CHAPTER 2
1362 Words
Pablo Nase's POV
It was already a week ago after our presscon in World Trade Arena. A hopeless and sad week for us, SoundBreak.
We were left with no choice but to lay-low and resort to hide in this secluded place in Ken's province, Zamboanga.
We were provided with all we needed here. We just ate, slept, and contemplated what had happened on that presscon. How is it possible that another person knew that thing about us, beside us?
Our manager took some urgent calls after the presscon. Three large looking men huddled beside us and escorted us until we got to our van.
The crowd became panicky and I understand they were concerned that the crowd may try to climb the stage for I don't know, maybe, to get close to us and talk to us face to face.
After that, we were tasked to pack our bags and we were given a ticket for a flight that at first, we don't know which place we were headed to.
Ken was first overjoyed about the idea.
Aside from the fact that we were stripped off our busy schedules as singers, he is very happy to know that we were headed to his homeland.
So he is equally disappointed when he found out that we were going to be locked in this exclusive villa. Not allowed to go out without a bodyguard and only if necessary, as in life and death situation. Not allowed to watch TV. Not allowed to answer phone calls. Not allowed to use social media. And also, there's no internet and has a limited phone signal in this place so yeah, we really have no other choice.
Good riddance because I know how anxiety-inducing the social media is during this kind of situation. It was a kind gesture of our company to oversee even such things.
But as the days pass, we're getting bored. I noticed it from my members, specially, Stell.
He's the outgoing one.
Josh, Ken and Justin just drowned themselves on those retro videogames that do not require internet.
Me? I played a little but I can't help but think about the voice.
Yes, the "voice".
What's her purpose in doing that?
Why did she do that? Who is she?
Is he a fan? Wait, that was weird for a fan.
Is he a hater? A basher?
I was really curious!
It's actually killing me!
I grabbed my phone.
Think about what I will be doing.
But did it.
In three rings, he answered.
Our manager.
"What? I told you guys you're not allowed to use your phone for this!" His usual frantic demeanor. Classic Kim.
"Yeah. I know. It's just that.. I am really curious. I'm almost out of sleep because of it." I reckoned he will be angry and quite insulted because who is not out of sleep during these kind of times? Him out of all people will be the busiest and worried, I'm sure.
"Is it about the whistleblower again?" he said like I asked him this question for a hundredth time.
"Can you blame me? I don't know that person. But she knows us. I just want even a small detail about her. Why did she do that? Who is she?" Two days ago, I asked Kim if he has some information about the woman. And if he's even making an effort to search the Earth for that woman.
But just like the first time I asked him, he answered me with this same, "enthusiasm".
"Her name is Scarlett Salvacion. You heard her from the conference." he sounded tired.
"I know. And I know she's an accountant. But there's just... something. I can feel it. But I just can't figure it out. There must be something about her connecting to why she did what she did in our presscon. She must have a reason." I realized why I want to know the woman. I want to clear some questions in my head.
"Look, Pablo. You should take this opportunity to rest. It was an absurd idea but please, just force yourself, if you can, to take a rest. This, we were hired to do. You could stay out of it and focus on your own things. Maybe, create another song for your comeback."
The fact about Kim. He knows his job.
He's good at it. And just like any of our team, he looks out for us. He cares for us, SoundBreak.
"Are you sure you don't have even a little info about her?" I'm really hoping this time.
I heard him sigh.
"Nothing! Use the pills prescripted to you to have a night's sleep and just trust us in this, okay? In a little while, all this nonsense will end."
The doorbell rang.
Before I could say goodbye to Kim, the call was already dropped.
The place is quite big. It has three floors.
First floor, living area with dining, kitchen and small toilet.
Second floor, two bedrooms and one music room or theater area, which we converted into rehearsal area even though we do not have any events coming up yet given the situation.
Third, is where other two rooms is located. The one bigger looked like the master's bedroom where Ken and Stell sleeps and the other room is mine. All bedrooms has it's own shower and toilet.
The doorbell rang again.
I looked at Stell so I can tell him to answer the door only to find out he's not where he's sitting where I find him earlier. So I rose from the couch and walked the door.
It might be the food delivery guy from where Josh ordered because it's almost lunch time.
We were living off takeouts, and instant coffee together with our anxiety for the past days. I know it's been unhealthy, but we we're okay. I guess...
I looked at the small monitor of the intercom to see who it is.
But there's none. Maybe, the person is far from the door now or they just left whatever the thing that they're delivering in front of our door.
So I opened it.
I can feel my eyes bulge.
It took 15 seconds for me to recover from the sight.
Behind our door are ten large boxes of food.
The boxes are not transparent but I know it contains food because I recognized the logo from a famous food company that's been widely recognized for their meal-plans.
Josh must have noticed my reaction that I heard him say, "What's that?"
He went to my side and we, together got stunned by what we're seeing.
I recovered and looked at the boxes without touching it. I also tried to look everywhere outside the house from left to right to see if the sender is still in the area. But no one is there.
When I went back to the house almost all of the boxes were already put inside the house. I helped them, when a note slipped out of the last box we were putting in.
I grabbed it mid-air before landing on the ground.
It is a stylish, thick, small paper.
A card.
"Pablo! Come here!" Justin called.
I ran to him and saw him already unboxed two of the mysterious boxes.
And my guess was right.
It was full of insulated food containers.
Not greasy burgers, not pizza, but a perfectly balanced home-cooked feast.
Roasted chicken, steamed vegetables, a healthy quinoa salad, and freshly baked artisanal bread. It was a stark, absurd contrast to our current diet of junk food.
In the corner of my right eye, I saw Josh and Stell already trying the salads.
Tucked beneath the gourmet coffee beans that comes with the meal is another business card.
On the back of the card is a precise, elegant, handwritten note. It says:
"Your dietary expenditure is inefficient. This is a temporary solution. When you are ready for a permanent one, call."
I looked at the card in my hand. The same card with the same note.
I flipped the note to see the name of the sender.
Our mysterious, despicable, little helper.
Scarlett Salvacion, CPA.
Financial Accounting Specialist
- Writer
