Star Camp: The Fifth Element

Chapter 24 - Realization

Freya Evander

Days passed by and the team only has 2 days to tidy up everything they planned for the ball the next-next day. Each member is still doing and finishing their tasks except for Terrence and Luca who were assigned to do the invitation.

Terrence decided to help out the other members, while Freya thinks that Luca is probably just chilling now somewhere.

Sid and Freya practiced hosting and it lasted for hours 'til Silvermist came into their practice room to invite them to have dinner with the other members together. Without saying anything, Sid immediately put down the mic and walked towards Silvermist, smiling like a crazy lover boy.

Freya looked at her and she is also smiling sweetly to him.

Is it just me or there's something new with them?

She shrugged her shoulders and went to the dining hall with them. Napansin niya na kumpleto sila ngayon, parang katulad lang noong unang beses silang kumain ng almusal pagkatapos ng welcome party.

Finding a seat, she saw Terrence sat next to Liliana but when Liliana noticed her staring at them, she quickly stood up and change her seat by sitting across the table. Nanatili ang tingin niya kay Terrence na mukhang nawala sa mood at hindi man lang ginalaw ang pagkain.

Freya couldn't help but feel guilty. All this time, Liliana has been avoiding him. She knows Terrence so well and even if she doesn't want to admit it to herself, she can see it all the time.

She can see that he likes Liliana.

They like each other.

Freya looked down and bit her lower lip. Blaming herself for not being matured and thoughtful enough. She feels like she's coming in between them.

"Why are you standing there?" Someone suddenly touched her shoulders and made her sit down. "You look stupid."

She just stared at Luca and didn't say anything, while Luca stared back at her, naninibago ito sa kilos niya ngayon.

"I called you stupid. Hindi ka man ba aangal?" Tanong nito ngunit bumuntong hininga lang si Freya. "May lagnat ka no?"

Luca pressed his hand on her forehead to check if she's hot. It turned out she's not so he looked at her suspiciously and shook his head.

"A-ano ba?!"

"You don't have a cold, but you're still sick." He smiled playfully before whispering, "Lovesick."

While the other members are busy talking and telling stories to each other, Luca grabbed her hand and stood up.

"May pupuntahan lang kami saglit ni Freya," Paalam nito sakanila at lumabas ng dining hall.

Dinala niya si Freya sa private villa kung saan sila nag-celebrate noon. He brought a blanket and wine from the villa and went to the back where the beach is. He then spread and placed the blanket far from the shore so that they can view the sunset clearly.

Luca sat down and looked up to Freya who is still standing, again. "Are you gonna sit down or are you gonna sit down?"

"What're we doing here?" She asked, sitting down next to him.

"What do you think?"

Freya rolled her eyes. "This isn't a date, is it? You said you don't like me."

He looked at her, like what she said is unbelievable. "Yuck. Hindi no. Dinala kita dito para bumalik ka sa normal."

"You think I'm not acting normal?!"

"I've been watching you watching ate Liliana and Terrence for a long time, you know?" He said that made her stop. "And as a guy, I can say that Terrence likes her."

Silence filled the air. They can only hear the sound of the waves and the birds flying back and forth. Freya knew that this time will come, a time to talk about her feelings clearly and make a decision, but she never expected to talk about this with Luca who is younger than them.

"Ate Liliana and I are close. She is like my older sister and she treats me as her little brother like what kuya Sid does. Alam kong alam na niya sa sarili niya na gusto din niya si Terrence. Ayaw lang niyang tanggapin at aminin kasi alam niya na masasaktan ka."

She forced a smile. "I'm interfering their happiness, aren't I?"

The other reason why she joined star camp is to stay and be with Terrence, but then she realized that the more she seeks out for his attention, the more she slowly forgets her own goal – a goal to be able to do what she wants without her family's approval.

After all, that's what she dreamed for herself before she met him.

Luca gave her a real smile for the first time and Freya started to question her vision if what her seeing right now is true or what.

"I know you like him first... but you should decide, Freya, for everyone and for yourself also. Just remember that ate Liliana cherishes your friendship and don't want to ruin it just for a guy."

Liliana Vivian Salvatore

After they had dinner, Silvermist asked them to help her organize some documents to her office so they all went there without Luca and Freya. Tumulong sila habang nagkukwentuhan nang biglang dumugo ang daliri ni Liliana.

Nang makita iyon ni Yael ay lumapit siya agad sakaniya at hinawakan ang kamay. "Ayos ka lang?"

"I'm fine. It's just a paper cut," She said as they watched her wound healed by itself and vanished after because of her healing power. "See?"

Terrence grabbed her hand from Yael and coldly stared at him. "She said she's fine."

Someone coughed behind them and saw that it was Freya and Luca who just came back.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Freya asked her.

Liliana looked at Terrence and he let go of her hand so that the two can talk. They went outside and walked around the small garden near the office.

"I'm sorry," Freya uttered, breaking the silence between them. "I'm sorry I was a selfish friend to you, Lili."

"You're not selfish. You just follow what your heart wants and that is good," She replied and held her hands. "I'm sorry too, Freya. I promised I didn't do anything to make Terrence fall for me. I –"

"No, Lili. What I want to say is that it's okay now. You don't have to avoid him for me. I don't want to see him hurting because of my selfishness."

Liliana blinked. "What?"

Freya smiled, stroking her hands. "I've decided to let go of my feelings for him. I want you two together, Lili. So please... give him a chance."

Hindi makapaniwala si Liliana sa sinabi nito. She is Freya Evander. She knows what she wants and she never settles for less.

"And Terrence fell for you not because you did something, but because you're you." She added and hugged her. "Don't worry, our friendship will remain the same. I'll be happy for you and him."

Liliana hugged her back. "Thank you, Freya."