Behind Closed Doors (A JHOLET AU) (🔞)

Chapter 4

“Shit!” Jhoanna cursed loudly, visibly panicking, pacing back and forth inside Colet’s office after Chie left the building. “Shit, shit, shit!”

Colet sighed, getting closer to an agitated Jhoanna. “Jho, calm down. I donʼt think Chie’s gonna tell anyone about what she just heard; she still needs me for her comeback after all.”

Jhoanna stopped pacing and faced Colet, her face ashen, beads of sweat forming over her forehead. Sobra siyang kinakabahan sa kung anong pwedeng mangyari. “At pa’no na lang after the comeback, aber? After sheʼs done using you?”

Colet had no answer to that question, she could only sigh in defeat and hope that Chie would keep whatever she heard to herself. Kung meron man siyang narinig.

“She is going to blackmail you with it, Cole. I just know it.”

“Shhh,” Colet put her arms around her fiancée in an attempt to calm her down. “Weʼll worry about it later, Jho.”

Jhoanna stared up at Colet’s annoyingly calm face, and somehow, it was making her even angrier. “How can you be so lax about this? Our whole careers and our whole lives are on the line, Cole!”

“I know,” Colet murmured, looking down at her feet. “Iʼm sorry, itʼs my fault, I shouldʼve been careful.”

Jhoanna’s eyes softened a little, her anger ebbing away just as quickly as it came. She delicately cupped Colet’s face in her hands. “Hey, itʼs not your fault. I am not blaming you for anything. We both wanted it. I wanted you just as much as you wanted me. So, please stop torturing yourself, okay?”

Colet didnʼt say anything, she just kept on staring at the younger woman, holding her close. 

“Iʼm sorry for lashing out, it just, itʼs so frustrating and scary,” Jhoanna murmured, resting her forehead on Colet’s chest. Colet patted her back gently, comforting her, but still not saying anything. “Chie is quite unpredictable, you know.” 

“And we need to talk, I believe you still owe me an explanation,” Jhoanna mumbled after a minute, still hugging Colet. “Fucking my brains out ainʼt gonna cut it this time, Cole.”

“I know, Jho. But first things first, not that I am complaining, but why are you in my studio? I thought you guys were still busy with promotions.”

“We have two days off, so I took the opportunity to come see you since you werenʼt answering my calls nor texting back.”

“Iʼm sorry. I was… a mess.”

“The apartment too,” Jhoanna interjected, pinching Colet’s side. The latter merely planted a kiss on top of her head in retaliation.

“Iʼm sorry, Jho. It wonʼt happen again.”

“It better not, Cole.”

“Since youʼre free today, shall we go on a date? I feel like I havenʼt properly taken you out in a long time,” said Colet, bending down to plant a tender kiss on Jhoanna’s forehead.

Thatʼs because the last time we went out on a date, we were caught by the fans, Jhoanna thought to herself. This established the rumor that they were long-time friends since it was the third time that they were seen in each otherʼs company.

“Sounds good, love.” Jhoanna agreed. What Colet was proposing was a bit spontaneous, but they rarely have the time to enjoy themselves kaya nag-agree na siya agad. Plus, they still have to talk about their issues. “And then we talk?”

“Sure thing, mahal,” Colet agreed easily. She reached out for one of the many baseball caps on her office wall and put one over Jhoanna’s head. “You should wear this when we go outside.”