The suit I’m wearing is electric blue. There’s a satin feel to the slacks and jacket. The T-shirt underneath is black with a slight V-neck. My chest hairs are making an appearance tonight. I’m going full-on Romeo and not holding back. Not one bit.
“Te botaste,” Jaysen says when he checks out my threads. He insisted on wardrobe approval. I told him the last person who picked out my clothes was my mom, and that was when I was eight. Unless he birthed me, he needed to leave me alone.
We wait for an Uber to take us to the club. I hold my guitar case close. My nerves are shot. It doesn’t help I haven’t had much sleep. These past few days went way too fast. It’s funny how cruel time can be. When you are at school, the clock just toys with you, its seconds slowly moving. In the summer, it’s a joke how quickly time flies.
Every day I woke up eager to see Eury. She didn’t want to go outside, and I was cool with that. The stairwell in my building became our second home. I would bring my guitar to practice while she borrowed Penelope’s laptop. We sat next to each other on the steps. There were times when the neighbors would be annoyed by the noise. Other times when they would enjoy it. It would depend on the song I played.
When you don’t have nearby parks, and it’s too cold to be outside, the hallways have always been a great substitute. Jaysen and I used to play hide-and-seek in the building, finding shelter in one of the exits or janitor’s rooms. With Eury beside me, sitting close, I felt like a kid again. We talked about everything. Her life on the island. My parents’ divorce. School. Lack of school. Our fears.
And we kissed. Damn, we kissed. Every second, I wanted to touch her. I wanted the world to stop. Let us have our own space, outside of the ticking clock that has her mom taking her back to Tampa. With each kiss she would whisper my name like a sigh. Pheus. It didn’t matter how hot it got inside that hallway or how many times her aunt gave me the icy glare; it was on.
My friends assumed I ghosted them because I’d been getting ready for the gig. Melaina sent me a long email with pictures of what she intended to wear tonight. I still haven’t responded.
“Come through.” Jaysen is on the phone wrangling more people to the show. He wears an insane-looking shirt with a dizzying pattern. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was Dominican with his loud self. The Uber arrives and the driver has extreme merengue on. I ask him to lower the volume. He does so but only enough for me to hear Jaysen repeat a question.
“Did you get that?” he asks. “First impressions are important.”
He tells me the owner’s name, but I’ve already forgotten it. I can’t stop thinking about Eury. How am I supposed to perform knowing she will leave for Florida in less than three days?
“Yo, concéntrate,” Jaysen yells. “When you go inside, make sure you give the man in charge the hard handshake. Don’t wuss out on this part. You’ve got to show up as a man, not a high school nobody.”
Shake hands with the dude. Yeah, I got it. I know how to present myself no matter the circumstance. I’ve been code- switching since the first word came out of my mouth.
Pops said he’s showing up tonight. He convinced his bike crew to join him. Mom can’t make it. Her boyfriend planned a weekend getaway for them. She sent me money to celebrate afterward and made me promise to videotape it.
When the car stops at the front of the entrance, the crowd goes wild. Friday night, and there’s a line of people waiting for the club to open. I search for Eury, but she’s not here. I told her that her name would be on the list. She, Penelope, and Aaron are my special guests. I step out of the car, and people pull out their phones, filming me like I’m somebody. They came to see me. It’s ridiculous, and I love every second of it.
Melaina’s not waiting on this line. She’s already behind the velvet rope with her girls. She walks over to me and plants a wet one on my cheek. Thalia is ready, taking pictures of us together. I smile at the camera, and I’m glad Eury is not around. For Melaina, this is a show.
“Good luck, baby,” she says.
She tries for another kiss, but I pull back. Enough with this charade. Anger no doubt courses through her, but she won’t display it. Although Melaina hasn’t seen me with Eury, I’m sure she’s heard about us.
Jaysen gives the bouncer the what’s-up. I walk toward the thick wooden doors into the club.
Tonight I want everything to go as planned. We celebrate and enjoy ourselves. One last time before Eury leaves.
On my way, Eury texts.
Aaron promised to drive Eury and Penelope right to the club and drop them in front. I also made him swear to be on the lookout for Ato. No one is to press up on Eury. While I’m onstage, Eury will go directly backstage and enjoy the show from there, far from the crowds. That’s the plan.
The Kingsbridge Armory takes up a whole block. They really are trying to make the place dizzyingly ritzy. High-class entertainment with separate spaces for children and adults. The restaurant is located above the club while the indoor rooftop pool is encased in glass so everyone can enjoy the sky no matter the weather.
We enter the restaurant first. They’ve spared no expense. Everything is completely mirrored and gilded. I guess gold makes a person feel luxurious, and it also creates an abundance of light. There are tables upon tables with champagne bottles already on ice. Those occupying the tables are dressed Manhattan fly. Outfits definitely not meant for this neighborhood. And just like in a restaurant in New York, not one person pays us any attention. We are invisible.
“You belong downstairs,” a bouncer, who looks identical to the one situated outside, says.
“Good looking out,” Jaysen says.
The faceless bouncer slowly pulls back heavy velvet curtains to reveal a set of descending stairs. The scent of sulfur and incense permeates the staircase. I gesture to Jaysen to see if he smells it. He’s too busy trying to be the man, walking down the stairs as if he knows where he’s going. The heavy odor is not what I would normally expect from a nightclub. The fragrance reminds me of St. Anselm and the various botánicas around the neighborhood. I feel as if I’m entering a holy place.
Instead of gold, the club below is a cavernous room draped in red. Red carpets. Red walls. A red bar. Even the stage has red floors. It reminds me of that old scary movie The Shining. I am not one to believe in bad vibes, that sounds way too corny, but this is a type of place Pops would declare un baja nota. There is no music being played, which adds to my uneasiness. I chalk up my apprehension to nerves.
The other musicians are already here. Their instruments are placed on the elevated stage, with a sizable dance floor situated right in front.
“Is Papo Sileno here?” Jaysen asks. He rubs his hands together. He’s nervous too. Manager or not, this was his idea. Being so close to the decision-makers is what Jaysen always dreamed of. To run with the big rollers.
Almost there, Eury texts. I’ll feel better when she’s beside me.
Similar to the restaurant upstairs, there are tables strewn across the floor. The tables are small, only room enough for drinks. A beautiful, tall woman with a blank expression tends to the bar at the far end of the club. Two others soon join her. They look almost identical, as if the owners only employ a certain type. Like the bouncers upstairs, the workers ignore us. We are the help. No reason to acknowledge us. I can’t help but think to myself, Just you wait. When you hear my voice, you will be unable to look the other way.
“Jaysen!”
An older man with long, black hair has a hand firmly clasped on Jaysen’s shoulder, while the other holds a glass of wine. His expensive shirt is unbuttoned, revealing a smooth chest. On his feet are cleft square boots that look like hooves. An outfit only someone with serious money would rock without fear of being ridiculed or beat down for being different.
“You must be el Nuevo Nene de la Bachata!” he exclaims. The man reeks of alcohol and he’s got what I would call a horse face. “My name is Papo Sileno, but I go by Sileno.”
I shake his hand hard, and he does the same. He also gives me the up-and-down. Sileno does not let go. Because this is a test, I stay firm. I will smile and be charming because Jaysen is breathing heavily next to me, praying Sileno likes what he sees.
Sileno lets go and runs his fingers against the lapel of my suit.
“Very smooth. He’s perfect,” he says. “Perfect.”
Jaysen lets out a sigh of relief. He pats my back, hard. Why do I feel as if I’ve been sold?
“Have you seen the crowd?” Jaysen asks, eager to please. “They are ready.”
“So am I,” Sileno says. The glint in his eye reveals other things. The woman behind the bar appears to refill his cup. He whispers to her.
“Let’s toast.”
I don’t want to drink the red wine he offers from some unpronounceable place, but I do. I have to. I’m sealing the deal to play.
“Oh my god.”
Penelope and Eury finally arrive. Penelope is dumbfounded by the ambience. As for Eury, she is scared, but when our eyes meet, her fear slowly dissipates. Eury is here. I don’t care how Sileno is drinking another glass of wine, but I do care how he stares at Eury. Leers at her. When Eury stands beside me ready for introductions, I place my arm around her shoulders.
“This is my girlfriend, Eury.”
“Bueno, Girlfriend Eury, you are a vision.” Sileno kisses her cheek delicately, and I want to punch him in the face. Eury isn’t feeling the spectacle. Still, she graciously smiles.
“Drink. Drink. This is going to be fun.” He offers everyone wine. Eury takes only a small sip from the large goblet. “You might want to do a sound check. Don’t worry, I will keep your friends entertained while you do.”
I don’t want to leave Eury alone with him. Sileno’s a type of charming predator who probably thinks owning a club is enough to compensate for his questionable fashion sense.
“Go ahead,” Jaysen says, giving me the eye. Jaysen should be nervous. I’m about to pounce on this guy if he keeps licking his lips and staring at Eury like she’s a sancocho.
I reluctantly join the musicians on the stage. Sileno continues to be boisterous and loud. Jaysen seems to love it. He probably wants to be like him, his apprentice in the art of bullshit.
Sileno tells Penelope a joke. Her laugh is an uncomfortable one. I strum my guitar hard. Aaron pays attention to the exchange and gives Sileno the hard stare. I need to get Eury away from him. I don’t want her to continue to be nice to this jerk, not on my account.
“Hey, Eury, did you bring the thing I asked?” I say loudly into the microphone. My voice stops Sileno in midsentence of another dumb joke. His smile never leaves his face. Eury takes the hint and joins me onstage.
“I don’t like that guy,” I say.
“I can tell,” she says. “He’s pretty predictable. A grosero nightclub owner. It’s a good thing I’m not into that.”
The anger simmers down a bit. She is with me. We are going to be fine.
“I’m not here for that mama culo,” I whisper. “Hang out backstage. Away from him.”
She agrees to.
“Ready, el Nene?” Sileno yells out. “We are about to open the doors.”
Although Sileno continues to drink glass of wine after glass of wine, he doesn’t appear drunk. He walks with an even pace. Sileno addresses his workers in whispers, but with us, he’s obnoxious.
I wait on the side of the stage with Eury while people fill up the club. The music is pumping now. Couples take to the dance floor. I spot my father and his crew hanging back, letting the young people take up room. I see Penelope and Aaron dancing. Jaysen talks to important-looking men. Melaina has commandeered a table front and center.
“Don’t be nervous,” Eury says. “You’re going to be great.”
This is a mistake. What am I doing? Eury leaves on Monday, and we are wasting time in this cursed building with this elitist clown who is, right now, serving wine to Melaina.
“Let’s go,” I say. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to do this.”
Eury grabs the loop of my belt and draws me close.
“Sing as if you are only singing to me,” she says. “I’ll be right here watching. Three songs. Only three songs. For me.”
We kiss, and it’s the courage I need. I can do this.
Sileno takes to the stage. He gives me a nod. We are about to begin.
“Welcome to Club Dīs-traction, the premier house in the Bronx for live music and libations. I’m the owner, Sileno, and I’m very proud to introduce our first Young People’s Night,” he says. “We are hoping for more events like this. What do you think?”
The crowd yells and applauds.
“Now, I’ve heard so much about this boy. Everyone seems to be talking about him, from Orchard Beach to Third Avenue. He’s going to be big and you are going to remember tonight. You heard him here first. Let’s give it up for el Nuevo Nene de la Bachata, Pheus!”
My father whistles a loud street whistle used to hail cops and to alert kids to get off the street. My friends holler. I hug Eury and give her too quick of a kiss. The guitar is tuned. My voice is primed. I’m ready.