Filler Notes (Rendezvouz Series #2)

Prologue

Neon lights, upbeat music, and students wearing different outfits based on their motif were scattered inside the hall; talking, laughing, and mingling with other students.

It was the acquaintance day of the Senior High students of Feldenmore University, at lahat ay excited para sa event na ito. Sino ba namang hindi? It's everybody's chance to make new friends and flaunt their fashionable clothes, and of course, baka chance na nila ito para mapansin ng crush nila.

Sa pinakadulo ng table, nakaupo ang isang grade-12 student at pinagmasdan ang ibang estudyante na makipag halubilo sa kapwa nila. Jarren Petersburg Santiago let out a bored sigh habang nakahalumbaba sa mesa at pinagtripan ang mga kubyertos sa harap niya.

"Ang layo mo naman sa amin," tumingala siya at nakita ang dalawa sa mga pinakamatalik na kaibigan niya na nakangiti at tumatawa.

"Bakit ba kasi dito niyo ako nilagay? Ha, Roll," Jarren complained, and turned to his friend who was distracted on the keychain twirling around his finger.

"I'm part of the committee pero si Gwen pa rin ang in-charge sa seating arrangement natin." ibinulsa niya ang keychain saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan. "It's not my fault na,"

Jarren doesn't have a choice but to accept the fact that he is placed at the far side of the hall, away from his friends. Si Gwen na ang naglagay sa kanya dito, aangal pa ba siya. He smiled just by thinking of her.

"Dadalhin ko na to sa backstage," Roll announced as he carried Jarren's bass guitar. "Don't sulk, mamaya niyan makita ka ni Gwen na nakasimangot, babastedin ka nun,"

The music blared on the four corners of the room as they wait for the other students who are still not inside the hall. Napalingon naman si Jarren nang may umupo sa tabi niya. She was wearing a black jacket over a loose white crop top, and black jeans and converse.

He smiled at the girl in which she returned with a shy smile bago itinuon ang atensyon sa cellphone niya; a clear sign that she doesn't want to engage in a conversation - o baka nahihiya lang talaga.

"Geisha!" Jarren turned around towards the direction of the voice.

She was wearing a daring red halter fitted dress, her hair was braided on the side kagaya ng kay Elsa sa Frozen. Tumayo naman ang katabi niya at kinaway ang kamay sa tumawag. She beamed at the girl walking towards her bago lumapit sa kanya at pumunta sa gilid ng hall para magpicture.

Naiwan nanaman si Jarren sa table nila at inako ang posisyon na taga-bantay sa mga bags ng kasama niya sa table. Buti na lang at naisipan na ng mga organizers na magsimula.

There were games to get the people inside the place acquainted with each other, and one of it was a game called human bingo. At dahil may appeal si Jarren, siya ang isa sa mga taong dinumog ng mga babae para pumirma sa category ng "Your Crush", na ikinangiti niya naman. Oh, how he loved the attention. Not – well maybe a little bit.

The program went accordingly to its flow. Boring welcome speeches by their school director, inspiring speeches by their student council president, and once-in-a-while intermission. Jarren thought when it would end, at nasagot naman ang tanong niya nang sa wakas, inanunsyo na ng mga MCs nila na kainan na!

Habang pumipila ang mga estudyante sa station kung saan naroon ang pagkain, Jarren got up and went in front along with his senior high bandmates. He slung his guitar strap and checked kung nasa tono ba ito.

"Mic check 1, 2, 3!" His best friend Roll called. "Alright! How's everybody doing so far?"

Lahat ng estudyante sa baba ay napahiyaw at pumalakpak. Ito na ang hinihintay ng iba, live band habang kumakain. Habang tinutono pa niya ang bass niya ay inaliw naman ni Roll ang mga estudyanteng kumakain.