Jayler"Here are your drinks.” I heard someone from behind and when I turn my head around, it was Lance holding a tray with our drinks in it. He gently transferred the drinks onto the table."Thank you." I muttered trying my best to have the best smile."Now that I've noticed it, why do you look so down all of a sudden?" Lance inquired his voice was clear but I didn’t even know he was talking to me.“That’s because he’s about to be expelled, something like that.” Kenneth spat and that’s the moment I realized Lance was actually talking to me. I kicked Kenneth’s feet under the table but he seemed unbothered by it. He just grabbed his Matcha and stabbed it with the straw.“What? Why?” Lance sounded shocked and I couldn’t even look at him in the eye because I know he’s a good guy and I’m just this messed up high school kid. I don’t personally know the guy and I’m ashamed that he has to know about my current situation.“It’s nothing really.” I tried brushing it off. Kenneth and his loose l
Jayler I stared at the address that Kenneth just sent me and it’s like they’re moving and glowing and just trying to lure me into going out. It’s still quite early and my dad’s not home tonight so it’s going to be a piece of cake to sneak out tonight. However, I’m still skeptical about this whole thing. I’m pretty much well aware that I have everything to lose here and this might just be the last resort that I have to do in order to not lose everything. I don’t want my parents to get horribly pissed at me. That’s for sure. I don’t really want my mom to be greatly disappointed in me. She’s been so strictly supportive for me and my older sister and although it’s getting annoying at times, it’s still worthy to note that she’s been doing her job as a mother almost like she’s born to do it. I don’t want anything that my dad would do to me and when I say anything I meant everything. My dad has some anger management issues and he’s just this dominant man that doesn’t want someone overpoweri
Chapter 17 - Jayler “Hey, stop right there!!!” A tall man with big muscles stopped me right before I could even reach the entrance of the backstage. The door was left wide open, nevertheless I couldn’t get a good look at whoever’s inside. “Uhm, sorry.” I trailed. “Backstage is off limits for customers.” The man followed up with his buffed up virile voice which sounded disturbingly terrifying. “I’m just looking for someone.” I muttered and deep down inside, I was already growing nervous and worried at the very same time. I guess I was feeling nervous mostly because this dude looks like he’s going to smash me just like a can of soda. The feeling of worry was just coming from the fact that I have no guarantee that I might see Lance tonight. The tall guy, which was probably a bouncer because he’s wearing a black shirt and he’s all made up of muscle, was just staring down at me with his arms crossed over his buffed chest. “Do you happen to know someone named Lance? Uhm, he’s a vocalist
Chapter 18 – Lance The world of being in a small band has been a dream of mine ever since I was in high school. And being the vocalist of August Thunder was by far the best thing that has ever happened to me. I say it’s the best thing that has ever happened because quite frankly, I’ve reached nothing more than that. Years have gone and passed and I’m still stuck here in this place where I was thrown into after what happened a few years prior. I really thought dropping out in college would make me a star and become this successful singer but apparently, I was just a naïve college guy back then. In spite of being in a small band like August Thunder, I felt like I’ve achieved my dream. However, I don’t necessarily feel like I’ve reached the success that I was envisioning several years ago, and even right now, I don’t see anything beyond this point. Yes, I’ve managed to reach my dream and that’s already a great feat in itself but that’s just one of the many dreams that I’ve dreamt of. I
Chapter 19 – Lance Walking out of the stage, I was still feeling my heart beating at an abnormal pace, almost like I’m palpitating but in a weird pleasurable way. The feeling wasn’t entirely foreign but it’s worthy to point out that the last time I felt this kind of bizarre yet elating feeling was years and years ago. I don’t know if I should be smiling from ear to ear most especially after that whole set of sad songs that delivered a heart wrenching hook with an intensely cathartic bridge, but I was kind of doing exactly that—smiling. I don’t want to admit this or even acknowledge the feeling but I feel like I want to go back to that stage again and just sing another lugubrious song consisting of an intense chorus. And perhaps—this might just be a temporary feeling, a mood per se—yet I just want to see Jayler stare at me again with those innocent, almost irreproachable and yet curious eyes. I’m sure of this because his friend was also looking at me, along with all the other folks ar
Chapter Twenty - Lance “Everything’s okay, Jayler. Don’t be embarrassed just because we’re not that close and also, I’m not going to judge you. I guess, I’m going to say this is a good space for you tell whatever’s going on.” I felt like I have no other choice but to hear Jayler out. I tried encouraging him not to be shamed about this situation when he came all the way here to ask for some help for whatever shit is going on in his life. “Yeah, I’m just really figuring out how to say this.” Jayler nodded and then paused for a while. He was already turning red but I’m sure that’s coming from the alcohol. “Go on, man.” There’s still a band performing on stage and the music is reverberating throughout the room. Kenneth and I are the only people who could hear him and even then, I still have to heighten my hearing sense to hear him speak. “I’m about to get expelled.” Jayler confessed spitting the words with such conviction like it’s been stuck within him all this time. I can hear the in
Chapter Twenty-One – Jayler It felt like a dry and dusty brick that I just swallowed whatever dignity that I have and I even lied twice to the securities just to have a moment to talk to Lance. This fanged monster called humiliation was devouring me the whole time that I was telling Lance my problem and I’m going to say this was actually worth the try. I doubted Jasper’s idea mainly because I don’t know Lance that much and it’s too much of a reach to ask some stranger for a help such as this. I only met Lance a few nights ago and aside from that time that that he gave me the pack of cigarette that he just bought and that siopao bun just because he noticed that I was hungry, I don’t know him that well. I’m certain that he doesn’t know me that well too. This came as a great surprise to me but Lance said yes to helping me and that’s all that matters. I was almost ready for the ground to open up and devour me but then I just heard him say yes and the sweats on my back seemed to dry prett
Chapter Twenty-Two – Jayler Monday came in a quick snap, even more faster than I would’ve thought and I was feeling more than ready and confident to be freed from the chains of this expulsion bullshit. I was a bit nervous when I woke up but as soon as the water in the shower hit my body, I gained this imperial surge of confidence. Although I had to keep myself calm and cool at the breakfast table right in front of my mom and dad, I know that they don’t have to know about what happened. I have all the right and intentions to keep things that way because from a Christian parents’ standpoint, they won’t understand anything. I’m well aware of the fact that my sister knows about the photos, she made it perfectly clear the last time we had a conversation. However, I am not—in the slightest—worried about that since I’m well certain that she’s not a shady snitch. We have this unspoken sibling understanding that most siblings have. I’m closing my eyes and I’m putting all of my trust in her. I