Good Luck Clockworks

Finally, the competition day has come. A day to determine the worth of their passion and hard work amongst other powerful bands in Melaka. They'll only find out which bands they'll be competing with at the venue itself. So, there's no use dwelling and worrying about it on the way there. Though, the group already knew some bands they'll go up against.

Namely, The Black Panthers, Farihin's band. They also knew they'll go up against the twins' band, Ranni and Rajesh. Cherry, the forth place member of 'The Five Bassists' group created verbally by the students of the Music Faculty at Kokomi and Albert's university. She joined Ranni out of the same interest and goals. Though Ranni was Kokomi's junior, Kokomi didn't know the name of Ranni's band yet.

Either way, Carter was more motivated than the rest of them. Probably because he hadn't compete against other singers before, so the lad didn't know the feeling of being defeated. Kokomi wanted him to experience it by himself so she didn't reveal her feelings and thoughts about band competitions despite Carter trying to coaxed it out of her by groveling. Kokomi didn't gave in.

The Clockworks piled their stuff into the back of Beyond's van. Carter wanted to help, but Beyond instructed him to take a seat the van instead. He didn't want Carter accidentally dropping something. Instrument equipment are very fragile and precious to Beyond. If his most prized possession, his expensive guitar were to be dropped or scratched or broken in half, he wouldn't be able to adapt playing another one. Carter understood and went to take a seat in the car, despite feeling useless, he thought this'll be the best way to help.

"Do we have everything?," Albert questioned.

"Lemme check," Kokomi said, then proceeded to do a thorough check to make sure they didn't forget anything.

"Keyboard case, with keyboard inside. Guitar case, with guitar inside. Bass case, with bass inside. Drumsticks, four pairs. Amplifier, check. Input and output wires, check. Guess that's everything," Kokomi concluded, dusting her hands off.

"I can use the keyboard at the venue but I packed mine just in case," Albert explained.

"Did you replace the strings, yesterday?,"Nahida asked Simon.

"I replaced the ones on Kokomi's bass. Not sure about Beyond's though, I had to go home early yesterday," Simon said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Not to worry, I replaced mine already," Beyond said, crossing his arms.

"Good, what about the costumes, Nana?," Kokomi questioned.

"All packed, thanks for helping me iron them yesterday Mimi," Nahida smiled.

"You can count on me always, Nana!," Kokomi cheered.

Albert looked at the others, presuming that he had done his work, he took a seat inside the van beside Carter. Carter heard the van door slide open with a woosh and felt some weight sink into the seat.

"How are you feeling?," Albert questioned him.

"I'm feeling fine, great even. Though I feel kinda guilty for not helping out physically," Carter admitted.

"Staying out of trouble helps you know," Albert tried to cheer him up.

"Yeah, I know. That's how it's like at home as well. Guess, there's no changing this part of my life," Carter agreed.

Carter's words silenced Albert when he realized how Carter's been feeling this whole time. But, he couldn't help him, only Carter could learn to accept this harsh reality of his. Albert maybe could only give a few hints and push him forward.

Then the van door slide open with a loud woosh to reveal Kokomi and Simon. They both scooted into the seat, Kokomi ended up taking a seat on Albert's right while Simon sat beside her. Carter was seated comfortably on Albert's left . Simon slide the van's door close. Beyond sat behind the wheel while Nahida sat in the shotgun seat.

"This feels like a family road trip," Simon adressed.

"Yeah, mom and dad at the front like always," Carter chuckled.

Nahida turned towards the backseat so quickly after scoffing and looked at the two boys with a murderous intent in her eyes.

"If you start acting like literal children, I will not hesitate to have someone replace you," Nahida threatened.

Simon and Carter felt a shiver descending down their spine at Nahida's words and decided to not say a word.

"I kinda like it, a little family," Beyond said, as he started the van.

Nahida scoffed again and crossed her arms, she then turned on the radio. To her luck, a favorite song of hers was playing on the radio. She began to bop her head to the song as Beyond drove the van. Soon she began singing along to the song which wasn't pleasant to the human ear. Carter tried to cover his ears but failed so Albert helped him by placing his hands over Carter's ears, he managed to muffle out her horrible singing.

"Gosh, she sings worse than Carter," Simon quietly whispered to Kokomi.

Kokomi nodded in agreement.

"How is Beyond not bothered by this?," she whispered back.

"He's used to it, remember? They used to study in the same course which had educational trips to who knows where," Simon explained.

Kokomi and Simon raised their eyebrows as the two kept looking and wincing when Nahida tried to hit a high note. Simon and Kokomi tuned their eyes towards Beyond to see that he's completely not phased. He was calmly driving the van as he kept his eyes on the road. Kokomi blinked her eyes in disbelief. She then turned towards the two boys sitting on her left to see them covering each other's ears.

Kokomi shook her head and slightly got up from her seat. She reached out towards the radio and changed it to another station. The station was playing classical pieces. Kokomi then sat back in her seat. Albert recognized one of the music being played and uncovered his ears. The changed in song made Nahida stop singing when she realized that she was singing alone. She blushed in embarrassment.

Nahida turned to face Kokomi in the back seat with an annoyed look on her face.

"Mimi, why did you embarrass me like that," Nahida spat.

"Sorry Nana, as your best friend. I must eliminate that torture you sang just now. Now shut up and relax," Kokomi said leaning further into the seat.

Nahida sighed and shook her head in defeat and just turned back towards the front.

"Great success," Carter whispered in her ear.

"hehe," Kokomi laughed sheepishly with a red face.

Soon the van has reached the venue of the competition. Beyond parked the van in one of the empty spaces in the venue's huge parking lot. After he turned off the engine, Simon slides open the van door with excitement and hopped out of the van. He took a deep breathe and exhaled it with joy. He placed his hands on his hips.

"*sigh* It's so good to be back here. I remembered our first competition during high school. Good times with the boys," Simon said.

"You said it," Beyond agreed.

Kokomi carefully got out the van with Carter following after her. Nahida opened the van door of the shotgun seat and got out. She sighed contently and stretched her back while groaning. Lastly, Albert got out from his seat and admired the building in front of him. Such a huge auditorium, the outer architecture was made up of traditional designs as your would see in traditional Malay village houses. The roof of the building had a 'Minangkabau' design built.

The Clockworks began pulling out their equipment and placing it on the road for a final check. While they were checking, a car pulled up and parked right next to the van. The car's engine turned off and out comes Farihin and his sister. Farihin first had his eyes on the building in front of him, staring at it in wonder. Then her glanced around his surroundings and spotted Kokomi. He walked up to her with a bright smile on his face. He waved at her as she waved back at him.

"I see you're here early," Farihin comented.

Kokomi smiled at Farihin.

"Well, we don't wanna be caught up in traffic. Besides, we still have to pull out numbers to see who's performing first," Kokomi said.

Carter was standing right next to Kokomi since she is his guide when he's in places that are unfamiliar to him. He decided to rely on her assistance since he didn't want to bring his white walking stick because he assumed that people would look down upon him if they saw it. He listened in on their conversation and decided to join in.

"What number are you hoping to get, Farihin?," Carter questioned.

"Hm....anything's fine with me. I'm not distressed about timing," Farihin answered.

"I see," Carter said.

"So...what number are you guys hoping for?," Farihin asked in return.

"Nahida wanted the band to be last because we need to prepare our costumes," Kokomi explained.

"Costumes?," Farihin questioned.

"Yeah, costumes. Beyond said the band should start fresh so Nahida suggested costumes to fit in the aesthetic of the band's name. Hence why she wants the band to go last," Carter explained.

"Ohhh, I see," Farihin nodded, showing that he understood.

While the three continued to chat with each other, the others were hauling out the line of equipment needed for their performance. Soon, Beyond called out to Kokomi and Carter to help them. The three said their farewells.

"Good luck you guys," Farihin said as he waved.

"Good luck to you too," Kokomi and Carter said simultaneously and waved back.

Beyond slinged his guitar case over his left shoulder and curled his fingers around one of the suitcase's holder to grab onto it. Simon slinged his black bag which held all seven pairs of his drumsticks onto his right shoulder and also carried the other suitcase in his right hand. Kokomi slinged her bass case onto both of her shoulders like a backpack and held onto a a small pouch which contained the two small amplifiers that she had purchased from Jazz-Off.

Albert held onto one of his keyboard cases like a briefcase on his side in his left hand and held the bag that contained the structure for it in his right hand. He tasked Carter to hold onto the other keyboard case. Carter agreed to it and held onto it for him. Nahida held onto the bag that contained their lunch boxes, water bottles and snacks.

After everything was taken, Kokomi intertwined her fingers with Carter's so she could hang on tight to him. It proved to be much easier this way so Carter wouldn't get lost easily. Kokomi started walking in the direction of the auditorium's entrance, with Carter following suit. Nahida watch them in amusement as she began to giggle to herself. Beyond heard the sudden giggling and looked at Nahida with a confused expression.

"What is it?," Beyond questioned her.

Nahida had times when she would have a laughing fit at random times. She would laugh at anything she saw or heard that seemed hilarious to her. It's hard for her to stop when she starts.

"*snrk* Look at them....*snorts* They look like children on a field trip. Hahah....Mimi's bass looks like a landmark to find her," she chortled.

Beyond, Simon and Albert turned to look at the scene. Kokomi's bass indeed looked like a landmark since she was amongst people who are taller than her. Kokomi was busy staring at the entrance with awe whilst poor Carter was confused on why she had stopped and stayed silent.

"Let's catch up to them before something happens," Simon advised.

The four caught up with Kokomi and Carter and entered through the auditorium together. They wonder what kind of performances lied ahead in that place. They'll just have to wait and see then.