Sandaling pinatigil ni Atlas ang makeup artist niya na at tinitigan ang sarili sa malaking salamin ng dressing room kung nasaan sila ni Amira. Pinilit niyang ngumiti, sinubukan niya, pero nahihirapan siya.

Smiling used to be easy; faking used to be his expertise, but after everything that had happened, Atlas couldn't even smile properly, even if needed.

Dalawang linggo na ang nakararaan simula nang makauwi sila ni Amira galing Paris. Marami silang inayos tulad ng mga endorsement nila na kailangang umatras, mga brand na umayaw sa kaniya, at projects na kailangang i-move hanggang sa lumamig ang issue.

Kung tutuusin, walang pakialam si Atlas sa lahat ng iyon. Sa Paris pa lang, na-explain na sa kaniya ni Patrick ang posibleng maging consequences ng mga nangyari kaya naging handa siya, sila ni Amira.

"Labas muna po kayo," ani Amira sa mga taong nasa dressing room nila at naiwan silang dalawa. Lumapit ito sa kaniya. "Sabi ko naman kasi sa 'yo, 'wag muna, e."

"Okay lang," sagot ni Atlas at nilingon si Amira. "So—"

"Ayan na naman tayo sa sorry. Sorry kasi nasa sitwasyon tayong ganito, sorry kasi hindi dapat ako damay, sorry kasi mahihirapan tayo?" Patanong ang huling salita ni Amira. "We already talked about this. You're my best friend, Atlas, and I know you'll do the same for me when times get rough. So, let's face them and give them whatever the fuck they want tapos dalhin mo ako sa drive-in movie?"

Atlas shook his head. "I don't deserve you."

"Hindi talaga!" Amira rolled her eyes. "Pero 'wag na muna nating isipin 'yun. Marami kang time para bumawi sa 'kin." She chuckled. "Harapin na natin sila. Nabibwisit na rin ako sa mga lumalabas na kung ano-anong news. Mga tanga, hindi marunong mag-fact check."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Atlas habang nakatingin kay Amira. Pareho silang nakaharap sa salamin at inaayos nito ang sariling buhok habang isinasalaysay sa kaniya ang mga nabasa sa news.

"Kaya sinasabi ko sa 'yo, 'wag ka nang magbabasa ng news. Irrelevant sila at maraming sumasawsaw. Lahat ng nakadikit sa 'yo noon, biglang babaliktad kasi negatibo, lahat ng kapit na kapit sa 'yo noon, biglang tatalikod," tuloy-tuloy na sabi ni Amira.

"Wala naman akong pakialam sa kanilang lahat," sagot naman ni Atlas.

Tumingin sa kaniya si Amira. "Alam ko. But the fact na may mga sumasawsaw kahit hindi naman sila kasali, feeling relevant. 'Yung sinabing ayaw sa 'yo, pero hindi mo rin naman gusto? Kapal. Ang epal." Umirap pa ito.

Natawa si Atlas at sinuklay ang sariling buhok. Nakasuot siya ng puting long-sleeve na nakatupi hanggang sa siko samantalang naka-casual dress na kulay maroon naman si Amira.

Pagdating pa lang nila galing Paris, binaha na sila ng imbitasyon para sa mga guesting.

Everyone was milking the issue for their gain. The network wanted to take advantage of the situation to make some noise, and Atlas was pissed.

Isa sa ikinagalit nila ni Amira ay ang pagdawit ng pangalan ni Laurel sa mga lumabas na issue at pinagmukha itong masama. Mga walang alam, pero ang lalakas ng loob magsalita para lang masabing mayroon silang binatbat.

Some were willing to ruin their names even more, especially Laurel, for their own good. Nakakasuka.

"Nakausap mo na ba si LJ ulit?" tanong ni Amira.

Tumango si Atlas. "Bago ako pumunta rito sa station, nag-video call kami. Nasabi nga niya na mas madalas pa yata kayong magkausap."

"Yep! We're watching Disney films together." Amira chuckled. "Shared screen kami palagi."

Atlas shook his head and smiled.

Hindi niya nakakausap si Laurel, pero alam niyang nakakausap ito ni Amira.

Madalas na kahit madaling-araw sa Pilipinas, tatawagan ni Atlas si LJ, o 'di kaya naman si LJ ang tatawag. Gusto ng mag-ama na nakikita ang isa't isa bago matulog.

Inaalala ni Atlas na baka magkaroon na naman ng breakdowns si Laurel. Napag-usapan din nila noon sa Paris na hindi siya papayag na pumunta ang mag-ina niya sa Hawaii kung walang makakasama ang mga ito.

Atlas made sure that his girls would be safe so he wouldn't worry much. Regular din ang pakikipag-usap niya kay LJ via video call, isa sa ipinagpapasalamat niya kay Laurel kahit na malayo ang mga ito sa kaniya. He could still communicate with his daughter, asking if they were safe.

Nagpahanap siya sa kakilala sa Hawaii na posibleng makatulong sa kanila. Aware si Laurel sa lahat, aware ito sa lahat ng plano niya dahil hindi siya papayag na mag-isa lang ito. A nurse was living next to Laurel and LJ's house to make sure everything was okay.

Kung sakali man na magkaroon ng breakdown si Laurel, kung sakaling kailangan nito ng sitter para sa anak nila, may matatawagan lalo na at bagong salta lang.

Binili ni Atlas ang bahay katabi ng kay Laurel para matuluyan ng nasabing nurse.

"Atlas?" It was Amira, tumingin ito sa kaniya mula sa salamin. "Tara na?"

Tumango si Atlas. "Oo, gusto ko na umalis dito."

Naupo muna si Atlas sa harapan ng salamin, ganoon din si Amira. Natahimik sila. Nagsabi na sila sa network, sa managers nila, at sa social media na ito na rin ang una at huling beses na magsasalita sila tungkol sa sitwasyon.

Kung tutuusin, pareho nilang ayaw magpa-interview, but the network required them to. They both needed to address everything once and for all.

Hinawakan ni Amira ang kamay ni Atlas. "Everything's gonna be okay." She smiled. "Let's go?"

Atlas nodded.

Tumayo si Amira, sumunod si Atlas.

Tumigil si Amira sa paglalakad at humarap kay Atlas. Lumapit ito sa kaniya para yakapin siya nang mahigpit na mahigpit. Yumakap siya pabalik.

Maraming salita ang ibinato sa kanilang lahat.

Kay Amira na kawawa dahil niloko niya, sa kaniya na manloloko, at kay Laurel na kabit, kerida, pokpok, at kung ano-ano pa. The words on social media was too much that Atlas wanted to stay away from it.

"Ang mahalaga, alam natin ang totoo," bulong ni Amira habang nakayakap sa kaniya. "We'll talk now and this will be the last statement about this. Kung hindi pa rin sila mananahim—"

Humiwalay si Atlas sa pagkakayakap kay Amira. "Kung hindi sila mananahimik, hindi na ako papatol at hindi ko na pagbibigyan ang gusto nila. This time, I want everyone's peace. Alam kong mahihirapan sa part mo and I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

Amira smiled. "Kaya nga kailangan mong bumawi sa 'kin sa mga susunod. Malaki ang utang mo." She chuckled. "Tawagan natin si LJ after ng guesting."

Inayos ni Amira ang kwelyo niya pati na ang buhok niya. Hindi naman nila unang beses mag-guest, pero iba ang kaba nilang dalawa, lalo na siya mismo.

"I wanna thank you for everything," sagot ni Atlas. "I'm getting weaker by day, Amira, and I wanna thank you for helping me face everything. Nahihirapan ako, sobra. This is so hard for me, but I don't mind now. All I care about is you and their privacy . . . which I ruined."

Amira sighed while caressing Atlas's back while they walked towards the studio. "Ano ka ba? Of course, I will stay with you and help you as much as possible. This will be tough, Atlas, and we both know that. But who cares? As long as masaya ka, masaya tayo, masaya sila, we won't care, right?"

Iginigiya sila ng floor manager. Nagsasabi ito ng mga bagay na hindi na niya naririnig at naiintindihan dahil kinakabahan siya sa mga posibleng mangyari.

Both were afraid that the host might ask something na wala roon sa ibinigay sa kanilang papel kanina para i-review na posibleng mag-trigger kay Atlas para magalit o ano.

Pagkapasok nila sa studio, the host welcomed them.

"Thank you for being here." Ngumiti si Andrea, isa sa mga host. "We're so happy na kami ang unang pauunlakan ninyo tungkol sa malaking issue na kinasangkutan ninyong dalawa. Salamat sa pagpayag na ma-interview namin kayo."

Ngumiti si Atlas. Lies. Pinilit kami, iyon ang nasa isip niya.

"Of course, we had to fix some things before all of these. We're sorry it took us more than a month. I need to ensure that my daughter and her mother are safe before anything else," ani Atlas.

Tahimik lang na nakaupo si Amira sa tabi ni Atlas.

"So, we would like to know what happened. Medyo malaki 'yung naging issue sa 'yo, Atlas," sabi ni Andrea. "Everyone was shocked to know you have a five-year-old daughter. Nagulat ang lahat na biglang nag-blow up ang pictures and videos ninyo sa airport. Can you tell me about that, Atlas?"

Atlas smiled. Audiences were waiting, and everyone was watching and waiting. "Well, yeah, I have a beautiful daughter and to be honest, I intend to keep her. Knowing my job and her mom's family, we intend to give her some privacy. We want what's best for our daughter, but some things are inevitable."

Tahimik ang lahat habang nagsasalaysay si Atlas.

Napag-usapan nilang lahat ang tungkol sa interview. Tinanong nila si Laurel kung papayag ba itong mayroon silang mamanipulahin sa sagot.

"Laurel Alcaraz was my old flame. She was my ex-girlfriend." Tumingin si Atlas kay Amira na tipid na ngumiti. "Even before Amira, we were still love teams that time, I was dating Laurel. We dated for two years before we decided to call it off. I was dating her in secret because I was protecting her privacy. I know how show business works, alam ko kung paano manghusga ang mga tao, kaya mas pinili kong itago si Laurel sa lahat."

Again, all of them talked about lying about the relationship. Naisip rin nilang tatlo na dahil naka-public na ang nangyayari, hindi puwedeng malaman ni LJ ang totoo kung ano ang naging past na relationship nila ni Laurel.

It was hard for them to lie about it, mabuti rin na kaunti lang ang nakaaalam ng totoo. Kahit managers nila at mga executive ng network, hindi alam kung ano ang totoong naging relasyon nila ni Laurel and it was better that way.

"And Amira knew about her?" tanong ni Wina, isa sa mga host.

Ngumiti si Amira. "During those times na sila pa, isang beses ko lang nakita si Laurel. Hindi ko pa alam n'on na girlfriend siya ni Atlas. Actually, I only found out about Laurel when we're already engaged."

Tiningnan ni Atlas si Amira na nakangiting nakikipag-usap sa mga host.

"I understood that Atlas wants to protect Laurel's privacy lalo na't wala naman na sila, but when I was cleaning his old phone dahil for disposal na, I saw some of Laurel's pictures from his phone. I never asked him about it 'cos it was personal and part of the past." Ngumiti si Amira. "So yeah, I know about Laurel."

"And your daughter?" Tumingin sa kaniya si Andrea.

Atlas smiled. Sa pagkakataong iyon, hindi sila magsisinungaling dahil kapag napanood iyon ni LJ, ayaw niyang magulat ito dahil nagsisinungalng siya.

"Well, even before I learned about my daughter, nakaalis na si Laurel. We already ended everything about us. Hindi ko rin alam na may anak kami until I saw her again a week before that airport situation," Atlas admitted.

Napasinghap ang mga host, pati ang audience.

"You mean Laurel hid your daughter from you?"

Atlas casually nodded. "Yes, she did. Why? Because she wanted to protect my daughter from this industry. It was wrong . . . maling-mali na itinago niya sa akin ang anak ko, pero hindi ko siya masisisi. She knew what it was like to be judged by everyone. Actually, hindi ako galit kay Laurel sa pagtago niya sa anak ko, galit ako sa mga taong walang ginawa kundi husgahan ang isang taong hindi nila kilala."

Mahinahon ang boses ni Atlas, pero alam niyang alam ni Amira na malaman ang bawat salitang binibitiwan niya.

Ramdam din ni Atlas ang paninikip ng dibdib habang inaalala ang anak.

"Imagine my shock when I found out about my daughter? Nagulat ako." Atlas forced a smile. "But meeting my daughter was the best thing that ever happened to me. It was unexpected, but it was fun. N'ong araw na sinundan ko sila sa airport, I took a time off dapat so I could bond with my kid kasi babalik na sila sa ibang bansa kung saan mas pinili ni Laurel manirahan."

Atlas breathed, hinawakan naman ni Amira ang kamay niya dahil mukhang naramdaman nitong iiyak na siya.

"I took a time off, but they asked me to work. I was looking forward to bond with my daughter, but I had to work. If not, masasabihan ako ng kung ano. That day, I chose my job over my daughter. Alam ng lahat ng tao sa set," tumingin siya kay Amira, "ni Amira, kung gaano ako kawala sa focus."

Everyone was quiet.

"Because I badly wanna be with my daughter, but I was working. While on a break, I called my daughter. I want to hear her voice. The moment I heard her voice crack because I wasn't there when I promised to be there, I lost it. Wala na akong pakialam kung iiwanan ko 'yung trabaho ko, I just wanna be with my daughter. Nagmadali akong umalis at nang makarating kami sa airport? I saw my daughter and her mom walking towards the entrance."

Amira pressed her lips together while listening to Atlas. His voice was cracking, and he was on the verge of crying but was trying to hold it.

"I . . . I was whispering to myself while looking at my daughter . . . kung puwede ba siyang lumingon. I couldn't bond with her the last time, tapos aalis na." Atlas lost it, Amira noticed, especially when he sniffed. "I was so stupid na inuna ko 'yung trabaho ko over my daughter, and there I was, begging for her to turn around . . . it was painful." Atlas's voice cracked, and a lone tear dropped, kitang-kita iyon ni Amira.

Kinagat ni Atlas ang pang-ibabang labi bago nagsalita, "The moment my daughter turned around, I lost it. Wala na akong pakialam sa ibang tao, not thinking about the consequences. All I thought was to hug my daughter . . . and mind you, that day . . ."

Napatitig si Amira sa asawa kaya pati siya naluha na. Even the hosts were just staring at Atlas.

"That was the first time I heard my daughter cry. First time . . ." Bumagsak na ang luhang pinipigilan ni Atlas. "You know what's hard, guys? I can't be with my daughter because this society, this country, and this occupation I have, are judgmental. I can't be with my daughter because we chose to protect her from everyone.

"It's so hard when you're away from someone you love, and it's so hard to fight if every decision, every action, comes with a price." Bumuntonghininga si Atlas. "Aside from my daughter, I also wanna make sure that her mom's okay. Kilala n'yo naman na kung sino siya? The worst thing was that everyone judged her based on the articles. Ang masasabi ko lang? Never judge someone you haven't met yet."

Amira agreed. "When I read the articles and comments about Laurel, I was shocked. Nagulat ako na gano'n ang mga sinasabi ng tao sa kaniya so I became threatened. But when I met her, everything changed. I realized that we shouldn't judge someone without knowing their past, struggles, and reasons. I was mad at her for keeping Atlas's daughter, but when I found out why? I would do the same if I were a mother.

"Laurel did what she had to do to protect their daughter, and if people have problems with that? Ang masasabi ko lang? Get a life," Amira continued. "Wala kaming bad blood. Atlas and I may be married, but Laurel and I are on good terms. Let's normalize knowing each side first before judging and saying something. Why? It might ruin someone's life without us knowing."

Tahimik ang lahat.

"Halos lahat ng nakakausap ko, naaawa sa akin dahil nag-cheat daw si Atlas, and that Laurel was like this, like that, but no, don't pity me. Why? The three of us are okay. Atlas never cheated on me. Walang problema sa aming tatlo. That's the truth. I learned after meeting Laurel that someone's past shouldn't be her identity. It was part of her, but she's not living there anymore," pagpapatuloy ni Amira. "Nasa present na tayo, if that person changed, give her a chance to live normally."

Nakatitig si Atlas kay Amira at ipinagpapasalamat niyang naiintindihan nito ang lahat. Malalim ang naging pag-uusap nila tungkol sa bagay na iyon.

"This will be the last interview na tatanggapin naming dalawa. We won't care anymore about what people will say. This is our lives, our private lives. Artista kami, we're public figures, but we're not here to please all of you," seryosong sabi ni Atlas. "If you'll stop supporting me for having a child, so be it. Why? My daughter is my main priority, and nothing will change that. I don't care about this career anymore. If my daughter becomes a victim because of my job, I will leave."

Pagkatapos ng interview, imbes na umuwi, niyaya ni Atlas si Amira na kumain sa kung saan, pero nauwi sila sa drive thru bago umuwi sa bahay nila. Dapat ay pupunta sila sa drive-in na hindi natuloy dahiul lumakas ang ulan.

Naisipan na lang nilang sa garden kumain para naman maiba. They were still wearing their clothes from the interview, they were chilling by the pool.

"Parang huling tambay natin sa lugar na 'to, n'ong nag-away tayo kasi nalaman ko 'yung tungkol kay LJ," nakangiting sabi ni Amira habang nakalublob ang paa sa pool. "Ngayon, katatapos mo lang linawin sa lahat, na wala ka nang pakialam sa lahat, sa pag-aartista mo."

Atlas sighed, same with Amira, he was playing with water. "I've been in this industry since I was young. Ngayon ko na-realize na . . . mas gusto ko na lang manahimik."

"Ako rin, Atlas," sagot ni Amira. "Bigla akong natakot para sa future. Bigla akong natakot sa tindi ng pangba-bash ng mga tao. Iba pala kapag pamilya mo na 'yung dinamay. It's different from receiving personal bashing."

Tahimik lang si Atlas na nakatingin sa tubig.

"I want us to be happy, Atlas," ani Amira. "Gusto kong maging masaya tayong dalawa."

Atlas smiled and looked at Amira. "We will . . . for sure."

T H E X W H Y S