COME BACK TO ME, SLAVEN | #Wattys2019

Chapter 32 - And so she ran...

KOREA

"The concert tour will start next week in Osaka, going to Nagasaki and Shirota, then Ebisu, and all other key places in Japan. Then we'll go next to Singapore for Fashion Festival, China for Music Awards, and then Vietnam for some series of mall tours, and finally, the Philippines where most of you are already famous. And it will be an introduction for most of you who's not that familiar with the people like Slaven."

"Y-Yes?" He absent-mindedly asked.

"Are you with us today or somewhere far?" asked their big boss Ethan Lee. "You're one of Korea's most popular artists, internationally acclaimed, however, the Philippine market is not aware of you. We will be taking you with the Philippine tour for a get-to-know-you concert."

"P-Philippines?"

"Yes. Remember your partner Ella? We've asked her to come to the concert in the Philippines. I don't know if the Filipino people are aware of her winning the contest but having a Filipino singer with us will be an added impact."

"Is she coming?" Hopeful he asked.

"We haven't got a response yet. But it's on her contract so she must or she'll breach it. The concert won't be in a month, so we'll be waiting for her response."

Slaven thought this is the moment he's been waiting for. He has given her enough time to be with herself and excel in her chosen career. He had promised her that exactly a year ago. That once he has straightened things out and fix his life and career, he'll give her enough time for herself to grow and miss him as well. Then he's going to go after her and win her heart back no matter what. After one year of waiting, his career's back in bloom, his relationship with Hye-je straighten out, despite fans and media still having doubt of their 'true status'. They've become good friends after he had explained to her that he can't love her anymore because he's already in love with someone else.

Ella, Ella. That beautiful Filipina who woke him from dreaming. And brought him the reality about life and living. Ella who made him breathe and sing again. For the past months that he may be far away from her, he never loses contact, rather, information. He hired a private investigator to watch over Ella.

His room in his house is full of stuff from the Philippines. From souvenirs to things Ella is buying, touching, interested in. Even his personal fridge is stuffed with Filipino delicacies like what Shinye's been mouthing about - dried mangoes. And he has photo albums full of Ella in action, Ella walking, smiling, laughing, pouting her beautiful lips, hugging her adorable sister, her family, and life – that he has learned to love as well just by those pictures.

Her family fascinates him. How they respond and interact with each other made him realize how warm and loving Filipinos are. He is close with his family as well but they never bond nor show affection and love the way Ella's family does. He understands how much she loves them now. And he wants to have a family like hers. He wants to feel loved.

He knows when she quits her call center job and started writing romance novels. He even got all copies of the books she wrote. Though he doesn't understand the language, he loves them, keeps it especially the book she first wrote. It was too familiar, the setting, the characters especially the hero and the title of the book itself – Come back to me – it's the song they sang together.

He misses Ella so much. There was even one particular day, Ella's birthday, that he risked going to the Philippines alone! Just to see her on her day. He even almost lose control, seeing her smile spending time with her friends at a cafe, and approached her right then. But he backed out, he thought it's not yet the right time, he believed so. If there is a right time and place for things to happen, he believes the Philippines concert is the perfect setup. He's going to win back Ella, he will confess his love for her on that night. And he won't let her get away from him anymore, he won't let her. If only she will come. He's really wishing she will come. He still remembers so well what happened months ago when she left Korea. With Taeyang, his traitor of a friend...