My Playlist

Chapter 18 – Sparkles

Clearly, I am dreaming about Elena, the woman I met in Canada three years ago. I met her at the police station station while asking around and she introduced me to a lot of good places here and still helped me when I told her “I think my wallet’s been stolen”. She was generous enough to guide me back to my hotel. She said goodbye after I told her “Thank you”.

We exchanged numbers and off she goes. I usually drink when I met new friends but not today, I didn’t. You ask? “I don’t like making mistakes when I know I will make one”. I want to keep learning to know a lot of the holes in my life. You’re asking again why I’m alone? I was left behind because Eli forgot that I was with her and she was busy with her “boyfriend of the day”. I mean, that was his 3rd boyfriend since we came here in Canada. She said, they were nothing and that they are here to socialize anyway. I clicked with the guys because they were friendly but Eli was using them just to forget her long time boyfriend who left her to study in Portland. What an asshole!

Elena picked me up the next day to tell me she found my team and that she’ll take me there. We, casually, talked about a lot of things on the way to the beach where Eli and her boyfriend were having their best vacation stay over. I mean, she really lost it this time. Inviting someone who was supposed to be my chauffeur for my soul searching moment for my next album became a break up drama soul searching. If Jericho wasn’t tied up with that new collaboration thing that’s supposed to end two days ago, he’ll be babysitting his sister but things don’t go as I planned this past few days.

We hang out till Eli can’t walk anymore. I was with Elena the whole day and I thought why would she be doing in here with us. Doesn’t she have work? Is she a local here? Is she a tourist? Is she a student? Questions I’ve been asking her the whole ride but she seems to get away with the question with another hit questions that is supposed to be mine. In the end, I didn’t get any real answer from her. All I did was answer everything she asked me. I was reciprocated but that’s okay because I kind of like her company.

She slept with Eli on the other room while I was stuck with Eli’s new boyfriend. I can’t sleep because Noah, Eli’s new boyfriend, was snoring so loud. When I went to the kitchen to get some water, I saw Elena crying. I walk up to her and ask her if everything’s okay and she told me “I just want it to end”.

I kept on asking her while comforting her not to be sad anymore. When she hugged me, it felt like she really needed someone like a mother. I tap her back slowly and I hummed one of my songs until she fell asleep hugging me. I was about to bring her to their room when she muttered “Daddy”. I saw a tear escaped her close tight eyes. I wiped it and brought her to Eli’s room. I fell asleep on the sofa while looking at the ceiling.

I opened my eyes and I can see retorted faces and one by one it showed me Eli with her usual worried face and her long hair swinging softly “Is he okay? Come take a look at him. Does he even recognize me?” I smirk knowing I am alive. I slowly open my mouth to talk. I started “Eli, you’re so loud” and she gave me this look “He’s okay”. A doctor came forward and started checking my eyes and my sensation. I told him that I was fine. After several minutes of talking and repeating the same questions, he then finally said “He’s going to be allright. There’s no internal bleeding or anything. He was just shock by the powerful turbulence and that why he collapsed”. That’s a relief.

Eli brought some food when she went out while I was sleeping. We ate and we went to gym together. She was hesitant to go to a gym but even before, If I am fresh from my hospital beds or nightmares, she would accompany me everywhere I go like a puppy. I think, this is one of the reason why his boyfriend went to Portland without her.

She only did light workout while I did my workout with the help of my health coach and my workout trainer. If I do a full workout then I would need my coach and a professional because I might strain my body and that can’t happen. To be more healthy on tours, I had to have everything because touring alone is quite lonely. I would bug Eli everytime but I am with Jona all the time because he’s my bodyguard. Also, I don’t really treat him as a bodyguard. He is more like a friend who protects you but would still protect at the same time, one package.

I was told that the owner of the hotel wanted to say “Hi”. Who wouldn't? I was drinking my water for a break when the door open. My back was facing the door so I couldn’t see who it was but when I turned to face the newly arrived guest. Everyone was shaking her hand while I was just standing there shocked to see who visited.

“Looking good as always, Ian” she said. She looks different now than I saw her the last time. All I could say is “Hey, sparkles”