No Longer

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With a lot of people here in Justin's condo, I feel out of place. Parang lahat kasi sila may napatunayan na sa buhay. They're all successful. While me, I have nothing at all.

Wait, since when did that bother me? Life isn't a race. I'll get there, too. Maybe, just not now yet.

Nagpuntahan sila sa kusina dahil dito pala sila kakain ng lunch. Luke and Yanna went home already though, with Simon. Bawal daw pala kasing silang dalawa lang, baka ma-issue ng fans. Hays, 'yan problema sa mga sikat eh, ang daming fans na feeling entitled. They just want the artist to for themselves. Hindi naman pwede 'yon.

"Ae? Ang lalim naman yata ng iniisip mo."

"Ha? Ah wala naman. Sorry," sabi ko. Ilang beses na ba akong natulala sa harap ni Justin, nakakahiya na talaga.

"By the way, before we eat. I'll introduce you to my group mates and our manager," he started.

"I'm Dyronne Kim. Nice to meet you," pakilala nung guy na mukhang rabbit.

"Timothy Moon at your service," pakilala naman nung isa.

"Hello. I'm Aerielle," nahihiya kong pagpapakilala.

"And finally, I'm Tristan. Their manager," the guy who looks like anime said.

His name sounds familiar tho.

"Kapatid mo si Mark at Donny?"

"Mark is my brother. Donny's our cousin," sagot nya. Ay oo nga pala. Cousin. Tumango na lang ako.

"Let's eat," Justin said.

We ate and talked. They told me the history of their group. Also random stories. After eating, pumirma ako ng kontrata. Hindi naman na raw talaga kailangan 'yon pero okay na rin para naman may formality.

After few more chitchats, they decided to leave. Niyaya pa nga nila kaming sumama mag-clubbing but Justin declined. May flight pa kami bukas. Buti na lang pala may passport ako at may extra ticket pa sila.

🍑🍒

Night time came. Diretso tulog si kuya dahil pagod na pagod sya. Sobrang dami yata nilang customer kanina. Kami lang tuloy ulit ni Justin. But as time passed by, nababawasan na yung awkwardness. Friendly naman din kasi sya, ako lang talaga 'tong shy type.

"Have you packed your things?" he asked.

We're in the living room. Nagyaya kasi syang manood ng movie since pareho kaming hindi pa inaantok.

"Oo, kanina pa. Ikaw ba?"

"Yep. Do you have swimsuits? After kasi ng shoot, diretso bakasyon tayo kahit saglit lang."

"Wala naman akong mga gano'n. Pwede na siguro yung rash guard," sabi ko.

"Whatever you're comfortable with," he suddenly looked at me.

I looked back. Ano trip nya? Staring contest? Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay.

"You're cute," sabi nya at nag-iwas ng tingin. Tatawa-tawa pa ang loko.

"Manood ka na nga dyan. Magyayaya kang manood tapos dadaldalin mo lang pala ako," pagtataray ko.

We both focused on the screen. Wrong timing naman po. Bakit sakto sa kissing scene? I looked away, saktong nagtama na naman ang mga mata namin.