Steal Your Heart

Chapter 31: Cousin's girlfriend

AXEL

"Hello, everyone. We are Xscape," panimula ni Julian sa video.

Nakaupo kami sa limang upuan at nag-setup kami ng camera sa lounge na nasa loob ng studio para sa video recording na ginawa namin kagabi.

"Our manager, Tito Derek, together with the security tried to control yesterday's situation but it got pretty out of hand. Some fans were hurt physically, some were hurt emotionally..." pagpapatuloy niya.

Nasa private waiting area kami ng kompanya ni Tito Eiden, ang daddy niya. Kasama namin ang manager namin na si Tito Derek at kasalukuyang nag-pe-play sa isang malaking flat screen ang output ng video message na ginawa namin ng Xscape.

"But... our friends were hurt, too. So, Julian and I did what we had to do," dagdag ko sa video.

Akala ni Tito Derek, ako lang mag-isa ang lumabas sa studio para pumunta sa crowd kahapon kaya ako lang ang pinasundan niya sa security. Sumunod din pala si Julian sa akin para kunin si Zia kaya lalong nagkagulo ang mga tao.

"I know that some of our fans are upset and disappointed. That's why I would like to apologize for losing my cool. However, those two mystery girls that were mobbed yesterday are our friends since high school just like Mary, Michelle and Rheigne," pagpapatuloy ko. "One of those two is Julian's special girl and the other one is my cousin's girlfriend. Of course, we must protect them as well," sabi ko pa at tumango naman si Julian.

"And as much as possible, we don't like them being exposed in the spotlight because these people value their privacy. It's enough that the public knows about them, let us not dig deeper than that," sabi naman ni Dane. "You'll do the same for the people you love, too. Right?"

"And us protecting our family and friends from all these doesn't mean that we're ungrateful. Please don't take it that way," duktong ni Kevin. "Because we are, we are so grateful for all of the love and support that you've been giving us for the past three years."

"Nobody wanted this to happen and again, on everyone's behalf, we would like to give our sincerest apologies to our fans and friends who got involved with yesterday's ruckus. We would also like to apologize to those who got hurt," sabi naman ni Dane. "This will be the first and last time that we will be talking about this issue. We will instead focus on the preparations for our upcoming major concert which will happen on our third anniversary."

"Please look forward to it. Thank you," sabay-sabay naming sabi bago kami nawala sa screen. Naging black ito at nag-flash do'n ang band logo ng Xscape bago magtapos ang video.

"You posted this in your fan page last night, right?" tanong ni Tito Derek. Tapos na siya sa sermon niya sa amin kagabi kaya mas kalmado na siyang kausap ngayon.

"Yes, Tito," sagot namin. "Naka-share na rin po sa mga personal accounts namin 'yong video," dagdag pa ni Julian.

"Good, good," tatangu-tango niyang sabi. "Para naman maintindihan din nila ang side niyo."

Maya-maya, napalingon kami nang may kumatok sa pinto. Bumungad sa amin ang secretary ni Tito Eiden nang buksan ni Tito Derek ang pinto.

"Mr. Miller will see the boys now," pormal niyang sabi bago siya bumaling sa manager namin. "Please wait here for a while, Sir Derek. Mr. Miller would like to have a word with you as well after his talk with the boys."

Naglakad kami ng Xscape palabas sa waiting room at sumunod kami sa secretary. Nasa top floor ng building ang office ni Tito Eiden at nasa lower floors naman ang iba pang offices, meeting room, recording studios, at performance facilities para sa iba pa nilang talents.