THE PATHS CONNECTED

CHAPTER 4

"Palad ay basang-basa
Ang dagitab ay damang-dama
Sa 'king kalamnang punong-puno
Ng pananabik at ng kaba"
He started to sing while I was looking in his eyes, mesmerized by his beauty.

"Lalim sa 'king bawat paghinga
Nakatitig lamang sa iyo
Naglakad ka ng dahan-dahan
Sa pasilyo tungo sa altar ng simbahan"
Im deeply inlove with this man.

"Hahagkan na't 'di ka bibitawan
Wala na 'kong mahihiling pa"were still singing our favorite song.

"Ikaw at ikaw...."

"ikaw at ikaw......"

"Di maikukumpara
Araw-araw 'kong dala-dala paboritong
Panalangin ko'y makasama ka sa pagtanda
Ang hiling sa Diyos na may gawa
Apelyido ko'y maging iy . " He continues

" Naglalakad ka ng dahan-dahan
Sa pasilyo tungo sa 'kin at hinawakan
Mo ako't aking 'di napigilang
Maluha nang mayakap na" tuloy ko.

"ikaw at ikaw~"we both sang.

"Your voice is so beautiful, Nothing has changed," he said with a smile as he put the guitar down.

We stayed like this for hours, caught up in the moment. However, we decided to sleep early because his mom texted him to come by their house.

time flew quickly and the morning came. We had breakfast and dressed up.

"Are you sure you want to take me, hubby? What if your mom gets mad? She only asked you," I nervously asked. The fact that my family was not rich did not allow his mom to welcome our relationship-and yet we were not poor either.

"Of course, I am sure. Mom will not be mad, and we won't stay long. After visiting, I'll go straight to work," he assured me, holding my hand. Maybe he also sensed how nervous I was.

I couldn't shake off my anxiety in the car. I didn't know whether his mom would welcome me or angrily send me back home. She had never liked seeing me with her son, but she had no choice-Khalil had refused to break up with me.

"Hi, Mom. What do you need? Is there something you want to say?" As he greeted his mom, he kissed her on the cheek. I saw her eyebrows rise up as she noticed me, and inside I felt so embarrassed.

"Yes, I have to tell you something. Remember Clea, your first love? She's now coming back to the Philippines, and she will be living here with her parents,"his mom announced excitedly.

How can I compete with that? There's wealth and beauty, and further above that-Khalil's first love. I was dying inside.

They talked for hours about Clea. Each was famous for having dated her; his family adored her. Beautiful, wealthy, with history between her and Khalil, she had everything.

Meanwhile, Khalil and I had to keep our marriage hidden from others. It really did not matter too much to me. He told me he would surely announce our marriage on television.

"And how is my dear daughter-in-law doing? How's work?" his mom suddenly interjected. I felt a twinge of nerves.

"I-I'm okay, Tita," I quickly came up with a reply. Just then, Khalil quickly interrupted.

"Mama, we should get going. My work calls for me, and my manager needs me. We'll come to visit again when we have free time," he said while holding my hand tightly.

When will his family accept me?

He drove fast, so we arrived at his manager's in no time flat.

"I'll see you at home later, my wife. Okay? Be careful and don't let anyone in. I have a key," he called over his shoulder at me. This was his usual caring himself. I didn't know why it pleased me so, but it did.

"Okay, right, boss," I teased.

"How are you going to get home, love? Kuya Timothy isn't around" he ask, but I cut him off.

"It's okay, I can take a taxi. I have money with me," I smiled.

"Okay, okay. Be careful," he said and kissed me on the lips. I watched him walk away until he was out of sight.

I was searching for a taxi when I suddenly heard someone shout my name.

"Irvine!" It was his manager.

"Hello, sir. Good morning!" I politely greeted him.

"I want to talk to you straight , I wanted to ask you for a favour, break up with Khalil. You know what happens if it goes this way. Once the word gets out, it could ruin his image," he stated.

I slapped him without even thinking.

I was lost not able to react to what he had just said, even less to express my thoughts. Me? leave a person who is everything to me?

"I know you love Khalil, but you know that you have no choice. This relationship cannot go on," Mr. Choi said and turned to leave.

I was thinking, and before I realized it, a taxi had already stopped in front of me. I got in without saying a word. What did I know about relationships? I did not want to leave Khalil. I wanted him to be the one to tell me he no longer wanted me.

Deep in thought, I returned home. It was too quiet... too quiet. I was not used to it. So I tried working and cooking to keep myself relatively busy.

Khalil's POV:

As I was waiting, Manager Choi suddenly appeared. He was my manager right from the beginning, even before I became famous, and I trusted him a lot. He was practically in on the details of my secret relationship with Irvine.

"Khalil, I want to talk to you. You love being famous, right? You must break up with Irvine if you want your career to continue. A person has seen you two together earlier. You need to convince the public that you are not actually a couple, particularly the fans, since this could ruin your image," he stated.

I can't do that. Irvine has supported me through thick and thin. I have made it I cannot just abandon her.

"No, it cannot happen! I have never gone in conflict with any of your words, but now you want my relationship destroyed!?" I couldn't help but yell.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME! Do you not realize that I provide is everything for this career of yours? You want me to take everything away from you-everything you have worked for as an artist!?"