Chapter Text
The blaring sound of the guitar echoed through the arena. Julieta huffed to herself, adjusting her mic as she stood on the platform that would raise her upwards to the stage.
She hasn’t felt nervous in a long time, as she tried calming herself down, wiping her hands on her dress. She hummed the few opening notes to herself, tapping her fingers on the headset as she tried to get her groove on.
It was unsaid, but at the end of today’s concert, a special poll will be set up for the audience to vote on their favourite act of the night. It was still, technically, a battle between units. Although the system has changed over the past few years, Julieta didn’t want herself falling below her average rankings.
She had to deliver.
“Next up my beloved audience, is a famous, proclaimed idol queen that you all know and love. Give it up for…”
The drumroll was loud, and Julieta smiled to herself.
“HALO!”
Smoke erupted from all corners of the stage as the platform lifted Julieta up. Once the fans saw her hair peeking from the bottom, the whole arena was filled with deafening cheers as the music started and Julieta came forward with a winning smile, eyes dazzling brighter than the spotlights as the starting notes of the music started playing.
“I know that we are young”
“And I know that you may love me”
The feedback from the audience increased as the fans realised that Julieta was going to sing one of the most hit songs she had produced.
“But I just can't be with you like this anymore”
“Alejandro.”
The camera pans back at Julieta, who is looking at the camera and smiling, before the signature intro starts and Julieta starts walking down the stage. Her dress flowing behind her as the wind blower at the side helps amplify her performance. Julieta herself has a custom microphone, decorated with baby blue jewels that adorn the bottom of the microphone, as well as the word HALO engraved on the side.
“She's got both hands,” Julieta sings, and the crowd cheers as Juliet points her hands to the crowd.
“In her pocket.”
“And she won't look at you”, she sings, turning her back from the audience before turning her head around to flash a quick smile.
“Won't look at you.” The crowd also sings back, some of HALO’s fans flashing their lightsticks around in its blue white colour.
“She hides true love” Julieta turns to a male dancer, engaging in a dance as she sways back and forth with him.
“En su bolsillo.” She sings, before pushing him away and turning her back on him, the dancer dancing back to the shadows as all the lights turn to shine on Julieta only.
“She got a halo around her finger”, she sings, waving her hand around as she stands at one side of the stage, locking eyes with a fan.
“Around you.” Julieta waves the fan goodbye, and it's apparent that the fan is freaking out over this miniscule interaction.
“You know that I love you boy.”
Julieta's voice fills the hall, and the crowd sways in rhythm with her. The catchy melody and her charismatic stage presence have everyone under her spell. She swings her hip back and forth as she dances to the choreography planned.
“Hot like Mexico, rejoice”
“At this point I gotta choose”
“Nothing to lose.”
As the music builds, Julieta's voice grows stronger, and the audience is completely enraptured by her presence. It was almost the crowd’s favourite part now, and Julieta knew that. She fixed her earpiece in quickly to hear the music better.
“Don't call my name”
“Don't call my name, Alejandro.”
When Julieta first released ‘Alejandro’, it was speculated that she was writing about her ex lovers, or even Agustin in that sense, seeing as how the two had taken a hiatus which led to an immediate falling out between the two at the time when the old ATMOSPHANO was still active. Fans had liked the way Julieta had portrayed herself as an independent individual, and that the song was different to her usual ballad songs.
The crowd is loving the music, and Julieta’s usual kind demeanour switches up as she interacts with her fans more and more, smiling and dancing around.
Backstage, where the music is muffled, Agustin stares at the screen, broadcasting the performance for the performers backstage. Pepa is off checking whatever needs to be checked right before the performance. Honestly it was probably the third time she’s done that already, but Pepa would have just made him do it, and Agustin would most probably make a fool of himself messing up something.
He’s been sitting in the same chair for the past fifteen minutes, already with nothing to do. He’s wearing their stage outfits already, a silver and blue suit, paired up with a capelet. Very stylish that’s for sure. Pepa designed it.
Agustin furrowed his eyebrows. Julieta was…different tonight, that’s for sure. He had to take off his glasses to see if that was the same girl he knew. Agustin didn’t want to confirm it…but this Alejandro seemed akin to Agustin. Was the song about him?
He scoffed to himself, shaking his head. Now he’s got himself thinking about the past again.
“Oh, Julieta…You’ll be the end of me for sure…”
“Ya she will.”
Agustin let out a gasp, as his chair toppled backwards, leaving him a disgruntled mess on the floor.
“Oh my god! Sorry hermano-” Bruno rushed forward, trying to help Agustin get back on his feet.
“What are you doing here?? '' Agustin asked, adjusting his glasses back on his face. He really needed to get a new pair.
“Nothing, I’m done performing for the first half, and I wanted to see Pepa, but she’s not here.” Bruno pulled out a chair, sitting on it.
“Uh Pepa went out to check a few things.” Agustin replied back. He went to the coffee machine that sat at the corner of the table, as per Pepa’s request. She always needed her fix of coffee, and sometimes Agustin wondered if she bled espresso or blood. “You want some?”
Bruno shook his head. “Can’t bro. If I drink a cup now I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
“I thought you were addicted to coffee.”
Bruno blinked at Agustin, before shrugging. “Well, that was the school days, and between hectic schedules…everything was a mess y’know?”
Agustin said nothing, but he couldn’t hold the eye contact with Bruno either. He walked away, facing the door.
“I’m sorry.”
Bruno frowned. “For what?”
Agustin sighed. “Idol school, Julieta, Pepa, the ... .whole mess! If I had helped out more, maybe we wouldn’t be this apart.”
Bruno chuckled. “It’s…it’s okay. Pepa and I are alright, and even though Julieta and I aren’t on good terms, she’s still my sister.”
It was partly true. Pepa and Bruno were on good terms, at least, to what they thought was good. Bruno couldn’t lie to himself, he was still hesitant around Pepa regarding idol activities with her, seeing how the time he spent in the first ATMOSPHANO had turned out. Partly the reason why Agustin was quite popular with Pepa now was because Bruno had helped carry the fame for him in the first place.
They could still hear the sound blaring from the speakers backstage, and Bruno could faintly hear the crowd cheering over Julieta’s performance.
“Are you sure you don’t wanna watch it?”
Bruno turned to look at Agustin, who was referring to the live performance. He shook his head. Agustin could go watch it himself.
“I need to rest up, not doing strenuous idol activity has got me real good.”
Agustin chuckled, waving him goodbye as he reached for the door handle. Except he missed and Bruno raised an eyebrow. Was this man still trying to be suave and cool?
“See you around Bruno.”
“You too.”
Pepa huffed as she tapped her foot impatiently. Crossing her arms, she glared at a poor backstage worker that yelped when she saw her, rushing away with a clipboard in hand.
This was outrageous, she thought. Why was every group, band and idol reforming their image? What happened to the whole ‘sticking to their originality roots’ they were taught at Encanto?
Maybe she was just jealous, Pepa didn’t want to admit that. She eyed the stage, where Julieta was finishing up her solo, the crowd going wild over it. Honestly irks her, why do such people bother paying hundreds or thousands to watch such a lady sing? They should spend their money watching her art instead!
“You look like you’re overthinking again.”
Pepa looked up, getting startled, seeing Mirabel. She looked very pretty today indeed, dressed up in a dress suit, adorned with various coloured butterflies.
“Oh Mirabel. You’ve scared me.” Pepa said, smiling slightly while clutching her chest.
Mirabel pushed up her glasses. “Sorry-you looked so deep in thought I was just wondering what you were thinking of. Is everything alright?”
Pepa pursed her lips. “Not really. I’ve run into a problem.”
Mirabel inched closer. “What is it?”
Pepa shook her head. “It’s nothing big really Mira. You shouldn’t worry about an old performer like me.”
Mirabel scoffed, rolling her eyes playfully, something that Pepa took personally. “Are you serious? You’re like the big five! You’re also barely hitting forty!”
Pepa glanced at Mirabel again. She decided she was going to dismiss that remark. “It’s just that I haven’t really decided on the song we’re performing tonight.”
Mirabel’s jaw dropped. “What? As in, you haven’t decided on a song?”
“That’s exactly what I said yes.”
Mirabel shook her head. “I don’t understand. The rehearsals, even the outfit you’re wearing right now…Isn’t it all planned already?”
Pepa smiled, folding her arms. “ATMOSPHANO doesn’t attend rehearsals Mirabel, as a side manager for the stages I was expecting you knew that.”
It struck Mirabel that it was indeed true. ATMOSPHANO barely does rehearsals in general, choosing to rehearse on their own rather than exposing their set list.
“But still…how could everything be last minute!”
Pepa tutted. “It isn’t last minute per say. Agustin and I just haven’t really agreed on which song we’re doing, it’s just a simple choice between two songs, but we haven’t had the time to make the final decision.”
“Don’t you remember the last time we performed Mirabel?” Pepa turned to face the girl. “We got sabotaged, that’s right. The big ol’ pull the plug. I’m still fuming over that.”
Mirabel gave a sheepish look. “I’m really sorry...I know I was stage manager for that day, and I must have let something slip.”
“Never mind that.” Pepa said, looking at the stage again, seeing Julieta bow to the audience. “I know it wasn’t your fault.”
Mirabel frowned. “What’s that supposed to imply-”
“ATMOSPHANO you’re up in fifteen after the intermission!”
“Well!” Pepa said, putting on a big smile on her face. She patted Mirabel’s shoulder, albeit slightly awkwardly, before turning around. Mirabel always wondered how the woman could change expressions so easily.
“I hope you’ll have your eyes on us Mirabel.” Pepa said, flinging her braided orange hair over her shoulder. “We’ll be doing something special tonight.”
Pepa huffed, turning around as she glanced around the backstage. “Agustin! Where are you!”
Mirabel chuckled to herself. She spotted Camilo, sitting down nearby. He looks much fresher now, considering that he was going to be performing for the second time that night.
“You’re here!”
Camilo laughed. “Of course Mira, you don’t think I’m missing my favourite idol performing eh?”
Mirabel scoffed. Camilo had always been such a big fanboy of idols, competing closely with Mirabel of course.
“Where is Dolores and Isabela?”
“No idea…” Camilo said. “I’m sure they’re here somewhere.”
Mirabel bit her lip. She hadn’t seen them in quite a bit, and she can’t help but get worried. What if something happened?
That would be disastrous for sure.