Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 31

"No!"

"Garrick Anael Costales or famously known as Gael was found in his car, bleeding and unconscious, six in the evening today. An ambulance has taken him to the hospital and there are no updates on the condition of the basketball star so far. The police are now investigating the traces of gunshots from all over Costales' car."

"Hindi! Hindi! Kuya!"

"Si Kuya ko!" Nahuli ni Nikolai ang braso ko bago pa man ako mahulog sa sahig. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako titingin, kung kanino ako makikinig. "Love, Lumi, stand up."

Wala akong maramdaman.

Nagmamanhid lahat. May nakakabinging tunog sa tainga ko na hindi ko maalis.

Gusto ko nalang makita si Kuya Gael at ako mismo ang sisigurado na ayos lang siya.

"Gemini, your mother's asking you to come home." ani Kit sa malungkot na tinig. Kahit hindi niya sabihin ay gagawin ko iyon. Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na sa ganitong paraan ako uuwi.

Nikolai and I took the earliest flight to the Philippines.

We've just made up but he's acting as caring as always. I'm so glad I have him here with me, taking care of things and other stuff that I couldn't because of my current state of mind.

Habang nasa eroplano kami ay nakasandal lang ako sa gilid niya habang nakaakbay siya sa akin. I'm so, so worried and he knows that. Everyone who knows me know how affected I am by this.

The way home was so dreadful and every passing hour that I'm not with Kuya Gael kills me slowly. Kaunti na lang ay malditahan ko na ang lahat ng mga makakasalubong ko dahil wala silang ginagawa para mapabilis ang pagpunta ko kay Kuya.

I've also received a lot of calls from different people but if I do not answer them, Nikolai does it for me.

For all I know, Nikolai might have some updates but I don't want to ask. Nakakatakot na hindi ko magustuhan ang ibabalita niya sa akin, mabuti at tikom naman ang bibig niya.

"Are you hungry?"

Nasa huling layover na kami nang natanto kong lantaran kaming magkasama sa publiko... and I surprisingly didn't care.

His arms are all over me for comfort and I couldn't care any less what other people would think of it. The mere scent of this man is enough to make my mind at ease.

My guards were enough to keep a distance between me and the fans, some of them looks like they rushed here when they heard the news about me being in this airport.

"Are you okay?" Nikol asked, checking my face against his shoulders. Umiling ako kasi hindi naman talaga. Sa eroplano nga ay bigla na lang akong maiiyak sa tuwing naaalala ko si Gael.

Mahigpit ang security pagkarating namin sa NAIA. Maraming reporters sa paligid, ang iilan ay mga tagasuporta ko dahil ang iilan sa kanila ay namumukhaan ko.

It was silent. All I can hear are footsteps and cameras clicking. They know why I'm here, and I appreciate that they aren't asking me with questions that I myself do not know the answers to.

Nikolai's arms are still around my shoulders so I feel safe despite the many eyes that are probably looking at us right now. I wouldn't know because I kept my gaze on the ground the whole time.