Still You

Chapter Sixteen

RADD CORDOVA

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Manila, May 2024

"DID YOU just break up with Gem?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Kat habang napapatuwid ng upo sa kaniyang swivel chair. Mayamaya napapabuntong-hiningang hinilot niya ang sentido.

Nasa office niya ako sa Ortigas. Isang linggo rin akong hindi nagpakita—o mas tamang sabihing umiwas sa kaniya. She had been texting and calling me nonstop, and I could tell the press was going wild. Someone spotted Gem partying with David Miranda at a club two weeks ago. Since then, rumors have been swirling that we've already broken up.

"Well, you could say that," kaswal na sagot ko saka sumandal sa sofa.

"Radd, next week na ang premiere night ng movie n'yo. How can you be so calm about it?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Wala na 'kong magagawa ro'n. She had been in love with David all along. Hindi ba't 'yon din ang rason kaya ako pumayag na sakyan ang dating rumor sa pagitan namin? Para ma-realize no'ng gagong 'yon na dapat hindi n'ya pinakawalan si Gem?"

"And how do you expect me to react then?" Nakataas na ang kilay ni Kat. "Dapat ba i-congratulate kita sa pagmamagandang loob mo, ha? Career mo ang nakataya rito! Do you even understand what I'm saying?"

"I wouldn't have graduated Magna Cum Laude if I hadn't, Kat."

"Exactly! Kaya umayos ka, okay? Tawagan mo si Gem. Sabihin mong kailangan muna niyang mag-lie low. She was supposed to be with you, for goodness' sake!"

"She just called me this morning. Nasa Italy siya kasama si David," kalmadong sagot ko.

Kat rolled her eyes in exasperation. "God! Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko sa inyong dalawa! Kung hahantong din pala kayo sa ganito, why date in the first place?"

Halos guluhin niya ang tuwid na tuwid na mahabang buhok dahil sa labis na frustration. Ako naman ay tahimik lang na tumitig sa malawak na glass window sa harap ko. The magnificent view of the metropolis was stunningly clear from there.

I had anticipated this. Gem and I were never truly romantically involved. Mas papasa pa nga kaming mag-kuya dahil kung tratuhin niya ako ay parang nakatatandang kapatid lang niya. She was five years younger than me.

Three months ago, the press was so engrossed in us. She was a rising star, and everyone talked about our incredible chemistry. Dahil nasa showbiz kami pareho, our agencies both saw it as an opportunity.

It just so happened that Gem had recently broken up with David Miranda. Their relationship was a secret. Influential ang pamilya ni David—kabilang ito sa angkan ng politicians. Hindi gusto ng mga magulang nito si Gem kahit maituturing din na galing sa magandang pamilya ang babae. Her parents, Alona Rivera and Henry Gonzales, were veteran actors.

Gem asked me for a favor. She suggested that we play along with the dating rumors that were circulating. Hindi na rin daw masama dahil parehas kaming makikinabang doon. She'll get her revenge on David, and I'll be able to ride the wave, boosting my popularity even more because of it.

After we publicly confirmed our relationship, the impact was immediate. Within a month, our popularity skyrocketed. Offers started pouring in from all directions—drama roles, endorsements, and magazine features. It felt like we were the talk of the town, and we couldn't step out without being recognized or photographed.

"Do something about it, Radd. Hindi p'wedeng masira ang image n'yo ngayon."

Pero wala na sa isyung pinoproblema ni Kat ang isip ko. Naiwan iyon sa social media post ng pinsan kong si Doreethy kagabi. It was just a damn picture, pero kung guluhin nito ang sistema ko ay sobra-sobra. It was a family gathering, and she came along with my mom. The place was familiar—it was at the Villena's garden.