Here’s chapter 2

This chapter is not beta’ed

Hio’s POV 

F*cks.h.i.+t…

It’s so tiring. It looks like I pulled a muscle! And our pay is just a meager 300 pesos. F*ck.

Maybe, we should have really gone into a modelling agency. Dang, it’s too far from here. I have no fare money for it. But we should try go and see it sometime.

Stretch…Stretch…

It’s already 5 pm. Our s.h.i.+ft should end soon.

We bought some rice grains and a stupid fish in a can (tn: it’s sardines) before heading home.

While we’re walking, I slung my arm on Kape’s shoulder.

“Don’t bro! It hurts!” He complained.

“You s.h.i.+t. You started working on heavy jobs way earlier than me and you’re telling me that you have a weak const.i.tution?”

“You know Heyo–” My mood always turn sour whenever Kape speaks my name—“—I’ve ben’ thinking ‘ef we will ever have a future”

So he can think things like that.

Well I have also been thinking lately. Like how are my older brother and grandpa nowadays. And how will be our life if they didn’t left me in the orphanage.

I punched Kape’s hurting shoulder. “You know Kape, don’t lose hope. We’re still young. We’ll just have to make sure that we will not marry and spread our seed yet. We can’t even feed ourselves, yet you’ll add another mouth to feed—”

“—I know ‘dat bro’. ‘Dat’s why I bought a condom”

Pak!

I slap his head. He’s different alright. He should have bought a cigarette instead of a condom.

“You demon! You’ve really ben’ gettin’ on my nerves now!”

I just gave him a dirty finger while grinning. “Cook the rice when we got home.”

We live here in the squatter’s area near the river. This hovel that we live in, was precipitously built in the water ways. There’s a comfort room and the whole river serves as the septic. That’s why if mother nature calls, you know how it is. It falls straight down the river.

The electricity is a jumper. I just connected it on another jumper line. That’s why if a fire broke out, it’s okay, we don’t have any appliances like a ref or a was.h.i.+ng machine to mind anyway.

The water here, it was being taken from the well far from here. But because Kape and I were the only a.s.set of the baranggay when it comes to handsomeness, the chicks here are courting us; they’re the one who takes care of our water.

Sometimes it’s irritating. Maybe if we spit, someone will catch our saliva and ingest it. Yuck.

As we step into our house, Kape immediately turned on our 14-inches Sonya* TV as well as the DVD player that has a Sumsung* brand that he picked up on trading junk and repaired it.

He put in the pirated p.o.r.n CD.

F*cker. This jerk is really l.u.s.tful. Sometimes I also watch such things; sometimes we’re masturbating while watching it together. But here that we are so tired and you’re still doing it? h.e.l.l! That’s h.e.l.l!

I just laid down because he’s the one who’ll cook anyway.

“Bebe? Bebe!” someone’s calling outside. I peered at the window.

“Kape, Bakekang* is outside!”

Bakekang is what I call Barbie Doll. Seriously, that’s her name. Even I did not believe it at first until I saw her birth certificate. She’s the daughter of the baranggay chairman and Kape made her his girlfriend just so that we can have a free rent.

Yes, you heard that right. They’re the one who own this den. Cap is sure amazing. It’s just a squatter, but they’re running an apartment business here. It’s a profitable trickery eh.

Bakekang looks fine actually, it’s just that her skin is repulsive. It’s like a champorado* that was embroidered with a peso coin. Maybe when she was a kid,  she likes swimming in the filthy rivers here.

“Don’t make a racket, what ‘ef she hears you!”  woo Kape’s still putting on an act. But she also calls her Bakekang behind her back.

I opened the door.

Bakekang is smiling and she handed me a bag full of isaw*. Cheap ah. When she can hand a pork barbecue.

I know what will happen. I took Kape’s guitar and went out.

I sat on the stairs, suck the cigarette before strumming the old guitar.

I played the violin when I was still on the mansion. My older brother was good at playing it that’s why I bothered him to taught me.

I sighed.  There are really some talents that you can’t put to use without money.

But I’m not aspiring to live like a rich person again. It’s impossible.

I didn’t even told anyone about my life before. They’ll just laugh at me.

I still remember Medea. She’s really just the only woman who’s still on my mind even now. What would she look like now since seven years pa.s.sed? Can she still remember me?

If our family suffered, surely she’s already married to another rich man.

And my promise that I want to marry her? It’s nothing now. Besides, I’m still too young for her.

I sucked the cigarette again and stared at the smoke I’ve blown.

Aaaahh!

Aaaahh!

Oooh!

Bakekang sounds like she’s possessed by an evil spirit.

I shook the door. “HUY STOP IT ALREADY.”

Aren’t they done yet? F*cker I’m already starving! Kape’s already full for sure.

I accidentally caught sight of a small lady in a corner. She looks like a life-size doll. The name Barbie Doll suits her far more better.

She’s staring at me.

Our eyes met and she’s the one who first look away before leaving.

I was mystified but not to the point that it becomes a major pain.  Later, I forgot about her.

My life continues on without knowing where it’s heading.

Work.Home. Laze around.

Until one night after we came back home from the site, we saw what look’s like a paper that was placed under the door.

Kape grabbed it and he almost thrown it away if I didn’t stop him.

I read it.

It’s an announcement from a private personality looking for a musician. It’s not specified on what instrument.

There’s an address and the time of the audition starts on 6 pm.

I thought that maybe it’s just a whim of some junkie.  Coz’ who in their right mind will held an audition at night—

“—C’MON KAPE LET’S TRY OUT!”

“But we only know how to play a guitar. ‘Der’s so many people who knows how to play ‘dat!” Kape differ.

I rolled the paper and swatted it to his head.

“FOOL! In the state of our lives now, we should have no hesitations! We should seize all the upcoming opportunities!”

“What? Recitation?!”

Lord, please bless me with money. I swear I will buy a brain vitamins for Kape!

I’ll just put it like this so that he can understand it. “Bro, are you content with a life like this? Is Bakekang is really the one who you’ll face in the altar and you’ll just inherit Cap’s management in his hovel apartment business?!”

The fool gawked at me. “Heyo, how did you know my plan?”

F*CK! I knew it Kape has really gone astray!

In the end, what I wanted was granted. We went to the address.

Not even in my imagination that we will find ourselves in a huge mansion. Their garden that’s full of beautiful plants were so wide.

There’s also so many statues designed around. In the middle of it there’s a huge fountain.

“—Bro’ are you sure ‘dat ‘dis is ‘da right place?  ‘Dis is ‘por  rich people!”

“You’re really STUPID. The guard let us in right?”

But Kape really has a point. Why is the audition held inside the mansion and not in a studio.

I also haven’t seen any applicants aside from us. Isn’t it supposed to be full of people if there’s an audition?

The chilly wind suddenly breezed past us. The freeze it brought bites our skin. It’s weirdly hair-raising.

The maid and the majordomo met us. They led us towards a room on  the second floor.

Harr… Brings back the old memories.

“Bro’ why do you look so relaxed der’? Aren’t you nervous that ‘dey might be a member of a cult? ‘Dey might makes us as an offering!” murmured Kape.

Well their G.o.d sure is lucky, if they’ll offer two handsome men tonight.

We halted in front of a huge double door.

The majordomo knocks on the door.

“—Master…Your guests has arrived.”

“—Let them in.” answered a voice behind the door. It’s a male’s voice. Sounds young. Maybe about our age.

They opened the door and we step inside a gaudy study room. The floor is carpeted and the chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling looks elegant.  The prices of the furniture are surely not to be trifled with.

I faced the so called master. I was right, he is on my age. His suit that he’s wearing also looks expensive. Alright he is handsome and I’m somewhat pleased with his eyes that has a strange sparkle.

“You can leave us now.” He said to his servants. After the servants leave did he continued speaking.

“Please sit…” he pointed at a nice sofa. It’s so nice, that my washed-out jeans wants to feel embarra.s.sed.

“My name is Noir Andrea Rosseau. You?”

Whoa. His name sounds like for rich people.

Rosseau…Sounds familiar…

“—I’m Hio. And he is Coffee Mañego.” I spoke for both of us because Kape sure looks like he’ll faint anytime.

“Aren’t you even going to say your whole real name Mr. Hio?”

I nodded.

“Very well… You both are here for I have chosen you to be a member of the band that I’m forming.”

Chosen? The f*ck? We haven’t even started auditioning yet!

Oh well. I will not refuse it!

“—I’m the drummer…You, Hio—”

“—we only know how to play the guitar—” Kape cut off.

You’re really rude! He’s already giving us a career!

“—It’s okay! I will give you enough time to practice.”

So it’s all work out.

Kape suddenly became talkative.

“—Eh no thanks dude. We have no budget for such things—”

Noir smiled. “I will take care all of your expenses, accommodation, food, clothes…And aside from that, I’ll pay you thirty thousand a month—”

IS THIS A DREAM?! I don’t want to wake up s.h.i.+T!

Can you believe it, the 300 pesos suddenly increase by two zeros!

Kape and I gaped.

And that’s how my life as a rock star started.

We formed the band ‘Equinox’.

TN:

Sonya- a by play of Sony brand

Sumsung- a by play of Samsung brand

Bakekang- Bakekang, a popular graphic novel by Carlo J. Caparas about an ugly girl who succeeds despite the difficulties and discrimination she encounters in life. The TV series was said to have created a so-called “Bakekang syndrome”, in which champions women’s rights and causes. It stars Suns.h.i.+ne Dizon in the t.i.tle role and gain her PMPC Star Awards Best Actress for this portrayal. It was shown in Singapore and Malaysia and in Indonesia.

Basically, when said to someone it’s an insult saying that the person is ugly. Often used as an insult for females.

Champorado- Champorado or tsampurado (Spanish: champurrado) is a sweet chocolate rice porridge in Philippine cuisine.

Isaw- Isaw is a street food from the Philippines, made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines. The intestines are cleaned, turned inside out, and cleaned again, repeating the process several times; they are then either boiled, then grilled, or immediately grilled on sticks. They are usually dipped in vinegar and are usually sold by vendors on street corners during the afternoons.