CHAPTER TWELVE

TRECIA'S POV

"Where's—"

"Ivan Myers?" pagtatapos ni Jeffery sa itatanong ko. I nodded. "He left after opening the door for me."

"Ahh..." I nodded my head while tying my hair into a ponytail. "Let's go?" I asked him after grabbing my bag.

He just smiled at me and opened the door for me. After leaving my unit and heading towards the elevator, Jeffery asked the question that I knew he'll ask sooner or later. "So, since when did your ex become an actor?"

I took a deep breath before entering the elevator. "Since my dad announced the casts," I nonchalantly replied.

There was a long silence filling up between us. "And how did you react?"

"I got confused and pissed at my dad at first, but since I had no say to it, I just went with the flow." I remained to stare at the elevator door, waiting for it to open.

"And you still wanna do this?" Halata ang pag-aalala at kaguluhan sa tono ng pananalita ni Jeffery.

I took a deep breath before letting it out. "What choice do we both have?" simpleng tanong ko na nagpatahimik sa aming dalawa.

Finally, the elevator door opened, and as we both stepped out of it, my arm snaked around his as we exchanged smiles.

And just as we expected, the people began buzzing and cameras began flashing. All we could do was act as if we were hiding something. For the media to just focus on the both of us.

After fighting our way to leave the condominium, we headed to a restaurant. Just as we planned, we caught the people's attention and noticed some people taking pictures of us.

"Thanks." I made sure to flash my sweetest smile after Jeff pulled a chair for me.

He nodded while smiling then gestured at the waiter. After giving our orders, both of us remained smiling at each other and sometimes laughed or chuckled. Everything we say and do were part of a script. It was like giving the media a live performance of a movie.

The things we do for the sake of this messed-up career.

"Do you think that would be enough?" Jeff asked as we drove back to my condo.

I shrugged. "I hope so. I mean it'll keep the media feasting for a while. Besides, we'll be on a break for a couple of months." Because of the upcoming movie, the public's attention will move from Jeff and me to Ivan and me. That's how it normally works anyway.

"Right. About that, do I have to look like a jealous boyfriend or no need?" normal na tanong niya habang naghahanap ng pagpa-park-an.

Saglit akong nanahimik para mag-isip. "I don't think so. All you have to do is show up to some of our shooting places and then be at the premiere as my date."

Napatango naman siya. "That's fine with me. I can do that." Sakto namang nakapag-park na siya nang alisin ko ang seatbelt at hinarap siya.

Malungkot akong napangiti kay Jeffery na bumuntong hininga. "Hey, you'll be fine. She understands, right? Mhelanie knows that this is all for a show," I tried comforting him.

Jeffery let out a small smile. "Yeah. That woman understands me better than anyone. All I'm worried about is that I can't give her my full attention, and Trecia, I know that she doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. She deserves more."

I patted his shoulder. "You'll be fine. Just a couple more years and you'll be free from your contract. Hang in there, okay? But do remember, if she needs you and you're currently stuck with me, ditch me, okay? Prioritize her and I'll back you up."

He gave me a friendly hug. "Thanks, Trecia. That means so much to me."

I hugged him back before softly tapping his back and letting go of each other. "Tell Mhelanie that I thank her for understanding and agreeing to this kind of setup. I owe that woman a lot."

Jeffery chuckled. "I'll tell her. Though she called this morning and said that she missed your cooking."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Still a flatterer." I let out a soft chuckle before looking over the car window. "Anyways, Imma go ahead. I still have to train a kid."

Mapang-asar naman akong nginitian ni Jeff. "I'm sensing a comeback." He even wiggled his eyebrows.

My eyes squinted as it turned into a full-blown glare. "Shut the hell up. Such nonsense." I flipped my hair which made him chuckle once again.

"I'm telling Mhel about him. I'm pretty sure she has the same opinion as me."

Napailing na lang ako dahil sa puro kalokohang pinagsasasabi nitong lalakeng 'to. "I'm leaving. Drive safely, okay?"

Tumango lang naman si Jeff kahit hindi pa rin naaalis ang mapang-asar na ngisi nito sa labi. Lumabas na lang ako mula sa kotse niya saka kinuha ang phone kong nasa bag ko.

I still have to contact Mommy France to call him. I then remembered our last conversation. It was about his role and lines for the movie.

A player and a cheater.

He acted as if he hadn't done that before which pissed me off, but I would never let him know that I'm still affected by that case—by him.

I would never give him the satisfaction of letting him know that I could still recall everything that happened between us.

That even if I tried a thousand times, I still couldn't erase those memories of him.

That even after two years, I still... I still couldn't make myself move on.

I let out a deep sigh and entered the building. Mommy France already replied that she sent him a text.

Ibinalik ko sa bag ko ang phone ko saka umakyat papunta sa unit ko. Even while I was inside the elevator and wanted to think of the script for that movie, my mind went someplace else.

Bigla kong naalala ang biglang pagtulog ni Ivan sa sofa ko kaninang umaga pagkatapos ang panay na reklamong inaantok pa siya.

Hindi pa rin pala siya nagbabago. Still a sleepy head and definitely not an early bird.

Late na nang mahuli ko ang sarili kong nakangiti dahil doon. I quickly shook my head to remove it.

These three months that I'll spend with him as my co-actor, might be one hell of a headache. I should be careful not to fall for him again, or else I'll suffer the same way that I did two years ago.

I never would want to go back to being miserable.

Never again.