Chapter 2
1971 Words
"Chill! Parang sisirain mo na ang laptop dahil sa lakas ng pagtitipa mo." Napairap si Hara at pinindot ang send bago hinarap ang kaibigan.
"Greg will never stop! Nakakainis!" inis niyang reklamo sa kaibigan at tumayo upang kumuha ng tubig mula sa kaniyang mesa.
"Huwag mo na lang pansinin—"
Hindi pinatapos ni Hara ang kaibigan sa pagsasalita dahil sa inis, "Tingin mo pinapansin ko siya? Ellish! Alam mong stalker 'yang lalaking 'yan! He's a creep!"
Hindi niya na mabilang kung ilang beses niya na itong nakikita sa mga lugar na pinupuntahan niya. At first, she didn’t even pay attention to that; she thought it was just coincidence because they work in the same industry not until she caught it taking a picture of her while she was getting dressed.
Gosh! She can still remember how terrified she was when she felt someone was staring at her! Unfortunately for that guy it was captured by CCTV, Hara just felt sorry for him so she told the staff not to spread it to anyone because she knew it would damage that jerk’s image. He was just starting to become a famous actor back then, he begged that it would never happen again but he didn't really stop because here he is again!
It was just few days ago, she was on a private beach for a magazine photoshoot and it happened that Greg, again, took some photos of her changing! It was even sent to her and he said he would spread her nude photos if she refused to have s*x with him. Gosh! What a cheap man!
Buti na lang at hindi siya katulad ng ibang babae na matatakot at susunod na lang agad sa gusto ng isang lalaki. Damn, she can just kick his balls for scaring her and taking some nude photos of her.
"Should we report it to the police? I'm sure when people find out he's like that everyone will turn their back on him,” Ellish stated. “He shouldn’t be famous and admired by people! You should not idolize pervert people they should be put behind bars!”
Napatangu-tango siya sa sinabi ng kaibigan at nabaling ang kanyang tingin sa cellphone niya nang bigla na namang tumunog ito.
"He's getting into my nerves!" she said emphatically.
Binuksan niya ang kanyang laptop upang doon kausapin ang lalaking kanina niya pa gustong sipain sa mukha.
"What?" she irritably asked.
"Aren't you afraid that I will spread these nude photos of you? You're a model, an actress, and a famous businesswoman, right? Sa tingin mo hindi mawawala lahat ng titulo—"
"Oh, shut up! Go ahead, try me! Tignan lang natin kung sino ang mabubulok sa kulungan. I can just end this call right now and call some police officers to get you," pagputol niya sa sasabihin sana ng lalaki.
Nakita niya ang takot at pangamba sa mga mata nito bago napalitan ng pagngisi. She would never understand Greg. He's handsome, yes! He’s rich and famous! He shouldn't do anything that will ruin his name so that he can have s*x because if he really wants to, for sure many women are willing to spread their thighs in front of him.
"You're acting hard, Hara. Alam kong gusto mo rin ako. Let's just f-ck! Let’s say… f-ck buddies, like it? You won’t regret it because it’s huge!” said Greg with arrogance.
Hindi maiwasang mapairap ni Hara. Iyon ang isa sa maraming dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya kay Greg, sobrang yabang!
'Turn off the call' Ellish mouthed. She nodded her head before facing her laptop again.
"Go f-ck yourself!" she said with emphasis before turning off the video call.
She sighed and leaned her back in her swivel chair. She has a lot on her plate — she has to fly to Italy for an event she got invited to, she needs to organize her friend’s birthday party, she needs to prepare for her upcoming interviews, she needs to continue her weird dreams and she needs to find out who is sending her roses.
Magdadalawang buwan na rin itong isyu nya sa mga rosas na kanyang natatanggap. She asked for help from the villagers but they also didn't know anything about it. She already previewed the captured videos from the CCTV to find out the identity of whoever was leaving flowers at the front door of her house. She was just surprised to find out that no one was even seen on the CCTV camera and some copies of the videos of the times they were sent were missing.
Noong unang buwan ay hinayaan niya lamang ito dahil naisip niyang baka mga tagahanga nya lamang iyon ngunit nang ito ay tumagal na ng dalawang buwan ay hindi na siya mapakali sa kakaisip.
Naisip nya na paano kung masamang tao pala iyon? Kung ‘stalker’ din nya pala ito? Na baka sa susunod ay gawan na lamang siya nito ng hindi maganda at saktan siya! Pinangilabutan sya sa takot dahil sa mga isiping iyon.
"Earth to Hara!"
Kaagad nalipat ang kaniyang atensyon sa kaibigan na ngayon ay nakakunot ang noo habang nakatitig sa kaniya.
"You were dozing off. Okay ka lang?" alalang tanong ni Ellisha.
Nakapikit siyang tumango at sumagot, "Y-yeah, pagod lang."
She's stating the fact, she had too much work. Buti nga at sa pupuntahan niyang okasyon sa Italy ay may ilang araw siyang pahinga roon. Kahit isang araw ay sapat na sa kaniya dahil hindi naman siya p’wedeng mawala ng matagal sa dami ng kanyang trabaho na dapat tapusin.
"You should rest. Kailan ka pala aalis papuntang Italy?" tanong ulit ni Ellisha.
"Sunday," she answered shortly.
Napabuntong hininga sya ng maalalang hindi pa siya nakapag-ayos ng mga gamit nya na dadalhin dahil sa sobrang abala nya.
"Lunes pa lang naman ngayon kaya chill lang. The week is still long and you can surely finish it all. Ikaw pa ba?!" nakangiting sambit ni Ellish na nagpangiti rin sa kaniya.
Ellish is like her. Pareho silang palaban kaso lang ay inosente ang mukha ni Ellish habang sa kaniya ay may pagkamataray ngunit alam niya kung gaano kamaldita ang kaibigan. Nakita niya na ito kapag ang ka-love team niya ang kasama.
"How are you and Trevon doing?" she asked causing her friend to lose her smile. Just like what she thought.
"Hell," she replied as she glance sullenly which caused Hara to laugh. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit inis na inis ang kaniyang kaibigan kay Trevon samantalang kung tutuusin ay mabait naman ang ito sa kanila.
"He's annoying," said Ellish as she rolled her eyes.
"Ang lambing-lambing kamo sa harap ng kamera pero sa likod nito, ayon nagbabangayan na kayo!" sabi ni Hara.
"Nakakainis kasi, akala mo sinong gwapo," naiiritang sabi ni Ellish.
Pareho sila ng mundong ginagalawan ng kaibigan kaya alam niya ang lahat ng magaganda at masasamang balita sa buhay nito.
"Well, he is," sabi ni Hara at inirapan siyang muli ni Ellish ngunit maya-maya din ay tumango ito bilang pagsang-ayon.
Hindi niya maiwasang matawa at mapailing sa reaksyon ng kaibigan. She knows that Ellisha finds Trevon attractive, she just doesn't want to admit it to herself.
"Sige na," tumayo siya at inayos ang suot-suot na damit. "May pupuntahan pa ako. Report him for me, okay?"
Ellish immediately nodded at her so she smiled back, "Thank you."
"Anything for you," Ellish replied and said goodbye to her.
Dinampot niya ang kanyang cellphone at kaagad na lumabas ng opisina. Makikipagtagpo siya sa kanyang kaibigan upang mapagusapan ang dadaluhan nilang okasyon sa Italy.
God, how she miss Italy. Halos isang taon na rin siyang hindi nakakatapak ng Italy dahil madalas siyang nasa France at wala siyang libreng oras para dumaan pa roon.
Italy was so close yet so far for her when she's in France. And now, finally, after a year she'll breathe the fresh air in Italy again!
She quickly reached the cafe they said where they would meet. It was a medium-size cafe with not too many people which is perfect for her. She was not in the mood to socialize with people. She also doesn't want to fake her dealings with her fans if she sees any of them inside.
She wore her expensive Ray-Ban sunglasses while holding her cellphone. She didn't bring any bags because it would just be a hassle for her and she thought that she would not last long inside either.
Kaagad niyang nakita ang kaibigan na may kausap na lalaki. Nakatalikod ang lalaki sa kaniya pero hindi niya maiwasang kumunot ang kanyang noo dahil parang pamilyar ang tindig nito sa kanya.
Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad palapit sa mesa ng mga ito at mukha ring nakita na siya ni Sarah dahil bigla siya nitong nilingon.
"Hara, you're finally here!" Sarah greeted her so she smiled back at her.
Sekreto niyang sinulyapan ang binata na ngayon ay nakaharap na pala sa kaniya. Kaagad na bumilis ang t***k ng kaniyang puso ng magtama ang kanilang mga mata. He was such a view— he was so handsome that he felt like she was suddenly shrinking.
God, I've never been intimidated by someone's handsomeness before!
Is this Sarah's boyfriend? She can't help but feel disappointed for no apparent reason.
Why was that?
"Sorry, nag-uusap pa kasi kami ng lalaking 'to," paghingi ng paumanhin ni Sarah at nilingon ang gawi ng lalaki.
It looks like this man is her boyfriend so she is off-limits. Marunong naman siyang rumespeto sa relasyon. Damn, she will never make herself in that kind of situation. Ayaw niyang makasira at ayaw niyang makasakit ng kapwa babae.
"It's fine. I can wait," she replied smiling and sat across from Sarah.
Sarah has been a good friend to her. Nagkakilala sila dahil kay Andy, isa sa mga close niyang artista. She didn’t know what the woman’s job really was but she trusts her. In fact, they aren't that close but she's been helping her since last month which she is very grateful.
From getting a plane, a hotel, a car, and kinds of stuff in different countries, Sarah helped her. She has a lot of connections, that's what Hara is sure about.
"Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo rito? I told you to wait in my office, right?" she heard Sarah say to the guy so she just averted her eyes and acted like she was looking at her cellphone.
"Raven called me, I have to be there, Sarah!" the man replied and she can't help but admire his deep, husky, and sexy voice.
"Mukha ba akong eroplano, Shaud? And yes, Raven also called me! Kaya nga ako nakipagkita kay Hara dahil pupunta rin siya do'n," tila pakikipagtalo ni Sarah.
Dahil narinig niya ang pangalan ng lalaki ay naiangat niya ang kaniyang tingin kay Sarah sabay tanggal ng kaniyang suot-suot na salamin bago nagsalita.
"What do you mean?" Hara asked. Tinapunan niya ng tingin ang lalaking nagngangalang Shaud, kung tama nga ba ang kanyang dinig na pangalan nito.
"He will also be at Torisi's mansion for the event like you," Sarah replied.
Kaagad na umangat ang isang kilay ni Hara at nilingon ang lalaking kanina niya pa napapansing nakatitig sa kaniya.
Gosh, stop staring!
"Raven? You mean Ravenna?" she asked just to make sure they were going to the same place. She sounded so calm but she's far from being calm! Pakiramdam niya ay malulunod siya sa klase nang titig ng lalaki.
"Lady Ravenna Isabella Torisi," sagot ng lalaki.
Natigilan siya ng sandal ngunit kinalaunan ay napatangu-tango na lamang siya. So, they're really talking about one girl.
"That's good to hear! Pareho pala kayo nang pupuntahan! How about you just go to Italy together?” Sarah suggested to them.
- Writer
