Chapter 2 — Camera Flash, Hidden Distance
783 Words
📖
Maingay.
Maliwanag.
At punong-puno ng mata.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
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“Welcome our newest GL pair—Aerin Valdez and Lia Verenne Castillo!”
Palakpakan.
Sigawan.
At doon nagsimula ang lahat.
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Nakatayo si Lia sa gilid ni Aerin, suot ang light blue dress na parang hangin lang sa gaan.
Habang si Aerin—naka-tailored suit, malamig, composed, untouchable.
Perfect contrast.
Perfect visuals.
Perfect… illusion.
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“Closer, please!” sigaw ng photographer.
Lumapit si Lia—natural, walang pag-aalinlangan.
Bahagya niyang hinawakan ang braso ni Aerin, parang instinct.
Soft. Playful.
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Pero—
halos hindi napansin ng iba…
ang maliit na galaw ni Aerin.
She adjusted.
Not pulling away… but not staying either.
Just enough distance.
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Ngumiti si Lia.
Mas maliwanag.
Mas buhay.
Mas pilit.
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“Can you hold hands?” tanong ng host, excited.
Nag-cheer ang fans.
“Hold hands! Hold hands!”
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Saglit.
Isang segundo.
Dalawang segundo.
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Dahan-dahang iniangat ni Lia ang kamay niya…
inaabot si Aerin.
Gentle. Careful.
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Pero bago pa tuluyang magdikit—
Aerin moved.
Hindi halata.
Hindi obvious.
Pero sapat para maiwasan.
Instead, she lightly placed her hand sa likod ni Lia—formal, safe, controlled.
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Palakpakan pa rin ang crowd.
Hindi nila napansin.
Pero si Lia—
napansin niya.
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“Smile, Lia!” bulong ng staff.
At ngumiti siya.
Mas maliwanag pa.
Kahit may kirot na.
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📸 Photoshoot
Sa studio, mas controlled ang lahat.
“Closer. Chin up. Look at her.”
Sumunod si Lia agad.
She leaned in.
Eyes soft. Real.
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Si Aerin?
Professional.
Perfect angles.
Perfect distance.
Perfect control.
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“More chemistry!” sigaw ng photographer.
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Lia laughed softly, ad-libbing.
“Ate, don’t be shy…” bulong niya, playful.
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Sandaling tumigil si Aerin.
Her eyes flickered.
Then—
she leaned in.
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Mas malapit.
Mas totoo.
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At sa isang iglap—
nag-click ang camera.
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“YES. That’s it.”
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Pero pagkatapos non—
bumalik ulit.
Sa lamig.
Sa distansya.
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🎤 Fan Event
Mas personal.
Mas malapit.
Mas delikado.
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“Say something sweet to each other!” sigaw ng host.
Fans screaming.
Phones up.
Lahat naghihintay.
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Tinulak si Lia ng konti.
She laughed.
Then she turned to Aerin.
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“Ah… she’s very kind,” sabi niya, medyo nahihiya pero genuine.
“And… she takes care of me a lot.”
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Tahimik ang crowd—waiting for Aerin.
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Aerin looked at her.
Neutral.
Then—
“She’s hardworking.”
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Simple.
Formal.
Walang lambing.
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May bumagsak.
Hindi sa stage—
kundi sa dibdib ni Lia.
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Pero ngumiti pa rin siya.
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🌐 Aftermath
Hindi nagtagal—
kumalat ang clips.
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“Bakit parang distant si Aerin?”
“Si Lia lang lagi nag-eeffort…”
“Parang one-sided naman ‘to.”
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At doon nagsimula ang hati.
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May mga fans na todo suporta sa kanila.
Pero may iba—
napupunta kay Lia.
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“Deserve ni Lia better partner.”
“Parang cold si Aerin, hindi man lang mag-effort.”
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At may mas masakit—
“Ginagamit lang niya si Lia.”
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Sa dressing room—
tahimik.
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Binabasa ni Lia ang comments.
Isa-isa.
Tahimik.
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Hanggang—
“Stop reading that.”
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Napatingin siya.
Nakatayo si Aerin sa likod niya.
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“It doesn’t matter.”
Flat.
As always.
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Ngumiti si Lia.
Mahina.
“Okay lang po… sanay naman ako.”
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Pero hindi siya tumingin.
Kasi alam niyang—
kapag tumingin siya…
makikita.
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Kinabukasan—
nag-post si Lia.
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A simple message.
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> “Please don’t misunderstand her.
She’s actually very kind…
Hindi lang siya expressive like me.
I’m lucky to work with her.”
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Biglang nag-iba ang direction.
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Pero—
hindi lahat natuwa.
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“Pinagtatanggol pa niya…”
“Blind na ba siya?”
“Pareho lang sila.”
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At ngayon—
pati siya—
nadamay na.
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Sa isang sulok ng set—
mag-isa si Lia.
Tahimik.
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Pero nang may lumapit na fan—
bigla siyang ngumiti.
Bright.
Warm.
Parang walang nangyari.
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Sa kabilang side—
nakatingin si Aerin.
Tahimik.
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Hindi niya alam kung bakit—
pero may kumirot.
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Hindi dahil sa comments.
Hindi dahil sa issue.
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Kundi dahil—
kahit nasasaktan na si Lia—
siya pa rin ang unang nagtatanggol.
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At sa unang pagkakataon—
may tanong na pumasok sa isip ni Aerin.
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Why?
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Day 2 / 10.
At habang lumalakas ang ingay ng mundo—
may isang taong patuloy na ngumiti…
kahit unti-unti nang nasasaktan. 💔
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