama niya?" I asked them

"Shaina is one. We are still thinking if we are going to ask Phoebe to accompany Althea." -Ryoji

"Hindi papayag si Phoebe." napalingon naman ako sa nagsalita.

"Oh Shaina, hi." bati ko sa kanya. Kasama niya si Trace.

This two, there's something fishy going with them.

"And why?" -Ryoji

"Oh come on Ryoji, Phoebe Kurosu. KUROSU." emphasize niya sa apelyido.

"And so?" pagtataray naman ni Ryoji.

"Hindi yun papayag alangan. She hates doing concert, again." pabulong niyang sinabi ang huli.

"Why?" takang tanong ni Ezekiel

"It's not my story to tell. But I know that Phoebe is a popular musician. But she stopped for some reason." sabi ni Shaina sabay upo sa sofa.

Kanina pa pala siya nakatayo dun, ngayon lang niya naisipang umupo.

"Sinong ipapalit natin?" I ask them again.

"How about Adrian?" Shaina suggested

Umiling lang sina Shiki at Ezekiel.

"How about the other guy, yung kasama palagi ni Adrian? Yung tinawag ni Althea na... Orlando ba yun?" -Shaina

Nagkatinginan sina Ryoji at Shiki. Tsaka sila tumingin kay Ezekiel.

"Let's ask him." -Ezekiel

"Ano bang mga kaya niyang gawin?" -ako

"Looks can be deceiving." -Trace

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya.

"What I mean is maybe he is like Althea, full of mysteries." -Trace

Tumango na lang ako. Trace can understand Filipino, but doesn't know how to speak to kaya naman naiintindihan niya kami. At kami-kami lang ang nakakaalam nun. Ayaw niya kasing ipaalam sa iba. Tumingin ako kina Trace at Shaina.

"Are you two going out?" out of the blue na tanong ko.

Napaiwas naman ng tingin si Shaina while Trace wore a blank face.

"I'm still courting her." Trace said and then hold Shaina's hand.

Shaina just blushed to what Trace did. This two lovebirds.

"Sagutin mo na yan, baka mamaya magsawa yan." pananakot ko kay Shaina

Tiningnan lang ako ng masama ni Trace. This guy is really scary. I just raise my two hands indicating that I surrender to him. Hirap talaga kapag walang makausap na matino sa mga ito. Ako lang ata ang madaldal dito. Tsk.

SHIKI'S POV

We are now heading to Lan's room. Adrian's his roommate, that's why we know where is his room. After we reach there, Ryoji knock on the door. After a few seconds, the door opened and it showed Lan wearing casual clothes. Maybe he is going seomewhere since its Saturday today.

"Can we talk to you?" Ezekiel asked.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?" Lan replied

"Follow us." Ezekiel said.

Ezekiel walked away and we followed him. Looks like we are going to a practice room. After a few minutes of walking, we really headed to a practice room.

"Anong gagawin natin dito?" Lan asked after we entered the room.

"Can you play any instrument?" Ryoji asked him.

"What if I can?" Lan asked.

"Sasamahan mo si Althea kapag kaya mo. You will be one of Althea's accompany." Oliver replied to his question.

Lan walk towards the instruments and get a violin. Classic lover. I said to myself. He started to play a song. As far as I know the song he is playing is not a classical song. That's a modern song.

"Lighters, eh?" I heard Oli whispered.

Yeah, that's right. It's 'Lighters'. The way he played the violin, it's like he's a professional violinist. He played the song smoothly. After playing it, he put back the violin on its case.

"Ayos na ba yun?" -Lan

"Better. One of the theme of our concert." Ezekiel said while smiling.

"Ang tanong, payag ka ba?" -Oli

"Of course, basta para kay Althea." -Lan

I saw Ezekiel stiffened.

"May gusto ka ba kay Althea?" Oli asked him curiously.

"Me?! Nagpapatawa ka ba. P---"

"Don't say anything anymore. You already answered his question." I cut him off.

He just look at me. So I also look at him. This guy, not being careful with what he is saying. What if something happen to Althea if he finished what he is suppose to say. He should thank me later for cutting him off.

ALTHEA JEANELLE'S POV

Nagtext sa akin si Lan, sabi niya pumunta daw akong garden. Kaya naman naglakad na ako papunta doon. I wonder why kung bakit niya ako pinapapunta doon. Pagkadating ko doon, naabutan ko si Lan na nakaupo sa ilalim ng puno. Kaya naman lumapit ako sa kanya. Nung nakalapit na ako sa kanya, nakita ko si Shaina sa tabi niya.

"Bakit mo ako pinapunta dito?" tanong ko kaagad ng makapunta ako sa harap niya.

"Oh, hi din Althea." he said sarcastically.

"Kami ang magiging company mo sa concert." nakangiting sabi ni Shaina.

"Really?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Bingi ka ba? Di ba sabi niya kami ang makakasama mo sa concert?" -Lan

Sarap kutusan ni Lan, kaso wag na dahil sa alaalang iyon. Kawawa lang siya sa akin kapag ginawa ko yun. Ayaw ko munang mag-assume. Kailangan ko munang kompletuhin lahat.

"Tsk. Okay. Kailan start ng practice?" I ask them.

"Sabi ni Ryoji, every after class daw ang practice." -Shaina

"So weekdays lang ang practice?" -ako

"Yep. Pero this month lang daw yun. Pero kapag December na, everyday practice na daw." -Shaina

Right, November na pala ngayon. Magkakalahating taon na ako dito. I am starting to miss Philippines.

"Ano bang gagawin natin dun? And why they need me?Kaya naman nila yun." -ako

"Kasi may mga kanta sila na kailangan ng babae." -Lan

"Edi sana si Shaina na lang. Since close naman na siya sa kanila." -ako

"As if namang gagawin nila yun." -Shaina

"Bakit, hindi ba?" -ako

"Hindi yan, for sure." -Shaina

"Ito pala yung mga kakantahin at tutugtugin natin. Actually parang back-up lang tayo sa buong concert. Sa last part lang tayo lalabas." sabi ni Lan sabay abot sa akin ng isang folder.

Kinukha ko naman iyon at binasa. Grabe,ang dami naman nito.

"Pero pang grand ending daw tayo. Yun yung sabi sa akin ni Zekie." -Shaina

Tumango lang ako.

"Sige, una na ako. May gagawin pa ako." sabi ni Lan. Aalis na sana siya pero parang may nakalimutan siya dahil bumalik siya. May iniabot siya sa aking mp3 player.

"Nandiyan yung mga songs na gagamitin sa concert. Pag-aralan mo na lang." sabi niya sabay alis.

"Oh. Alis na rin pala ako. May gagawin din pala ako." sabi ni Shaina.

"Weh? Baka naman may date kayo ni Trace?" I said to her teasingly.

"Wala ah." sabi niya sabay talikod at lakad palayo.

"Wala daw. Nag-blush naman. Sige deny pa." sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Umupo na lang ako sa ilalim ng puno at sumandal doon. Papakinggan ko na lng tong mga kanta. Mas magandang maagang mapag-aralan 'to para naman hindi na ako mahirapan.

[EDITED]