Wanna See You Tonight

Episode 001

֍ CORELIUS ֍

At seventeen, my disdain for Papa had reached a boiling point. He had transformed into a distant figure, increasingly absorbed in the intricacies of Hacienda Laurel, our family's sprawling estate, since his retirement from law. His grip on every aspect of our lives had tightened, leaving Mama and me feeling suffocated. Meanwhile, Mama was savoring her final two years as a medical professional before joining Papa in managing the hacienda's affairs.

As soon as I graduated from high school, Papa shipped me off to the University of Sto. Thomas in Manila to embark on my college journey. He was adamant that I pursue a degree in Legal Management, insisting that I follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer. I felt like I was being molded into a carbon copy of him, without any consideration for my own desires or aspirations.

Back when I was still that seven-year-old innocent and gullible kid, something changed that fateful evening. He whisked Ate Aurelia away to another province—from Baguio to Palawan. It only the time I started college, she had returned home in Baguio.

As I entered my second year of college, I found myself yearning for a reprieve – a chance to escape the pressures of academia and reconnect with my loved ones at our family's hacienda. I longed to spend my days lounging in the sunshine, surrounded by the lush greenery and warm embrace of our ancestral home.

However, no matter how desperately I pleaded with my father, he remained unmoved in his decision to keep me away. The doors to our family's sanctuary remained firmly shut, and I was left to wonder what could be driving his stubbornness.

Just yesterday, my father's latest emissary arrived at my condo - Kuya Augustin. Despite our nearly twenty-year age gap, Kuya treated me with the same sternness and authority as my father. In fact, he was the spitting image of Papa in every way - from his words and actions, to his mannerisms and choices. As the newly appointed CEO of the franchise company my father had built, Kuya Augustin followed his every command without question.

It was on a Saturday, as I sat in my kitchen pretending to be deeply engrossed in my term papers and case studies, that I began to hatch a plan. I stole glances at Kuya as he worked on his laptop, plotting my escape.

His gaze snapped up, piercing through me like a sudden ray of light. "Hungry?" he asked, his tone curt and unexpected.

I shook my head swiftly, trying to appear nonchalant despite the flutter in my chest.

I pretended to be engrossed in my laptop screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I asked, "How long are you planning to stay here, Kuya? Isn't this a bit of far from the company?" My voice was laced with a casual tone, but my mind was racing with the implications of his presence.

He raised his head again, his eyes locking onto mine with an unnerving intensity. His gaze was like a cold, hard stare, devoid of any warmth or emotion. "Until your second semester starts," he replied, his voice firm and authoritative.

Then, his tone took a subtle shift, a hint of accusation creeping in. "I heard you skipped a class to attend a concert by some unknown band. Are you rebelling against Papa?" The words hung in the air, heavy with disapproval.

The phrase 'some unknown band' stung, like a tiny pinprick to my pride. I felt a surge of defensiveness, but I bit back my retort, choosing instead to maintain a mask of indifference.

"It's not some unknown band. They're my friends' band. And soon, they'll be recognized by everyone. I co-wrote a few songs with them, so I joined their gig. It was a big day for everyone because a talent scout showed up. And not to brag, but they passed. They're meeting tomorrow for what’s probably a contract signing." My voice tinged with irritation but filled with pride and confidence in my friends.

I felt a surge of indignation, my heart racing with the secret I kept hidden from my family. Of course, I'd be there with them - I was a vital part of that 'unknown band', the very same one Kuya Augustin had so dismissively referred to. But I had to keep my involvement a secret, hidden behind a mask of innocence.

My family couldn't know the truth. Papa's disapproval was a palpable force, and I knew he wouldn't hesitate to use his vast network of connections to crush my friends' dreams. The risk was too great, and I couldn't bear the thought of putting them in harm's way.

Kuya Augustin's expression darkened, a flicker of annoyance dancing across his face like a shadow. His eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if he could see the secrets I kept hidden.

"Stop it now, before it's too late," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "It's not a threat, but a warning, boy."

With that, he packed up his things and left me alone, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a challenge. I watched as he disappeared up the stairs, feeling the tension between us like a live wire, ready to spark at any moment.

I managed to slip away from Kuya's watchful eye the next day, taking a detour as soon as he dropped me off at school and disappeared from view. I had already set my plan in motion, having discreetly informed my allies - the university guards who had become my friends and confidants in this clandestine operation. With their help, I was confident that Kuya wouldn't be able to track me down.

I arrived at the conference room, slightly out of breath, and almost late for the contract signing and meeting with the entire band and Ate Brielle, our manager and a film student. The room was already buzzing with activity, with nearly everyone present and accounted for. The only ones missing were the two executives from 13Cent Records, who were running fashionably late.

As I walked in, Garth, our lead guitarist, greeted me with a warm smile and a whispered warning. "Brielle says you're in charge of negotiations today. She's not feeling her best - you know, that time of the month."

We shared a knowing chuckle, and I took my seat next to Sade, our drummer and my closest friend.

Sade raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Cutting it close, weren't you? Ate Brielle's been trying to reach you, and she's not happy." I shot him a sheepish glance, and he nodded in understanding.

"I had to shake Kuya off my tail," I explained, my voice low and conspiratorial.

As I scanned the room, I caught Ate Brielle's eye, and she gave me a stern look before returning to her conversation with one of the 13Cent Records executives. Otis, our keyboardist, was engrossed in a phone call, while Garth and Zevon, our rhythm guitarist, were deep in discussion, their laughter and banter filling the air. The atmosphere was electric, and I could feel the excitement building as we prepared to take our music to the next level.

"I'll be right back, need to do number 1," I whispered to Sade, pushing my chair back and rising from my seat.

I flagged down a passing staff member, a friendly-looking woman with a warm smile, and asked for directions to the nearest restroom. She pointed me down the hall, and I made my way to the facilities.

After taking care of my business, I emerged from the restroom and was struck by a vision of loveliness leaning against the wall outside the ladies' room. The petite woman, with her striking mestiza features and porcelain skin, looked like she had been caught off guard, her eyes wide with surprise as our gazes met. I felt a flutter in my chest as I nodded apologetically and sidestepped her, trying to play it cool.

As I continued down the hall, I couldn't resist the urge to glance back over my shoulder. And that's when I saw her - still staring at me, her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. I felt a shiver run down my spine as our eyes held for a moment, before I quickly looked away, wondering what had just passed between us. Weird, indeed.

The female news anchor's voice resonated from the TV, her words hanging in the air like a promise. "This year, Mars will once again draw near to our planet, an event eagerly anticipated by our citizens..." The room seemed to vibrate with the weight of her announcement, the anticipation palpable.

I rose from the couch, my hand instinctively reaching for the remote control on the coffee table, ready to silence the TV's steady hum. But before I could grasp it, Kuya Augustin's voice cut through the air, his tone like a velvet-wrapped warning. "Don't."

The single word was enough to freeze me in place.

He descended the stairs from his room, his eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. Striding over, he plucked the remote from my hand, his fingers closing around it like a vice. The TV's volume surged, the anchor's voice growing louder, more insistent. I shook my head, a mix of frustration and annoyance simmering beneath the surface, and began to gather my belongings, my movements stiff with tension.

"I'm going to my room," I muttered, turning to escape the suffocating atmosphere. My feet carried me up the stairs, each step a countdown to freedom.

But as I reached the last step, Kuya's voice halted me, his words dripping with malice. "I know what you did yesterday. I told you, stop it before it's too late." My fists clenched, my heart racing with a mix of fear and defiance.

I spun around, my eyes locking onto Kuya Augustin's, my glare a challenge. "Go ahead, tell him," I spat, my voice low and venomous. "I dare you."

The air seemed to vibrate with the weight of my words, the room holding its breath in anticipation of the storm to come.

Days drifted by, and the tension between Kuya Augustin and me continued to simmer. The unspoken threat he'd made still lingered in the air, casting a shadow over our interactions. We'd barely spoken since then, our conversations limited to curt exchanges and awkward silences. Our paths hardly crossed at home, as we both retreated into our own busy lives, each of us avoiding the other like a ticking time bomb.

But then came Saturday. As I busied myself with cleaning the condo, my phone rang, its shrill tone piercing the silence. My heart leapt when I saw it was Ate Aurelia calling. But just as quickly, my hopes were dashed as the call ended abruptly.

I cursed in my mind, my frustration mounting as I realized my phone had died. I quickly searched for my charger, my movements frantic.

I tried calling Ate again, as soon as I plugged in my phone charger, but she didn't answer. I sent her a text instead, hoping for a reply as I stepped out to restock my home supplies.

Lost in thought, I wandered down the soap aisle, my mind still on Ate's unanswered call. I barely noticed the woman who bumped into me, her items scattering across the floor. I quickly ended my call with Yaya, our housemaid at the mansion, and rushed to help the stranger.

"Sorry, miss. I'm so sorry," I apologized, my eyes downcast as I gathered her things.

She paused, her movements halting as she looked at me. I slowly lifted my gaze, meeting her eyes with a mixture of guilt and embarrassment.

“You …” I whispered, locking my gaze at the familiar lady in front of me.