Against the Current.

TRACK NO. 40 ♪

Pagkagising ko ay sumasabog ang ulo ko sa sakit at sumasabog din ang notif ko. Mahirap palang makatulog na umiiyak. Kinabahan pa ako dahil hindi ko maimulat ang mga mata ko kanina, akala ko may sore eyes na ako. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ako nakauwi sa bahay kagabi.

Pagbukas ko sa Twitter ay trending si Isaac. Nagbukas ako ng articles at muntik ng mahulog ang cellphone ko.

Juliette's Isaac, plagiarize the song Black in White and most of their songs in their album. The Agency is in a lot of trouble because of their artist's lack of professionalism. Sources say that Isaac Von Alegre was gone as if he already knew that this will happen and he is speculated to be avoiding the lawsuit so The Agency is being sued for negligence as well — continue reading...

Halos lahat ay iyan ang laman, plagiarism and such and I know it's a bull. Maging ako ay trending, they're telling me that I was saved from being dragged down, now that the truth was exposed. Truth? Nakaramdam ako ng inis kaya pinatay ko na lang ang phone ko dahil baka mabato ko lang ng wala sa oras yung cellphone ko.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto, naabutan ko si Dimitri sa dining room kumakain kasama si Kianne na tipid lang akong nginitian.

Agad akong lumapit kay Dimitri, "what's going on?" Napabuntung-hininga si Dimitiri.

"Apparently, this is 'the another' of that cunning Tuazon. She made up the issue to discredit Isaac and to force us to disband," nakaramdam ako ng galit.

"What?"

"You have to calm down and think first, because she can easily do what she did to us, to you..." Napatigil ako. Umupo ako at nag-isip.

"Where's Isaac?" Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Kianne.

"He left. To New Zealand with his parents. This is the only thing he left. I think it's for you," iniabot sa akin ni Dimitri yung isang iPod.

Nanginginig yung kamay kong inabot iyon. He left.

"Don't worry. Dad is already on it." Agad akong umakyat para mapakinggan kung ano man ang dapat na mapakinggan ko rito.

Napahiga ako sa kama ko at pumikit.

"Hi there. Uhmm...this is the recording of the new song I wrote..." napangiti ako habang naririnig ko ang boses ni Isaac. His low hoarse voice just like when he just woke up.

I can imagine him talking, with a cap and white shirt, with a crease in his forehead just like everytime when he's serious and focus about something.

"The title of this song is 'You', you know who you are..." Napangiti ako as I felt tears fell from my eyes. Pumailanlang ang soft voice niya habang sinasaliwan ng gitara.

Napangiti ako...nakangiti ako...pero dama ko ang lalo pang pag-init ng sulok ng mga mata ko at ang panlalabo ng paningin ko habang pilit inaaninag ang kisame. Hanggang sa hindi ko na mapigilan ang buhos ng emosyon ko at tuluy-tuloy ang paghikbi hanggang sa humagulgol na ako. Itinakip ko ang braso ko para pigilan ang pag-iyak ko pero wala naman itong naitulong. Wala. Dahil ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na eto na ang huli, huling beses na iiyak ako.

At ayun na rin ang huling beses na nagtanong ako ng tungkol kay Isaac.

♪♪♪

He never came for a month. Until Juliette disbanded. He never came. I witness as fans became antis and still some defended and believe in them, like me. I believe in them. I believe in him. Forever he's my star. But he never came, even months after.

Nag-imbestiga ang The Agency and they found out that Mrs. Tuazon paid for the plaintiff, she's using her connections to divert the Board's attention from the embezzled funds, it turns out, ilang celebrities na rin ang nabiktima ng scheme niyang iyon. And Juliette is one of them. The Agency executives have had their suspitions for so long until the issue with Juliette and Isaac did they found a solid evidence.

The tides turn back to Juliette. Antis became fans again and being so regretful that they doubted them. Fans who defended them felt vindicated. I'm so relieved na nalinis na ang pangalan ni Isaac. Everyone is dying for their comeback. Even me. But he never came back. Even months after.

"How does it feel working with Lenniel Fortalejo?" Tanong ni Pick sa akin. "He's such a good actor, marami akong natutunan sa kanya," nakangiti kong sagot kay Pick.

The movie was a hit. After mawala ni Isaac ay napunta ang deal kay Lenniel, na that time ay tuluyan ng nawalan ng ka-loveteam dahil sa paglipat niya sa The Agency.

I maintained the fame. Lalo pa nung nalinis ang pangalan ni Isaac. And after all these months ay mas lalo ko lang siyang na-miss.

"I was actually hesitant to accept the project kasi it was supposed to be Franze and Isaac, natatakot akong makumpara but comparisons are inevitable in this industry, so I took the challenge," naoangiti ako kay Lenniel.

Nung unang beses kaming nag-meet ng personal ay nakagaanan ko na siya agad ng loob. He's really friendly. Naalala ko pa yung sinabi niya during that time.

"You know what, in my short time in showbiz I witness a number of couples, and you know you can actually feel and see if it's real or not. And to tell you the truth, yours and Isaac's are one of the few that is real. That's why I am hesitant with this movie, but I need a comeback as big as this kaya pagtiyagaan mo muna ako." Natawa ako sa sinabi niya sa akin.

"How about you and Kate?" Ngumiti lang siya sa akin.

"The thing is, she wanted the fame more than me, at nung sumikat kayo ni Isaac, she felt threatened and poof, she wanted out, she wanted to be partnered with someone new. And suddenly, I was out of the picture," tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin.

"I'm sorry," maikli kong sabi. Hindi ko kasi kung anong dapat kong sabihin.

"But for the record, I did love her. I even punch Isaac because she asked me to, sorry," napatingin ako sa kanya as he smiled apologetically.

Napangiti ako. Marami akong na-realize this past few months. A mistake doesn't make you a bad guy. And there's no better way of knowing the truth than asking. And crying is not for the weak, it's for the person who's brave enough to cry. At s'yempre, ang pagpapatawad ay isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit ako sasaya.

Madalas din akong isinasama ni papa sa mga galaan. Tinuring din akong parang tunay na anak ni Tita Sheila. But sometimes, when I'm alone, I would think, about a lot of things. Minsan, ilang beses kong uulit-ulitin yung kantang 'You' ni Isaac.

Minsan kapag mapapapikit ako and unconsciously maiiisip ko si Isaac, when I thought I'm about to cry. That's when I found myself smiling like an idiot.

I guess, this would be it. But I know someday...someday...we would meet again. And maybe, that is the right time. For him. For me. For us.