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Minutes after Kinger… killed Caine. Naturally, Jax wanted to be away from everyone, if not for Pomni’s little ‘hey, you okay?’
He didn’t bother responding, because what is there to say?
She seemed content though, with him not leaving. She showed him that small reassuring smile of hers and… this time, he did not look away. He just could not bear to smile again. So, he nodded at her.
She exhaled, it almost sounded like a laugh, but he knows it was relief.
Relief for him? She should think about herself more. God, what a stupid girl.
The next couple of days felt like a blur to him. Kinger taught the group how to ‘conjure’ things here. With this new skill, the others started to build the circus again, but with their own hands this time.
Jax just was not too into it. He would make himself a bed to lie in, but every time he lays on it, Pomni was right beside him.
Stupid girl. Think of yourself.
He concentrated and conjured her a bed. Told her to sleep on it.
She was surprised. She showed him that smile again and gave him a small thank you.
Stupid… stupid girl.
Gangle and Zooble invited everyone to check out their newest conjure. A portal.
They found Zooble’s bar from their suggestion and expanded on it. It was now a larger place. More drinks on the bar, courtesy of Zooble, and lots of small things like pool tables, darts, couches, beanbag chairs, basically anything they can fit in to try to make it comfy for all of them. Gangle told the group that this place can be their little haven, and that they can keep adding things to the bar to make things more homely while they repair the outside.
While they all praise her, Jax eyed Zooble already heading to the bar. That is a good idea.
He sat on a barstool. Zooble anticipated this and already started working on his drink. “Whiskey sour, right? Hold the egg white since you’re vegan?” They joke.
“Just make me whatever you want.” He sighed. “What does it matter?”
They pause their movement in slight surprise, but continued making the drink anyway. They needed one too. They quickly whipped it up, and put his drink in front of him. Nothing fancy for themselves though. Vodka on the rocks.
Jax was about to drink it when they see Zooble raise their glass towards him for a toast.
…whatever. They oblige the abstract, and they both drink.
“You’re… also twenty-two years old, right?” They suddenly ask.
He opened his mouth to retort, but paused. What is the point? “Yeah. Ragatha tell you?”
They eye him in caution. “Not exactly. She just said that you were… young when you came here. Now you’re twenty-two.”
“…yeah.” There was just… no fight left in him. They all see through him now.
Zooble does not know what to follow with this confirmation. Their eyes point at his drink. “You want a refill?”
He blinked. He did not even realize that he finished his glass. “…yeah. Just straight whiskey this time.”
They grab the bottle. “Sure, Jax.”
After a refill, he was the one that spoke first this time. “What were your dreams?”
“Huh?” They were taken aback by his curiosity.
“What…” Jax slightly teared up. “What dreams do twenty-two-year-olds have out there?”
Zooble exhaled. Mr. alcohol is doing his job. They hesitated answering since it was Jax, but… they only have each other now.
“I was… trying to make enough money to get away from my dad.”
His ears slightly perked up.
“I wanted to go cross-country.” They poured themselves a refill of vodka. “Meet my soulmate and we’d… travel together.”
“What was up with your dad?”
Zooble answered immediately. “He didn’t like his baby girl liking other girls.”
“Ah.”
It took a few minutes before Zooble broke the quiet. “Did you have dreams?”
Jax answered immediately. “I wasn’t allowed to.”
“…Ah.” Since he did not elaborate, they left it alone for now.
He glanced at Pomni, who was talking to Ragatha and Gangle. She finished saying something, and looked at his direction. She gave him that smile again, and accompanied it with a small wave.
His face got warm. Must be the alcohol. “Stupid girl.” He said under his breath.
Zooble heard him and scoffed. “Keep telling yourself that.”
They were teasing him. With the alcohol loosening him up, he tried to tease back. “Two parts of your dreams came true. You’re away from your dad and you met Gangle.” He looked at them to see their annoyed face, but saw that they seemed surprised and… happy?
“That’s… Thanks, Jax. That’s a very nice thing to say.”
Huh. “You’re… welcome.”
A few more minutes of silent drinking pass before Zooble spoke again. “You know, we could do with your help in conjuring things. Don’t you want to be comfy in eternity?”
“I’m plenty comfy, and I conjured things.” He responded.
“You conjured beds for you and Pomni.” They snicker. “Mr. ‘I’m not allowed to have dreams’ has one where he lives with Pomni.” They teased. “When you live together, you guys can make all the googly eyes you want.”
“Ugh, Zoobie, come on.”
“For God’s sake just make something.” They sip their drink. “Gangle’s been on a spree, the creative that she is, and she’s been feeling so much better.” Zooble said with a softness to their tone.
Jax downed his drink. “Putangina.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” He stood up. “Fine. I’ll make something.”
“I meant to make something while you’re sober.”
“Shut up. Too late now.” He walked away.
Zooble could stop him, who knows what he could create while drunk? Then again, if he was going to make something for the group, then he should have at it.
Jax approached the wall. The whole group was confused at why he was staring at it.
Suddenly, the wall moved back, extending the bar more. In the new space, was a stage with a microphone and a TV. Behind the mic, a whole rock band set. Holding the instruments, were mannequin NPCs that were not moving. It was like they needed something to move.
“W-we can make NPCs!?” he heard Gangle yell.
Jax ignores her, looking very unsatisfied. He went to the side of the stage and found the problem. The stage was not plugged. He sighed in annoyance and conjured a plug on the wall so he can power his creation.
With a bzzt, the word ‘Karaoke!’ glowed above the stage.
“No fucking way!” Zooble yelled.
Jax hopped onto the stage and grabbed the mic. “Don’t say I never do anything for you losers.” He groaned out loud and then screams into the mic. “TARA NA!”
The mannequins spring to life and play a piece. The TV comes to life flashed the words “Sige by 6cyclemind” on the screen.
The instrumentals intensify. Jax starts banging his head, really getting into it. It dies down a little. The screen showed lyrics in a language the group was not fluent in. Tagalog.
Jax leaned into the mic and sings.
Sige!
His voice captured everyone in the room.
Pag kasama ka naman
Kitang-kita ko ang ating kasiyahan!
He stretched his mouth to force a smile.
Sige!
This time, a mannequin screamed that with him.
Huwag na nating pigilan
At 'di magtatagal, tayo ay liligaya!
He glanced at Zooble and gestured to them and himself.
Okay lang naman ang ating usapan
Hindi na lang babalikan ang nakaraan
Upon singing that lyric, he remembers his time with Ribbit and Kaufmo, making him scream the next line.
Ang nakaraan!
The mannequins behind him join in the start of the chorus.
Ayos lang, basta't kasama
The music stopped briefly for him.
Konting alak lang
He holds up his glass of whiskey proudly, imagining it as the hot chocolate he shared with his old friends.
Kahit walang pulutan!
Ang minsan, naaalala
He seemed to sing that last word in pain.
'Di magtatagal, tayo ay liligaya!
Woah-oh-oh Sige!
This time, he screamed it at his fellow castmates.
Pagpatuloy niyo lang
Unti-unting lunudin sa kasiyahan!
He sang that lyric as if he was lecturing them, mad at them for easily forgetting.
Sige!
He screamed again.
Pagpasensiyahan na lang
Mga pumipigil sa ating ligaya!
He was mad at them for forgiving him so easily.
Okay lang naman ang ating usapan
This time, he glanced at Pomni and gestured to her and himself.
Hindi na lang babalikan ang nakaraan
He remembered how much fun he had with her, and then how he pushed her away.
Ang nakaraan!
He sang that part with such regret in his voice.
Ayos lang, basta't kasama
Konting alak lang
He raised his glass again.
Kahit walang pulutan!
Ang minsan, naaalala
He pounded his head as he sang that last word.
'Di magtatagal, tayo ay liligaya!
He sang his emotion out. Tears started to fall from his face.
He suddenly kicked the guitarist mannequin off-stage and grabbed the electric guitar for a heartfelt, emotional solo. He would occasionally bang his head and stomp to the beat hard, really pouring all his emotions into the instrument.
In his drunken, highly volatile state, he hallucinated Ribbit in front of him.
Okay lang naman ang ating usapan
He dropped the guitar for the original mannequin player to pick up. He started frantically gesturing to Ribbit and himself.
Hindi na lang
He reached out for a hug.
babalikan
He grabbed at nothing and fell to the floor of the stage.
ang nakaraan
He got up to his knees in tears. His friend really was gone forever. He wailed the next line of the song in agony.
Ang nakaraan!
He wanted to stop singing, but the song continued with a new singer.
Ayos lang, basta't kasama
Pomni was on stage, holding another mic. Her eyes darted from the TV for the lyrics to him.
Konting alak lang
What is she doing? She does not even know this language!
Kahit walang pulutan
Stupid girl!
Ang minsan,
She got close and held his face. That jumpstarted his heart, and it made him sing again.
naaalala
They both started singing together.
'Di magtatagal, tayo ay liligaya!
Upon singing that part, he gets livelier as quick flashes of his good memories with not just Ribbit and Kaufmo, but with Pomni too, enter his mind.
He imagined Ribbit and Kaufmo behind him, singing the chorus with him.
Ayos lang, basta't kasama
They stop briefly, letting him take this part. He does so with a smile. First one in a while.
Konting alak lang
Kahit walang pulutan!
With his left hand holding the mic, he hoisted Pomni up with his right so they can sing the last words together.
Ang minsan, naaalala
'Di magtatagal, tayo ay liligaya!
He dropped her as the instrumentals intensify for the finale. She landed on her feet, and they both started banging their heads to the beat. Both together again, having so much fun.
When the song ended and he dropped to the floor, emotionally exhausted.
“Jax!” Pomni checked on him. Her worried face disappears when she sees his signature grin.
“Pom Pom!” He said while panting on the floor. “Coming on stage to sing something not in your language?” He gets sly. “You coming onto me?”
“Pfft,” she lets out a huge laugh.
That sweet sound, that great smile, they tell him that maybe finally, everything will be okay.
She suddenly leaned down close to his face, making him blush. An inch away from him, she whispered. “You stupid boy.”