Silent Waves of Whispers

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Can't they just give me a break?

Napamasahe ako sa sintido ko habang hinihintay na sagutin ni ate Perry ang tawag ko.

“Rae! Ayos ka lang ba?” bungad na tanong ni ate Perry.

“Ate, I'm sorry. I just rebuilt my image tapos may ganito na naman,” I said and sighed heavily. “Babalik ako ng Manila first thing in the morning. I'm sorry.”

“Okay lang naman, Rae. Ano ka ba. Dapat nga sila ang mag-sorry sa'yo kasi ikaw na naman ang pinag-iinitan.” Ate Perry sighed. “Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nag-tip sa media tungkol sainyo ni Lucho.”

Hindi ko na iniisip kung sino may pakana no'n. Speaking of Lucho...
“Ate, can you do me a favor?”

“Yes, ano 'yon?”

“Can you make sure that he's safe from the media?” I asked carefully. “Baka kasi puntahan siya doon at dumugin.”

“Oo, ako na bahala doon, Rae. Don't worry,” ate Perry assured. “Mag-iingat ka riyan ha? Text mo ako kapag pabalik ka na rito bukas.”

“I will. I'm sorry again, ate,” I told her before we ended the call.

I took a deep breath and stared at the city lights of Baguio. Nasa may balcony ako ng renting house at since nasa may tuktok iyon, kita talaga ang buong siyudad. Pero kahit gaano na iyon kaganda ay hindi niyon nawala ang pag-aalala ko sa mangyayari.

It feels like a deja vu. The same thing happened again. Tapos sa akin ulit. Hindi na ba talaga nila ako lulubayan? Kakabalik ko lang oh.

And they're not just targeting me this time, dinamay na nila si Lucho! I saw the article kanina, at talagang may stolen photos pa 'yon noong nasa Isla Antrades pa ako kasama ang lalaki. Where did they get those?

Nangyayari na ang kinatatakutan ni Lucho. I feel bad now. I did not dare to read the comments from the article kaya hindi ko alam kung ano-ano ang mga reaksyon nila. All I'm thinking now is Lucho. Alam na ba niya? Natatakot pa rin ba siya? Takot na ba siya... sa'kin?

“Hey...” I looked at Sydney when she suddenly appeared beside me. Ngumiti siya at nilahad sa'kin ang isang mug na umuusok. “It's hot choco.”

“Thank you..” Tahimik kong inabot iyon at muling tumingin sa harap. Naramdaman ko ang pagtabi niya sa'kin at tumingin din sa harap.

“It's hard being on the spotlight 'no?”

I smiled bitterly and stared at the mug I'm holding. “It is. But I chose this, so I have to endure.”

“You don't have to endure, because first of all, we get tired too. Just because we got used to this, doesn't mean we would not get blinded by the lights. We're not robots, you know..” She chuckled softly and her last sentence reminded me of what Lucho told me back in Antra.

“Nakakapagod lang kasi.. dumadating na sa point na parang isang galaw ko lang ay mali na agad sa paningin nila,” nahihirapang sabi ko. “It's starting to get hard for me to move freely. Ngayon, kahit personal matter na ay ginagawa pa rin nilang big deal. Gets ko namang curious sila pero kahit.. kaunting privacy na lang sana?”

Privacy. It was the only thing that we, celebrities, compromised the moment we stepped into the industry. Alam ko namang mawawala na iyon sa akin pero ang hirap pa rin kapag nasa sitwasyon na akong ganito.

“I will pray that everything goes your way after this, ate.” Sydney smiled and gently tapped my shoulder.

Hindi ako nakatulog nang gabing 'yon. It was Kit who drove me to the airport. Hindi na nakasama 'yung iba dahil tulog pa sila nang makaalis ako. Si Kit lang talaga 'yung sumadya ng gising para mahatid ako.

“Thank you, Kit. And I'm sorry I had to leave first,” I told him when we arrived.

Nakangiti siyang umiling. “Okay lang 'yon, ate. Isipin mo muna sarili mo. I hope you enjoyed kahit saglit ka lang dito.”

“I did.” I gave him a smile.

Nagulat naman ako nang yakapin niya ako at marahang hinaplos ang likod ng ulo ko. “Everything will be alright.”

It was a quick flight. Nang lumapag ang eroplano sa NAIA ay agad akong nagpasundo sa artist van ko. On the way to Stardome, my phone suddenly beeped. At nang tingnan ko iyon ay natulos ako sa kinauupuan.

From: Lucho

Sabihin mong hindi totoo 'yon. I want you to deny that, Asraelle.

Habang nakatitig sa screen ng phone ko, hindi ko namalayan na nangingilid na pala ang mga luha sa mata ko. Pain enveloped my heart as the hope I had for us started to fade.

For the first time in a while, he messaged me. But instead of words of comfort, he just put an end to us.

Tulala akong nakarating sa Stardome. I never had a sleep and I forgot to eat breakfast. Sinubukan ko na lang din na walain sa isip ko ang text niya dahil kailangan ko pa munang ayusin ito.

Si ate Perry ang sumalubong sa akin. Nag-meeting na raw sila at gusto nilang magpa-interview ako ngayong araw. Close in. Hindi na rin naman ako nagreklamo doon at hinayaan si ate Perry na hilahin ako para makapag-ayos na.

“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.. ayaw kong magpakita na kulang sa tulog at wala pang kain. I have to address what has happened during the past months of my hiatus, including my rumor with him.

I took a deep breath and glanced at my phone, waiting for a message na alam kong hindi na dadating. I did not reply to his message earlier. It's not like he care now.

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...

“Hi, Ms. Rae Herrera. It's an honor na pinayagan niyo akong mag-interview sainyo ngayon,” the interviewer said and smiled at me. The cameras around us were already rolling. “And this is an exclusive interview so rest assured na kung ano ang mga sasabihin mo ay iyon lang ang lalabas sa publiko. Walang labis, walang kulang.”

I gave her a small smile. “Thank you...”

“Okay, so we'll start na for our first question.” Tumingin pa siya sa papel na hawak niya. “Ito medyo mainit-init pa, totoo ba ang dating rumor mo kasama si non-showbiz guy?”

I already expected that question. Nag-isip pa ako saglit ng sasabihin ko.

Sabihin mong hindi totoo 'yon. I want you to deny that, Asraelle.

You wish, love.

I looked at the interviewer. “Yes, it's true.”

“Oooh..” Mukhang hindi niya inasahan 'yon. “Then pwede mo ba kaming kwentuhan tungkol kay non-showbiz boyfriend?”

His face flashed in my mind. I took a deep breath and swallowed the lump on my throat. I blinked multiple times to hide the tears that was about to fall.

“He's.. someone special to me. Someone I know won't judge me no matter what I do. Someone I can rely on when I feel the worst. Someone who can calm my waves by only whispering sweet nothings,” My voice came out gentle. “He's someone who praised my charms, and embraced my flaws without judgment.”

I looked at the camera in front and smiled. “I refuse to tell his personal informations to respect his privacy. So please... do the same.”

-

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