The Replacement Vocalist

Introduction

THE REPLACEMENT VOCALIST
written by MAIYUKI

Minsan mapapaisip ka na lang talaga kung ano ba talaga ang para sa 'yo. Sabay mapapatanong...tama pa ba ang ginagawa ko?

"Okay Cloud. Tayo na ang magpe-perform after them," Rain gestured to the band na kasalukuyan ay nagsisimula ng tumugtog sa may labas ng stage. "Anything you want to say? Pep talk?"

"Why are you asking me?" He answered incredulously. Tapos maya-maya pa ay nakita kong nakatingin na siya sa akin.

Ugh. I got a bad feeling about this. I saw him open his mouth at dahil pakiramdam ko alam ko na ang sasabihin niya, or may ideya ako kung anong balak niyang sabihin, ay pinangunahan ko na siya.

"I don't do pep talks, Cloud."

Cloud immediately scowled. Tapos napansin kong nakatingin na rin sa akin yung tatlo pang lalaki

Lightning with his one eyebrow raised in a challenge

Storm glaring at me impatiently

And then Rain looking at me expectantly as if he's hoping that I'll hang the stars for them...or well, give a "pep talk"

Finally my eyes landed on Cloud Stephen Walker again.

He's giving me the I-am-waiting look. Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin.

"That's a great idea, Hailey. You're basically the vocalist. It's your job to actually use your voice~" excited na imik ni Rain

Inilipat ko sa kanya ang masama kong pagkakatitig pero hindi natinag ang loko. Buset.

"Unheard Voices! One minute prep guys and then you're up!" the backstage manager, na kanina pa inaayos ang mga performers, suddenly announced.

Nakatingin pa rin sa akin yung apat at naghihintay.

"Just say a small something-something tapos yun na 'yon."

"Gagawin mo 'din naman bakit hindi mo na lang gawin agad."

"Hailey. Kaya mo 'to. Even a few words are okay. Please."

Then it's him and his black orbs again.

"Come on, petty Hailey. Bilisan mo na lang at magsisimula na tayo." Okay na sana kaso bigla pa niya akong inismidan.

Ughhhhhhhhh this guy is pissing me off.

"FINE!" I finally relented. Rain let out a whoop while Lightning and Storm just let out a relieved and exasperated sigh, accordingly.

Si Cloud? He looked at me with his signature "I-told-you-so" face and I resisted the urge to punch his still smirking face.

Kaso 'di pwede. Maari pa namin gamitin ang itsura niya para makahakot ng audience.

Four expecting pair of eyes meet my own, again.

Sigh.

Let's just get this over with.

I took one last deep breath to calm my nerves before I open my mouth and say the first words that comes to mind.