Chasing after Chances [Fangirl & Idol Series #1]

twenty-three

Love

Last night was so unpredictable. Devlin called multiple times while Xhaiven and I were having fun together. We ignored him. He has to pay for it. Shairah was having fun with him too.

I looked at the man laying beside me, only to see him staring at me. I was about to get off the bed but he pulled my arm.

"B-Bakit?" I asked him.

"Franzielle, please don't tell this to other people."

"Why?" Naguguluhan ako sa kaniya. Bakit?

"I have someone I like. I don't want this to ruin what we have." I couldn't speak, neither move. I was left flabbergasted by his words.

"Xhaiven.." I was about to answer him when his phone rang.

"Hmm? Yes, this is Xhaiven Cerssus. Oh Shane! A music video? Franzielle should come with me? Oh okay, I'm with her. Don't ask why. Okay, we'll be there." He stood up and fixed himself.

"I'll drive you home. And we'll just pick you up after. You have to come with me. Get up."

I started fixing my things and putting my clothes on. Xhaiven is wearing his mask now. We tried not to get caught but there were too many reporters.

They ran towards us, as soon as we walked through the lobby. They were asking questions. Xhaiven just wrapped his arm around my waist and started protecting me from the media.

Famous idol, Xhaiven Cerssus Keon was seen with Franzielle Xianna Veralla checking out from a hotel.

What did the two of them do in a hotel?

Netizens are now going crazy about it.

"Xhaiven was the one who checked in. Afterwards, her girlfriend went inside the hotel and proceeded to their hotel room. Since our room was beside theirs, we heard some weird sounds. It was like they were making love.." - shared by an anonymous netizen.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko habang binabasa ang mga 'yon. Tumingin ako kay Xhaiven na busy sa pagmamaneho. Naagaw ko agad ang atensyon niya.

"What is it? Are you hungry?" pagtatanong niya habang nasa kalsada pa rin ang paningin.

"I'll give the hotel a 2-star. Hindi pala soundproof ang rooms nila. Someone heard us. It was all for a show pero may nakarinig sa atin."

"Our conversation?"

"No. The weird sounds that we made last night para sa voice record."

"I'll do something to remove that comment from the internet."

Nandito na kami ngayon sa studio kung saan isho-shoot ang music video ng Ohhsome. Hindi ako na-inform na kasama pala ako sa music video. Akala ko sa photoshoot lang.

Maganda raw kasi ang kinalabasan nung photoshoot kaya pinili nilang isabay na ako sa music video. Naiinis na ako kasi matured scenes ang ipapagawa. Hindi naman detailed pero ang wild.

"I just don't get it. My brother is the boyfriend of Franzielle. Pre, tingnan mo naman ang mga ipapagawa sa kanila. Sigurado akong masasaktan-"

"Pre, that is how our industry works. Franzielle signed a contract with the management. Let's just fuck our asses off. Look, Zandraile is hurting because of this darn career of mine. We haven't seen and talked to each other for two fucking months now." Napalingon ako kay Zylhian at Dhavien. Mahina lang ang boses nila pero naririnig ko kasi malapit lang ako sa kanila.

"Do you love that girl?" tanong sa kaniya ni Dhavien.

"I do. Bud, I'm under her addictiveness. But I actually love it. I would rather fall under her addictiveness than being loveless. She turned my life into the best life that I could pray for."

"Sana all kasi," natatawang ani Dhavien.

"Why? I thought you were dating Yazielle?"

"With a tattooed pain? Do you think it would work out?" Ouch. May hugot din pala si ugok.

Pero napaisip ako, alam kaya ni Zylhian na delayed si Zandra? Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanila. Nilingon ako ni Dhavien at sinuri ang kabuuan ko. Tinarayan ko agad siya na ikinatawa niya.

"Can we talk?" tanong ko kay Zylhian. Tumango lang siya at inalalayan ako palabas ng dressing room.

"Last night, Zandra tried to end her life," panimula ko. 'Di makapaniwalang tumingin siya sa akin.

"W-What? Why?"

"May babae ka? 'Yung Jennifer? Zy, dapat mong kausapin si Zandra. At isa pa, delayed siya... one week na." His lips parted in shock. He looked at me with confused eyes.

"Delayed? One week? We've been away from each other for two months now, Franzielle, paano 'yon nangyari? But fuck! Paano kung buntis pala siya? I could've been there for her, I should've told her that I love her..." Nakita kong mamuo ang mga luha sa gilid ng mga mata ni Zylhian.

"Ayaw kong nakikitang nagdurusa ang kaibigan ko, Zy. Please, talk to her. Huwag mong sasaktan ulit ang kaibigan ko dahil ako mismo ang maglalayo sainyong dalawa," pagkasabi ko niyon ay tinalikuran ko na siya at bumalik na sa loob.

Sakto naman na pagpasok ko ay magsisimula na raw. Kasunod ko lang naman si Zylhian na pumasok. Wala namang naging problema sa shooting ng music video nila. Kaya maaga rin kaming natapos.

Hinatid ako ng service nila sa bahay. Napatigil ako sa paglalakad papasok ng bahay nang maaninag ang pamilyar na pigura. Nakatayo lang siya sa labas ng bahay namin.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Napalingon agad siya sa akin. Hindi ako nakagalaw nang yakapin niya ako.

"Xianna..."

"D-Devlin, sa loob tayo mag-usap. Baka may makakita sa atin dito." Nagpahila nalang siya sa akin hanggang sa makapasok kami sa loob. Walang ibang tao roon kundi' kami at ang mga kasambahay.

"Xianna, please... Talk to me-"

"Devlin.."

"Nasasaktan na ako, Xianna. Lagi nalang.. B-Bakit sa 'tin nangyayari 'to? We're always chasing after chances, aren't you tired?" Pinigilan ko ang mga luha ko nang magsimula siyang umiyak.

"Sharing the same bed with Shairah? Was that a solution to our problem?" Parang piniga nanaman ang puso ko nang maalala ko ang nangyari.

"Nothing happened between us! You just assumed things again because of what Shai told you. Yes, magkasama kami pero walang nangyari sa aming dalawa. But something happened between you and Xhaiven. Totoo ba 'yon? G-Gano'n lang kadali sa 'yo na saktan ako? At saktan ulit?" Napaiwas nalang ako ng tingin nang magsipag-unahan ang mga luha ko.

"I didn't and will never do that, Xia." Napalingon ulit ako sa kaniya at mas lalo lang akong nasaktan.

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