Invisible

Chapter 48

Even though I was about to get a face to face interaction with my ex and my half sister, I was in a great mood today.

Today was the day of our show in Philippines. I was excited. I know that you guys would be like confused coz at first I hate the idea of being here. But to be honest, I only was like that because I wasn't really that ready to be back to the country that gave me a lot of things to remember. The thought of our fans in this country and my family is the only reason of why I am happy that I was here.

Our stylist finished dolling us to perfection and we were ready to hit the stage. Though the real opening would take some matter of time, Hannah thought it would be better if we would start getting ready.

Karlos came early, saying he wants to hang out with us, though I have the feeling that he only wants to hang out with Parry. Honestly, I think I won't be surprised if I suddenly find them somewhere, making out. Since the last time they saw each other, they won't stop. Parry won't stop blabbering about Karlos and Karlos would do the same about Parry. I guess all I have to wait for is that they announce that they were engaged.

"Hey," he greets when he saw me, "You look beautiful,"

"Thanks, but I have the feeling you would say something more meaningful to Parry," I rolled my eyes playfully, "Anyway, how are you?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"

"There's nothing wrong with me," I shrugged, "Why would you ask me how I am?"

"Since day one of rehearsal, you're all smug and stoic. You smile yes, but the smiles were obviously fake."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You sound crazy."

JK sighed, "Stop covering it, Nicole. you're being like that because of Darren and Athena."

"Am not,"

"Are too," he rolled his eyes, "Look, I know what your problem is. I feel the same way you know. I know how you feel when you hear their names. It's like having the bright ambiance fall down."

I laughed as I looked at the mirror and tried to tame my hairsprayed hair, "I know," I said with a smile. "But I don't want our show to be affected just because I am," I admitted.

"You're affected?" Karlos asked me. "Holy macaroni,"

"I am! I mean, Athena is my half sister and she didn't even consider the fact that her boyfriend is my ex," I told him. "That was and would always be enough to creep me out, right?"

"Okay well, I second that." we both laughed.

Just when I was about to say something more to Karlos, I felt a tap on my shoulder. At first, I thought it was one of my friends, but when I turned around; I came face to face with the one and only Darren Espanto.

I froze in my place but I was happy enough that my facial expression didn't falter and didn't show any shock upon him, tapping my shoulder and making a move to say something to me. "Hey," he says sheepishly.

The familiar speedy beating of my heart occurs, though I don't know why. "Hey," I replied, "What's up?" I asked, as if I was just talking to a friend. Well, he isn't my boyfriend anymore and when he did that denial thing five years ago, it seemingly connotes that he also ended our friendship.

My peripherals caught a glimpse of Darren's fumbling hands even though I made a good eye contact with his same Korean like eyes. Truth be told, it's been a long time but I never ever forgotten that that action only happens whenever he is nervous. I wonder why he is right now. "Uh, yeah," he pauses, he was obviously not ready to speak and he was trying to catch up whatever he has say, "I just want to say..."

"You want to say what, Darren?" I asked him, making sure I was sounding a little bored and eager at the same time.

Darren looked down to me, considering the fact that my height didn't improve the slightest bit but I was happy that I chose to wear heels, his eyes a little glossy and I have the feeling in my gut that there is something going on that I am not informed about. It didn't take Darren too long to notice that I was slowly catching up and he decided to speak up. "I just want to say good luck for the show," he says, "And congratulations,"

My brows furrowed, "Congratulations for what?" I asked him.

"You're way too high right now," he says, "I bet everyone is having a big struggle of reaching up to you," he continues then pauses a bit before getting on it again, "I uh... I kind of like, one of the people who can't even reach you. So... yeah." He finishes before turning onto his heel and walking away.

I'd be lying if I would say that I didn't hear that he was saying some sort of profanities under his breath while he was striding away. I sighed, not noticing that I was holding my breath all along. I turned back to Karlos who wore the same puzzled look that I have on my features right now.

"What was that?" we asked each other in unison.

"I don't know," we answered in unison again then we both ended up laughing our lungs out. I was facing a little side view, so I have no idea if I was having a little hallucination when I saw Darren at the end of the small space, looking back at me, his face a little stained with I don't know if it was sweat or tears or if I was really just hallucinating.

When the figure turned around and walked away, I then confirmed that I wasn't hallucinating. There was a familiar and painful tug in my chest, in my heart to be more specific, when I realized that it was really Darren and he was tearing up a little bit. I was left clueless of why he was.

-

The show has started and I was left at the back with my friends as we waited for Darren, Athena and Karlos's production number as the opening act of our concert to finish. I was lucky enough that they just started and the twins were busy with something on Grace's phone and Parry was a little out of the earth, maybe thinking about how mellow JK's voice is. I tapped her, the feeling of telling something to her doesn't ease off. She turns to me with a small smile.

"What's up?" she asked.

I shifted in my seat to get a little closer to her. "Darren approached me a little while ago," I said, "Before this show started."

That seemed to wake her up fully and give me her full attention. "Really?" she seemed to be totally shocked at the said thing. "What did he say?"

I sighed, "Nothing much." I admitted. "He just gave me a small tap on the shoulder then gave me a good luck and congratulated me for, I don't know, being in where I am right now, I guess." I said.

"What else?" she asked me, obviously trying to pull something out of me. "I'm sure there is something more in that, Nicole. Stop trying to cover it up from me, I know you more than you think."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Stop sounding like a total creeper." I ordered and she just chuckled. "When I was laughing a little with Karlos, don't be jealous," I cut it in the middle and continued after Parry smacked me in the arm. "I saw him look back at me and he was like..."

"Angry for you for talking with Karlos?" she asked me, cutting me.

"No," I said, "I saw him, he had tears and he was... sad." I noted. "And even though I admitted that I don't want to do anything with him anymore, I know and I felt that he was hiding something from me."

"That's... news, Nicole!" she exclaimed, catching the twins' attention a little while before turning their attention back to the phone. "I... I don't know but I am really sure that there's something behind those."

"I know, that's why I am approaching you!" I told her.

"Why would you?"

"Parry, as you said there is something beneath those actions," I informed her. "I don't have any idea what would those intentions be."

Before Parry can even reply to my question and rambling, the sounds from outside were off and we were called, the screams were audible. We stood up and picked up our mics and walked to the stage and I avoid his gazes.

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Sorry for the late, late update. :(