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It was night time, the residents of Rushtide Central are still partying at this month’s Splatfest. You would see the floor full of confetti and trashes scattered all around the stages and streets of Rushtide Circle. The lights were quite dim and yet a slow but serenading music can be heard playing all around. Inklings slowly dancing to it, some sleeping around the floor and some walking around with boxes of beverages in their hands.
Following those inklings, you would be brought to the city’s beaches, Tideside Beach. Near the shops are sidewalk tables, aligned one by one. You would see either a group full of drunk inklings, dancing and waving their body to the afterparty music, or a few walking and sitting over the beach sand.
Near the shore, a figure alone was sitting, some heels beside her. She was wearing a navy blue sleeveless-fitted suit in which you could see her belly button, navy blue slacks, black pearl piercing in each ear, three on her right tentacle and gold cuffs around her wrists.
She was staring straight to the distant sea. The lanterns hanging on the floating lamps of the city have helped make the dark waters into a more fascinating show to watch as the colors of the light dance along the waves. The floating lamps have also produced calming music through its built-in speakers to play along with the water. The figure sat quietly in comfort, not until a tall distorted reflection had appeared along with the dancing lights of the ocean. Her heart started beating faster but it wasn’t something new honestly. She looked behind her and felt lips quickly overcoming hers. She slowly pushed him away but was left breathless.
“ALDEN! You know we can’t do that!” she yelled in a yet whispered voice. She continued.
“Someone might see dumbas-”
“Then, let them see”, he cuts off.
The figure that appeared was a tall inkling boy, one sky blue tentacle in a slick back look on top of his head, while the other hanging to the right of his face. He was fancied in a sky blue polo, almost-like maroon slacks with suspenders supporting it, wearing navy blue gloves and his hands holding his shoes, as he was barefooted. He chuckles and sits down beside her and looks at her with a glint of curiosity. She looked at him and found never getting used to his face, from its pale complexion to its ears full of piercings.
“Oh yeah? Fine, try explaining that to the Agency”, I answered, raising my eyebrow along with it. “You’re gonna make us lose our jobs, the fans are already spreading rumors-”
“I mean they aren’t rumors, if anything.” He fired back, smiling, teasing me. I glared at him and he laughed.
“Okay okay, sorry sorry”, He calmed down and looked straight at me. “But whacha doing here babe? You know being in the open, on the city beach where a lot is partying right now. It’s quite a dangerous area especially for someone, like i don’t know, one of the members of the Idol band of this city.” He asks but you could hear the shade from him.
“Ugh, I was just taking a break, I know we will be performing again later. And honestly nobody has been bugging me out here for the past hour, well not until you came.” I answered in a sarcastic voice. I was a bit irritated because I wanted to be alone.
I felt two hands, one feeling warm while the other a bit cold under those gloves, holding both my hands and kissing it. I followed my gaze to his lips and continued going up to its owner’s eyes, and he slowly opened it. I found myself immediately feeling my face warm and there he laughed again, showing amusement to my reaction.
“HMP!”I pulled my hand away and crossed my arms, looking away at him, annoyed. How the heck did I even end up dating this dork.
“Okay okay I’m sorry again! Is that you look really serious Maine.” he moved a little closer and in an instinct, I just laid my head on his shoulder. “Is there something in your mind? Talk to me babe”, he continued, now also watching the dancing lights of the ocean. I sighed.
“It’s not a big deal it’s just those sessions where you drift a way to reality and you think of some stuff. Lately, things have been exhausting and you just want to lay in bed all day. Like you just want to disappear for a second”
“Whoa, not that DISAPPEAR type right? Maine…Alden looks at me and comes closer, now holding both my hands.
“Well if not that, of course, then rest, take a day off. Just for a day, I'm sure your folks also miss you” He replied, picking a rock and throwing it.
“How about you? I’m sure your dad misses you too.” I continued, also picking on a seashell. ”Besides, I think it would be a bad idea, considering how strict the agency is to us.”
“UGH!” I immediately yelled, scaring Alden a bit. I laid on the sand and covered my face.
“I never wanted to be an idol anyways, I mean like-” I sat again and Alden faced me. I also faced him and held his hands back.
“I know the agency trained us to be a band but never an idol! I mean you’ve never heard of a city having a band as their idols! You only need two to lead teams in splatfests!” I shared, frustrated. I stood up and started strolling, Alden following beside me.
“Why did they have to control the voting and include us, so the residents would pick us! We weren’t even aware we were in it. Plus, there were two representative duo idols expecting but they had to declare it was us in surprise, in front of the live results, in front of those two duos ”, I ranted out.
“I never knew this city is-”
“REALLY racial. I mean our agency doesn’t accept ANY species. And Rushtide’s population is literally 89% inklings...It’s really obvious.” Alden pointed out.
“I guess? Ugh but I don't know, just because those two duos were different species, they didn’t need to do them dirty.” I added, walking, looking down.
“Our agency has done a lot of dirty stuff. I just hate that our families have debts to it, that’s why we’re working for them.” Alden continued to reply back, he was a bit tense, looking at the floating lamps.
We both know that there’s a chance someone one was watching us converse to those lamps from our agency. I moved closer to him.
“Is the plan….still going to...?” I whispered, cutting it out a bit so they wouldn’t have something to use against us.
“Yes.” he answered quickly, looking closely at the lamps.
I sighed and decided to walk a bit away from the topic, we might get into deeper trouble.
“I mean, being a descendant, next in line in leading a weaponry brand isn’t pressuring enough, but no make me, us an idol-”, i continued throwing my hands in the air. Alden's serious mannerism goes back to its calm demeanor.
“I’m not a good role model! For pete’s sake, i punched a man on crowd in a meet and greet-”
“BECAUSE he was harassing teenagers in the crowd, Maine. That was a reasonable action.” He butts in.
“I guess but I'm an idol? Inklings look up to me! Plus, I'm not those typical girls, who look dang sexy on those idol uniforms like Squid Sisters, or Off the hook! I’m the type of girl, who isn’t pretty and prim like my parents wanted me to be. Jasmine would qualify but m-” my mouth got covered by a soft hand and Alden gave me a disappointed look.
“Maine, how long have you been having those thoughts? And second, excuse me my girlfriend is sexy, I wanted to rip those guys ogling eyes on your body when we were about to step on stage.” he said in a more annoyed tone.
“Wait, they do?” I was a bit surprised.
“Why do you think I’m always behind or beside you when we walk in events? Yea, so I can see who’s checking you out...and well so I can also see you, my smol bean.” he told me in a babyish tone, pinching my cheeks. We looked like idiots there for a second. I tried grabbing him by the face but because of his tall frame, your girl here is having a hard time.
“Hey mister, stop bullying her”, we both stopped and slowly looked behind me. It was two kids. One was holding a shark plushie while the other one was holding the other's hand. They suddenly gasped because they noticed it was the two of us and started running excitedly to us.
“It’s you two! It’s you two! The idols! Our idols!~”, the two kids kept chanting as they spun around us. We both signaled them to be quiet and to sit down along with us. We both looked a bit nervous because the exit of the beach was really far and it was a long way back from the beach to the city’s circle.
The kids followed, making a ‘shh’ gesture with their hands and sat down with us. They clapped as we both sighed a bit in relief, noticing the other teens still doing their activities. The one beside me was a girl who was holding the shark, she looked closer at me in awe. The other one was a boy and was trying to touch Alden’s gloves, Alden was just eyeing his actions and hiding his hands.
“Wow, you really are beautiful ”, the girl says to me as she continues to look at me with fondness. I was a bit surprised but found myself smiling a bit.
“Well, thank you. You’re pretty too, especially with your shark there”, I replied with a smile.
“C’mon let me touch your hands”, the little boy pouted to Alden, but Alden kept hiding it and was sticking his tongue out teasing. Me and the girl laughed.
“Hey what’s your name, you two?”
“I’m Ashley”, The inkling girl answered.
“I’m...I’m Pugi.” the inkling boy answered. He ran beside the girl and hid beside her.
“Hey what’s wrong?”, I asked worried, that I’ve scared him, just like I always do.
“His….”, she looked at her friend, then I noticed. Pugi didn’t have an eye mask of an inkling, but an octoling. The bridge of his nose was a line drawn using either a pen or a marker.
“He's not an Inkling?” Pugi hid more. Ashely was whispering to him and he was nodding. They were slowly backing away not until Alden finally raised his naked right hand. The two kids stopped and were fascinated. The scared Lunar came closer quickly and touched the metal frame of Alden’s right hand.
Alden’s right hand was a robotic hand, a high-tech prosthetic that he built himself. It was when an experimental Octarian exploded into an acid residue of some sort. He was close to it and got hit. His hand won’t regenerate no matter how much he dipped into his ink. Luckily, one of the tech builders of our agency gifted him his first prosthetic hand and later chose him as his protege. He was the one who taught Alden beats and music remixing. His hand became a secret, to not question the Agency’s safety protocols and when our careers started booming, they decided for him to always wear gloves to hide it. I felt that the kid could relate to the hiding concept.
“So you’re a hybrid huh?”, I asked, now noticing that he also has sharp teeth and the spots on his tentacles looked like Octarian patterns. I was alright with it, but I do wonder where his parents are and is the Octarian parent around. He nods in a shy manner.
“See, i told you she wasn’t bad! She even helped those inklings when that bad man was hurting them”, the girl explained to the now attentive Lunar.
“Wait, you know about that?”, I asked, a bit shocked for kids to already know it also. I was about to feel more insecure.
“Yea! It was awesome! I want to be like you when I grow up! I want to protect my fans and be a badass! ”, Ashely started punching the air.and Pugi joined in and kicked. They both fell out of balance. Me and Alden quickly came forward and we saw the two just laughing, enjoying itself. It seems Pugi is becoming more comfortable now.
“Wow, you two look cute. Maybe you two would end up hehe”, Alden teases. The two stopped and looked at each other.
“BLEH”, they both stuck their tongues out in synchronization and we all laughed.
“Well...well...you two look cute. Are you together?” Pugi now asks as the two sits between our legs. Me and Alden looked surprised but Alden smirked back to me.
“No” “Absolutely”
“Alden!”, I scolded. The kids laugh.
“We won’t tell anyone, we promise”, Ashley giggled after.
“But you’re really lucky Sir. You have a very awesome girlfriend”, Pugi asks looking up to Alden.
“I want to grow up like you. Strong, nice to others….. and pretty!”, Ashley yells. I laughed.
“I doubt, I'm not prettiest like Marina, I’m not as gentle like Marie, I’m not as charismatic like Callie, I’m not strong willed like Pearl….”, I replied looking down.
“The strong willed can be debatable, babe”, Alden butts in as I glare.
“Well of course, because you’re you! I want to be you! Nobody’s perfect ma’am”, Ashley shares as she hugs her shark.
“Ye-yeah... we’re different. Uhm, in our own way...uh we have something to be proud of?”, Pugi tries to think. Alden chuckles
“Those are big words for kids your age. But babe he means we're unique in our own way” he tells. “So will you stop thinking you’re not good enough to be an idol.This kids are literally an example that you would be and you are.”, he finishes. The kids nod and jump out of our laps to hug me.
I smiled and lifted the two from behind, hearing their giggles echo. A little later, we waved goodbye and told them to go back safely to their parents, they walked away exhausted but happily. I noticed the sunrise approaches in a few hours. I then felt Alden’s arm snaking around my hips.
“So how are you now m’lady”, Alden asks as he kisses my head from behind.
I was about to answer when the music changed. It was gentle yet upbeat music produced by one of our Agency’s bands. The mood started to change.
(Music Inspiration: Lintik na Pag ibig | Official Lyrics Video | - Brownman Revival)
Alden spins in front of me and stretches his hand into my direction,” May I have this dance, m’lady?”, he asks, smiling straight at me. I couldn’t resist to giggle and rolled my eyes as I took his hand.
“I didn’t even notice you coming~”, the speakers spoke through the city.
He pulled me next to him and we swayed to the music. Following the beat, we stomp our feet back and forth, back and forth and again as it slowly sinks to the sand for every step. From the distance, we noticed some of the Inklings approaching us slowly, both the drunk and curious ones. I panicked because we could get trampled if they found out it was their City Idols. And suddenly, Alden lets go of my hand and dances in the front of the crowd, swaying and snapping his finger along his swaying body.
I was a bit in awe along with the crowd, then Alden secretly winked as he took a bit of a peek from the side.
“What are y’all looking at dumbfounded, get a partner! Either it’s your other half or your compadre or comadre!”, he yelled as he flipped back beside me. You would see Inklings hugging their friends, some pulling seductively the other while others laughing over their friends dancing. Some started lighting up torches and burying it on to the sand as a way to light up the dim beach.
“C’mon sway those beautiful bodies, gracefully, let’s go~”, He led.
“This freaking love~” The speaker’s sang and the beach was now a crowd of seductive dancers, or atleast was trying to.
I laughed as Alden danced along to the music but was still looking into my eyes, not taking it off once. He mouthed the lyrics to me and his once smiling face started looking so serious to my lips. I couldn’t find the strength to deny his gaze but I walked away a bit to him, which shocked him a little.
My serious but warm face smiled and started swaying, jumping along as the guitar solo played. The crowd cheered and clapped, praising me. I noticed the crowd has grown bigger. You would now see some jeepneys parked around us and as I danced, some of the dancer’s partners also danced like me. I couldn’t resist smirking for a second and gave Alden a seductive look. I saw him gulp for a second and started going around him, trying to bewitch him, if it’ll work.
It didn’t fail because he didn’t take his gaze off me, even for a second. I also saw the gaze of the others, both men and women to me. They were enchanted both to us and to the group of dancers, dancing along with us.
It made me smile, thinking it was ridiculous to think that I wasn’t a good enough idol, that I could be a bad influence. I even noticed some of the younger ones dancing along the crowd, trying to mimic me and Alden.
I looked back to him and saw him giving me a genuine smile.
“You okay now?” He asks as he raises his eyebrow. I laughed and nodded as I felt his arms around me again. There it is again, the magnetic feeling I’ve felt, when he confesses in front of the whole family clan of the weaponry brand’s descendants what he felt for me.
“Damn this! This freaking Love! Rushes like lightning~”, the song ended.
We were slowly leaning in to one another, ignoring the camera’s that were being pulled out, the crowd making loud gasps.
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
A jeepney approached near us, it was quite reckless. It drifts beside us, scaring some of the Inklings holding their phones. By judging the colors, design and huge megaphone on top of the jeep, I already knew who it was.
Jacob pokes out but he is holding his dizzy head while the other holds the door frame of the jeep. “Why did I let Jason drive this time? Oh….”
Jason pops out on the other door’s window and waves to the crowd. “Hey guys having fun!?”, he yelled, getting a loud cheer as a reply. Jason took his phone out and posed for a groupie. All inklings knew this as a trait of his and the crowd tried squeezing into the frame of the phone.
While the crowd was being distracted, Jasmine heads popped out onto the opposite window on the back. “Hey! Hurry up and get in here!”, she yelled hurriedly but in a quiet tone. “We’ve been looking for you two for like half an hour now”, Jacob scolded both of me and Alden.
“How’d ya found us?” I asked as we slowly tiptoed to the jeep, both having our shoes in our hands.
“Streamers.” Jasmine replied as she showed the livestream of the beach. The stream’s screen suddenly stopped focusing on Jason and was looking all around.
“Hey! Where’s Maine and Alden!?” A voice could be heard both from the stream and on one of the crowd’s jeeps.
“That’s our cue.” Jacob said and immediately shifted the gear, punched the gas and stirred the wheel with one hand. Jason’s head immediately goes in, while Alden quickly jumps on the jeep as it drives backward. The crowd started following us and some are even wailing.
“We’re about to perform again!" Jason yelled for a second "So meet us up at Rushtide Circle-”, the jeep quickly drives away as Jacob drives even though he was in the passenger seat.
I laughed and everyone looked back at me.
“What’s funny?”, Jacob asks.
“I was just a little down and stuff. Wouldn’t think a night on the beach could make you feel a lot of things”, I shared, smiling. Everyone nods.
“I still feel it but i guess I’m slowly accepting that I’ll be roughest to us all.” I shared proudly, sitting more comfortable now.
“Don’t worry, I don't think anyone from us plans to take that title away from you.” Alden rolls his eyes teasingly.
“But I’m just going to share, I've never seen Maine dance like that, especially giving a seductive look to pretty boy here. And not gonna lie, the dancing looks fun”, Jasmine shared as she smirks.
“Alden, my man”, Jason giving Alden a low five from behind while the other hand was driving.
“Hahaha yea, but my back hurts a little from that. How does Jacob do it?” Alden asks as he tries to massage his lower back.
“Years of hourly practice, not that fun but y’know what’s more fun?” Jacob smiles as he starts winking at the others.
“Oh no...”, I said, glaring. I looked around and everyone was smiling and looking at one another. Jason takes the jeep’s megaphone palm mic.
“Oh no you don’t-”
“Just for today, Rushtide’s favorite bassist will be dancing along with today performa-”
Inklings running to the stage, tried peeking on one of the jeepneys where the announcement came from. Its tinted glasses were giving them a hard time, but when you look closely, It would seem like someone was choking another figure from the inside.