A Crossroad ✔

Chapter 2: He

Raven

"Dude! Long time no see. Kumusta?" He simply sat in the adjoing sofa inside the studio and gave me a high five.

I grinned at him as I leaned by the comfortable settee, vaguely glancing at my busy team who are collecting our stuff just before we bid goodbye to the production team. Naka-on na ang mga ilaw kaya maliwanag na ulit ang buong silid, which is a good thing because I badly want to convince myself I'm finally done for the day.

"I'm the same way as I look," I courteously replied and offered him water but he politely shook his head.

Katatapos lang ng photoshoot ko para sa isang brand na pinili ako bilang ambassador nito. I've been running errands since this morning and I've been dead meat after series of collabs and practices in the past days. Gustong-gusto ko nang magpahinga pero ayaw ko namang maging bastos at mauna nang umuwi.

"That good?" he asked, making me stop a bit to process what he just said. Napailing ako nang may ngiti nang maintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"By the way, any plans for this coming Friday night?" I asked him as I played on the ends of my hair.

Damn, everything is so boring.

"Wala pa. How about you? Baka pwede mo naman akong isama," he suggestively said, grinning at me now. I ended up doing the same since the mood is killing me now. I could feel the rush of excitement in me as I thought of rest the whole day tomorrow.

"I have. But sorry bro, I plan to do this alone," tapat kong paghindi sa kan'ya at inayos ang bahagyang nalukot na coat.

His forehead furrowed with my remark and I even saw some staff glancing at us from a distance. Oh yeah. People and their obsession in knowing everything that is listed in my schedule.

Although I really hope they would learn how to respect my privacy at times. I mean... I don't necessarily have to announce what I do every single day, do I?

"Hooking up with girls, I guess?" he tried to guess. Natawa na lang ako sa sinabi niya bago umiling.

"Nope, boring. At isa pa... ayaw ko ng eskandalo." Sinadya kong ibulong ang huling bahagi ng mga sinabi ko dahil ayaw ko namang may mapag-usapan na naman tungkol sa akin.

Ilang taon na rin pero parang ang hirap pa ring masanay na hindi mo pag-aari ang halos lahat.

Women in my social circle... Let's call them—too easy, I guess? They are at most liberated and that's what I like about them some time ago but it actually becomes boring. I want a thrill. I want a freaking challenge.

Something—someone I can consider worthy of my time and effort.

I drank from the bottled water until I emptied it. 4 hours of photo shoot was definitely exhausting kaya babawi na lang ako sa sarili ko ngayong weekend. For now, I just want to go home and spend some time with my family.

I don't have plans facing those nosy paparazzi outside. I just hope they won't learn about my secret exit because if they do, it'll be the end of me.

"I understand. Siyanga pala, handa ka na ba sa comeback mo?" tanong niyang binabago ang paksa.

I can't help but bit my lower lip. Talking about my most awaited comeback music video and album is always a thrill.

"Always ready, bud." I smirked, crossing my legs to give myself more comfort in the chair.

"I bet your fans are excited," nakangisi niyang ani na hindi ko na pinagdalawahang-isip na tanguan.

Of course they are. They haven't brought my album and attended my comeback performance for a whole year. Kahit ako ay hindi makapaghintay. The fact that I'd be on a comeback stage with a comeback performance again is what fires me up the whole time.