Silent Waves of Whispers

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

There are always things to consider before dating a celebrity. And one of those is you have to be ready for the prying eyes watching your move. Kapag bago ka sa mga mata nila, talaga hindi ka nila titigilan hangga't hindi ka nila nakikilala.

That was one of my worries as I plan to tell my management about my relationship with Lucho. Natatakot ako na baka guluhin siya nang guluhin ng mga tao. At hindi na ako magtataka na baka mapuntahan pa siya rito sa Isla Antrades para lang makakuha ng statement sa kaniya.

I don't know if Lucho already thought about that. But after knowing his worries last time, I knew he already did. Ang hindi ko lang alam ay kung ano ang mga plano niya kapag nangyari 'yon.

Pero bago ang bagay na 'yon, kailangan ko munang ipaalam muna sa manager at sa mga magulang ko na walang ka-alam-alam.

“I'm planning to tell ate Perry and my parents,” I shared to Lucho while we're eating lunch by the beach. May nilapag siyang blanket at malaking umbrella para ma-protektahan kami sa init.

“Kailan ba? I'll be with you,” he said and remove a stain of sauce sa may pisnge ko.

“Sa call ko muna sasabihin..” Nag-isip ako. “For sure bibisita sila mommy dito kapag nalaman nila kaya let's meet them personally by then.”

Lucho agreed with my plan. Days have already passed since we got official. And it was the best days of my life. Never knew I'll experience just being myself in front of Lucho without worrying about my image.

He was someone unexpected that became someone important. I went here with no thoughts but worries and disappointment. Akala ko ay mag-isa lang ako sa lugar na hindi pamilyar sa'kin pero nagkita ulit kami rito.

He let me do what I want here. He never judge me no matter what I act in front of him. And I never felt so alive because of it.

Walang mga camera, walang mga taong mapanghusga. It was just Lucho.. and his whispers that loudly touched my heart.

“Ihahatid mo ba ulit sila Kit bukas?” tanong ko at tiningnan ang magkakaibigan na nagkukulitan sa may beach.

Today is already Saturday so they have to go home tomorrow. May mga trabaho sila at kaunting panahon lang talaga ang nilaan nila para makapag-bakasyon nang magkasama.

“Ihahatid natin,” he said.

Ngumiti naman ako sa kaniya. Sa hindi kalayuan ay namataan ko ang kaibigan ni Lucho na si Cy na malaki ang ngisi sa amin. Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay at napansin iyon ni Lucho kaya napalingon din siya sa lalaki.

“Alam na niya?” I asked my boyfriend.

He sighed when he saw his friend teasing us. “Oo, sinabihan ko kasi kinukulit ako palagi.”

I nodded. “Sino pa may alam? Your parents?”

He went silent for a moment. He glanced at me and smiled a little.

“Wala akong mga magulang,” he told me.

Bigla naman akong nahiya sa mga sinabi ko. I held his hand. “I'm sorry..”

Mahina siyang natawa at kinurot ang pisnge ko. “No big deal, love. Hindi naman 'yon sekreto. 'Tsaka nandiyan naman si tatay Kaloy, siya na ang magulang ko ngayon. At alam na niya ang tungkol satin.”

I want to ask what happened to his past but decided not to. Ayaw ko namang isipin niya nanghihimasok ako sa buhay niya. I'll just wait for him to open up to me, I don't wanna force him.

“Namulat ako sa mundo na nasa orphanage ng Antra. Walang nabanggit sa'kin kung sino ang nag-iwan sa akin doon. Hindi na rin naman ako nagtanong,” he suddenly shared that made me looked at him. He was staring at the sea in front of us, reminiscing. “When I turned 10, nakilala ko si tatay Kaloy. Kinuha niya ako sa orphanage at simula noon ay tinuring niya akong kaniya. I entered school late, that's why late na rin ako naka-graduate. Noong nasa tamang edad na ako, I swore to myself na pagbabayaran ko lahat ng ginawa ni tatay Kaloy sa akin. Kaya dito ako sa resort nagta-trabaho ngayon.”

Tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa kaniya. It must have been hard for him to grow up without his parents. Waking up in an unfamiliar place must have scared the little Lucho. I could only imagine what he felt back then.

“Tatay Kaloy is a great guy. Napalaki ka niya nang maayos,” I smiled. “I should thank him for that. Wala sana akong boyfriend ngayon kung hindi dahil sa kaniya.”

Natawa si Lucho sa sinabi ko. “Napasalamatan ko na siya para sa'yo.”

The next day, hinatid namin sila Kit sa airport. They were so loud inside the car habang papunta kami sa airport. Lalo si Art na nagrereklamong babalik na naman daw siya sa trabaho niya.

“Makakaharap ko na naman ang boss kong pinaglihi sa sama ng loob! Why is life so hard to me?!”

“You can just resign, Art,” si Oli.

“As if I can! Walang bubuhay sa'kin kapag hindi ako magta-trabaho!” Art exclaimed.

“Talaga? Eh rinig ko may pumoporma sa'yo na model eh,” Kit teased her. “Kaibigan ata ni ate Gretel?”

“Hayop ka, Derello! Fake news!”

The ride was full of laughter and chitchats. Nang makarating sa airport ay hindi nawala ang ingay nila. Natatawa kong pinanood si Art na ginugulo ang mga lalaki sa pagkuha ng mga gamit nila sa compartment. Sydney was just laughing at them.

“Rae..”

I looked at Yena beside me and smiled. “Hi.. safe skies sainyo.”

“Thanks.” Ngumiti rin siya at sumulyap kay Lucho na tinutulungan sila Kit. “He told me your relationship with him.”

Nagulat naman ako doon. “Oh, uhm.. I'm planning to tell the management about it too so..”

Mahina siyang natawa. “Don't worry, as his friend I will keep it for now. But as the PR Team leader, please tell the management before this blows up. You know what will happen, right?”

I sighed and nodded. Ngumiti naman siya at tinapik ako sa balikat bago naglakad palapit sa mga kaibigan niya. Pero huminto siya at lumingon sa akin nang mukhang may naalala.

“Sinabi na ba ni Perry sa'yo?” she asked.

“About?”

“The management already gave their decision to your manager. Pwede ka nang makabalik sa Manila anytime soon.”

Natigilan naman ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi na rin ako nakapagtanong dahil tinawag na siya ng mga kaibigan. Hanggang sa mawala na sila sa paningin namin at pabalik na kami ni Lucho sa resort ay ginugulo ng sinabi ni Yena ang isip ko.

“Okay ka lang ba? Ang tahimik mo,” pansin ni Lucho.

Kumurap ako at tumingin sa kaniya at ngumiti. “I'm good. Nagugutom lang ako.”

He chuckled and held my hand. Nilapit niya iyon sa kaniya at pinatakan ng halik. I smiled at that gesture.

I really have to talk to ate Perry. Then I will talk with Lucho about this.

····

“Miss Rae? Oras na po ng interview!”

I blinked multiple times when I heard a staff calling me. “Yeah! Palabas na ako!” I shouted for them to hear.

I stared at my reflection on the mirror in front of me. I'm wearing a faded blue jumpsuit and my hair was curled. I have my make up on kasi.. I have to address what has happened during the past months of my hiatus.

I took a deep breath and glanced at my phone, waiting for a message na alam kong hindi na dadating.

Because the moment I've set foot here in Manila.. was the same time the happy days of my life ended.

I'm sorry I failed you...

-

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