Invisible

Chapter 37

It's been a couple of hours since Karlos left and when I entered the house, dumbfounded. I found TitaMarinel sitting on the couch, the magazine in her hand and seemingly found the proper time to relax her busy mother side. I went close to her right after I placed the glass to the sink. I looked at Lyn who was now occupied with an episode of Adventure Time.

"Wanna read with me?" she offered with a smile when she noticed that I was sitting beside her. "After all, you're my son's girlfriend. I guess you're just as much as supportive as I am."

I smiled at her words and the weariness seemed to ease off. "Sure,"

TitaMarinel looked at me, "Okay, let's have a routine," she said, "I read the questions and you read Darren's answers," she chuckled, probably noticing how much of a teenage she is with the magazine. I just nodded.

"How were you when you weren't in the competition?" TitaMarinel read the question.

"I was just a simple boy, living a simple life," I read with a smile, amused that he almost used the famous line in Noting Hill movie.

"How did it feel when you were still in the competition?" Tita read, "And what difference have you felt when you won?"

"Before I get in the competition, auditioning scared me shitless (laughs). When I was finally in the competition, I find myself having fun and not taking anything serious at all," I answered as if I was the one being questioned. "I have my mind set that if I win, I win. And if I lose, that's just as fine. Nothing big would change, I guess. Then when I made it to the final four and got the chance to be a runner up, I felt like I was so happy that words aren't enough to describe how happy I was."

"Do you find any changes now that you're an instant celebrity?"

"I just think I spend more time in work and instead of my usual routine," I smiled at the answer; I guess I was happy that he admitted the truth. "I was always away from home and barely had time to be back, since I moved in the city to have a shorter commute whenever I get exposures, which are frequent. And another thing was when there were fans exclaiming to me, telling me that I was so amazing and all."

"Oh my god, I am enjoying this," TitaMarinel commented as we both read the magazine together. I cannot hide my curiosity about Karlos's warnings earlier. So far, I cannot even find anything that would crush me.

"Okay, so if you weren't able to reach the final four and didn't win the competition, what do you think are you doing now, Darren?"

I hoped there was some answer about me. "I guess, I'll be flying back to Canada then to London for college," I answered, a little pang of disappointment hitting me big time.

"What kind of college?"

"Of course it would be about music," I read, "I am really engulfed by the interest when it comes to music, so maybe learn a lot about it is good, given that I have a good exposure to music."

I minimized my pout when I didn't get the answer I was expecting. I guess I got my hopes up for Darren to say: I am going to London with my friend and my girlfriend for college, considering that the three of us took the same music college there.

I sighed and TitaMarinel screeched like a teen. "Oh my god, this is for you!" she exclaimed, shaking me. If I didn't know better, I would think that Tita is way more of a fangirl than I am. She read the question, "Can you tell us about your relationship status?"

My chest tightened in excitement and my pout became a wide grin, too wide that Tita's grin was no match to mines.

I went closer to TitaMarinel as I felt the good rush of chill down my spine. My heart was beating reckless in my chest; I have the feeling that it could rip down my skin and just hop out of me. I read the answer a little too excitedly. "I'm single..." I read a little too excitedly, not getting the statement to be processed in my mind.

"Shit," TitaMarinel cursed the profanity faster than processing it in her brain first.

I was supposed to be crying, but I don't know why I can't put myself to crying. I should have listened to Karlos when he said that I shouldn't read the magazine.

"Nicole," Tita cooed lowly as she touched my arm, but even before she can caress it, I jerked it away.

I forced a smile, "I... I want to be alone," I said simply as I walked out of the living room then to Darren's bedroom.

I found myself shaking because of the mixed feeling of anger and heartbreak, the anger overthrowing me. I decided to give myself a good treatment by shouting, and so I went to the bed and covered my head with a pillow and made sure that my mouth was fairly flat against the mattress, and then I gave out a scream as I let all of my anger out.

I only have two more days in this country and this is what he'll give me? To deny me in public? What is wrong with me? What is wrong with him?

Still shaking from my current emotions, I fished out my phone from my pocket and decided to give Karlos a call. I don't think I can still stay in his house after what I have found out. My boyfriend just denied his girlfriend, me, in public. I don't think I would ever get over that.

"Karlos, I need you to pick me up in... in Darren's house, now." I spoke quickly right after Karlos picked the phone up and even before he can say HELLO.

I declined the call quickly right after he breathed an okay to me. I bent down from the bed to snatch my bags from underneath and open it. My hands went to the closet where I placed all of my clothes then took them all. To fold them would take me an eternity so I just like, threw them in the bags and ended up taking everything in a bulk.

"Nicole, where are you going?" TitaMarinel asked me. "Are you going to go back home?"

I scoffed bitterly; everything seemed to be so shitty. "I'll just move out," I simply said, "I don't think I can stay in here, since my boyfriend just denied me big time," my voice trembled at the end.

"Do you want me to talk to him?" she asked me. "Maybe there is a reason, or something. We know Darren,"

"Darren never does that, Tita," at long last, I found the push of gut to cry, "He doesn't do that unless he has a reason. And maybe the reason is, he doesn't want me anymore. He doesn't want to do anything with me anymore,"

TitaMarinel got lost of words and just nodded. "I don't know how to comfort you and all, but I want you to know that I am siding to you, not to him, even if he is my son." She says softly, "I promise to help you with whatever is going on."

I smiled weakly at her appreciatively. "Thanks, I appreciate it,"

She returned the smile back to me and that's when I heard a batch of loud honking from outside. "Ate Nicole, the curly haired boy is outside!" Lyn shouted, obviously irritated at the loud sound of honking of Karlos's car. It probably disturbed her from watching.

I looked at TitaMarinel and ended up bursting to tears. I feel horrible. "Just tell Darren I love him, and that would never change. Just like how I promised," I cried.

She just nodded and came to me and hugged me. "I would miss having you in this house," she said, "I would try my best to get to you in the airport two days from now,"

"Thanks," I sobbedlowly at her shoulder and wiped my tears with the back of my hand, ashamed thatI am crying over Darren in front of hismother. With that, I went out of their house. I guess it's all over.

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sorry for the long wait, and sorry if this chappy is not good enough for your waiting. :(

Vomment though, if you still find this somehow worth your read.