CHAPTER NINE

"THE CONNECTION is fine. The speakers are all set. Try your microphone, Kuya Dan," Narae instructed Daniel, and the latter followed suit.

"Hello. Ang gwapo ni Mike pero mas gwapo ako," nakangising sabi nito sa mic.

Sinamaan naman ito ng tingin ni Mike kaya natawa silang lahat "How about yours, Unnie?"

Wynter let out a deep breath before nearing the microphone. "Check one, two, three."

Narae clapped her hands. "How about your drums, Kuya Mike?" The man hit the drums before giving Narae a thumbs up. "Great! Do you three still need to practice? Never mind, you can't practice since papasok na ang mga customer. So, good luck! I believe in y'all!" Nginitian siya nito. "Kaya mo 'yan, Unnie!"

Hindi naman niya napigilang mapabuntong-hininga. What the actual heck am I doing anyway? Napatingin si Wynter sa direksyon ng dalawa niyang makakasamang magperform. "Anong kanta? Nakapag-decide na ba kayo?"

It was Mike who nodded and answered her. "Yep. Would a Paramore song be okay with you?"

Siya naman ang tumango. "Which one to be exact?"

"Still into you, para naman mapunta ang spotlight kay Mike," natatawang saad ni Dan.

Wynter softly chuckled. "Ayos 'yan. Marami pa namang customer kapag ganitong araw. For sure, maraming magnanasa sayo," she told Mike.

Daniel whistled at her remark, earning a laugh from her and Mike. "Let's put this show on the road, people!"

THE SMOKE machine that they installed just a while ago works and was first used for their performance.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present our very own Wynter Vazquez!" sigaw ni Narae habang hawak ang mic.

A series of claps welcomed the three of them, making the boys smile. Using his drumsticks, Mike cued both of them. "One, two, three." And Wynter started singing.

Can't count the years on one hand

That we've been together

Then Daniel had the microphone.

I need the other one to hold you

Make you feel, make you feel better

They had their first duet after how many years, and Wynter could say that she's actually having fun. She would throw Daniel glances and she can see how happy he was. Mike's drumming skills made the audience go wild.

When the instrumental came in, Mike was in the spotlight.

"Let's give it up for our drummer, Mike Cabrera!" Wynter shouted which earned tons of cheers.

"Go, Mike!"

"I love you already, Mike!"

Pare-pareho lang silang performers na natatawa sa isinisigaw ng mga babae sa audience.

"How about we clap our hands for our bassist and vocalist, Daniel Marquez!" she shouted as well while pointing at the grinning man.

"We love you, Daniel!"

"Please be mine, Daniel!"

Napailing na lang silang tatlo habang nage-enjoy sa pagpe-perform. Wynter continued playing the guitar as her mouth neared the microphone to sing the next lines.

Some things just, some things just make sense

And one of those is you and I

Some things just, some things just make sense

And even after all this time

When the bridge hits, Wynter stopped playing and held the mic before throwing a glance at Daniel, who also stopped playing the bass while staring at her.

Hindi malaman ni Wyn kung bakit hindi na niya maialis ang tingin sa lalake na ngayon ay nakangiti sa kanya habang kumakanta.

I'm into you

Wynter locked her eyes on Dan as she sang the next line.

Baby, not a day goes by

That I'm not into you

They both smiled at each other as they sang the chorus together. They slowly walked towards each other and met at the center of the stage, still staring at each other's eyes. Narinig ni Wynter ang paglakas ng sigaw ng mga tao dahil sa ginawa nilang dalawa, kaya hindi niya naiwasang mapailing habang nakangiti. Pareho nilang hindi inaalis ang titig sa isa't isa hanggang sa matapos ang kanta.

"And that is all from these special guests, folks! We hope you enjoyed it," Narae said while holding the mic.

Sila Wyn, Mike, at Dan naman ay sabay-sabay lang na nag-bow sa stage saka sunod-sunod na bumaba.

"Ang angas natin doon!" Daniel exclaimed. Nilingon naman nito si Mike. "Ang astig mo pa rin sa drums kanina, pre! Natugtog ka pa rin ba?"

Mike shrugged. "Minsan kapag walang magawa, nagpa-practice naman ako sa bahay."

Napatango naman si Wynter. May nakita kasi talaga siyang drum set sa bahay nito noon. Not just drums but also guitars.

Saglit na nagpaalam si Dan para kumuha ng maiinom nilang tatlo. Napansin ni Wyn na may nakatitig sa kanya kaya naman inangat niya ang tingin. She then saw Mike staring at her.

"What?"

Umiling naman ang kausap. "You look good performing together."

Napakunot naman siya ng noo. "It was a great performance. All three of us."

Mike just hummed while slowly nodding his head. Napailing na lang si Wyn sa inaakto ng kaibigan.

Nang makarating naman si Daniel sa lamesa nilang tatlo ay agad nitong ibinigay ang mga inumin nila. Another band was performing on stage.

Tahimik lang silang tatlo habang ine-enjoy ang moment nang biglang lumapit sa kanya si Narae saka iniabot ang mic.

"What am I gonna do with it? Ako na ba ang host?" Wynter asked the lady.

Narae chuckled at her question then looked at the men beside her. "If you fine gentlemen would let me take my precious unnie, we still have to perform a song before we fully enjoy the evening, oki?"

Natatawang tumango naman si Dan. "Just please bring her back in one piece."

Wynter rolled her eyes before glaring at Dan. Tinawanan lang din naman siya ng binata. She stood up and walked along with Narae as they waited for the band to finish their song.

Mahinang siniko siya ni Narae. "Ready, Unnie?"

Wynter took a deep breath before smiling. "It's just Gimme More by Britney Spears, what harm could it do to us?"

Narae grinned. "Oh, I like that!"

And when their song began, smoke came out of the machine, and they stole the spotlight while dancing to the beat.

Though Wynter's for sure that something—perhaps, someone else was adding fuel to her fire as she performs.

At nang lingunin niya ang kanina pang titig na titig sa kanya ay hindi niya mapigilang ngitian ito. When she wasn't satisfied enough, she even smirked at them as she moved her hips.

And here I thought this song won't do any harm. I think I might be wrong about that. She thought while staring at two hungry men.

Mukhang sa gabing iyo ay makakalimutan ni Wyn ang pagtanggi niya noon kay Dan. Mukhang kahit sa gabing iyon ay mapapagbigyan niya ang lalake. Just one night, she'll forget one of her personal rules. She'll let him in one last time.