Boy Next Door (LeAga)

He's back.

"According to studies, ang mga taong lagging tulala, either in love or depressed. Alin ka dun sa dalawa Salonga?" Vice asked Lea seriously who managed a, "Ha?" as her answer. Para namang binagsakan ng kung anuman ang mukha ni Vice. He frowned and shook his head.

"Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo Salonga? Bakit kanina ka pa tulala teh?" Vice asked her again. She looked at her reflection at the mirror in front of her and then looked down. She shook her head and smiled a small forced smile. "I just -" she heaved a deep sigh and looked at her dressing room's door checking if there are possible people to come and looked at Vice weakly, "I met someone."

"You met someone lang pa-"Vice's eyes widened. "What do you mean you met someone? Kailan? Saan? Paano?" Vice asked her seriously. She sighed and bit her thumb - the one she does when she's nervous. "What is the reaction all about Carmen?" Vice is more serious now. He sure is for he already used Carmen with her which he often does. Lea looked at him in the eyes and a tear fell.

"Panahon na din siguro Lea."

---

"Oh! Andyan ka na pala eh!" It is 11 in the evening and Aga is in their living room waiting for Jazzle to come. Jazzle is at the door's opening still shocked of Aga's presence and of what happened. Did he just greet her? Aga doesn't talk to her and never did wait for her to come home.

"A-ah! K-kuya about what you asked me to do-" Jazzle started stuttering. She knows now why. Gusto nga pala ng kuya n'ya na gawin s'yang cover ng magazine nila kasama si Ms. Lea. Napaisip tuloy s'ya. Why is he suddenly interested with The Lea Salonga? Why is he interested with her?

"Inaayos ko pa kasi she has a musical a-"Aga cut her off. "And her schedule is full. I know. Hindi naman kita minamadali Ja." He said walking towards her. Napaatras si Jazzle sa kaba dahil hindi n'ya alam ang gagawin ni Aga pero nabigla s'ya ng akbayan s'ya nito through her shoulders with his left arm. "Woah. You're tensed." Aga commented as he felt her body response to his sudden move and Jazzle couldn't take it anymore, she hugged her brother tight and tried so hard not to cry. It has been long years since he has the chance to hug him this tight. She missed him so much.

"I miss you kuya." She sobbed. Humiwalay s'ya kay Aga and wiped her tears away. "Ah - I'm sorry. Uhm, aayusin ko na lang kuya. I'll let you know when we have scheduled a shoot with her." Jazzle smiled slightly and turned her back on him before walking to the stairs while her tears are unceasingly flowing. She missed her brother so much. How she wished he'll be back to the way he used to be before that happened.

---

Lea is walking gracefully at the Abs-Cbn Publishing Inc.'s building's marble lobby catching every attention with her look for the day and her three inches heels doing clacking sounds as she walked a bit faster. She is wearing a white sleeveless polo half tucked in with her tattered jeans, shades on with a Prada in hand. She's there, of course, for her book to be published soon. As she made her way to the elevator, some girl employees on the same way moved aside making her step inside first, or more appropriately, they wanted her to ride the elevator alone. She smiled and gestured them to come in.

"Hindi po, una na po kayo." One of the girls told her but she smiled widely and took her shades off. "It's just me. Sige na, sakay na at baka ma-late pa kayo. You don't have to keep distance." She commanded and smiled again making the girls step inside and oblige with what she wants. "Salamat ho, Ms. Lea." They said in unison and she answered them with a sweet smile.

"Yes you heard it right Mr. Lopez. I want all the proceeds to be with The Child Haus Foundation. I just want you to make that nobody would know it's me. Please?" Lea explained and pleaded for the second time.

"But why? I mean, I understand that you want your charity works to be private but your story. Why not give it a try? I've read your literary work and it's pretty amazing. Why not tell everybody of your -" "They do know I write. That is enough. No need to know I write such things. And besides, that would just get me into trouble with speculations of relationship, you know?" Lea answered without letting him finished his statement.

"And you're wealthy enough with money. Green money pa nga eh. So you won't need the earnings from this." Mr. Lopez kidded which made her chuckle. "Mr. Lopez naman. Hindi ho sa ganun but -"she didn't finished what she wanted to say when Mr. Lopez spoke. "Oo na Ms. Broadway Diva with a golden heart! Your wish is my command."

"Genie? Hahaha! Thank you, Mr. Lopez. You are such a great help." Lea exclaimed and gave him a hug before bidding her goodbye.

---

"Again! Lea what is happening to you? This is our third time rehearsing this and you still can't do it right. You are not like that. Is there something wrong going on?" Their director asked Lea worriedly. She has never made as much mistakes while rehearsing before, not even a single one. She seemed so bothered and is spacing out most of the time. "I just, can we have a break?" She asked looking down as she covers her face.

"Okay then. Guys! 20 minutes break!" The director shouted. "Are you sure you can continue?" He asked her as he turned to Lea who is now sitting at one of the bench at their set looking at something far - no, she isn't looking at anything, she is thinking of something, spacing out again.

Minutes after being left alone to rest, Will Chase, her leading man approached Lea and sat beside her. "The last time I saw you like that was when -"Lea glared at him so as he would stop. "Don't make me remember. It pains me still." Lea confessed looking down. She doesn't want to cry here. She doesn't want everybody to see how vulnerable she is. Will sighed and reached in for a tight hug. "Tell me you won't cry again." He looked at her in the eyes and examined her face. She smiled a little and nodded.

"I won't again."

---

Come back, come back, come back to me Like you would, you would If this was a movie ..

Lea sang quietly as she stood outside of her room at her own balcony both hands leaning against a metal railing that is waist high while closing her eyes feeling the cold breeze of the night. She felt the air once more and sighed before looking at the starry sky. Sceneries like this used to give her the chills, the unexplainable feeling, the joy but everything has changed. But then again, as everybody, as everything changes, memories won't. And this is one of those rare moments memories visit her and she can't help but be nostalgic. She can't help but remember those days those memories were made and just be hurt because she knows they will just forever remain as memories and won't happen again.

"Something is wrong, isn't it?" Though expected, she was still shocked that her mom came to her and asked. She sat properly at the chair next to her and held her both hands before biting her right thumb still looking down. She sighed before looking at her mom, looked down again and heaved another deep breathe.

"He's back."

xxx xxx

Okaaaay! Two updates this week and l can't guarantee you when's the next so enjoy!!!