Chapter 18

/ LEOX ACHERON SOLACE /

Katahimikan ang bumungad sa akin nang magising ako kinabukasan. The space beside me was cold. When I realized I was alone in the bed, I hurriedly stood up and went inside to look for Dal.

Ilang beses kong tinawag ang pangalan niya ngunit walang sumasagot. I scanned all the rooms and corners, I even checked outside if he was there...but there was none. Hindi ko mahagilap ni anino niya sa buong paligid.

Just. Like. That. He's. Gone.

Was that only an act of weakness last night? Akala ko he was willing to be seen and then accept me? I was planning to talk to him in the morning, pero paano ko siya kakausapin kung... kung umalis na siya?

I could feel my heart beating so loudly. Panic began to erupt, but I managed to brush it off as I forcefully gripped my hair with both of my hands. My mind was blurry; I couldn't think of any possibilities as to why he'd left me after he submitted.

It took me a few minutes before I decided to go outside and run as fast as I could to the coast. Hinanap ko kaagad ang jet ski na ginamit namin papunta rito, pero wala na ito. He probably used it during his run.

Why would he run away from me? Natatakot ba siya?

But he was determined last night. No hint of doubt or fear. So why?

Damn it!

Naghanap ako ng pwedeng masasakyan patungong Lindenvale. Mabuti na lang at may nakita agad akong bangka na papalaot. Nang magtanong ako kung saan ang tungo nila, napag-alaman kong may ihahatid sila sa Lindenvale bago sila lalaot. I asked for help, and they wholeheartedly accommodated me.

When I arrived in Lindenvale, I immediately went to Dal's place only to see his door locked. Kumatok ako ng ilang beses and paulit-ulit na tinatawag ang pangalan niya, but to no avail.

I could feel the house was empty, with no single soul inside.

"Dal!" With a weary voice, I called his name for the last time.

What did I do this time? Did I, without knowing it, hurt him? Offended him?

Fuck! I should have asked for his number!

I stood outside his house for a couple of minutes, then went to my car after convincing myself that he wasn't here.

I don't know what I should feel at this moment, but one thing is for sure—I'm mad.

Mabibigat ang bawat hakbang ko papalayo sa bahay niya. Mabigat din ang kalooban ko, pero wala na akong magagawa pa. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya pumunta at kung bakit sobrang bilis niyang nakalayo sa akin.

I could see my car parked a few meters away from his house. Iniwan ko ito rito nang pumunta kami sa kabilang isla.

Just as I got into my car, men—more than ten of them—appeared out of nowhere. They were wearing black suits like bodyguards and had transmitters. I spotted that one of them had a gun, and judging from the sight of it, I guessed they weren't just bodyguards.

My chest tightened at what I discovered. They scanned the house like they knew every inch of it.

Who the hell are these people? Why are they at Dal's place?

While watching them search the empty house, hindi ko maiwasang maisip na baka ito ang dahilan kung bakit umalis si Dal.

Because if my memory serves me right, I didn't hurt, offend, or disgust him. I didn't give him reasons to leave me without a word.

A deep sigh escaped my mouth as I drove away with so much in my mind.

When I arrived at my house, Kim immediately approached me with a frustrated look on her face.

"What's with your face?" I asked her while trying to gather my thoughts.

I wanted to see Dal. I wanted to find him.

"May bisita ka."

The moment she said that, a man came out of the kitchen. Then I remembered, we had a talk on the phone. So, he really came?

He was holding a cup of coffee in his right hand and a loaf of bread in the other.

"Hi, good morning!" he greeted me with a smile that didn't even reach his eyes.

I just looked at him with disgust, but he only smiled more smugly. The fuck is wrong with this man?

"Why are you here?"

I stood up and snatched the bread from him.

"Hey, that's mine!"

"Finders keepers, losers weepers."

He stood in front of me in disbelief. I gave him a smirk and bit into the bread. His brows rose as he moved to sit in one of the chairs.

"When are you coming back?" he asked in a serious tone. "I know it's not new to you that people are demanding your presence. They're becoming more aggressive day by day, and edited pictures of you are circulating on various social media platforms trying to ruin your image even more."

Ah, yeah. I saw those edited pictures of me. Their editing skills were quite fascinating. Some photos showed me as a horse with exaggerated nostrils. Others plastered my face on cartoon characters with my tongue licking biceps or abs. I mean, I became a meme.

Just wow!

"Hindi ka ba nababahala?" he asked, full of concern. "Given your situation, it's hard to pave your way for a comeback. Some personalities might downgrade you."

"Wala akong pakialam sa kanila!"

"Tsk! Halata naman sa naging aksyon mo. But you have to address this issue, Leox. You also have to defend the unknown guy you kissed," he said while pointing his index finger at me.

I grabbed a magazine from the coffee table and threw it at him. I did it because I was irritated, not because of him, though.

"What the heck is your problem, man? I thought you were in the honeymoon stage? Why are you acting crazy?"

I didn't bother answering him. That 'honeymoon stage' is over.

"Hey! Don't tell me..."

"What?" I cut him off. I had a feeling he was about to say something ridiculous.

"Oh my God, Solace! Don't tell me the guy you kissed was the one you've been spending time with here in Lindenvale? You just said you were in a 'honeymoon stage.' Was it him?"

He looked like he hit the jackpot. His eyes were locked on mine, waiting for a response.

"He left," I said, feeling my jaw clench as emotions started to rise.

The living room suddenly fell into silence. I didn't bother saying more. It was up to Nikolai to think whatever he wanted.

Anyway, this asshole happened to be one of Crown Entertainment's princes. My memory of how we even got this close was vague—I couldn't recall when or how it started.

Nikolai Carnell is known for being fearless. Probably because he doesn't use a double for dangerous stunts. He's an action star, and I have to admit, he's one of the most versatile actors in the industry.

He's been Action Star of the Year at every annual awards show—and no one dares complain. He's also very professional with his craft, which is why even veterans look up to him. I haven't worked with Niko yet, and I don't plan to.

"Huh? Make it clear, man!"

Niko's expression was annoying. His brows were furrowed into a line and he even widened his eyes at me.

"That guy at the bar left me. I couldn't even remember him," I said, almost whispering.

After I told him that, he suddenly burst out laughing. His laugh was loud and irritating.

"The fuck, Solace!" he said between laughs.

"Shut up, Carnell!"

When he finally stopped laughing, he let out a loud sigh. "How about that person you're with?"

"He also left."

He burst into laughter again and filled the whole house with his loud voice.

"By the way, the world already believes you're guilty, maybe it's time you show them the truth."

°°°°•°°°°

We spent four hours before arriving in Quintessa. Niko was with us, sitting beside Kim, who had been sleeping the whole flight. We had already informed someone about my arrival, so there would be a car waiting for us outside the airport. Kim made sure no one would notice me, so she forced me to wear a disguise.

Well, yeah I decided to face the reality. Also, I don't have any more reasons to stay in Lindenvale.

"Dito," Kim whispered as she led us to the car.

Our movements were careful. One wrong move and people would go wild because of me. Once we were in the car, Nikolai went off in his own. Hindi naman siya kasali rito at nakisabay lang na umuwi ng Quintessa

"Tinawagan ko na si Gian. Sabi niya maraming reporter daw ang nakaabang sa harapan ng CE building."

"How about the hall?"

"Sabi niya naman na roon ang venue, pero kasi ang dami raw tao ngayon doon, kaya ayun. Pero on-going naman ang pagsasaayos, kaya chill ka lang. I-ready mo na iyang sarili mo at mga sagot mo."

Honestly, I'm nervous. My focus wasn't actually on the press con, but on the person who just ghosted me.

Am I not deserving to know his whereabouts? I thought I'd already earned his trust, but clearly, I didn't.

"Siya nga pala, Leox... si Dal ba? Kasi akala ko kaya ayaw mong bumalik ay dahil sa kanya."

I looked at her flatly. I knew she had no idea what happened, but she was rubbing alcohol into my wounded heart.

"Later. I'll explain."

Pagdating namin sa building, sobrang daming reporters ang nakaabang. Good thing CE provided bodyguards to protect me from people pushing forward just to ask questions.

As we got inside the hall, I immediately went to my seat. There was a microphone in front of me and a bottle of water. Flashes from countless cameras started as soon as I held the microphone, along with the shutter sounds.

I kept myself calm because at a time like this, people wanted drama. And I hate drama. While looking at the cameras, I couldn't help but wonder if Dal was watching me. I hope he's watching me.

I'm going live.

"Start na raw," Kim whispered.

I took a deep breath before speaking.

"Good evening, everyone, and thank you for coming."

That was just my first sentence, but the hall was already raining with shutter sounds and flashes.

"I'll be honest... I'm not good at things like this. I'm used to facing cameras with a script, not... this kind of silence."

Now that I'm here, it's better to be myself than someone written into a storyline.

"Many of you are expecting explanations. Some of you may have already made up your minds. I won't try to change that. But I'm here because I owe it to the people who still believe in me and to the person who was never supposed to be dragged into this."

Changing someone's mind is difficult. I've said it before: some people have made up their own version of the truth, and they're not open to explanations. But they're not the ones I'm doing this for.

"A photo of me was leaked. A private moment, taken without consent. And while I won't deny it happened... I want to be clear: that photo doesn't deserve the shame or noise it's been given. That moment was not a mistake."

Why should it be the center of shame when it was a private moment? The person behind the leak wanted to drag me down, and they're so oblivious. I'm already at an age where I don't care about my career as an artist.

"I'm not here to perform. I'm not here for sympathy. I just want to tell the truth—for once, not as an actor, but as myself. You can ask questions. I'll answer what I can. But please remember, there's a human being behind the headlines. Thank you."

The moment I finished speaking, hands shot up across the room. Gian gave me a nod—it was time to answer.

"First question," someone from the front said. "Leox, Laura Gallac recently made a statement saying you're straight. Was that a coordinated move on your team's part? Are you denying the context of the leaked photo?"

I already assumed they'd ask about Laura. Isa rin siya sa kinaiinisan ko. I mean, why would she say something like that?

I held the mic tighter.

"No, it wasn't coordinated," I replied steadily. "Laura and I haven't spoken in a long time. I respect her decision to speak, but that statement wasn't from me. She doesn't know my story now, and I'm not going to define myself through anyone else's words."

"You didn't deny the photo, so does that mean it was real?" another reporter stood up.

"Yes. It was real. No edits. No angles."

It's best to be honest, especially for him.

"Who took the photo? Are you pressing charges?"

Ah, that too. I still don't know.

"I don't know who took it. But I know it wasn't someone I trusted. As for legal action... I'm still figuring that out."

"Why do you think someone would leak that kind of photo of you?"

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. Naisip ko rin lang din ang bagay na ito kanina. Why would they chose to drag me down? They probably knew my past? So they chose to target my imperfections?

"Because silence sells. Because people profit off what they don't understand."

The hall flooded with questions, and somehow I felt at ease. I could answer their questions without worry. This is what I meant by being honest.

"Were you in a relationship with the person in the photo?"

For a couple of seconds, I was contemplating. I wasn't being totally honest with Dal. And I wanted to be honest right now.

"That part... I'd like to keep private. But I care for him. Deeply."

Fuck! I could feel my heart beating so fast. In my peripheral view, I could see the shock on Kim's face.

"You haven't denied the intimacy shown in the photo. Does that mean you're coming out?"

The reporter who asked this time was familiar. She probably came from a big broadcasting company.

"I'm not here to put a label on myself. I'm just here to say: yes, that was me. And yes, I felt something real in that photo."

As the reporters flooded me with questions, I was starting to feel tired, and my throat was getting dry too. I wanted this to end, but I also wanted to answer everything tonight.

"Why didn't you release a statement immediately after the leak?"

Because I saw it as an opportunity to escape the spotlight. Then I met Dal in Lindenvale, and it only strengthened my decision not to return to this world.

"I... wanted to respond as a person, not as a brand."

"This will be the last question for tonight. What would you say to the fans who feel lied to?"

I glanced at the camera lens—the weight of it all pressing on my chest, but I didn't flinch. They deserved the truth, too.

"I never meant to lie. I just wanted to keep one part of me untouched—something real, something mine. But I understand if some of you feel betrayed. All I can ask is that you see me for who I am now—not the role I used to play. I'm not perfect. But I'm being honest now. And maybe... that's enough."

- B M -