Chapter 5

/ LEOX ACHERON /

When you reach success, don't be carried away by praise or become boastful. Instead, stay humble and proud of what you've archived, but never forget the people who helped and lifted you up, because when you fall, they're the ones who'll stay by your side no matter what. 

I know that better than anyone else. Before I reached the spotlight, I was in the dark first. I only had a few people behind me who never gave up and placed their utmost trust in me. They are the ones who knew everything about me, and when the world recognized my existence, I never forgot nor neglected them.

I treasured my fans too dahil sila rin ang naging dahilan kung bakit sumikat pa ako lalo, pero iilan na lang din sila ngayong nagkaroon ako ng issue.

"Alam mo halo-halo ang sigaw ng mga tao sa'yo. Mga one-fourth siguro ay galit sa'yo dahil sa picture tapos another one-fourth naman nagde-defend sa image mo, and their rebuttals against your bashers are actually making sense. Another one-fourth for those people who are just waiting for your statement tapos mag-iingay lang ang mga ito after the pres con."

Early this morning nagising na lang ako sa kumakalampag sa gate ng bahay ko. Then I saw them: my manager, her assistant, and my personal assistant. Hindi ko naman in-expect na pupuntahan nila ako rito lalo na at mainit din sila sa mga mata ng mga fans ko.

Now, I'm having breakfast with these three individuals who have been with me ever since.

"Wala namang pakialam si Leox sa mga 'yan," pabalang na sabi ni Kim, saka sumubo ng isang kutsarang kanin.

"Chillax nga lang siya kumakain eh. Akala ko depressed ang bakla dahil sa scandal niya. Dadamayan pa naman natin siya."

Kunot-noo ko silang pinagmasdan. Bobby was just silently eating his breakfast pero nakaharap pa rin sa iPod nito. I know he's also reading comments about me.

"People are asking who the guy is, Leox."

"Yeah, and we are also interested with him."

Tsk. Kahit ako, gusto ko rin malaman kung sino siya. I want to ask why he let me kiss him. Pero may parte sa akin na nagsasabi na baka set-up lang itong buong scandal na ito. I mean, what if someone framed me? Wala naman akong kalaban, pero baka meron at hindi ko lang alam.

"I don't know him." Malamig na sagot ko sabay inom ng tubig.

"Echosera ka rin eh!" Saway sa akin ni Jerick na pinanlakihan ako ng mata. "You have to remember him. If you forgot asking his name then try remembering his face man lang!"

All I remember were his hypnotizing blue eyes, lustrous lips, manly scent, and his proud nose. His handsome face filled my head this whole time. Pero parang may ibang bagay pa akong dapat ma-alala. I have a feeling na bukod sa halik na iyon, ay may iba pang nangyari. The picture shows that we were talking, and I wanted to know what our topic was that night and why do I looked so comfortable talking with him.

"See! I know you remember his face pero ayaw mong mag salita!" Sigaw ni Kim na dinuro pa ako ng tinidor na hawak niya.

"Tss! I have nothing to share. Labas muna ako sandali."

Hindi ko na sila hinintay pa na umangal sa plano kong lumabas. I think they knew already that almost all of my neighbors here are oldies and friends with my mother. Paglabas ko ng bahay, marahan na sumampal sa aking mukha ang hanging dagat. Dinig ko rin ang bawat paghampas ng alon sa dalampasigan. I could imagine those waves in my mind. While thinking about the waves, my feet automatically led me to the trail I made when I was eight, towards the sandy beach just a few meters from our house.

Sunlight was peeking behind the talisay leaves that have been standing still through the years. Nostalgia! Marahan kong pinikit ang aking mga mata habang ninanamnam ang hangin na yumayakap sa buo kong katawan. I really like this place. The ocean, even though the waves are ruthless, is one of my favorite things in Lindenvale.

Ilang minuto rin akong nakapikit hanggang sa nakaramdam ako ng presensya sa gilid. I thought it was one of my team, but I heard the clicking sound of a camera kaya agad akong naalarma. May reporter ba sa paligid? How the hell did they know I'm here?

"Who the fuck-"

I wanted to cuss at the person who took a picture of me, but I was taken aback. There's a huge distance between the two of us, but I could clearly see his whole figure, especially now that he's also looking at me.

Now I can clearly remember how I was mesmerized by his beauty. His orbs are as blue as the deep ocean, his complexion sparkles when the sun hits it, his dark curly hair slowly dances in the rhythm of the wind, and his smile radiates like sunshine.

"We meet again, Leox Acheron Solace."

*****•*****

/ DAL LUBOMIR /

"Where are you going this time?"

Walang gana ko lamang siyang tinignan. "Morning jog."

"With those?" Tinuro nito ang hawak kong lumang camera. "I'm not restricting you, anyway. Do whatever you want just stay away from the ocean."

He really did think na lulunurin ko ang sarili ko sa dagat. I'm not as naive as before.

"I'm not planning of killing myself. Akala ko ba babalik ka sa San Demartino for business, why are you still here?" Pag-iiba ko ng topic.

Hindi naman sa gusto ko na siyang umalis, pero parang gano'n na nga. I wanted to reduce the noise pollution in my place.

"You're so eager of getting rid of my presence in your territory. Aalis ako in twenty minutes, hinihintay ko lang ang magsusundo sa akin," he gave me a reassuring smile. Kailangan naman talaga niyang umalis.

Probably a yacht. Iba talaga kapag mayaman. Lalabas na sana ako ng bahay nang mahagip ko ang tingin na pinupukol nito sa akin. I know he's worried, but I'm being a burden to him. I do need someone to lean on, but I also know that he's a very busy person.

"Dal, I know you as a resilient and humble person. This kind of problem has left you with nothing, but I know you will eventually overcome it. I know your dedication to your craft and how good of a person you are. Just don't push away those who are willing to help you, and don't feel bad asking for help from them."

After my mother died, there was only one person who never left my side—Leum, my childhood friend. He's the only loyal person I have. He couldn't betray me. He couldn't lie to me. He couldn't hurt me. Siya rin ang unang taong nilapitan ko pagkatapos ng ssue. He knows everything about me. He knew my weaknesses, my past... everything

I only have him. Even though I treated him indifferently these past few days, he chose to stay.

"I'm sorry." Bulong ko, pero alam ko naman na rinig niya ito. "I'll fix it promise, and thank you for always being there whenever I need your help."

Nakita ko siyang tumayo at lumapit sa akin saka niyakap ako. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You can overcome this problem. You did nothing wrong, and those who framed you will pay for their actions."

Niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. "Basta bigyan mo lang ako ng pera buwan-buwan," pabiro kong sabi na pareho naming ikinatawa.

"You're more wealthy than I am, Dal."

"Tsk!"

Saka lang ako nag simulang mag jogging nang umalis na siya. Tama ako kanina na yacht ang sundo na tinutukoy niya, iba talaga kapag yayamanin.

Kanina ay si-net-up ko muna ang lumang camera ko bago mag jogging. I captured the ocean, the leaving yacht, and Leum's back.

"So broad," pagtutukoy ko sa likod nito. Kanino ko kaya ito ibebenta?

Leum is a businessman, and at the same time a model. Siya ang unang subject ko noong hindi pa ako nakikilala sa industriya. He's also my number one fan, kaya nang malaman niya ang sitwasyon ko ay agad siyang pumunta sa akin. He's more like a family to me.

"Enough with the drama and jog, Dal!" Saway ko sa sarili.

By the way, there is something I discovered after staying here in Lindenvale, and it's giving me a more comfortable life. What I discovered is that the people living here don't even recognize me. They are more focused on the models than the photographer. Pero good thing ito para sa akin. I can go places without worrying.

But even though these people don't recognize me I still can't gather the confidence to go out under the sun. Parang hinigop na rin ang kompiyansa ko sa sarili dahil sa nangyari.

Pero nandito na ito. Let's just embrace it. Although it's a long process and there's a lot of adjusting, I must overcome it. I need to heal the wounds they created, and when it's healed, then I'll be back with my camera on.

Huminto ako sa pagtakbo at lumanghap ng sariwang hangin. I deserve a second chance. I am going to fight back, pero hindi sa ngayon. Papahupain ko muna ang issue. Habang lumalanghap ng sariwang hangin ay nakuha ang atensyon ko sa lalaking nakatayo sa hindi kalayuan. His eyes were closed, probably feeling the breeze, but what made me drown in his presence was his perfect body figure. It's like a living sculpture from Greece.

Wait..he looks familiar.

He did. I took a stolen shot of him. Wala akong planong ipaalam sa kanya ang presensya ko but then I forgot that my camera has a loud shutter and it made the man look at me with an obvious panicking face.

"Who the fuck- "

For some reason ay hindi nito tinuloy ang sasabihin. Baka akala nito reporter ako or paparazzi. I wanted to laugh but suppressed it with a smile. At that moment, a cold breeze enveloped both of us. All I could hear was the bustling of the talisay leaves above us, the crashing of the waves, and the whispers of the wind. There was nothing special, yet my heart was leaping with excitement.

I didn't bother entertaining the feeling I had, knowing it would lead to something nonsensical. Instead, I acted cool and unbothered.

"We meet again, Leox Acheron Solace."

It took him a few seconds to find the words ok

- B M -