Where do broken hearts go?

WDBHG 1

She never loved him. At first, she only wanted to put a leash on Rylie's neck just to tame him, just to keep him on sight, so that when Amaia comes back, she can have him.

Pero sabi nga nila, nothing is permanent in this world except change. People change and so as her feelings. Steffi thought she'll never fall in love with Aia's long time love but she did. She fell hard and is falling harder. Kampante naman na siya na mahal din siya ni Rylie. She can feel it. The way he touch her, the way his eyes sparkle every time he look at her kaya hindi na s'ya natakot nang mabalitaan niyang babalik na ulit si Amaia sa Pilipinas after six years.

But then, when she saw Rylie and the way he look at the brand new Amaia, she became aware of the fact that she's slowly losing him. Unti-unting bumabalik sa kanya yung dahilan kung bakit niya tinalian si Rylie, and she's slowly losing herself, and the battle she wanted to hold on to, but she needed to let go.

----

"Did you come up with a new idea Steffi?"

Slowly raising her head from the papers on her desk, she met her father, Stephen Araullo's dark gaze. Even if she doesn't wanted to, his gaze alone made her shiver. All her life, Steffi did everything to impress him only to be disappointed. She always give her best but her best wasn't always good enough.

"I have a meeting with the creative team later, Daddy." Tipid n'yang sagot, sinubukan niyang ilayo sa topic ang pinag-uusapan nila. She doesn't have any ideas yet. Amaia's sudden arrival and the fact that Rylie's acting weird these past few days disturbs her.

"You better move fast Steffi. I did not appoint you to be the EVP of Araullo Network para lang magkulong sa apat na sulok ng opisina mo. Move. Do something. Our network competitors primetime rating is beating the s**t out of me."

And with that he left, slamming the door on his way out. Steffi blew an exasperated breath as she slumped down on her chair. Looking at the window, she focus her gaze on the skyscrapers. Dati, gustong-gusto niya ang opisinang kinalalagyan n'ya because of the fact that when she's up there she always feel as if she's above them all, that she's the ruler and everyone and everything below her was her servants. But now, the confines of her office unnerve her. It makes her feel alone.

----

"Bakit hindi na lang din tayo mag franchise ng koreanovela tapos gawin nating tagalized versions tutal 'yun naman ang uso ngayon?" Nakikinig lang si Steffi sa mga palitan ng idea ng creative team n'ya but she can't seem to acknowledge them.

"Please lang. Koreanovela ang itatapat natin sa reality show ng kabilang network? Hindi kaya mas mag-plop ang ratings natin n'un?" Kenneth, her assistant said. She look at him, pleased that he's handling the meeting well. Steffi is not really in the mood for thinking. Her thoughts were flying to where Rylie is.

"So, paano? Tatapatan natin ng reality show ang reality show nila? I can see 'you're nothing but a second rate, trying hard copycat' memes waiting for us, darlin'." Pang asar na sabi ng isa.

"Why not? If it's reality show people are asking for then it's reality show we're going to give them."

"You mean mala-PBB or X-factor stuffs?"

"Pwede naman.. But instead of showcasing and discovering talents or makipag-landian ng 24/7, bakit hindi natin gawing unique?"

That caught Steffi and the rest of their attention. "Why can't we.. I don't know, isolate people-enemies to be exact- for one week para makita natin kung magiging magkaibigan ba sila or pagkatapos ng isang linggo e mas gugustuhin pa rin nilang patayin ang isa't-isa."

"Wouldn't it be complicated? I mean sino naman ang gugustuhing makasama ng isang araw let alone isang linggo ang kaaway nila? Hindi magiging realistic. Iisipin ng audience na scripted ang lahat."

"Kaya nga hindi natin ipapaalam sa participants na nasa isang reality show sila. Sa mga taong malapit at nakakakilala sa kanila whose very much willing to help us help them reconciliate." Steffi look at them and she saw that the team is starting to consider the idea. May isa lang na problema,

"Saan tayo kukuha ng quote-unquote enemies para sa pilot episode, aber?"

"We-"

"I know someone," Steffi suggested. Yes, she knew someone. She's taking a chance on Rylie. Mataas ang pangarap niya. Malaki ang tyansa na mawala sa kanya si Rylie at kaya nyang pakawalan si Rylie kapag nagkataon pero hindi ang tiwala ng Daddy niya na hanggang ngayon kinukuha n'ya pa rin. No matter what Steffi do, its just doesn't always seem enough. Siguro naman, kapag kapakanan muna ng kumpanya ang isipin n'ya, makukuha niya na ang approval na matagal niya nang hinihiling sa daddy n'ya.

-----

"Are you sure about this, Steffi?" Stephen stare at her as if she's losing her mind.

Maybe, I am losing my mind. Steffi thought as she stare back at them. Sino ba namang matinong girlfriend ang gagawa ng gagawin n'ya?

"A hundred percent sure, Daddy." Stephen look at her intently. Walang mabasa si Steffi na kahit na ano sa mukha ng anim na lalaking sobrang taas ng respeto n'ya. "We're going to offer our costumers something new. Something intriguing. Something that no one has ever dared try."

"I don't like it," Liam voiced out. "Kababalik lang ng anak ko tapos bibigyan n'yo na naman siya ng dahilan para umalis? My daughter had been through a lot because of Rylie. I'm happy with how strong she become and how she manage to endure Rylie's presence without jumping on him. Ayaw ko dun sa Amaia na halos magpaka-tanga dahil lang sa etits nung kumag na 'yun."

"Ang hard mo naman kay Aia, Paps.. Sa etits talaga ni Rylie? Hindi ba pwedeng kay Rylie mismo muna?" Natatawang sabi ni Brad.

"Ulol ka Brad, anong ginagawa mo dito? Lumayas ka nga, meeting ng matitinong tao 'to!"

"Pero Tito, mas gugustuhin n'yo bang kapag magkikita yung dalawa--na malabong hindi mangyari e, para na lang natin laging hinihintay na sumabog yung Bulkang Pinatubo? I know you feel the tension between them. Kapag naging okay yung turn out sa gagawin natin, malay natin maging okay ang lahat."

"How about you?" Steffi stopped talking at Stephen's voice laced and his eyes glitter with concern. "What if something went wrong, what if, instead of reconciliation, they fall for each each other?"

"My daughter is not dumb you know." Liam interjects. "Lalong hindi s'ya boyfriend stealer."

"Wala naman akong sinabing boyfriend stealer si Amaia, Paps. But we're putting them on isolation. Maraming pwedeng mangyari. Silang dalawa lang. Paano kung imbes na maging okay ang lahat, mas lalo lang gumulo? Paano ang anak ko?"

"I don't know Daddy, but I have faith in our relationship and I have faith in Rylie. I know he'll put me first before doing something stupid. At.. at kung may mangyari man na hindi dapat, well, I'll cross the bridge when I get there." She said sighing.