This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

One of the graces of being famous is that people will always love you and will look past your flaws, assuming there are any.

I know that the band is famous, having to attend many of their concerts for the past years. But I haven't encountered a fan screaming to my face until now. When news spread that Zeus Vincenticus Ferrer is going to his hometown in Davao, most of his fans gathered in Davao International Airport to greet him. Kahit siya lang mag-isa at hindi niya kasama ang ibang myembro ng banda, naroon pa rin sila at matiyagang naghihintay sa kaniya.

"Kuya, isang picture lang! Kaninang madaling araw pa kaming naghihintay dito!" halos maglupasay na sa sahig ang babae na pinipilit makalapit sa kinaroroonan ni Zeus.

I winced. Five minutes and it will be twelve in the afternoon. Kaninang madaling araw pa talaga siya dito? Tiningnan ko ang babae. I could see signs of fatigue on her face but the glint of determination is stronger. Kitang-kita ko ang determinasyon niyang makita man lang si Zeus. She's wearing the band's shirt and had her hair chopped into a bob cut. The heavy mascara and dark lipstick are telling me that she's really a fan of rock music. She also painted her nails black and her spiked ankle boots frightened me.

"Pasensiya na po talaga, Ma'am. Ginagawa lang namin ang trabaho namin," mahinahong wika naman ng isa sa mga bodyguards ni Zeus.

I bit my lower lips as I continued staring at her. Mayamaya pa ay may isang intern na lumapit sa manager ni Zeus at may ibinulong. Adrianna, their manager, frowned and then pursed her lips. After a while, she nodded and then gestured for Zeus.

"There's an old man who wants to see you. Senior citizen na kaya pinagbigyan na namin,"

Zeus, still exhausted from the flight, popped his eye open. Isa-isa niyang tinanggal ang ear pods na nakasaksak sa kaniyang tainga. He ignored his manager and squeezed my arms, dahilan kung bakit napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Are you tired?"

"Zeus." Pag-uulit ni Adrianna sa naiiritang boses. Zeus sighed and then nodded his head.

"I'm going out, Addy. I'm just talking to Naia."

My cheeks reddened in embarrassment. I squirmed silently on my seat. Had I known that we will be riding a private jet just for him, be served by long-legged flight attendants, and be treated like a bunch of royalties, I would've thought twice about coming with him. Hindi ako sanay na tinatrato nang ganito. It was such a long time when someone bowed to my feet and my memories of it are fragmented. Mas sanay na akong nagsisilbi kesa pinagsisilbihan.

When I asked Zeus earlier why we're in a private jet instead of a normal passenger plane, his manager answered for me instead.

"We don't have much time for a meeting. So we're making use of the flight time to have a meeting. I hope you're not going to be of disturbance."

Adrianna Gil is a stern young woman with a very shrewd mind and a catty mouth. She's only two years older than me but I could feel the miles and miles of distance between the two of us. She takes the position of being the band's manager very seriously and she's very religious in her job. She's brilliant, I have to praise her brain for that. She's managed to introduce the band to the largest producers and set up meetings with movie moguls in the long run. I believe the efficient job has something to do with her charming face, which she learned how to use when necessary. But Addy is not someone you can joke with.

I'm not even sure if she likes me.

I tried to be as quiet as I am when we were inside the private jet. Nakikinig lang ako sa musika sa cellphone na ipinahiram sa akin ni Zeus. Tinuruan niya ako kanina sa pattern ng kaniyang password at hinayaan na. He disappeared with Addy and a bulky-looking man inside a smaller office and only went out when we were about to land.