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P A T
"And for our next band, we have Axl, Denver, Kara, and Pat. Let's give a warm round of applause for Authorized Personnel Only!"
I heard the host's voice loud and clear yet it all feels so surreal. My hands are shaking so bad, it feels like my mic is going to slip at any time.
"Hey, chill. Isipin mo, tayong apat lang nasa studio tapos malalaking bangaw lang silang lahat," pabirong sabi ni Denver habang umaakyat kami sa stage.
"Girl, chin up. You got this!" Ngiti naman ni Kara, sabay tapik sa likod ko na para bang sanay na sanay na sila sa ganitong mga eksena.
Tumingin ako sa paligid at nakita ko ang sobrang daming tao. I can't find Mads and Ganja, but I know they're just somewhere in the field kasi sabi nila ay manonood daw sila.
"Just three minutes, Pat. 180 seconds. If it all goes well, you have something epic to tell your future grandkids," bulong ni Axl sa gilid ko.
"B-But if things don't go well?" I asked him in hesitation.
He laughed. "Then you will have something funny to tell them instead," he said, a confident smile on his lips.
Hindi ko alam kung mas dapat ba akong kabahan dahil sa sinabi niya, samantalang siya naman ay abot-tenga ang ngiti at walang bahid ng pangamba.
"Let's?" He smiled, holding out his hand to me.
He looks so different when he's happy. Sobrang layo sa masungit na Starbucks guy na unang nakilala ko. I guess I really don't know him enough to judge him. He seems friendly naman with his classmates and his bandmates, so he can't be that bad, can he?
I took his hand and climbed up on stage with him. His fingers were long and had some light callouses but they wrapped around mine warmly and perfectly, which somehow helped appease my nerves.
Kara and Denver were already setting up when we got on the stage. Kara plays the drums, Denver handles the bass, at si Axl naman ang lead guitarist nila.
I stood behind the mic stand and instantly heard the crowd cheer. Masyadong maliwanag ang mga ilaw at wala rin akong mamukhaan sa mga audience pero naririnig ko ang pagtili at pagsigaw ng mga kaibigan ko mula sa malayo. It seemed as if the entire student population plus the guests are watching—and all of their eyes are set on me.
"Guys," Denver announced from behind me. "Ready in 3, 2, 1 . . ."
I heard them start to play, so I closed my eyes at the same time I opened my mouth to sing. I immediately noticed how quiet the crowd got. Na-conscious tuloy ako lalo kaya mas hinigpitan ko ang pagkapit sa mic.
Every time I think of you I feel shot right through with a bolt of blue It's no problem of mine, but it's a problem I find
