#NewClassicPFL

Chapter 19
Harmless

I would be lying if I said I wasn't affected. I was bothered by that specific comment which flooded the post and drowned those people who were celebrating with me.

I thought I already learned how to ignore the hate being thrown at me, but that made me think twice. Nakabisado ko na ang comment niyang naka-all caps. In my head, I could picture the words written in red and bold letters which made me feel uneasy.

Lavinia is a user—that was her handle.

I am just a user and I'm using Fransic Jaranilla.

Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi. Alam ko sa sarili kong hindi ko siya ginagamit. I had been working hard already for the past years when I still didn't know him yet. I got my resources by my own means. I did everything I could just to survive in the modelling industry, but I didn't know why I was guilty of that accusation.

Yes, he opened a lot of opportunities for me. He paved the way which led me to where I am now. However, I never asked him to do those things for me. And I also believed that those brands gave me their trust because they also saw my talent, apart from being his girlfriend.

"Lav..."

I inhaled a sharp breath in surprise when I felt Sic hold my hand. Mabilis kong ibinaling ang aking ulo sa kanya. He was looking at me with a worried expression and scanning my face for answers.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked carefully. "Kanina ka pa tulala at parang wala sa sarili."

My lips parted but I immediately pressed them into a thin line. Nag-iwas ako bahagya ng tingin.

"Nothing, uhm..." Nilingon ko ang labas at nakitang nakaparada na ang sasakyan sa driveway ng isang hotel kung saan kami kakain ng dinner kasama ang lahat.

Just right ahead of us was Ike's car. May sumalubong na valet sa kanilang dalawa ni Aleena. Kasabay lang namin silang umalis ng First Class Record Label habang si Isaiah ay sinundo pa si Zendaya mula sa trabaho na hindi rin naman kalayuan dito. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung nasaan na sina Jirro at Cloé.

"Labas na tayo," sabi ko na lang kay Sic upang hindi na namin pag-usapan ang gumugulo sa isipan.

A valet also approached us. Sic gave him the keys to his car before he walked beside me and held my hand. He nodded at Ike and we all went inside the hotel's lobby together.

Although they recovered quite quickly as professionals, the hotel's employees were still slightly overwhelmed by the presence of these two superstars. You also couldn't deny Aleena's popularity as one of the top rising artists in the country.

I had no idea if it was because of the comment I just read, but I suddenly felt like losing confidence being with them. I kept my head down and avoided meeting the eyes of other people we came across along the way.

I couldn't believe I was feeling so little on the same day I signed a huge deal with Basics. I should be celebrating but I didn't feel like that at all. Even though I really wanted to hang out with them, maybe I should've just accepted Ritchelle's invitation to treat me and celebrated together. Maybe that would make me feel better.

While my eyes were fixed on the floor as we walked, Sic pressed his thumb on my palm, trying to get my attention. When I looked up to him, concern was all over his face and there was a little furrow in his brow. Nakakunot ang kanyang noo habang sinusubukan akong intindihin.

As I didn't want him to worry more, I smiled and pressed his hand back before leaning my body closer to him. Dikit na dikit ang aking katawan sa kanya habang naglalakad na para bang nagtatago na ako sa kanyang likuran upang hindi makita ng ibang mga tao.

A staff member ushered us to the table Sic booked for our dinner. Hindi gaanong kadami ang taong kumakain sa restaurant siguro ay dahil weekday. We almost had the restaurant all to ourselves. The round table booked for eight people was even at the center of the hall like we owned the place.

"Jirro texted," Ike announced after we took our seat. "They are already at the lobby. Hinihintay na lang nila ni Cloé sina Zendaya at Isaiah dahil malapit na rin."

Hinayaan ko silang mag-usap habang kunwari ay abala ako sa menu nang biglang lumapit sa akin si Aleena.

"I-finalize na natin ang trip ngayong dinner," sabi niya. "Pagkadating nina Zendaya at Cloé, sabihin na natin sa boys ang mga plano natin. They might have different schedules so we have to coordinate with them. Lalo na si Sic. Siya ang pinakabusy sa apat ngayon."

Tipid akong ngumiti kay Aleena bilang pagsang-ayon. She was certainly right about that. Even if we wouldn't include our projects together, he still had a lot on his plate. Abala rin siya sa new collection na i-re-release ng luxury brand na katrabaho niya. And even during his spare time, he was still helping with the production of Aleena's album.

He just couldn't stop working. Para bang hindi siya mapirmi sa bahay at kailangan ay lagi siyang umaalis.

"Leo."

My attention had been stolen away from Aleena when I heard someone speak near me. I looked up and a man, who probably has the same age as mine, was standing right beside me.

He was wearing a suit and tie and thin-framed specs. His hair was also brushed up neatly. He looked very smart, mature, and responsible. The way he carried himself reminded me of Neil. But once I looked closely at his face, the familiarity I felt was suddenly leaning towards Sic.

I didn't know why but there was a hint of resemblance. And what did he call Sic again? Leo?

As far as I remembered, that was his second name. I never thought that someone was using his second name to address him. People close to him would just call him Sic, just like his bandmates.

"Cal." Sic's eyes were wide open as he stood up to meet the man properly. "You're here."

"I was just checking the hotel when I heard you're here with your friends and your girlfriend," the man with the name Cal answered. He even turned to our table and his eyes locked on mine for a few seconds. "Why don't you introduce me to them?"

Sic's jaw clenched and heaved a sigh. "Cal, this is the leader of our band, Ike, and his fiancée, Aleena."

The two smiled at the stranger, while he just nodded his head at them with a courteous smile also lingering on his face.

I thought Sic would just simply introduce me like he did to Ike and Aleena but then he offered his hand. Bago ko pa maibigay ang aking kamay ay iginaya niya na ako patayo at iniharap sa lalaki.

"And my girlfriend, Lavinia Ordoveza," he said while wrapping his arm around my waist. "Lav, he is Callum, a close friend of mine and the President of Caballero-Acosta Group of Hotels. He owns this building."

My lips parted when I heard of his background. They are one of the leading companies in the hospitality industry. Maybe that's why he seemed familiar to me. I guessed I already met him during charity banquets before.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Lavinia." He laid out his hand in front of me. "I've been meaning to meet you since the news about you and Leo stirred up the media."

"It's Sic, Callum," Sic corrected him and pushed his hand down. "And there's no need for a handshake."

Ngumisi naman si Callum. "If you say so..." sabi niya na lang saka muling lumingon sa aming lamesa. "It looks like you're still waiting for a few people to arrive. Puwede ba muna kitang makausap sandali?"

"You're already speaking with me," Sic sarcastically said.

"In private," Callum added, sounding serious with his low baritone.

Kita ko ang pagdadalawang-isip ni Sic. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang braso at agad siyang lumingon sa akin.

I smiled at him. "Go ahead, Sic," I said to encourage him. "Wala pa naman sila."

His lips parted slightly. He seemed like he was in a deep thought for a few seconds before his eyes shifted back to Callum again and sighed. "Okay," he said. "But please just be quick. We are the host of this dinner. I don't really want to leave Lavi alone."

"No problem," Callum said, then turned to me. "Thank you."

Ngumiti na lamang ako pabalik saka hinayaan na si Sic na umalis kasama ni Callum. It was nice to be introduced to another close friend of his. There was really a sense of reassurance that he was allowing me more to become a part of his life.

"Hindi ko alam na mayroon pa lang ibang ka-close si Sic bukod sa inyo," biglang sabi ni Aleena kay Ike. "I feel like you guys are the only ones he hangs around with."

"He's a very friendly person and easy to be with," sabi naman ni Ike. "Natural lang na madami siyang makalapit na kaibigan."

Nagkibit-balikat si Aleena. "Siguro nga."

Dahil sa sinabi na 'yon ni Aleena ay napaisip din ako. Although I was getting to know him little by little, it made me feel like I really still had so much to learn about him.

Despite his outgoing personality and being a public figure, Sic is a very private person. He rarely shares about himself which makes him also mysterious. But that thing about him was being masked by his warm aura and extrovertness.

Hindi pa tapos makipag-usap si Sic kay Callum nang dumating na ang apat. Zendaya and Cloé greeted me and Aleena warmly by giving us hugs. Nagtanong si Jirro tungkol sa nangyari sa recording ni Aleena kaya roon napunta ang usapan.

I didn't pay attention to their conversation that much. I scanned around the restaurant, waiting for Sic to come back. And not long after, I saw him walking like he was out of focus. His eyebrows were furrowed and looking indifferent. It almost seemed like he was lost in thoughts that he was oblivious to everything around him, and I had no idea why.

It must be because of what he talked with Callum. But what could that be?

My eyes continued to follow him. Once he got closer to our table, he finally looked up and his gaze immediately went straight to me. He got flustered a bit when he saw me watching him, but then his eyes sparkled as his face lit up when he smiled. Binilisan niya ang paglapit sa akin saka umupo sa aking tabi. The atmosphere became livelier as soon as he arrived. Nakigulo siya agad sa usapan nina Jirro, Ike at Isaiah.

I forgot about my own worries while thinking about what was running around his head. I also became preoccupied when Aleena and Cloé began talking about the trip after we placed our orders. Nagkasundo-sundo kaming lahat sa dates ng bakasyon namin. Mabuti na lang at wala pang schedule no'n si Sic. Ike volunteered to book our tickets himself. We would leave as soon as Aleena finished recording her album.

"The bill is already paid by Mr. Acosta," that was what the waiter told us when Sic asked for our bill after our dinner.

Muling umigting ang kanyang panga saka itinago ang wallet. Habang papunta kami sa driveway kung saan naghihintay ang kanyang sasakyan ay abala siya sa pagtawag sa cellphone. Nagpaalam ako kina Cloé, Aleena at Zendaya nang nauna silang umuwi.

"I'll transfer the money to you," mariing sabi ni Sic. Hindi ako tuluyang lumapit sa kanya ngunit dinig ko ang sinasabi niya sa kausap sa cellphone. It wasn't hard to figure that it was Callum who paid for our meal. "Don't do that next time. You know I don't like owing anything."

Iritado si Sic nang natapos ang tawag. Nang nilingon niya ako ay unti-unting lumambot ang kanyang titig.

"Sorry about that..." he apologized silently before he opened the door of the passenger seat for me. "Let's go. I'll take you home."

The moment we were inside his car, it was like I was walking on eggshells. Seeing him not in the mood, I couldn't help but be cautious. I didn't want to upset him more. But when I saw him quickly fiddling on his phone to transfer the money to Callum, curiosity killed the cat.

"You never mentioned Callum..." I started our conversation by walking on the shallow end. I didn't want to dive right into it and be rude. "I'm surprised you have other close friends than your bandmates."

Nang natapos siya sa pagtransfer ng pera ay agad niyang pinadulas sa dashboard ang kanyang cellphone. "We don't really talk much nowadays," sabi niya na lang saka pinaandar na ang sasakyan upang makaalis na kami sa hotel.

I pursed my lips to hold myself back a little. Since he answered one of my questions, I wanted to keep going to learn new things about him.

"Kailan kayo nagkakilala?" sunod kong tanong. "Nauna mo ba siyang makilala kaysa kila Ike?"

"Yes," he replied while his eyes were fixed on the road.

"Kailan?"

"When we were still kids."

My eyes widened at that unexpected information. Callum's his childhood friend!

"Is that why he calls you Leo? Are you that close to each other?" I couldn't help but fire off more questions, facing him full-on. "Paano kayo nagkakilala? Is he your neighbor or schoolmate? A son of your family friend?"

Sic titled his head, clenching his jaw. "I don't really want to talk about that."

I was slightly taken aback. My question was harmless. It wasn't even intrusive. I didn't know why he was suddenly so sensitive when I was just asking about how and when he met his friend.

"Please don't ask anymore about Callum," he added as his grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Whatever you know about me and whatever I show you, that's all I can give you. Please don't ask for more."

My lips parted and my throat went dry when he told me off, feeling embarrassed as I acted like we were already close to each other. But with those words, he drew the line, telling me that there was a huge part of him that I could never touch.

I balled my fist and bit my lip before looking away. "Okay," I said and kept silent throughout the ride home.

It might be considered as the quietest ride I ever had with him, but my heart and mind were never at peace.