Five Fingers
“Why are we here again?”
I asked spacing out outside the Jollibee branch that's in front of us.
“Whyket? Ayaw mo ba kay bubuyog? Sigurado clown apologist ka!” she said facing me and innocently accusing me.
I chuckled as I pinched her chin.
It’s 1 am in the morning yet where still here, not planning to go home.
“Carrot, I’m just asking why are we here. I thought you want proper food, well… this is fastfood”
I said looking up at the huge sign in front of me.
I heard her huge gasped.
“Pro—proper food to noh! Ito ang food naming mga ‘less budget more craving’people.” She defend.
I just chuckled at her remarks and grab her inside the establishment.
There were only three people inside not including the servers and staff.
I let her take an order and find a place to sit.
I took the sit near the huge window, where I can see the outside.
A few minutes later, she’s back with her food.
I confusedly look at her food. It was too many for her.
1 large cokefloat, 2 burger and fries, 1 spicy chicken and 1 burger steak.
“What?” she said raising her brow while looking at me.
“I’ll let you have some naman. Thank you for the treat!” she said happily while giving back my credit card.
I smile and nod as she eats her food.
I just look at her, messy eating all the food in front of her.
She sometimes let me take a bite which I gladly take.
"So, are we okay now?" I asked after the burger she offered.
she stop eating and face me.
"Are we? Wala ka nang tampo?"
I shake my head and take another bite.
"nope... so, JC was really your cousin?" I asked hesitantly.
She curiously look at me
"yeah... I didn't tell you?"
I nodded my head then grab the float she has on her hand and take a sip.
I saw how her eyes changes to confuse, surprise and worry.
she pouted her lips and hold my hand before looking down at it.
"I'm sorry. I even forget about that part" she sadly admitted
" I'm really stupid" she continue while squeezing my hand
" You are" I said chuckling.
she then look at me and pouted even more.
"Is that the reason why are you so upset?" she asked worryingly
I nodded my head.
Well, there's nothing to hide. I don't even want to have another argument with her.
It feels like I was walking on the deserted island without nothing to drink.
" Yeah, well partly was my fault... cause I assumed that something was going on with you two.
Then I only know earlier that you're just close cousin"
I continue, feeling upset at the thoughts. I rolled my eyes as I heavily sip the drink.
Carrot held my hand more and lift her head to look at me.
"Sorry again. I promise I specifically introduce to you anyone that I'll be with that you don't know from now on"
she said lifting her right hand as a sign promise.
" Like Alex, she's my cousin's friend and roommate. She has a huge crush on my cousin so you don't need to worry"
I raised my brow and move closer to her
"Why would I be worried?" I asked teasingly
I saw her gulp before answering me.
" Not to upset you anymore?" She said unsure
she then take a bite not leaving her eyes on me.
I nodded and move closer to her even more.
“So, can we start talking about us?” I asked.
I panic when she choked by the food she was eating.
I instantly grab the water beside me and give to her which she gulped quickly.
I chuckled when I saw her recover.
“Nangugulat? Pwede hinay hinay?” she said still catching her breath.
I just shrugged and rest my arm on the table never leaving my eyes on hers.
“You know I was not out on the entertainment” I said being serious this time.
She smiled at me and held my hand before letting it go again.
“I’m not pressuring you thou; we don’t even have clear vision about us.”
She said looking intently in my eyes.
“Can I asked why coming out was hard for you?”
As we begin to hang out with each other this past few weeks before the whole drama happen,
the only thing that I clearly told her was about Elle.
And nothing about my past.
As the question being asked, something triggered inside of me.
“Why are you holding that?” my mom said snatching the toy gun on my hand.
“Who gave you this, huh? Why are you playing with this thing?” she said gripping my hand that she was holding.
“You’re a girl, a girl! You’re supposed to play with your dolls!” she said yelling at me.
She broke the toy in front of me and throw the doll that was sitting on the sofa at me.
I cried when the body of the doll hit my face.
“You better be here!” she said pulling my hair while pulling me inside my room.
“Mama please, stop!” she slapped me hard and harder the second time.
“You’re a disgrace on this family! Wala akong anak na tomboy!” sigaw nito sa akin
“Ang baboy mo!” she said disgusted on her own daughter before leaving the room.
I feel a set of eyes looking at me as I hug myself while sitting on the floor.
“You better figure this thing out. You’re still young. You’re just 13 Eir, a lot can change.
I’m tired putting this family up. Keep yourself together.” He said before leaving and locking the room.
“Ate achira, hello! Okay, ka lang?”she said waving her hands in front of me.
‘Why does it hard to answer the question that simple?’
“I… ahmm.” I said struggling the right word to say.
I’m not ready, not yet. But the back of my mind was forcing me to talk.
I quickly put my shaking hands on my lap, for her not to notice the tense in my body.
I’m trying to talk but nothing was coming out of my mouth.
‘No, I need to talk. Let me talk, please. I don’t want her to end up like elle’ I whispered with the silent prayers.
I flinched with the sudden touch.
I saw her worried face and I instantly grab her for a hug.
She quickly takes me in her arms and caresses my hair whispering sweet nothings to me.
“It’s okay. I’m here, you don’t need to talk. I’m here.” She said calming me down.
She just hugs me ‘till I calm down.
I signal her that I’m okay. She lets go of me, but not my hand.
She caresses it with her thumb and gently squeezing it.
I exhaled deeply and was about to talk when she shakes her head.
“I told; you don’t need to talk. I’ll still be here until you’re comfortable to talk about it” she assures while smiling genuinely at me.
I moved next to her, facing the window in front of us.
I put my head on her shoulder as I am hiding a silent tear.
I know she know I was crying, but she just held my hand tighter and put her head on mine.
“You’re safe now. I’m here” she whispered before I succumbed by the darkness.
.
.
.
“Ate Achira ano ba? Nadedevelop na ko sayo ah!”
she said pulling her hand on mine
“Kanina ka pa hila ng hila. Pag ako nafall sayo, saluhin mo ko ah!” she continues which earn a laugh to her friends.
I bit my lip to suppress the smile that wants to come out.
I just rolled my eyes and guide them inside the studio.
It took them a month before confirming on working with us.
But with a favor on not putting their faces on the news or any platform.
They said that they don’t want to be famous ‘for now’.
Its hard daw to sign while walking inside their campus.
“keep up short legged human.” I said while waiting in front of the studio.
Her bandmates first enter the studio while she’s trying to keep up to them.
She rolled her eyes on me but still held my hand when all of us were inside the room.
" Good morning everyone, welcome to our studio. Hope you have fun recording today!" Kevin said as we entered the room.
Carrot squeezed my hand before letting it go and getting closer to the computer.
I chased her and sat beside her.
She first looked at me before settling her eyes on the equipment in front of her.
I smile as I saw how her face filled with amusement and shocked.
" Yie! It's really true! We're inside the studio" Sam squeaked then hug her boyfriend
" I know Mahal, calm down please." Rim said while similing widely
" Edi Sana all!" Ino stated before bitterly stuck himself on the sofa.
I just smile and bring back my attention to carrot.
She's now working her way on the computer, typing and clicking something, then setting the condenser like she owns the place.
I just stare at how her hand and muscles work on every part of the equipment.
She signal her bandmates to enter the other area of the studio which is the sound proof area.
'I could look at her like this for the rest of my life.'
She then look at me, when she feel I was staring.
She seems hypnotizing me whenever our eyes met in places or corner of the room.
I just love how it looks at me, seeing fondness, adoration and even...love?
' It is too early to assume? I don't know? But I'm satisfied with what we have right now...right this moment '
My heart is calm. And I think it's good news.
She just wink and reach for my hand before going back to her work.
I look at Kevin when I hear him squealing silently.
I just chuckled and put my chin on carrot's shoulder before I fix my eyes on her bandmates.
.
.
.
The recording ends early and it was the exact moment when the producer and other staffs arrived.
" Ang bilis! Kakarating lang namin ah! Grabe talaga kayo Kevin! Kinuha nyo the best ah"
One of the producer said while entering the room.
I felt someone grabbing the tip of my jacket that's why I look at my back.
I saw Halley getting all shy up and hiding at my back.
I just chuckled and put my hand on my back for her to hold.
She immediately reach for it and squeezed it lightly before intertwining while still hiding it.
" Ako pa ba?" Kevin said taking pride.
The band started laughing at Kevin antics which I think lighten the mood.
" Thank you po sa pagpapahiram ng studio nyo samin. Sorry po medyo natagalan, sinulit pa po Kasi ng isa Dyan"
Sam said, looking at carrot referring to her ending statement
" Bat ako? Kayo tong nagkakamali eh" carrot said retracting herself on my back before glancing on Sam's side
" Biro lang, eto laging galit!" Sam said back before letting her tongue out
I just chuckled again before entering the scene.
" Thank you Chad. We enjoy your studio"
" No prob Eir, basta ikaw!" He said before giving high five on Kevin.
" By the way, I already send an email on your schedules. Nacontact ko na rin Yung mga contacts ko for your first appearance with them Eir.
And sa inyo Rin, nasend ko na yung schedules nyo which I fixed prior to your school schedules" Kevin informed
" Tinaon ko na wala kayong masyadong ginagawa so pwede kayo magpractice sa time na Yun."
We just nodded and let him finish.
" I know you can do it guys. Just follow Eir's lead when you're on the stage na." He continue
" And lastly, Yung mask nyo okay na. Hindi na kayo makikila dun kahit Hindi ko parin gets bakit masquerade yung theme ng mask nyo" He said frustratingly.
We just laugh at him.
Carrot let go her hold which disappoint me, but she just smile as I look at her.
There goes again, ' the sparkling and hypnotizing stares, the pouty yet I think floppy lips, intoxicating scent and the gorgeous face' facing me.
She stand beside me and put her hand on my waist which earn a smile from me.
' much better'
" And before I forget, ano nga palang gagamitin nyong band name kung ayaw nyo magpakilala sa audience?" Kevin asked
" Syempre, marami na nakakakila sa Inyo sa school and pwede sila magbigay ng info about sa Inyo.
We need another name for your group including Eir."
" Ow... We didn't think of that" carrot said then look at her bandmates
" Hmm... How about mask band?" Ino suggest which earn a punch from Rim
" Raulo Ka ba? Alam Kong nakamask Tayo, pero kailangan talaga literal?"
" Nagsusuggest Lang eh" Ino retreating and change his seat beside Sam.
" How about Five fingers?" Carrot said
" Isa pa to" Rim said, disagreeing to the suggestion.
" Wait Lang Kasi... Five fingers Kasi Lima Tayo tapos lahat tayo hahawak ng instruments.
Ibig sabihin lahat tayo importante katulad ng Kung gaano kaimportante ang mga daliri sa kamay natin"
she explain which earn a minute of silence on us.
I nodded when I process my thoughts as well as her band.
And even Kevin agree on the name.
" So Five Fingers huh " Kevin said smiling widely at us.
I look at her and my hand find her hand on my waist.
She first observe the room before leaning on my shoulder and placing some light kiss on it.
" Then I think you have your name guys. Five Fingers band " the producer said entering the scene.
' yeah we forget about him '
I look for carrots hand on my waist and intertwine them.
' Five fingers? Not bad '