Under the Brightest Stars

Beginning

Hello. Everything is fiction. Thanks.

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Beginning

"And what will you do if it will reach the tabloids? Franceska, you're an international model! You're not just some cheap showbiz girl," my angry manager said.

I know the consequences of my actions. I am well aware. And I am well prepared. Ilang taon ko na itong pinaghandaan at ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng lakas na loob.

He frowned even more when I wore my limited edition LV sunglasses. Tiningnan ko siya sa front mirror at nagtaas ng kilay.

"Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo mo, ha?" he added.

"Come on, I will just be visiting a..." tumingin ako sa tarpaulin na nasa labas, "a taekwondo school. Ano namang masama nun? It will not be a big deal."

I pulled out my phone and looked at my reflection as I apply a small lip gloss. Konti lang, 'yung hindi halata na nag-ayos ako.

"Bahala ka na. Basta labas ako rito," he said.

"Yes, Richard. Labas ka na rito, okay? Chill."

Bumuntong-hininga na lang siya at humalukipkip.

Lalabas na sana ako nang makita na may lumabas na mga bata kasama ang mga Mama nila mula sa building. They looked so cute wearing their taekwondo uniforms. My heart clenched... I'm not too late, right?

How has it been? 6 years? 5 years? I lost count. May asawa na kaya siya? Girlfriend? Mga anak? Sumikip ang dibdib ko kaiisip ng kung ano. Kung may pamilya na nga siya, eh, mangungumusta na lang ako. In that sense, I can finally have peace with myself.

Closure lang naman ang pinunta ko. Right, it's just closure and nothing else.

Yumuko ako nang lumabas sa sasakyan. Narinig ko pa ang pang-ilang buntong-hininga ng manager ko bago isinara ang pinto. The streets are already deserted. That's a good thing. Wala naman sigurong paparazzi rito. Sana wala...

I made my way inside the building. It's a four storey and I don't know which floor I'll go. Just by looking at the kids wearing their uniforms confirmed my hunch that he's indeed here. He finally put up a taekwondo school, huh. He reached one of his dreams.

I've been busy but I still got informations about him. Labas pasok ako sa bansa because of work but that won't hinder me from hearing more from him. Ewan ko. I guess I was just so hung up.

My Gucci heels made sounds as I walked inside. Panay ang tingin ko sa paligid, hoping for a signage, just so I could finally find the place. Until I reached the third floor. And at last, I saw a poster about martial arts.

Wala namang tao kaya hinubad ko na ang sunglasses ko. I peeked inside the glass door but I can't see anyone. Tama ba ang address na 'to? To end the confusion, pumasok ako sa loob.

I was greeted by an empty hall. The glass wall made the view of the city visible. It was a huge place. I can see fresh t-shirts and martial arts equipments so I guess the kids really came here earlier. Bakit walang tao?

I exhaled. Babalik na lang yata ako rito-

Natigilan ako nang may lumabas mula sa isang kwarto na nakasuot ng itim na t-shirt at 'yung taekwondo pants and he's barefoot. Santi. It's Santi. And he's still got an effect on me. Badly.

He's become taller. And he's still the same: those ivory black eyes, those pinkish lips, and those perfectly molded nose line. But compared before... he's now silent.

Nahinto rin siya nang makita ako. Ako lang yata ang nagulat sa aming dalawa kasi casual lang na nagtaas ang kilay niya sa 'kin. Oh my God! Seriously? 'Yan lang ang reaction niya? Hindi man lang ba siya nagtataka?

"Hi..." I awkwardly greeted.

Nagkunot-noo siya. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

Hiningal ako sa kaba. I looked away and thought of an alibi. But I failed. So, I looked back at him. "Uh... You own this... place?"

Nagkunot-noo lamang siya at hindi nagsalita. Dumiretso siya sa mga bench at sinimulan ang pagligpit ng mga kagamitan. His back were flexing as he bended over to pick it up. And my god, look at those biceps. Mas lumaki ito kumpara noon.

"Santi," tawag ko.

Nagbuntong-hininga siya at lumingon sa akin. "Bakit?" he coldly asked.

"Are you busy?" What a stupid question, Franceska!

"I am. Kita mo naman 'diba?"

"Can we talk?"

"We are already talking," aniya.

I sharply exhaled. "Pwede bang kausapin mo ako nang maayos?"

He pursed his lips, annoyed by my behaviour. Hindi rin nakatulong na tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. He's giving me the vibes!

"Please?" I pleaded.

"Wala naman tayong kailangang pag-usapan," sabay talikod niya ulit para pulutin ang mga gamit.

"Santiago! Ano ba?! Sobrang dami nating kailangang pag-usapan!" He did not answer so I went to him. "Why did you leave? Bakit hindi mo na ako tinawagan after? Bakit hindi ka na nagpakita?"

Pumasok siya sa kwarto kaya sinundan ko siya. I saw a lot of equipments there but that won't stop me from annoying him until I get an answer.

"Hindi ka man lang ba mag-eexplain? Why haven't I heard from you for 5 years? Why?"

Nanigas ang mga panga niya nang inilagay ang mga equipment at lumingon sa akin. His eyes were full of rage while mine were becoming watery.

"'Iyan ba ang pinunta mo rito?" malamig niyang sabi.

"Yes! Because I demand an answer, Santi!"

"There's no answer, Frans. You broke up with me. That's it."

"My god, Santi! You knew me! You knew I'm just angry at that time! You knew I did not mean it-"

"Hanggang ngayon, ganyan ka pa rin?" he cut me off.

I face-palmed just so he could not see me cry. I did not expect that this meeting will be like this. I thought I was ready. I was prepared. But I am still emotionally incapable of dealing whatever this is.

"Leave," he barely whispered. "Just leave, Frans."

"I said, I demand an answer, Santi," matigas kong sabi. Mabuti na lang at suot ko ang waterproof mascara kundi baka nagmukha na akong multo ngayon. "Give me an answer."

"Ilang taon na 'yun, Frans-"

"Ilang taon na nga 'yun pero naghahanap pa rin ako ng sagot kasi kilala kita, eh! Kilala mo rin ako! You knew how stressed I was that time. You should have fight for me, Santi. Imposible naman na tinanggap mo na lang 'yun nang basta-basta."

"Tinanggap ko nga lang 'yun ng basta-basta," aniya. "You want an answer? Then I'll give you one. I got tired of your whims, Frans. You're too emotional. Ilang taon na ang lumipas. Get over it."

Umiling ako. "No..."

"Just leave."

Tiningnan ko ang mga mata niya ngunit malamig na malamig 'yun at hindi ko matingnan nang diretso. Its coldness are getting into me, giving me pain.

With one exhale, I walked out of his studio and went out of the building. Patuloy na nagbagsakan ang mga luha ko pero hindi lang man ako humikbi. I wore my sunglasses as I finally went out. Kaagad kong binuksan ang back seat ng sasakyan.

I doubted myself a lot of times, but I know I'm sure when it comes to Santiago Corpuz Jr. He could not lie within those piercing eyes. I am confident because his eyes were my favorite view and I used to look at it every single moment of the day.

Richard worriedly looked at me. "Anong nangyari? Bakit ka umiiyak?"

I ignored his question. "Clear my schedule every Monday afternoon. Enroll me in Corpuz's taekwondo class immediately."