THE POPSTAR PRINCESS AND THE BODYGUARD

CHAPTER 22: THE AFTERSHOCK

Scene 42:

Saturday

10:15 P.M.

Inside Max’s Car

Asher put her head on the head rest of the passenger’s seat.  Max was driving her home.

Asher tightly closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose to stem the tears that pricked them.  The dinner date that was supposed to be romantic turned out to be a disastrous one.  She could not understand why things turned from better to worse.  No…she understood why.  Alejandro Zulleta III and her stalker happened.  But she had no control over them.  She could not be blamed because of them…or could she be?

Max became distant and cold throughout the dinner while Lance imbibed most of the champagne that Becky ordered that he ended up almost drunk even before the night was over and Becky had to be the one to drive him home.  Even she, Asher became taciturn when she sensed Max’s mood. 

Becky was the only who tried her best to make the atmosphere at the dinner table pleasant but stopped trying after a while when she became aware that her three companions had no inclination to enjoy the rest of the evening.  Asher felt sorry for Becky but could not do anything about the situation because if Asher did then she had to tell Becky the truth, something that Asher could never do.

Asher wished that she and Max could go back to the anniversary day of her foundation and the days that followed it.  The day when she opened her heart to the idea of her being permanently in love with Max.  The day when Max first kissed her. 

She could still vividly recall the events on that day.

Asher:                   “Was there really a need for you to do that?  I mean…halikan mo ako sa labi?”

Asher whispered to Max when she finally caught up with him under the white tent.  It also did not escape her notice that Doreen was giving her a knowing look.  “Doreen must have seen what Max did.”  Asher thought to herself and could not help herself from blushing.  She saw Doreen covered her mouth with one of her hands to stop herself from laughing. 

Max:                      “Why not Princess?  Didn’t you like it?  I did!”

Max jokingly replied.  He too saw what Doreen’s reaction was.

 Asher:                  “Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sa iyo Max so sagutin mo ako ng maayos?”

Max:                      “Sino naman ang nagsabi na nagbibiro ako?  May biro ba sa halik ko?  Tell me.”

Asher would have wanted to continue her conversation with Max but had to end it because the nuns, the old folks and the children were all looking at them in a strange way.  Then Max introduced himself…

Max:                      “Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.  Ako nga po pala si Max, kasintahan po ni Asher.  Pasensya na po kung medyo nahuli ako ng dating.  May dinaanan lang po.”

The people under the tent were all dumbfounded when they heard what Max said.  But the Mother Superior soon recovered her poise and said…

Mother Superior:            “Natutuwa naman kami at nakarating ka dito sa amin Max.  Tamang tama ang dating ninyo ni Doreen.  Malapit na ang tanghalian.  Halika at makisalo at makisaya ka sa amin.  Asher, iha sabayan mo na itong kasintahan mo.”

 The scorching stare that Asher sent to Max’s way was meant to warn Max but Max only arched his left eyebrow as if daring Asher to contradict the nun.   After that, Max entwined his fingers with hers before planting a small kiss on them.  Asher tugged her hand discreetly but failed.  One of the children, a precocious little girl named Rita came near them, looked up to them and asked…