A/N: Say hi to Nicholas. Hope you'll like it. Hehe~
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NICHOLAS
EIGHT O'CLOCK na ng gabi nang makarating ako sa harap ng isang high-end bar. And without batting an eye, I set foot inside with guitar at my back. I was greeted by the dim lights alongside the loud party music that invade the whole place. The air was filled with the combination of smoke of tobacco, perfume, and sweat that starts attacking my nostrils.
"Oh, Nico, may tugtog kayo ngayon dito?" tanong sa akin ng isang lalaki nang sandaling mapadaan ako sa pwesto ng grupo nila. He was seated near the dance floor with his friends, enjoying their drinks.
"Oo, tumawag si Manager e!" I replied almost shouting. Medyo hindi na kasi kami magkarinigan dahil sa lakas ng party music at ingay na dulot ng mga nagkakasiyahang parokyano ng bar.
A girl in black fitted dress butted in, "Kuya Nico, pa-request ako mamaya ng song huh!" Madalas siya rito lalo na kapag tumutugtog ang banda namin sa 'Metamorphosis.'
"Oo ba, no problem! Got to go, maghahanda lang ako sa likod," I said gleefully to end our little conversation.
"Sige, Kuya Nic--"
I didn't hear what she said; I already turned my back and head to the way where the backstage is. The backstage serves as room for us every time we're doing our gigs here in Metamorphosis. Makikita mo sa loob ang isang mahabang bench, mesa at ilang monobloc chair. It also covered with cream paint.
When I arrived, there's no one else here aside from the girl with long pitch-black curly hair, sitting on a monobloc chair. Hindi niya agad napansin ang pagdating ko. She was busy with her phone while playing with her hair. She was L, our female vocalist alongside with me. She's also the one who plays the keyboard.
As soon as she noticed my presence, she immediately gets up from her seat. Her long curly hair sways as she walks to close our distance.
"Nics, ang aga mo naman. Mamaya pang 8:30 ang tugtog natin, alas-otso pa lang at isa pa, May 23 ngayon!" she said with a curious face.
"Wow, L! Sayo pa talaga nanggaling yan, huh? Mas nauna ka pa nga sa akin. Siguro may inaabangan ka riyan sa labas, ano? Siguro si Manager ang pinupuntahan mo kaya ka laging maaga? Naku, L, binata ka na! Kaya pala ang ganda ng bihis natin," natatawa kong tugon sa kanya.
"Hoy, Mang Kulas, nauna lang ako sa'yo nang ilang minuto! For the record, this is my usual get-up ─ jeans and white off-shoulder."
Yeah, there's nothing trivial with her outfit. Like what she said, she always dresses up like that. Minsan nga, inaasar siya ng iba naming kagrupo na ibibili naman nila si L ng ibang style ng damit, para maiba naman.
"...At isa pa, itigil mo nga 'yang bunganga mong maliit kai-issue sa akin at kay Manager. Baka mamaya niya'y may makarinig sa'yo maniwala pa. Marami ka pa namang nabibiktima. Liit na liit ng bunganga, ang daming lumalabas na kalokohan," L mumbled the last part.
