Lukas Pallestrina

Hindi ako nakatulog kagabi, I was so nervous, I stayed the whole night binge eating and binge watching Netflix. Binabasa ko ang mga lyrics ng kanta paulit-ulit, thankfully wala akong solo act di kagaya ni Damien na mayroong dalawang solo act but I know that he would kill it, he's.... Damien. I was so nervous that I couldn't get any sleep or even close my eyes.

"Buti nalang may music ang performance at baka matatakpan ang bosses ko sa background." Sabi ko sa sarili ko. Normally a performance wouldn't get into my skin, kumakanta ako palagi sa harapan ng nanay ko at ng tatay ko, pati mga kapatid ko nagsawa na sa bosses ko sa paulit-ulit na pagkanta ko but this is different, now I am actually in front of a croud, a massive one. This croud WILL give looks and WILL judge, and that scares me. Natatakot akong maging si mama ng siya pa ay nag-aaral, always bullied, always laughed at. She was lucky she found dad and she was lucky enough to have someone to fight with her and for her.

I looked at the clock and found out it was just 2 AM in the morning. It's not that bad, and it's not that I always stayed up late, this is my only one pass.

"Kuya..." Isang bosses ang nakakuha sa attensyon ko. The voice came outside of the door. Tumayo ako at binuksan ang pinto, and I saw my little brother Ernest Pallestrina. Bitbit ang stuffed toy niyang binigay ni papa nung first birthday niya. He once called it Delphy kasi ang stuff toy ay parang isang dolphin but he later change its...well his name Hyuka after one of our shared idol from the K-Pop industry. Oo, secretly kpop fan ako at na-impluwensiyahan ko ang kapatid ko but it's not my fault, kusa siyang nag decisyon na idolohin yung idolo ko.

"Yes Ernest? Why are up this late?" Tanong ko sa kapatid kong halos matumba sa antok.

"Can I sleep in here? Natatakot akong matulog sa kwarto ko. I think it has monsters." Ani Ernest, I smiled at him and nodded. He extended his arms upward. Binuhat ko siya at dinala sa higaan. I tucked him in bed and atleast tried to fall asleep pero hindi parin umubra, hindi parin ako nakatulog. I tried counting sheep or exercise to exhaust my body. I, once again, tried to close my eyes, cleared my mind and thankfully I fell asleep.

****

*KRINGG!*
I jolted, pati kapatid ko nagulat sa ginawa ko. We both head downstairs, mom greeted us with a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning my beautiful sons." The kissing monster said as she attacks my little brother. Mom, thankfully was called by dad and we had time to run.

"Eggs and bacon sa akin!" My sister, Ylora Pallestrina ordered, she was the eldest so of course she comes first. Nakita kong formal ang suot niya ngayon, tatanungin ko na sana siya kung saan siya pupunta o anong gagawin niya but I was interrupted by the other sister, the second sibling in the Pallestrina family, Georgina Pallestrina.

"No fair, I want eggs and bacon." Tutol niya, Ylora gave her the stink eye. Nakita ito ni Georgina and was reminded who was the alpha sibling, kaya nag cereal nalang siya.

Wala akong oras para kumain ng breakfast kaya nag madali akong kumain ng isang piraso ng tinapay at ininum ang gatas ng kapatid kong si Ylora, bago paman ako patayin ni Ylora, I quickly ran upstairs, I know when it's early in the morning, she really doesn't have the energy yet.

Nag madali akong pumunta sa kwarto ko, kinuha ang tuwalya at dumertso sa CR.

****

I arrived at the school a little early, I saw Damien walking kaya naki sabay ako sa palalakad niya.

"Good morning Luka, you look like shit." Sabi niya, nagulat ako sa sinabi ng kaibigan ko, he doesn't look that good to but I'm probably much worse.

"Nahiya naman ako sayo." He chuckled at my response. Biglang may dumating na kaklase namin, it was Hazel na, I would admit, she looks like shit too.

"Magmadali na kayo, mag la-last practice tayo." Ani Hazel, she was gasping for air, kanina pa ba siya tumatakbo?

"Why are you in a hurry, akala ko ba whole morning practice?" Tanong ni Damien, he was right, it was announced that due to scheduling problems, bibigyan ng school namin ang whole morning for last minute practice or polishing.

"The plan changed, agad-agad magsisimula ang program." Bea announced, Damien and I was shocked by this, hindi pa kami tapos sa performance namin at magsisimula na program?

"Hah?! Gago ba sila? Anong nangyari? What prompted the change?!" Damien asked, I can see him turning pale. Hindi namin tinapos ang pag-eensayo last meeting kasi akala namin may practice pa this morning. We were too comfortable and this change clearly made us nervous. Hazel hesitated to answer Damien's question. She gulped, took a few deep breaths and finally answered Damien.

"Damien, you're grandmother are visiting the school this afternoon, they're back from their business trip."

At that response, Damien went silent, I saw him getting pale and he was sweating and that made me think what's wrong with his grandmother? Sa mga estorya ng mga tao dito, Damien's grandmother sounds like that IT girl on Hollywood that got married, had kids, grandkids, and lived a life with love and support. Yeah I heard a couple of rumors about some issues about her and her sometimes scandalous behavior but I really don't think that was the full picture, everyone had a couple of bad traits or personalities.

I soon realize that wasn't the case and how sugar-coated her public image was. Damien's grandmother isn't all wise and loving they were actually worse than Maleficent, The Evil Queen combine.