The Benefit of Us

Five

McDo is a bit crowded considering peak hours are actually now. Lucas said he'd order for both of us while I go look for a place to sit. I found one near the window so I sat and decided to wait for him. I already told him my order so I'll just have to pay him back later. 

After a few minutes, I saw him looking for me. I waved my hand trying to get his attention. He saw me immediately and he walked towards our seat. 

"Chicken Filet ala King and Iced Coffee." he said as he placed my food in front of me. I noticed that he had a paperbag for takeout. I guess that's for his friends. 

"You know too much coffee is bad, right?" he said as he sipped my iced coffee. 

"says you, eh naka ice coffee ka din." i rolled my eyes.

"I keep it at moderation. Everytime I see you, you bring iced coffee, especially at school." 

I shrugged. He's not wrong though. I love coffee, I'm probably obsessed at this point. "My body can take it." I said as I continue eating. 

We were almost done eating when Lucas stood up. When he came back, he brought with him 2 glasses of water. 

He's really pressed about this coffee thing huh? I drank some of the water and finished my meal. I looked up and saw that he was done as well. He was looking at his phone and was texting someone. Maybe he's already looking there. 

"I'm done eating. We can go there now." I said. 

he grabbed the take out and stood up. "It's already 8:30 pm, nagsisimula na siguro silang magset up. doon. Halika na" I stood up and followed him to his bike. 

-------

We are outside the bar parking lot. Binigay ko na sa kanya yung helmet at inayos ko ang buhok ko. 

"So anong mga kanta yung ipapatugtog nila?" I asked out of curiosity. I like listening to music. Mostly bands, I dont really have a specific genre that I like so I listen to everything. 

"well, they usually play songs by Kodaline, Peach pit, minsan Seafret. Those kinds of music." we were walking towards the entrance. The place looked dark from the outside. may neon lights na naka-ilaw with the 'open' sign. I can hear the noise from the inside. I took a deep breath before entering the building.

I'd be lying if I said hindi ako kinakabahan. Of course, I'm nervous. Wala akong kilala dito except kay Lucas at hindi rin ako familiar sa area na ito. I don't know what crossed inside my mind at pumayag akong sumama. Well, looking at the bright side, the bands he mentioned earlier are some of the bands I like. Besides, I can always make up an excuse to go home if I really don't feel like staying. 

The bar looks so aesthetic. It feels like vintage meets 80's. May picture frames na nakasabit at mga plaka ng sasakyan. Hindi pa masyadong crowded as I expected but it gives a very chill vibe. I snapped a photo of their feature wall, it was filled with picture frames and other trinkets. It lookee so cool.

I was busy admiring the place na hindi ko namalayan tinatawag na pala ako ni Lucas. He was at the side of the stage with some guys. I guess those are his friends. 

" Vera! here." tawag nya sakin sabay kaway, as if I dont see him already. 

I walked towards them and tried to smile so that I look a little bit friendly. 

"Guys, this is Vera. Vera my friends. Gio, Dan, Allan, at yung may kausap sa phone, si Jasper." he said as he points each of his friends.  "Hello, nice to meet you." I said in response. 

"Nice to meet you din, Vera! May sure audience na kami ngayon." He joked.  "Sabihin mo lang sa amin if may gusto kang kanta, kumukuha din kami ng request from the audience." Sabi ni Gio? I think. 

"Oo nga pala, ilang kanta ba kakantahin nyo mamaya?" nagtanong si Lucas. 

"6 songs tapos, mga tatlong song request siguro." sabi ni Allan habang inaayos niya yung guitar niya. 

"Kukuha ako ng drinks, may gusto kaba?" tanong sakin ni Lucas. 

" Pineapple juice? or coke, kung ano yung available." I said.  

Umalis na si Lucas and I was left here with the 4 of them. Do I initiate conversation o ano? I'm really not good at this.

"So Vera, paano kayo nagkakilala ni Lucas? Dan said as he sat beside the booth I'm sitting. 

"Sa school. Classmate niya yung kaibigan ko." I said. "Kayo? saan kayo nagkakilala?"

"Childhood friends kaming tatlo, Si Jasper at Lucas naging classmate namin noong highschool. Si Lucas pinsan ni Jasper at number one supporter namin." he chuckled.  

"Hindi siya tumtugtog kasama nyo?" I asked curiously. 

"He's actually a good singer, but he doesn't want to sing in front of a crowd." Jasper approached us and sat at the booth too. "Hi, I'm Jasper." he said as he extended his hands to shook mine. 

He sounds and acts very formal compared sa iba. He doesn't look pure Filipino too. 

"Really? he doesn't strike me as the shy type." I said pertaining to Lucas. He has this confident aura around him, though I can't really explain it. 

The boys nodded. Well, I'm learning new things about him today.

"Guys, check natin uli for the last time yung speakers tapos, irunthrough muna natin uli yung buong performance." tawag ni Gio sa kanila. 

I heard Jasper and Dan groan. Kanina pa sila check ng check hindi pa ba sila tapos? 

"Iwan ka muna namin Vera ah, OC masyado nitong si Gio ayos naman lahat eh. Sigaw ka lang pagkaylangan mo kami okay?" he said playfully.  I smiled at him and chuckled. 

"There's Lucas already, see you later." Jasper said as they left and climbed to the small stage. 

Lucas slid a glass of pineapple juice in front of me and a plate of fries. Umupo siya sa tabi ko.

"You have nice friends." I said as I sipped some of the juice. 

"I know."  I rolled my eyes at his remark.  "You don't regret coming with me?" he said.

"Nope." I can see him smile in my peripheral vision. "Not yet." I added and he chuckled.

"Oo nga pala, anong pangalan ng band nila?" tanong ko.

"Corinthians" he said.

"Like the bible?"

"Like the column."

"Ha?" I said, stopping myself from laughing. They named themselves after a greek column? These guys just get weirder i swear.

"Hindi nga nila alam may corinthians pala sa bible eh. There really is no great meaning behind the name. Cool daw pakinggan kaya yun." He was shaking his head like his friends were a huge disappointment. " Collectively they have 2 braincells, kay Gio yung isa, kay Jasper yung isa."

I laughed. Well it looks like they are really close. I never had that type of bond with my other 'friends'. I guess I never really had a barkada that I felt like I truly belong. I'm fine with it most of the time, its just that sometimes, like during these times, I feel slightly jealous.

"Magsisimula na ata sila." Lucas grabbed a video camera and positioned it to the stage.

"Are you secretly their manager?" I said.

He chuckled. "Nah, wala akong alam masyado sa music industry. May manager sila, si Aiko. Wala lang ngayon may emergency kase kaya ako muna dito."

I nodded. I guess he's really just supportive of his friends.

I took out my phone and snapped a photo of them. The lighting of the place made them look so cool in the photo. I posted it in my instastory with no captions whatsoever.

"Hello we are the corinthians! I'm Gio."

"Allan"

"Dan"

"I'm Jasper"

"Sit back and relax, and I hope you enjoy our first song. This is Shampoo Bottles by Peach Pit." Gio said and the music started.

Gio is their vocalist and while Dan is their lead guitar. Allan is their bass guitarist while Jasper plays the drums.

They sound really good, they made some tweaks from the original song which I think made it better.

"I've been leaving you in radio silence, Though I'd love to catch a pass"  Lucas was beside me and I can hear his faint singing. Jasper was right, he  has a nice voice. It was calm and soothing.

"Waited long enough that I could never call you. Baby, how f****d is that?" I sang along too.

At this point we were singing along to the chorus. I'm really having a great time. Good music will put you in that mood.

"They're reallyyy good." We're on the second song now. They dont just sing  the songs, they add their own spin to it.

"What did you say?" The place was getting crowded and loud. Lucas leaned in so that he can hear me.

I leaned towards him too. "I said they're really good." I might have leaned to close cause I was smelling his perfume now. I looked at him which was a bad idea because my face was so close to his. I held my breath for some reason and moved away a little.

I felt my cheeks heat up. He looked good up close. Gosh, that jawline. Not to mention his eyes. Am I really appreciating what he looks right now?! I'm going crazy.

"Okay ka lang?" his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me.

I made a thumbs up sign and looked back at the stage. I think it's the lighting. Yup, its the lighting, no other reason.

I felt my phone vibrate  from my pocket. I looked at my notifications. It was from my  i********:.

@IvanValdezz commented on you story.

I opened my i********: and went to my messages.

9:30 pm

IvanValdezz: Where are you?

IvanValdezz: Alam ba ni tita na wala ka sa bahay ninyo? Anong oras na V.

9:32 pm

VeraSanchez_: She knows I can take care of myself.

I took a deep breath. He cares because i'm his friend. It was never more than that. Noon, binibigyan ko pa nang meaning yung pagtrato nya sakin pero after years I have finally come to terms na he just cares because i'm his friend. I saw him do the same things for other girls too. I was never special to him.

"Ivan messaged you?" Lucas asked. I feel like he already knows.

"Yup, nagtatanong nasaan ako."

"And you said?"

"That I can handle myself."

He pushed the basket of fries in front of me. "No more Ivan talk. You are here to have fun."

"I am having fun." I said drinking the last of my drink.

Lucas took out a paper and a pen from one the bands bags.

"Write 3 songs." He handed the paper and pen to me.

I was confused for a bit.

"Song requests." He said motioning to the stage.

Ah, okay. I started thinking about some of the songs I like. "So pipili lang sila sa tatlong kanta na isusulat ko, right?" I asked.

"Oo, kung saan sila mas comfortable o mas kabisado."

I began writing the songs and I gave it to him. He looked at the paper and he smiled. I dont know if he's mocking my choice of songs.

" What?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Wala. I think we might have the same songs in our playlists." He stood up and handed the paper to Dan.

As soon as he came back, I asked "Anong kanta pinili nila?"

"Surprise daw, last song nila tonight." I just nodded.

The night went on, we ordered another round of drinks. All non-alcoholic. I dont really drink a lot so I mostly ate. Lucas and I talked more and he told me some funny stories they had back in high school.

I was laughing so hard I can feel my cheeks hurt from smiling all the time. I cant remember the last time I felt this... free.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are down to our last song tonight. I hope you had fun with us, again we are the Corinthians wishing you a very good night! This is Don't look back in anger by Oasis. Enjoy!"

The song started to play and I listened attentively. This was one of my comfort songs. I love this so much.

Lucas was singing along raising his hand and swaying it. Wala talagang hiya ang isang to. Siya lang sa buong bar ang kumakaway sa kanta.

Chorus came and he grabbed my hand and tried to raise and wave it to the song too.

"Huy, nakakahiya!" I pulled my hand down but he just tightened his grip. Dinadamay nya pa ako dito. He just laughed.

"Live a little Sanchez!" he proceeded to sing the chorus.

"Her soul slides away. But don't look back in anger, I heard you say" I sang along too. I just let him hold my hand while he was swaying it in the air like we were in some concert. He intertwined his fingers in mine and I felt my heart beating faster. If I pull my hand now, will he find it weird? I looked at him and he's still acting all goofy and was still singing his heart out. 

I guess this was normal for friends to do.

I wasn't used to being close with other people, thats why. Its not an uncomfortable feeling though. I'm just not used to this.

The song ended and everyone in the bar clapped including me. I really hope to see them succeed someday. I'm sure they will.

It was 11pm already. We said our goodbyes to the band already and we are now heading out.

I was about to call an uber for my ride, when Lucas handed me his helmet. "What's your address?" I was too tired to protest so I gave him the address to my place.

"You look tired."

I just smiled and and nodded. I had fun today. From meeting with Carly to hanging out with him. It was a good decision to go out.

"Come on, lets get you home."