The Moonlight Daughters

The Voice of Grace

Grace Joy and her brother, Janus, were in the kitchen. They were both having their breakfast then.

"Ate Grace Joy," Janus called.

"Hmm?" she responded. She was chewing her food.

"There are lots of rich students in your school, right?" he asked.

"Yeah," she answered. "Why do you ask?"

She grabbed a glass of water standing beside her plate then she took a drink.

"I am thinking of a rich future big brother-in-law."

Without a warning, Grace Joy spewed out the water out in her mouth. Janus immediately stood up after the water went to his face and his t-shirt.

"Ate!" he yelled.

After she was coughing to relieve herself from choking, she spoke.

"How rude of you!" she yelled. "Of all the words you are going to say, you ask me that?"

"Just kidding."

"That's not funny," she said. "Don't ever tell me that...at least for now. Study first."

"What's wrong with what I said?"

Then he apologized.

"I am still eating January. Just shut up," she pointed down at her plate.

"Sorry."

He made puppy eyes.

"Che!" She rolled her eyes. "Just get your shirt outside and let it dry."

Janus took off his t-shirt then he went towards the back door located twelve feet at the west side of the table.

While Janus was out, Grace resumed her meal. Meanwhile, loud footsteps were heard coming from the stairs. Grace Joy knew that it was her mother walking down to the living room. She was wondering what made her footsteps louder than usual. Later, she came in. Grace Joy widened her eyes by surprise.

Her mother wore a red 'above the knee' dress. Her face painted with makeup. Her lips are painted with very thick red lipstick. Her hair fixed with a ponytail. She saw her mother like that before. She only wears simple dresses and light makeups every time she goes to work. Other than that she doesn't need make-ups or formal wear when she goes to town for some stroll.

"What's happening?" Grace Joy wondered.

"Why? Doesn't it fit?" she asked.

"You look stunning," she complimented. Then she asked.

"Why are you wearing those?"

"There's a party to attend," she answered. "The governor and his wife are celebrating their anniversary. It is not right to go there and interview them without some formality, right?"

Grace Joy nodded.

"Oh, is that so? I thought you are having a date."

"Huh. You wish," her mother suddenly blushed. A little. Grace Joy hadn't noticed the reaction.

Her mother then noticed that Janus was nowhere seen in the kitchen.

"Where's my baby boy?" she asked.

"He's outside."

"Okay," she responded. "Just tell him that I just went out."

"Yeah," she responded immediately.

She went to the living room then she exited through the main door.

Grace Joy sighed. A couple of seconds later, she shrugged then she continued eating.

****

"What?" Sherdel can't believe it. He was having a conversation with Alexa.

They were in a narrow hallway of a condominium owned by Alexa's relative. They stood facing each other while they converse.

"Yes. You heard me right," Alexa replied.

"Let's break up."

"But why?" Sherdel was puzzled. "Do you have a problem with me? Did I do something wrong?"

"It is not just because of you. My problem is your family. I am sick of being stuck between your quarrels."

Her tears were starting to flow down her face.

"Come on. We can work this through, Alexa. Please..."

"Someone told me that you are going to replace me anyway."

"What?" he got surprised.

"Well... you should just tell me that so that I can ready myself for our break up."

"Hear me out, okay?" Sherdel placed his hands on both Alexa's cheeks."Yeah. My Dad set me up for a date but I refused to because I have a girlfriend. And that is you, Alexa."

Alexa widened her eyes. She got shocked. She laughed with disbelief, she can't believe the words he just spoke out. She gently shook her head.

"No. I don't believe in an Alhibing being loyal."

"Is that what you think of me?"

"I am glad that I told you this."

"What do you mean?" Sherdel brought his eyebrows closer to each other.

"I am sorry, but I can't. I am seeing someone right now," Alexa stated. "I have always wanted to tell you. I don't want to get involved in your frustrated family life anymore. Understand that."

"After all the things I did for you?" he yelled. "I served you well. I stayed loyal to you. This what you give to me in return - just a fling?"

"Well, sorry Sherdy. But we are officially off. I don't love you anymore," she turned her back on him then she walked away.

Sherdel didn't speak, he was just watching her moving away.

"Tsk. You itchy b***h. I hope you fall down," he turned around then walked away. Making a loud stomp as he takes a step.

****

Grace came inside the hall. She found ten people in there. Three men are holding guitars. The rest are singing together. They are sitting in circle in the middle of the room. Right now, they are singing One Republic’s “Secret”. They are enjoying the chorus.

Grace got excited when she saw them singing. Finally, she can jam with singers like her. She went over to them. She sits on the vacant chair a little distant from the group.

“Hey! Our newbie!” one of them greeted when she noticed Grace sitting out from the circle.

Everyone greeted her with welcome. Grace smiled back at them as she says “Thank you”. Her day is full because of their warm welcome.

“She’s one of the newbies?” Mark asked. He is not aware since he was not there when the audition was held. He wasn’t there when they announced the passers.

“Yeah,” Eliza, the leader of the club replied. “You should be present during the audition.” She looked at Grace. “She has a nice voice too, you know.”

Grace blushed when she heard the compliment.

“What are you waiting for? Let us hear you sing,” Mark suggests. “I was not there when you sang in the audition so, let me judge you right now. “

“Mark!” everyone grunts in disappointment on him.

“What? I’m curious how good she is,” he said.

Grace suddenly got nervous. “Ehehe. I don’t know…I haven’t prepared a song.”

Eliza looked at Mark. “She sounds like Moira, but then, she sounds like Demi Lovato at the same time,” she told him.

“Okay…” then, he thinks of a song. “How about…”Made in the USA”? he requests.

“I don’t think I could sing that though…” Grace replied as she got terrified by the name of that song. “It’s high.”

“Come on!” then, he cheered. “Sing it! Sing it! Sing it!” then everyone followed.

After many encouragements, she finally sings the song. She cleared her throat first before she begins to sing the first note. She starts off with the bridge.

The feelings got lost in my lungs

They're burning, I'd rather be numb (rather be numb)

And there's no one else to blame (no one else to blame)

So scared, I take off, and I run

I'm flying too close to the sun

And I burst into fla-fla-flames!

The part when she belted the word ‘flames’, somehow she managed to hit the note. She didn’t expect to push her belt that day but, yet, she managed to pull it off.

The gang clapped their hands.

:::::::::::::::::::::

Sherdel and his friends are at the door. They got curious of the voices coming out from that room. He didn’t expect to see Grace in there. That moment he realized she can sing. He didn’t show it on his face but he was heart stricken by her voice. He watched her being praised by her club mates.

“She can belt,” West commented with praise for Grace.

Sherdel looked at him anxiously.

Then, Mrs. Maginoo came. She found Sherdel and his friends peeking inside. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

The guys got startled. They looked at her. They got awkward.

“Mr. Alhibing. If you want to join, I am so sorry but the audition’s over since last week,” she told.

“No, Ma’am,” he looked at his friends. “We are just passing by,” he said. “We’ll get going now.”

And so, they walked away.

“My gosh. What is that guy up to?” she wondered while staring at them moving away. She took a peek inside the hall. She saw Grace being praised and teased by the group.