The past few months have been amazing and tiring at the same time. After the South America tour, they went around Europe then headed to Asia. While in Europe, Michelle was even able to write, produce and feature in a song with her girls, Little Mix. Their song, Heartbreak Anthem, being their 2 single as a trio. During their time there too, Michelle was one of the first people they told aside from their team and family about Perrie and Leigh-ann's pregnancy. To say Michelle was excited to add the two 'mini little mix' to her list of godchildren to spoil thrilled the singer.
Everyone on tour had gotten closer to each other since they basically spend almost 24 hours together, it is understandable. Needless to say, they all see each other as a family now, even more than before really. All the pranks on tour during each other's setlist, tolerating each other's quirks and whatnot. The bond The Presses, Billie, Finneas, and the crew, backup dancers, and band have with each other are unbreakable.
Landing in Manila, the hot humidity hit them like a truck.
//
"It's our first time here in the Philippines and it's so fucking hot."
"The humidity just hits different."
"Oh god, we even have 3 shows here."
(A/n: When I was in the Philippines, I grew up in Baguio, where we are like a mountain on top of a mountain so I'm used to the cold weather so every time we go down to visit family I'm fucking sweating my ass off and I'm sticky all the time and just.. no me gusta. The Fifth Harmony concerts I went to were hell because we would fall in line and I feel like Imma drop dead anytime, thank god for Mcdonald's sundae and coke floats.)
//
Making their way in the van, they were driven to the hotel room where they would be staying for 5 days before going to Bulacan where hopefully it's a bit cooler.
Michelle leaned her head on Christen's shoulder as they watched their daughters sleep, sweat dripping down their foreheads.
"When is Lola meeting us?"
"She's in Naguillian right now to visit some family but my uncle is going to drive her up to Baguio once we are there. She'll be able to attend the concert there."
"She's not coming after that?"
"No, she wants to spend as much time at her house as possible since this is the first time in 4 years since she had last flew here."
Christen hummed and nodded her head. She heard groaning from the backseat, only to see Billie and Isabella groaning because Finneas laid on both of them.
"Get your fatass head away from us."
"But I'm comfy here."
Billie licked her brother's forehead making him sit up and glare at her sister.
"You're gross."
"If I'm gross, you are too."
"That's not how it works stupid."
Isabella groaned at the both of them and rested her head on Billie's shoulder, obviously still tired from the plane ride here.
"Children, both of you."
Christen and Michelle looked at each other, shaking their heads and chuckling.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
During the second show, Billie started losing her voice, and when the third show came, it was completely gone. The singer paced around the room, not wanting to cancel her setlist because even though the fans technically mostly paid to see the Presses perform, but her as well.
Isabella, being tired of watching her friend pace back and forth, thought of a solution to her problem.
"What if I perform your songs for you."
Billie stopped pacing and Finneas looked up from the couch in front of her.
"Really? You would do that for me?"
"Yeah I mean, I memorized your setlist from all the times I have watched you and you always wanted me to go on that damn bed."
Billie and Finneas looked at each other, clearly communicating with their eyes on what to do until Billie looked back at the younger girl and nodded her head.
"That's actually a great idea."
Isabella stood up and clapped her hands.
"Great, now stop speaking, preserve your voice, and watch us rehearse."
Billie playfully rolled her eyes but followed Isabella's instructions nonetheless.
//
Isabella sat on the couch confused when Harold asked her in for an interview. He gave her a knowing look making the 18-year-old more confused.
"What's going on between you and Billie?"
Isabella scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"After what happened with me and you know who, I don't think I am in the right mind to even think about that Harold. Why are you so interested in my love life anyway?"
"I don't know, makes for good content."
//
It's time for Isabella to go out for Isabella. She bent down and got into position on the bed, making sure nobody saw that it was her. The bed started going up, the camera focused on her so the fans could see her face and when they realized that it was Isabella instead of Billie, they started screaming louder.
She "fell" off the bed before rushing towards the catwalk and stood there with a smile, the fans below reaching out to her. Music for bury a friend started playing and everyone was losing their minds as Isabella jumped on stage. After that song, she gave Finneas a smile before bringing the mic up to her lips.
"This might be super unexpected and we're sorry that Billie isn't here right now, but as she tweeted earlier, she lost her voice so I'm kinda subbing in for her."
She fixed her earpiece and nodded over at Finneas.
"I have always looked up to Billie, and it's honestly crazy that we're friends now. Her songs just hit different ya know, most of them I could definitely relate to. This next song specifically, y'all know how I got my heartbroken."
The fans booed made the 18-year-old chuckle.
"If the album I released didn't make it obvious. And to be honest, I'm still not over it, so here are bitches and broken hearts."
The boo'es of the crowd turned into cheers as the music started playing once again. In the middle of the setlist though, Billie decided to go and join Isabella on stage, quietly singing beside her. They both smiled at each other and hugged before turning to the crowd and taking a bow.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Arriving in Baguio was a relief for Michelle since it was a lot colder than Manila and she was thankful for it. The pine trees were also a big difference from the polluted city that they were once in and actually seeing a bunch of trees instead of on one tree a street was actually refreshing.
They are staying at Lola's house in a village in Bakakeng and that's when Linda dragged both Michelle and Christen to the public market. So that's what they are doing now. With Mitch and Christen following behind Lola, holding a bunch of empty bags as they listened to the old lady bargain with the sellers.
"It's fun here."
They looked around, only to be met by everyone curious and awe-struck eyes making them awkwardly look away. It wasn't until Lola came back, holding 5 kilos of 'Baguio Beans'.
"Lola, that's too much."
"What do you mean too much? Idjot. Have you seen how much you eat? Sige, ibabalik ko yung dalawang kilo tapos wag kang kumain ha?" (fine, I will bring back 2 kilos then you won't eat okay?)
Michelle playfully rolled her eyes and just opened the green bag that she was holding.
"Ang OA mo Lola, ilagay mo na nga dito sa loob, and dami mo pang sinasabi." (You're overreacting Lola, just put that inside, you're talking too much.)
Christen watched their banter in amusement as they went on, listening to Lola teach them about bargaining and sweet-talking.
"Just buy that carrots over there, I want to be a tourist and do touristy things."
Rolling her eyes at her granddaughter, she reached into her pocket and paid.
"Sige Mare, Salamat." (Okay -don't know the English of Mare but I think it's a friend? I don't know I failed Filipino growing up lmao-, thank you)
She turned to Michelle after placing the carrots inside the bag Christen is holding.
"I would have gotten the carrots for ₱25 instead I had to pay ₱30 because of you."
"It's just 5 pesos, plus with the inflation, 30 pesos is actually a good price."
During their stay in the Philippines, they were able to meet a lot of their family members who they haven't met yet and at the same time, look at beautiful places that the archipelago has to offer.
All in all, that was an enjoyable trip for all of them and they were for sure planning on coming back already.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A/n: This chapter reminded me of when I was back home and now I miss it. Also thought of putting my own pictures for the Instagram post of this chapter but all of them had my face in it and I do not want to do a face reveal LMAO
The next chapter is the last chapter of the season then I think I'm gonna focus a little bit more on the other book before starting up season 4. For all the glee fans out there, oh I have such a treat for y'all. I have been wanting to binge the show again because I miss Cory and Naya so I am taking advantage of this. I already wrote the prologue and I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!
Also, the next chapter is going to be a little bitter-sweet for the gleeks.
But everything aside, I finally got my laptop! The first thing I did was put a pride heart sticker beside the mousepad because it symbolizes me, still in the closet lmao. That sticker was supposed to put on my face for pride but whatever.