Dating an Idol

Seven: ACCEPTING DESTINY

"Yuri, wait!"

I looked back and saw Mael running after me. He just came out from the coffee shop.

I slowed down a little so he could catch up with me.

"I told you to wait for me." He pouted.

"Sorry, I forgot," I lied.

The truth is I was trying to avoid him. He had been asking me nonstop about Skye's sudden appearance in the coffee shop the other day. I told him that it was mere coincidence but he just wouldn't believe me. I hate having to lie to him.

"Nah! I know that you've been trying to avoid me!" He said.

I chuckled as I resumed walking. He was now walking beside me as we made our way into the busy streets of Makati. It's a little past seven in the evening and the streets are buzzing with cars and pedestrians. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry.

"Why would I do that?" I faked a laugh.

"Because you're tired of me bugging you about Skye?" he said.

I laughed some more. "That's not true."

"Nah, I know you too well. Now tell me. How did you know Skye?"

Here we go again.

"Is that even a question? He's Skye of Crest 88. Who doesn't know him?"

"You know that's not what I'm asking about."

"I wish I personally knew him. But sad to say, that's not the case. Why wouldn't you believe me?"

"I dunno, it's just that… I don't know how to explain this but there's something in the way you look at each other," Mael insisted.

"What are you talking about? You're just imagining things," I kept lying. "Believe me, I was just as shocked as you when I recognized him in the coffee shop the other day."

"Nah, you didn't look starstrucked. Not at all."

"I was," I chuckled to hide my nervousness.

"Come to think of it, there was something fishy on the way he just casually approached you after the audition," he said. "Like why would he ask you to come with him to the men's room? To the men's room! You're a girl, for Pete's sake!"

"He didn't ask me to come with him to the men's room," I corrected him. "He was only asking for directions."

We reached the jeepney stop so we had to stop walking.

"But why you? Of all people, why you?" he kept asking.

"Uhmmm, maybe because I can speak Korean?"

"But there are Korean staff with him. Why not ask for help from them?"

I had a feeling that the more I deny it, the more that he'll be convinced that I'm hiding something from him. So I had to do otherwise.

"Okay. Maybe he was really interested in me," I started. "Maybe Skye had fallen in love with me during my audition and he wanted to get to know me better. That's why he came up with that alibi of having to use the men's room, so he could talk to me in private. It wasn't enough so he stalked my portfolio, too. That's how he knew where I worked. So he practically went to the coffee shop the other day to look for me. How does that sound?"

Mael stared at me for a few seconds. That somehow got me worried. For a moment, I thought he believed me. But he was cracking up the next minute, to my relief.

"Yeah, yeah. That... that sounds funny," he said as if he just realized the whole thought.

"See? See how crazy that sounds?" I said, trying to prove my point.

"Yeah, yeah. I must be crazy to actually think that you, two, know each other personally." He was nodding.

Finally! Though I still feel a little guilty for lying to him.

"My jeep's here. I gotta go," I said before I spun around to leave him.

I was all ready to sprint to the jeepney that had just pulled over right in front of us, scared that I wouldn't get a seat if I am not fast enough, when I felt him grab my backpack.

"What?" I turned to him.

"Barbecue for dinner? How does that sound?" he asked without letting my bag go.

"Your treat?" I asked.

"Uhmmmm… okay."

"Cool!" I said as I spun around to face him.

We were sitting across the table in our favorite barbecue place the next moment, enjoying our dinner with our bare hands.

"More," I said to Mael after he dropped three ripe wild chilis in my soy dipping sauce.

He dropped two more.

"More," I said.

"Are you crazy? Do you want to develop hemorrhoids?" he asked.

I glared at him. "You're disgusting! Why would you mention something like that in front of the food?"

He added one more chili in my sauce. "There. That's enough."

"You forgot that I'm Korean?" I said as I crushed the wild chilis with my bare fingers. "We like our food spicy!"

"And let your rectum suffer after?" he asked before he stuffed a handful of rice into his mouth.

"Stop saying that! You're disgusting!" I said.

He only chuckled before he dipped his isaw into his sauce and stuffed it into his mouth.

We were enjoying our dinner when his phone, which was laid on top of our table, started vibrating. Someone's calling him.

"Who's that?" I asked as I munched on my chicken feet.

"I dunno. It's unregistered," he said between chews.

"Why don't you take that? That might be important, you never know," I said.

"I can't. My hands are dirty," he said, licking the rice from his fingers.

"Put it on speaker mode then. So you don't have to hold your phone," I suggested.

It looked like he had no intention of taking the call but when the phone didn't stop ringing, he had no choice but to answer it.

He pressed the answer button with his pinky finger before he hit the speaker mode button, too.

"Hello?" he said before he sipped from his bottled Pepsi.

"Hello? Is this Ismael Esguerra?" said the caller from the other line.

"Yes, speaking."

"This is from CBX Entertainment and I am calling to inform you that you passed the recent auditions. Congratulations! Please wait for further details. Someone from the agency will call you again for more information."

I saw Mael's eyes widened with surprise. He was eyeing me while mouthing "OMG" as he listened to the caller from the other line.

"I will. Thank you so much," he said.

And the line went dead.

We shrieked in chorus, but immediately stopped when everyone from the barbecue place darted annoyed glances at us.

"Ohmigod! Ohmigod! Congratulations!" I said while trying to contain my excitement.

"Go, check your phone now!" he said.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket, not minding if my hands were dirty, and checked if I missed a call or anything.

"Nothing," I said. Disappointed.

"Maybe they haven't called you yet. Leave your phone here on the table so you won't miss their call," Mael said. His eyes were beaming with so much excitement.

I couldn't contain my excitement, either. It was a mix of emotions, actually. I'm excited yet scared. What if I don't get a call from them?

But no, I shouldn't be thinking that way.

I passed the audition. I know I passed the audition. Yes, that's it. I should only think of positive thoughts.

But after we finished our dinner and I still didn't get a call from them, I am convinced otherwise. Mael was trying to cheer me up, telling me that the company might call me tomorrow. But I don't want to get my hopes up.

And while I was lying awake on my bed later that night, I have come to accept the fact that yes, this is really not for me.

I am really not destined to be an idol.