All Strings Attached

Chapter Three: The Curve

Jairus' perspective

Okay, do not be nervous! Nagpraktis ka para dito!

Every run-through, every breath and every cracked falsetto that Steve forced out of me was for this day

Tumayo ako sa gitna stood ng audition hall, mahigpit ang hawak sa gitara kong dala dala.

There were judges seated near the front—tatlong professors at dalawang alumni from last year’s NU Performance Exchange. They were all leaning forward, watching me.

The room was cold. Or maybe that was just my nerves talking.

I glanced back at Steve, who was sitting against the wall by the entrance, legs stretched out and arms crossed like he couldn’t care less. But I saw the nod he gave me—small and quick but just enough to steady my shaking knees.

Hingang malalim, focus!

[Singing Drag me down acoustic version]

… I've got fire for a heart
I'm not scared of the dark
You've never seen it look so easy
I got a river for a soul
And baby, you're a boat
Baby, you're my only reason

… If I didn't have you, there would be nothing left
The shell of a man that could never be his best
If I didn't have you, I'd never see the sun
You taught me how to be someone, yeah

The notes poured out of me like a muscle memory. But this time, there was more than just precision. Steve had drilled that out of me. That's why this time, the emotion was real.

… All my life, you stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down

All my life, you stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights, they can't blind me...

When I finished, I let the silence hang in the air.

And for a moment, I swore that the emotions I poured into the song—it echoed throughout the hqall.

Then came the clapping, slow and appreciative. Yung isa sa mga alumni ay ngumiti pa sa akin bago magsulat ng kung ano sa kanyang clipboard

I exhaled.

Done!

…Or so I thought.

"Wait—Jairus Klyde Dela Cruz
, tama?" one of the professors said.

“Yes po sir.”

"Mr. Dela Cruz, that was a solid solo performance," he said. “Kaya lang…hindi ka ba nakatanggap ng memo?”

I frowned. “Ano pong memo?”

The professor turned to one of the assistants. “Bakit hindi siya nakakuha ng update?”

The assistant nervously approached, handing me a printed paper.

I read the heading:

Updated Audition Guidelines:

NU Performance Exchange
Solo entries are no longer accepted. All applicants must audition as part of at least 5-member performance group.

What. The. Actual. Hell.

“H-hindi ko po alam na…” I said quickly, my throat dry. “This wasn’t in the original release—”