CHAPTER ONE
"MR. VALERIAN FERNANDEZ, for the past five years since your success in this sports industry, is there any plan on settling down or you know get married?" Tanong sa kanya ng press.
He looked into the press without any expression on, kinuha niya ang microphone at tumingin muli sandali rito.
"No" pagiling niya.
"According to our source, you are in a stable relationship with Ms. Sheena Cuenca for almost a year, aren't you even considering it?"
Napabuntong hininga si Vhal,ano bang kinalaman ng personal niyang buhay sa trabaho niya? He's not even a celebrity. He's a fucking racer.
"I'm still on the verge of my passion and settling down would just complicate my plans."
Pagkuwa'y kinuha ng manager niya ang microphone. "Ah, he's busy preparing for his upcoming tournament next month. That's why this month for him would be very hectic" pagsalo sa kanya ng manager na si Gladys.
Hindi naman na nasundan ang topic na iyon at nagtanong na ng tungkol sa paparating niyang laban.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Vhal!" Asik ni Gladys na kanina pa pabalik balik ng lakad habang siya prenteng nakaupo sa couch.
"Sa tuwing nababanggit ang personal mong buhay, nagiging halimaw ka na parang mangangain ng tao!"
"I'm not a fucking celebrity, Gladz. I am a professional car racer and meddling with my life isn't their concern!" depensa naman niya.
Napabuntong hininga si Gladys habang minamasahe ang sentido. "Let me remind you that you are considered as a celebrity because of your career! Hindi ka lang basta racer, Vhal. Hindi ka lang kilala dito sa Pilipinas, kundi sa buong mundo!"
Sandali silang natahimik nang pumasok si Sheena sa kwarto. "Sige na, Gladys. Ako nang bahala kay Vhal"
Gladys rolled her eyes and walked out.
"What did you do this time, Vhal?" She asked as she walk towards him. "Ginagalit mo na naman si Gladys" tumabi siya rito sa couch.
"And where those press got the settling down idea?" Matalim niyang tinignan ito.
Nagiba ang expresyon ng mukha ni Sheena at tumayo sa couch. She went to the counter and poured some whiskey on the glass.
"Sheena, ilang beses ko bang kailangan sabihin na wala akong planong magpakasal?" Lumapit sa kanya si Sheena at inabutan siya ng alak.
"You're not getting any younger, Vhal"
"I don't care!" He blurted out. "Can't you just drop that...thing? If you want this we had to work, don't bother to open up that topic anymore"
Nanahimik si Sheena. Of course she understand what he meant, they're not even in a relationship. She's just a person whom he calls if he want someone to warm his bed.
And she get it. She accepted it. Mas okay na kaysa sa wala.
"You have a month of vacation before heading back to Italy for the tournament" She said. "Your cousin called me, si Riley?"
May inabot sa kanya itong envelope at folder. "That's your plane ticket to Nueva Castillo" referring to the envelope. "The other one is the contract for renewal"
Tumango si Vhal sa kanya at nilapag sa gilid ang mga ito.
"If you want me to come just let me know" lumabas na si Sheena at naiwan na ulit siyang magisa.
Binuksan niya ang television at pinalipat-lipat ang channel until he stopped in Cinema One.
Popoy, ako na lang.. ako na lang ulit
He can't help but to smile with that movie. It's her favorite.
And you chose to break my heart
Nagiba ang expression ng mukha ni Vhal as he opened his wallet and pulled something out.
Her sweet smile that could make the whole world a better place. Those eyes that could make his world go round and round.
He can't help but to remember the only woman he ever wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Kumusta na kaya ito? Maybe she already has a family, sino kaya ang napakswerteng lalaki ang minamahal niya ngayon? Sino ang napakapalad na mga bata ang inaalagaan niya ngayon?
Fuck.
Kinuha niya ang bote ng whiskey at doon na uminom. This is what he's doing for the past five years, ang lunurin ang sarili sa alak sa tuwing naalala niya ito.
At ngayon naalala niya itong muli.
"Ilang beses mo ng napanood iyan pero umiiyak ka pa rin, Hon" sambit niya kay Natalie na nakayakap sa malaking unan habang may hawak na tissue.
Kakagaling niya lang sa training at bibisitahin niya sana ito dahil matagal silang hindi nagkita.
At ito ang naabutan niya. Sumandal ito sa kanya at nagiiyak pa rin, oh how adorable his girl is.
Hinalikan niya ito sa sentido at kinulong sa bisig niya.
"10 years from now, Hon. Ganito pa rin kaya tayo?" Tanong nito sa kanya, natawa na lang si Vhal dahil alam niyang galing iyon sa palabas.
"10, 11, 12, 13, 14, forever and ever!" Sakay naman niya rito. "You'll not going anywhere, Hon because I need you"
Mapagmahal siyang nginitian nito at hinalikan pagkuwa'y pinupulot ang mga kamay sa bewang niya.
"Promise?" She asked.
"Promise"
"I missed you, Hon" she murmured habang nakasubsob sa dibdib niya ang mukha nito so he kissed the top of her head.
"I missed you more"
"Vhal! Huy!" He went back on his senses and saw Riley, his cousin from mother's side.
"Kanina ka pa ba diyan?"
"Mga 2 minutes pa lang naman. Anyway, I never thought an international professional car racer would watch a goddamn movie like one more chance?" He smirked.
Kinuha ni Vhal ang remote at pinatay ito.
"Shut up"
"Anyway, sabay na tayong pumunta sa Nueva Castillo. Nagaantay sila Mama doon" ani Riley.
"Nandoon sila Tita?"
"Yup but just a few days, may inaasikaso lang si Dad. Anyway, hindi ka ba uuwi muna sa inyo para makapagayos ng gamit?"
"Riley, lahat ng gamit ko ay bitbit ko kahit saan ako magpunta and nasa New Zealand sila Gilbert kaya wala rin na akong pupuntahan" sapitana nito.
"New Zealand? Anong ginagawa nila doon? Nagbibilang ng tupa?" Biro ni Riley.
"Gago" tumawa lang si Riley.
"I'll see you at the airport later then" ani Riley.
