Seth’s POV

“WOOOOHHHH!!!!” –rinig kong sigawan ng mga tao sa labas.

“Grabe, kinakabahan ako. Ang tagal narin nating hindi nakakapagperform sa harap ng maraming tao.” –JC

“Haha… Those shouts and noise are music to my ears…” –Lester

Lahat kami kinakabahan. Hindi man nila aminin pero, parang aligaga na sa kakapractice tong mga kamember ko.

Drache was holding his bass while mimicking the lyrics of the song we’ll play. JC was reading the lyrics of the song, while Kats strums his guitar. I was strumming mine too and Lester holds his sticks while playing with it. Then I saw Dix sitting… at parang kinakabahan siya ng todo dahil hindi siya mapakali sa kinauupuan niya.

“Hey Dix!”

Lumingon naman siya sakin.

“Keep Calm.” –nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya.

Ngumiti nalang din siya atsaka umupo ng maayos. Pagkatapos ng susunod na banda, it’s our turn.

Kanya-kanya kaming ginagawa ng biglang may pumasok, napatingin naman kaming lahat. It’s Venisse and Craise.

“Guiz, are you nervous?” –Craise

“Oo/Yes/A little bit/ Not really/ Slight/Medyo” –sabay-sabay naming sabi

“Don’t worry, we’re outside to support you. Kaya niyo yan. Nagpractice naman kayo right?” –Craise

“Yeah, we’re practicing for 4 days with a little sleep.” –Lester

“Ang papanget niyo na nga, nagmukha pa kayong Zombies. Tch.” –Venisse sabay labas ng room namin.

“Ah, pagpasensiyahan niyo na si Vens ha? Ayaw niya talagang manuod kaso, pinilit ko lang siya.” –Craise

“Ok lang.” –JC

“Pero, kahit ganon yun… may ipinabibigay siya sa inyo. Here…” –Craise sabay abot samin ng tig-iisang paper bag na maliit.

Kinuha naman namin agad yon at binuksan.

Nagulat pa ko sa nakita ko.

“Earpiece?/Earplugs?/Picks?/Drum Sticks?” –sabay-sabay naming tanong.

Earpiece yung kay JC, Earplugs yung kay Drache, Picks yung saming tatlo ni Kats at Dix and Drum sticks yung kay Lester. At hindi lang sila basta-basta... This are the most expensive na nakita ko minsan sa isang magazine.

"Woahhh... gagamitin ko to' ngayon!" -tuwang-tuwang sabi ni Lester

"Me too/Pati ako/Yeah!"

“Haha… napansin niya kasing, kailangan niyo yan kaya agad siyang nagpadeliver kahapon. hehe… if mananalo daw kayo, she’ll award you a 1 day free vacation sa LIL’ PARADOXIA” –Craise

One day? As in makakapagpahinga kami at makakapagenjoy for 1 day? WOOOOOHHHH!!!! That’s exciting. So kelangan pala talaga naming manalo.

“Eh bakit hindi siya ang magsabi samin?” –Kats

“You know her, she’s not that humble type. Baka tamaan pa kayo at masigawan kung sakaling siya ang magsabi.” -Craise

Minsan talaga, nababaitan na ako kay Venisse. Ayaw niya lang talagang ipinapakita, pero, concerned din siya samin.

“Ah… sige, labas nako, galingan niyo ha? Wag na wag kayong magpapatalo.” –Craise

Tumango nalang kami, pero pi-nat niya muna sa balikat si Dixon bago tuluyang lumabas.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!!” –rinig na naman naming sigawan sa labas. Tapos ng magperform yung ibang banda.

“So, it’s our turn.” –Drache

Tumayo naman kaming lahat at nagfists to fists.

“We can do this!” –Kats

“We’ll win this battle.” –Lester

“For 1 Day free vacation!” –JC

“FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT POWERFUL 6!”

“AND LET”S ALL WELCOME, THE NEXT BAND, THE POWERFUL 6!!!” –EmCee

Lumabas na kami at umakyat sa stage… Hindi na magkamayaw ang sigawan ng mga tao.

Dumadagundong ang buong paligid. Hindi maipagkakailang, sikat kami sa buong campus.

“WOOOOHHHH WE LOVE YOU P6!!!”

Nagsimula na kaming magbilang…

“1, 2, 3….”

I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine

Nagsimula ng kumanta si JC. Pinlay narin ni Drache ang bass niya at sinabayan namin siya ni Kats at Dix.

Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kis 

“WOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!”

I can feel the beat, flowing in my body… This is good… Mas lalo akong ginaganahan.

Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed

Bigay todo kaming nagpeperform.

I can see lots of people watching and enjoying our performance. Nakita ko pa sina Craise na nagtatatalon habang sumisigaw.

And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his-chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, letting me go

Napangiti naman ako ng Makita si Boss Vens na sumisigaw narin at patalon-talon pang nagcheecheer. Parang nabuhay tuloy lahat ng dugo ko sa katawan.

And I just can't look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis

I can see her smiling… without forcing herself to do it. It’s just a simple but powerful smile. Parang sinasabi niya saming, ‘galingan niyo!’.

But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr Brightside

This excitement… And seeing Venisse like that… it feels like she’s changing. Nakakatawa pero… unti-unti na namin siyang nababago. Kahit minsang pinapahirapan niya kami, atleast, may nangyayari sa paghihirap namin.

I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab

I looked at the others.

This is the first time we perform while smiling… Buhay na buhay lahat ng pag-iisip namin… Alam kong Nakikita rin nila ang Nakikita ko… Cause seen in their eyes… they we’re all happy.

While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his-chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, letting me go

Napatingin naman ako kay Drache. He’s smiling while looking at Venisse.

Cause I just can't look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me

The Gangster King, seems to be happy, and he’s also changing. Ng mga nakaraang araw, marami ang nanghahamon ng away sa kanya pero… tinatanggihan niya lang lahat. His reason? ‘I don’t fight weaks’. Pero sino bang niloloko niya? I know that it’s not the main reason why he don’t  want to fight.

Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr Brightside

I never...
I never...
I never...
I never..

Sa pagstay namin dito sa Pinas, marami kaming ipinagbago. Just because of our reason to change a girl, pati kami nababago narin. Hindi man namin aminin, pero, I like my changes…

Dixon’s POV

“WOOOHH!!! ANG GALING-GALING NIYO!!!” –sigaw ni Craise habang nasa loob kami ng room namin.

“HERE WE COME LIL’ PARADOXIA!!!” –Seth, Lester and Kats

“Hoy, tumigil na nga kayo? Ang ingay niyo, nakakahiya kay Boss Vens.” –JC

“Tss… sigurado akong pinaburan lang kayo ng ibang judges. Mas magaling parin ang iba sa inyo.” –sabi ni Venisse bago tuluyang lumabas.

“That’s how she say ‘congrats’.” -Craise

Napangiti nalang kaming lahat.

“Babe, you were great… all of you are great. Ang galing-galing niyo!” –Mitch

“We should thank Dix for that. Hindi kami makakasali kung hindi dahil sa kanya.” –Seth

Ah, yeah… remember when I come at Seth’s condo? Sinabi ko sa kanila na ready na ako. And I’ll be one of their members. Kaya nga naging P6 ang P5 kasi nadagdag ako.

Nagpractice kami ng ilang days at hindi na gaanong natutulog. Noong una kasi, parang nanibago ako pati sila. Ang tagal ko narin kasing hindi tumutugtog.

Kaya nung last practice namin, pinerfect na namin lahat. Hindi pa sana kami matutulog non kung hindi lang dumating sina Craise at Venisse. Nasapak pa tuloy kami at na machine gun.

Well, sinabihan lang naman kami ni Venisse ng…

“YOU IDIOTS!! HOW CAN YOU COMPETE IF YOU WERE NOT EATING AND SLEEPING WELL?! BAKA MAMAYA, HINDI PA KAYO NAKAKAAKYAT SA STAGE, BUMAGSAK NA YANG MGA KATAWAN NIYO!!!! STUPIDS!!!”

Akala ko nga ipagtatanggol kami ni Craise kaso…

“YEAH, SHE’S RIGHT! KUNG IPAGPAPATULOY NIYO YANG PAGPAPRACTICE NIYO NGAYON, AKO MISMO ANG MAGSASABI SA MGA JUDGES NA IDESQUALIFIED KAYO!”

“HOY! Ano na naman yang iniisip mo?” –binato ako ni Seth ng damit, buti nalang at napaiwas ako.

“Ha? Wala naman. Naisip ko lang, kung hindi natin sinunod sina Venisse at Craise kagabi, baka hindi tayo nakapagperform at nanalo ngayon.”

“Yeah, tama ka. Nagulat nga ako ng biglang sumugod si Boss Vens sa condo ni pareng Drache kagabi eh. At may dala pang sandamak-mak na pagkain.” –Lester

“Kung si Craise lang sana, hindi na ako magtataka, pero si Boss Vens pa raw mismo ang nagpumilit na pumunta sabi ni Mitch.” –JC

“Tinawagan kasi ako ni Vens at tinanong kung ayos naman daw kayo, tapos yun, sinabi ko yung kundisyon niyo. Nagalit pa nga sakin eh, ba’t hindi ko raw kayo sinusuway. Tapos ayon, maya-maya konti, dumating na siya sa condo ni Xander.” –Mitch

“Concerned satin si Boss Vens?” –Kats

“Sinong concerned? Ako bang pinag-uusapan niyong mga ugok kayo?” –biglang sulpot ulit ni Venisse.

“Ha? Hi-hindi… sinasabi lang naming, concerned  si Craise samin… Oo, tama.” –Lester

“Whatever. Oo nga pala, ito yung 7 entrance tickets sa LIL’ PARADOXIA. Gamitin niyo kung kelan niyo gusto. Just give that to one of my staff at alam na nila ang gagawin.” –sabay abot kay Seth nung tickets. Aalis na sana si Venisse ng bigla siyang hinawakan ni Drache para pigilan.

“Wait, you mean, hindi ka sasama samin?” –Drache

“Will you please, don’t touch me? And yes, hindi ako sasama sa inyo. Isama niyo si Craise kung gusto niyo. May… may importante akong aasikasuhin.” –Venisse

“Then we’ll wait for your free day.” –Drache

“I don’t have free day or days… I will be busy this following days, and don’t ask me anything about it. I don’t have reasons to tell you why.” –Venisse

Napabitaw naman sa hawak si Drache kaya lumabas na si Venisse. Naiwan naman si Craise sa loob kasama namin.

“Ano bang aasikasuhin niya?” –bulong ko sa kanya.

“For… for her comeback…” –bulong rin sakin ni Craise atsaka sumunod kay Venisse.

“Ano daw Dix? Anong sabi ni Craise?” -Seth

“Venisse will… *sigh* Paghahandaan niya ang pagbabalik ‘niya’.”

Natahimik naman silang lahat at nagkatinginan. Mukhang parehas kami ng iniisip.

This days will be hard for us too…