All Strings Attached

Chapter Three: The Curve

“We sent out the revised rules two weeks ago,” the assistant offered. “It was posted on the campus bulletin and emailed to the people who subscribed from the list.”

List… Tama...The one I unsubscribed from…Of course.

Eh malay ko bang mahalaga yon?!

I looked over my shoulder, stunned. Steve was still by the wall, wearing that unreadable expression. His eyes met mine but he didn’t move.

“Edi kung ganon…” I started.

The professor gave me a sympathetic look. “You’ve got a great voice, but without a group, you can’t proceed. Pero meron ka pa rin namang isang araw para gumawa o sumali sa isang grupo…”

One day.

Cool. Great. Awesome. Exept that IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!

I stormed out of the auditorium.

Steve followed casually behind me, as if we were just walking out of a cafeteria and not the graveyard of my dreams.

“I can almost hear your ego crying,” he said.

I glared at him. “Please, don’t. Not now.”

He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. “Wala kang—Hindi mo talaga alam?”

“Eh kung alam ko lang, edi sana hindi na ako nagperform ng solo! Nagmukha lang akong tangahing walang alam dun sa stage, Isang malaking kahihiyan.”

“Fair.”

We walked in silence for a bit, my chest was still tight.

“You can always start a band,” Steve offered.

“Eh kanino? Sa tabo at sabon ko sa banyo? I bet everyone has already formed their groups now...”

I sighed to lessen my frustrations.

“...Tatlong araw lang ang audition at ngayong araw ang first day, meron na lang akong natitirang isang araw para makahanap ng grupo at maka practice, tingin mo may himalang mangyayari?”

He didn’t respond and just leave.

I wanted to scream or punch something…or maybe just scream while punching something. But instead, I did what I always did—I tried to look for a solution.

And weirdly enough, the solution found me, in the form of a person.

___
I was still sitting on the empty steps behind the music building, trying to cool myself down and think when Jean Elijah Navarro appeared.

He looked like a daydream guy with dark circles— a weird but elegant outfit, long hair adorned with cool accessories, and black headphones hanging on his neck—How should I put this…He looked elegantly beautiful despite being manly.

He was holding a leather notebook and a thermos like he hadn’t slept in days—but still composed. Quiet. Intense.

I recognized him. He was also an upperclassman, just a year younger than me, who never spoke unless it's necessary. The one who once played an entire original song during a school exhibit and then walked off stage like it was nothing.

“Jairus,” he said.

I blinked. “Kilala mo ako?”

“No, but I heard your performance,” he said, sitting beside me. “You were…good.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Nasa loob ka kanina?”

“No. Window,” he answered, nodding toward the side wall. “Great acoustics.”

Well, that… felt kind of creepy, but weirdly flattering.

“I heard you're looking for a band,” he continued.

“Yes. And I have, like, less than 18 hours to find one. I’m doomed.”

Jean nodded thoughtfully. “I’m putting together a group for the audition as well. Technically, it’s already formed, we just need two more members. And I want you to be part of us.”

My breath caught. “You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

I turned to face him fully. “Okay—pero knowing you, alam kong may kapalit ito. So, what’s the catch?”

Jean closed his notebook slowly.

“I’ll only let you in if you can get Steve to join us.”

I stared at him. “Ha? Ano?”

“I’ve heard your voice. But I still need Steve’s.”

“I—how do you even know we know each other?”

“You rehearse together in room 304, windows and walls are thin.” Jean stood, brushing his long hair off. “If you want to join, bring him tomorrow. Practice is at 10 AM. Music building. Room 108.”

Then he walked away like nothing happened. No further explanation.

I just sat there, mind blank, mouth hanging open.

"what the fuck was that?"

When I got back to the hallway, Steve was still there. Sitting on the floor like a bored cat.

He looked up. “Antagal mo namang mag drama! Kalmado ka na b— What happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Not a ghost, a demon in a shell of a genius.”

He tilted his head. “Si Jean ba ang tinutukoy mo?”

“Yup.”

“Ano namang gusto non sayo? Bakit ka niya nilapitan?”

“He offered me a spot in his group.”

“Okay, that’s good, right?”

I sighed. “Yes, but they would let me in if…only if I bring you with me.”

His smirk vanished.

“Ah,” he said.

There it is. Sana pumayag siya.

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