Alex sat on a plastic chair, eagerly waiting for the recruits to show up. He had invited more than a dozen people with varying skills and talents, specifically in singing. In his mind, the band could find the perfect singer for their band, and they could successfully compete in the Mini Manila Battle of the Bands. After postponing so many times (he blamed school work and Fresco's Mart responsibilities), he and his bandmates were finally free to host audition day.

It had been two hours since their supposed audition, and nobody showed up.

Ken, a guy twice the size of Alex, placed a gentle hand on the band leader's shoulder. "Al, buddy, I don't think anyone is coming."

Joseph, tuning his guitar at the back, added sneeringly, "Who needs them anyway, Alex? Ken can be our drummer and vocalist. Why waste our time waiting for nobodies when we could be practicing?"

Alex sighed. "Maybe I could double as a singer besides a keyboardist-

"Hell no!" Ken and Joseph shouted at the same time.

"Kidding! I'm kidding," Alex replied with hands held up. "I know I suck at singing. But guys, we can't lose hope just yet. We are 4-Minutes after all. We need four members."

"I still don't approve of that name." Joseph stuck his tongue out. "Where did you even get that name?"

"4 minutes is how long the crowd will be clapping for us after we're done performing."

Joseph rolled his eyes. "You're just pulling that out of your ass."

Ken interjected, "Well, that is the name we used to sign up for the Battle of the Bands, so we have no choice but to stick with it."

Joseph groaned and placed his guitar down. He paced around Ken's garage, which doubled as their studio. Besides the rundown pick-up truck that Ken's parents owned, the garage was sparsely decorated and contained mostly their band equipment and instruments.

"Let's face it, Alex," Joseph said while he leaned against Ken's family pick-up. "Nobody is showing up. It's like 5 in the afternoon already, I'm getting hungry, and my mom said I should be home by 7. I swear, if we hear someone knocking on the garage door, I'm going to swallow my piss-

There was a sudden knock on the garage door. The handle turned, and Alex instantly recognized their first and only recruit.

Paul stood at the doorway, his hands embracing his backpack. He looked around until his eyes spotted Alex. He stepped inside and greeted everyone. 

"Hey, what's up?" Paul said with a bashful smile. "Sorry if I'm late. Our choral teacher made us stay for longer. Did I miss the audition?"

The three bandmates looked at each other. (More accurately, Alex and Ken looked at Joseph with giant, 'in-your-face' smiles while Joseph rolled his eyes to the back of his skull.) Alex then turned his attention to Paul. He pulled him into the garage, closed the door behind Paul, and said, "No, no, no! You're just in time. Well, you are the only recruit who managed to come here today. But hey! That means we can put more focus on you. Not to mention: a higher chance of getting chosen."

Joseph scoffed. "Don't get too ahead of yourself, Fresco. We still have not heard how well this guy sings."

"I have high hopes," Ken confessed while he looked at Paul thoughtfully. "But Joseph is right. We have high hopes you can sing in the style our band needs. We are a rock band, after all. Do you have the strong vocals that we're looking for?"

Paul gulped. Hesitantly, he placed his backpack down. He looked at Alex for reassurance. Sensing the pressure, Alex stepped in between everyone.

"Guys, guys, let's all give Paul a chance," Alex said. "This is an audition, not a court hearing. Paul, if we like your singing, you are in. If not, well, no hard feelings, right?"

Paul nodded.

"Excellent!" 

Alex patted Ken and Joseph's shoulders and instructed them to grab a seat. The three bandmates sat near their instruments as Paul stood in the center, holding his hoodie straps for his dear life. 

"What are you singing for us tonight, Paul?" Alex asked encouragingly.

"I-I'm going to sing Angel's Blues by Donny Pablo," Paul replied, his voice shaking.

Joseph whispered to Ken, "Donny Pablo? The kid's into jazz, huh?"

"We're ready when you are, Paul," Alex raised his hand as a go signal.

Paul sighed deeply, cleared his throat, and started singing.

In a snap, the atmosphere of the room changed. The skepticism between the bandmates slowly vanished as they indulged in Paul's tenor voice. Alex looked at Joseph and Ken's faces and was pleasantly surprised to see them invested in Paul's strong yet modulated singing. Joseph was not making snide remarks or faces, and Ken was silently swaying along.

When Paul finished singing, the three bandmates dragged their chairs towards each other and huddled up. Alex had a colossal grin when he saw the look of disbelief in Joseph and Ken.

"I told you guys; he's a natural," Alex said in a loud whisper.

"Ugh, fine, he is talented," Joseph replied. "That's beginner's luck. We still need to train him to look the part. It's one thing to be able to sing. It's another thing to actually be a rockstar."

"I see a potential in the guy," Ken commented. "He still sounds a little shaky when hitting those high notes. But we can polish his vocal before the Battle of the Bands."

"Then it's settled," Alex clapped his hands. "4-Minutes has found its fourth member!"

The three got up from their chairs. Alex came up to Paul and hugged him. "Congratulations, Paul! You're our new lead singer!"

Paul could not find the right words to say. He looked at everyone with disbelief in his eyes. But when Ken and Joseph nodded genuinely at him, he realized the gravity of what had just happened.

"Practice starts tomorrow at 1 PM. Don't forget to bring water, okay?" Alex and Paul looked at each other face to face. Alex's heart started racing as he stared into the younger teen's eyes. "You'll be here, right?"

It took a few moments before Paul replied. "Y-yeah! I'll be here."

"Fantastic! And by the way, are you going to tell your uncle? The, uh, cat?"

Paul's smile suddenly faltered. He failed to mention the Battle of the Bands to his uncle, of all people. He shook his head. He had already dedicated himself to the band. If his strict, old-timey Uncle Howard found out, he was sure the feline would forbid him from seeing 4-Minutes and joining the Battle of the Bands.

Paul glanced at everyone before finally settling at Alex's gaze. The older teen eagerly waited for his response. He smirked and said, "He doesn't have to know."