#NewClassicPFL

Chapter 22
Personal Number

"Here's my business card." Giselle held out her card. "You can just email me. I'll set up a video call meeting."

I smiled at her. "Sure. Thank you so much, Giselle."

"No problem," she said. "You did a great job today. You should rest now."

Muli akong ngumiti hanggang sa tuluyan nang nagpaalam si Giselle. Once she was out of the dressing room, I flopped down on the couch and stared at the recent message I just received.

From: Unknown Number
Why did you block my other number?

That was the first message before another one was sent.

From: Unknown Number
Did you like my gift?

Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang aking cellphone. The sender was the same one who texted me that morning. And whoever that person was, he or she was the one who also sent the funeral wreath.

I knew that I was being threatened. I'm not stupid. Kaya kaysa i-block ulit ang number ay hinayaan ko lamang. I even tried calling the number but I couldn't get through. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung sino ang puwedeng gumawa no'n at iyon ang gumugulo sa aking isipan.

How did that person know the location of my shoot? Paano niya rin nakuha ang personal phone number ko na tanging ang mga kalapit ko lamang ang nakakaalam?

Kung ang business number ko ang nakuha niya ay hindi ako magtataka. I had been using that number ever since I started modelling. Iyon ang mga binibigay ko sa mga brands na nakatrabaho ko at si Ritchelle ang humahawak no'n.

"Lavi." Napa-angat ako ng tingin kay Ritchelle na kakapasok lamang sa dressing room at may dala-dalang mga papel. "I already called your family lawyer. Sinabi ko na rin sa kanya na huwag sabihin kay Tito na tumawag ako para sa 'yo. He said he would visit the house tomorrow morning to get more details. He also asked me not to throw the wreath just yet."

Tahimik akong tumango-tango. Muling dumapo ang aking tingin sa mga papel na hawak niya.

"What are those?" I asked her.

She glanced at the papers before setting it down on the coffee table. "NDA."

"NDA?"

"Sinabi sa akin ni Mr. Joel na papirmahin ang lahat ng staff na nasa studio ng NDA para hindi kumalat ang nangyari," sabi niya. "He told me we should first deal with this problem in private, behind the eyes of the media. Masyado raw magiging magulo kapag ipinaalam natin agad at kumalat ang nangyari."

"Wait..." My eyes narrowed. "Mr. Joel? Paano nalaman ni Mr. Joel ang tungkol sa kanina?"

"I told him," she answered.

"You told him?!" Napataas ang tono ng aking boses. "Bakit mo sinabi sa kanya?"

"I asked for an advice, Lavi," paliwanag niya. "I was too mad and scared for you to think rationally. Naisip kong lumapit sa kanya. Iyon ang sinabi niya sa akin at sa tingin ko ay tama nga na ganoon ang gawin natin."

I bit my lower lip hard. I didn't want to scold Ritchelle for she only wanted to do what was best at that moment. I understood why she approached Mr. Joel for advice. However, if she told him, I knew it would also reach Sic.

I checked my phone again to see if there was any new message from him. Hindi naman niya na-seen pa ang huling text ko sa kanya.

But then, my fear came true when the door of the dressing room suddenly opened. Iniluwa no'n si Sic na ayos na ayos pa. He was wearing a printed summer shirt and denim jeans. His hair was styled in a cool way. It was like he abruptly ended his shoot, ditched his schedule and came here as fast as he could.

"Sic..." I uttered his name. "Why are you here? I thought you're going to send someone—"

Before I could say something again, he immediately closed our distance and pulled me into his arms. He heavily inhaled, breathing me in as he pressed his face on top of my head.

"How can I stay there and wait for you when I know you need me here?" he whispered like it was already obvious that he would do anything to be with me.

I didn't say anything as I pondered on his words. I watched Ritchelle as she slowly slipped away and went out of the room to give us some privacy. And as soon as she did, tears suddenly fell from my eyes like.

I felt my whole body start to shake in fear. If Sic wasn't holding me close to him and giving me the support that I needed, I was sure that I'd be sitting down on the floor helplessly.

Magsisinungaling ako kung sinabi kong hindi ako natatakot. I was being threatened by someone who seemed to know so much information about me. However, I didn't want to show that to other people. Ayaw kong makita nilang mahina ako. I also didn't want to break down when I still had a job to finish. I wanted them to see how professional I could be. I didn't want them to regret choosing and trusting me.

Kaya naman noong dumating si Sic, hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili. Doon na ako tuluyang bumigay pagkatapos kong itago ang tunay na nararamdaman.

"It's okay..." Sic comforted me with his soft voice as he gently caressed my back. "You don't have to pretend now. Just cry. Nandito na ako."

Kinagat ko ang aking mga labi upang pigilan ang sarili sa paghikbi. I hugged Sic back tighter than his embrace. I buried my face on his chest as I poured all my tears out, hoping that the fear and trauma would come along with them.

"I'm going to find whoever sent that fucking wreath to you, Lavi," he told me, his voice was shaking in anger. "I promise you that."

Hindi ako sumagot. Patuloy lamang ang pagbuhos ng aking mga luha hanggang sa tuluyan na akong kumalma. Naupo kami ni Sic sa sofa at agad siyang nag-abot ng tubig sa akin. I knew he wanted me to stay hydrated after crying so much.

We sat together in silence, my body leaning on his. His arm was wrapped around my shoulder while his hand was holding mine, playing with my fingers. His lips were also pressed on the side of my head. The way he held me in his arms was very possessive, but I knew it was also his way of showing how determined and eager he was to protect me.

I admired that. I appreciated his concern. However, I couldn't stop thinking about his work. I didn't want him to compromise something for the sake of keeping me safe.

"Sic..." I called out his name.

"Hmm?"

"You should go back to Batangas now," I said and twisted my body to face him completely. "Ayos na ako. If you want, I can accompany you."

He turned his head to me with a reassuring smile. "I don't need to go back."

Ngumuso ako. "But your work..."

"You don't need to worry about that," he said, then playfully pinched the tip of my nose lightly. "We have taken enough shots to feature."

"You have enough shots?" I creased my forehead. "But you only worked for three hours at most."

He sighed heavily before a smile slowly crept on his lips. He held me once again and rested his head on top of mine. The way he had his arms around me made me forget about my concern. With his touch, I. couldn't think straight. It almost seemed like he deliberately did that to lead me astray.

"I told you not to worry," he repeated. "We should focus on your problem. That's more important."

Like a cue, when he said that, the door opened as Mr. Joel and Ritchelle came inside together. Napaubo pa si Mr. Joel nang nakita ang napakalapit na posisyon namin ni Sic saka nag-iwas ng tingin, habang si Ritchelle naman ay mukhang wala pa rin tamang disposisyon.

"Fransic, Ritchelle already briefed me with what  happened," Mr. Joel said after clearing his throat.

Unti-unting lumuwag ang pagkakayakap sa akin ni Sic upang umupo nang maayos. Ganoon din ang aking ginawa dahil alam kong importante ang aming pag-uusapan.

"The sender apparently knows Lavi's business number. It's possible that they got it from someone in the entertainment industry whom Lavinia worked with," panimula ni Mr. Joel habang si Ritchelle ay tahimik lamang na nakaupo sa kanyang tabi. "Doon daw tumawag ang delivery man kanina noong ipinadala ang bulaklak."

My lips parted.

So, that person also knows my business number... Ang akala ko ay ang personal number ko lang ang nakuha niya.

"Did you interrogate the delivery man?" Sic asked in a serious tone.

That sweet smile on his face was already gone. He was wearing a stern expression like he was willing to go through lengths just to settle the problem for me at the speed of light.

"The man's under a same day delivery company. Ritchelle and I think that he's not an accomplice because of that," sabi ni Mr. Joel at ipinakita ang screenshot ng transaction na galing mismo sa delivery man. "Nangyari lang na siya ang naka-pick up ng delivery at alam naman nating random 'yan. Ang sabi niya ay pina-pick up lang ang bulaklak kung saan ipinagawa. Ang pangalan ng pagawaan ang nakalagay bilang sender. The fee was also paid online."

"We should tract that then," desididong sabi ni Sic. "We'll work with the company to trace the sender. Kailangan din nating puntahan kung saan pinagawa ang bulaklak. Please call my lawyer. I'll hire a detective as well. That'll make the progress faster."

"I also contacted Lavi's lawyer," singit ni Ritchelle. "Pupunta siya bukas kila Lavi para makuha ang buong detalye."

Sic nodded like he was in deep thought. "I'll ask my lawyer to come tomorrow as well," he said, then turned to me. "Maaga akong pupunta sa inyo bukas. I'll be with you. I want our lawyers to work together on this."

Tipid akong ngumiti at saka tumango. He seemed satisfied that I didn't argue with him anymore. Muli niyang nilingon sina Mr. Joel at Rtichelle.

"Is there any more information which can help us?" Sic probed, not wanting to miss anything.

"Ayon pa lang ang nakukuha ko," sabi naman ni Ritchelle. "Wala masyadong alam ang delivery man at hindi ko pa napupuntahan ang pagawaan."

Ibinagsak ko ang tingin sa aking cellphone na nakalapag lamang sa lamesa. Mariin kong kinagat ang aking ibabang labi. I had not told anyone yet about the messages I received. Kahit kay Ritchelle ay hindi ko nasabi lalo na't naging abala siya sa pag-aasikaso ng NDAs na pinapirmahan.

"I received a suspicious text message this morning and right after work," I admitted in the middle of their conversation.

Agad pumitik pabalik sa akin ang ulo ni Sic. Sina Ritchelle at Mr. Joel ay medyo nagulat din sa narinig.

"You did?" tanong ni Ritchelle. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad sa akin?"

"When I received the message this morning, I thought it was just a scam. I deleted the message and blocked the number," I told her. "Ang sabi doon ay may ipapadala raw siyang regalo at sana ay magustuhan ko. And then, I received a new message from a different number. Tinatanong kung bakit ko siya blinock at kung nagustuhan ko ba ang regalo. It wasn't hard to guess that it's from the same person."

"Can I see the messages?" Sic laid his hand out.

Tumango ako saka kinuha ang cellphone mula sa lamesa at inilapag sa kanyang palad. He quickly unlocked my phone. Hindi na niya kailangang hanapin pa ang text dahil agad na 'yong bumungad sa kanya.

"So, that means the sender also knows Lavinia's personal number..." sabi ni Mr. Joel at mukhang mas napaisip. "If they could easily get Lavi's number, I'm sure they also know her other personal information. I assumed you live in a high-end subdivision, right?" tanong niya sa akin.

Muli akong tumango. "We also have a guard at home."

"Mabuti kung ganoon," sabi ni Mr. Joel. "But maybe you can ask the security of your subdivision to be more wary and increase the security."

"Iyon ang balak kong gawin mamaya," sabi naman ni Ritchelle at mukhang nasa plano niya na 'yon.

"I'll hire bodyguards for her," Sic suddenly stated.

Nilingon ko siya ulit. Abala na siya sa kanyang cellphone.

"No need, Sic," sabi ko sa kanya at hinawakan ang kanyang braso. "Kaya ko ang sarili ko."

He sighed and looked at me. "Lavi, I'm sure you know damn well that I wouldn't be at ease, knowing that you don't have enough protection while the investigation is still ongoing," he said. "I promise it will only last until we catch the culprit. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

I bit my lower lip. I didn't really want to make a big deal out of it, but I guessed it already was.

Nang hindi ako nagsalita ay nagpatuloy siya sa pagtipa. Hindi nagtagal ay nakita kong tinatawagan niya si Callum bago itinapat sa tainga ang cellphone.

"Cal," he said. "I messaged a phone number to you. You can hire someone to trace it, right?"

Pinanood ko si Sic habang nakikipag-usap kay Callum. I watched as the expression on his face turned indifferent.

"I might also call you tomorrow for further updates. Please keep this confidential." Sic's jaw clenched repeatedly as he nodded. "Okay. I'll meet you and bring Lavi with me. Thanks. Bye."

After the call, Sic looked at me again. His features softened as he reached my hand, threading our fingers together. Even when he wasn't saying anything at all, his eyes were reassuring me that everything would be fine.