When the Billionaire Meets Heaven

Chapter 4: Home

XYRIL

"Breaking news! A 40-year-old man was found unconscious inside a 5-star hotel in Quezon City-"

I turned off the TV monitor, closed my eyes, and started rubbing my temple. Today felt worse than those days when I had a hangover.

It wasn't surprising. The doctor told me that I had migraine and acid reflux yesterday, which means that not eating for a day contributed a lot. I've experienced this several times before because I was always busy with my career. Taking care of myself became the least of my priorities.

"Are you okay, sir?" Danilo asked, looking at me through the rear-view mirror.

I simply nodded, not wanting to explain myself more. The sun was starting to shine through the car window, so I decided to wear my black sunglasses.

"Sir, we only live once. But we can die several times while trying to live. And it's normal because that's what makes life more meaningful."

I pressed my lips together and took out my phone. Just as when I was about to check my e-mail, the car came to a halt. When I looked out the window, I saw that we were already at the back entrance of the Red Star Entertainment Network.

I didn't expect us to arrive so soon. I thought I would still have the time to doze off or browse through my phone, but Danilo drove so fast and beat the traffic.

After taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and was instantly welcomed by screaming fans. They were carrying tarpaulins and LED signs with my pictures and name all over them. So despite not being in the mood and feeling unwell, I found myself waving and smiling at them as a consolation.

Immediately, the marshals assigned in the area surrounded me before anyone could get anywhere near me. They moved my fans out of the way and escorted me into the building as fast as they could.

I was actually thinking of getting a personal guard. But because of the company's special protection, I always forget the need to hire one.

When I got inside the building, I was left with two marshals who accompanied me to the conference room on the second floor. We took the elevator to ourselves, and once we've reached the floor, I saw John waiting outside of the room as expected. He came running to me with a surprised look on his face, and the two marshals left us alone.

"Are you sure you want to be part of the script reading?" he asked as if my presence in the building was not enough to answer his question.

"I didn't come here to play John," I took a look at the glass wall of the conference room and saw that I was the only one missing.

"I didn't say you're here to play-"

"I came here for the script reading," I reiterated. If it wasn't enough for him to understand, then I don't know what else to say.

"Are you a hundred percent sure? I can tell them you're sick or-"

"Forget about that. I'm fine. I'm here for the script reading. End of story."

He suddenly looked defeated. He bowed his head and didn't say a word.

"Anyway, I saw the news. You did great in cleaning the mess yesterday."

His face automatically brightened up after being complimented. "I just did what I had to do," he said with pride in his eyes.

"So let's just get this day over with," I told him before we walked into the conference room.

Everyone stood up when they saw me, but I used my hand and signaled them to sit down again. I came here as an actor and not as a major shareholder of the company.

"Good morning, everyone," I said, and they greeted me back.

Sitting right across the renowned movie director, Madame Sylvia Araneta, excitement automatically rushed through my veins. All celebrities in the entertainment industry know who she is. While she only accepts directing one movie every year, that movie would automatically become a hit no matter the genre. She has an eye for a good script and knows how to combine all the other elements to make a blockbuster movie.

I looked up to her. To work with her someday was one of my dreams when I was just starting my career as an actor. Now, I still couldn't believe that I was about to turn it into reality. In fact, Madame Sylvia personally chose me as the leading actor in this movie.

This year, she accepted the movie script entitled "Pinnacle," which at first came as a surprise for everyone since it was written by a novice writer. Although we have yet to meet the writer, Madame Sylvia seemed too fond of her work. It was only when I finally read the script that I understood the reason behind it.

Pinnacle is a mentally disturbing film wherein the main actor, despite his goodness, ends up shooting everyone in the end.

I've never accepted any project with the same concept before. Moreover, a film that would make me turn into a psychopath. But because it would be directed by Madame Sylvia, I immediately accepted the project without considering what the movie was about. I knew it would turn into an excellent film, and I'm just so thrilled to work with her.

Today was the initial script reading for the movie. We started reading out loud our lines to each other without emotions involved yet. And while doing so, I learned more about my character as Mr. Agila. At first, he seems to be a perfect character – good and spotless. But as we moved forward in reading the script, I was able to dig deeper into my character and started reading between the lines. It turns out that Mr. Agila has been embracing the dark side all along, and it's something that the people around him overlooked.

"I already have everything anyone could ever wish for, but why do I feel empty?"

With all the lines written in the script, I couldn't help but associate myself with the main actor. But I wouldn't come to the point wherein I would hurt somebody else other than myself.

Reading the whole script for the first time was enough for me to understand its message clearly. Pinnacle speaks volumes about what is good and evil – that all men, no matter how good, have a tendency to be evil.

***

It was already late in the afternoon when we finished the script reading. We had our lunch inside the conference room so as not to lose everyone's momentum. And now that we were done, we were finally allowed to leave.

"Are you okay? Do you feel anything?" John asked once we started walking down the stairs.

"I feel like…." I paused and saw the anticipation in his face. "…drinking a cup of coffee now would be very nice."

His jaw dropped when I walked past him. I could hear his footsteps as he tried to keep up with my pace.

On the other hand, I tried to be more mindful of the employees who gave their time to greet me as much as I could.

"I saw the posts of your fans on social media, and they seem really excited for your movie," John said, catching his breath. We continued walking side by side because I had no time to stop and listen. I needed to be at the coffee shop now.

"By the way, I posted your selfie at the gym in your social media accounts for safety purposes."

"Good."

"And also…what the-"

"What?"

"I think we should be more careful. According to the news, the Zheng Gang is still on the loose and-"

"I don't care about that gang or any other news," I sighed and had no choice but to stop in my tracks. "What about the thing I was asking from you?"

He stopped walking, but he couldn't look at my eyes straight, so I got his answer.

"If you have the time to read the news, you might as well use it to do what I asked."

"Did you really plan to end your life yesterday?" he was nosey again.

Completely ignoring what he said, I started explaining my side. "I've asked the hotel security to help me find Bonnie yesterday. But they informed me this morning that they couldn't find anyone who looked just like what I described upon checking the CCTV cameras."

"Are you sure there was a woman?"

"Yes. And I know Bonnie can't disappear just like that."

"I asked the police officer who was at the scene that night, but he didn't give me any details about their operation. He said it was confidential," He informed me as if it was no big deal.

I rubbed my face with my hands, dragging them harshly through my hair.

"You have to find Bonnie."

"One time it was Heaven Lim you were looking for, then now someone named Bonnie?"

I exhaled sharply. "Just stop asking questions and start doing your job."

Turning my back on him, I continued walking without waiting for another nonsense response from him.

"How about Sea? Is he okay?"

"Yes-"

"Did you give him treats? Did you clean him? Did you-"

"Yes, I already did everything that's on the list that you gave me."

"Good."

And that was how our conversation ended.

Sea is Heaven's dog. It's a fawn and cream Pembroke corgi that I brought from Batanes. And because of the tag he was wearing, I recognized him right away. It's designed with a pendant that has the letters S E A engraved on it.

I saw Sea in the new hotel on top of the hill. According to the employees there, he was already before the renovation happened. They took him in because he didn't want to leave the place. He was actually quite popular with the guests and has become one of their attractions.

But no matter how lively he was, every afternoon, he would sit patiently at the hotel entrance as if he was waiting for his owner.

Sea was just like me. I knew he was waiting for Heaven, and it broke my heart to think that he was also waiting for nothing. After all these years, he was able to recognize me. So it wasn't hard to bring him back with me to Manila. I just asked John to take care of him for me while I'm at work.

Leaving the building premises, I got inside my car safely, hearing the scream of my fans in the background. Danilo started driving without asking me for a location. He is already aware of where we should go on a Saturday afternoon.

"I heard about what happened last-"

"And you should just keep it to yourself."

I cut him short as he has a tendency to prolong any conversation. Right now, all I needed was silence.

Even though I fully remember what happened yesterday in my hotel, my memory was slowly fading away. It was starting to look more like a dream.

Whoever that woman is, her mere existence gave me a reason to stay. Until I figure out who she is, I'm planning to live my life like I always do.

"Christmas has long been over! Funny that they haven't removed their decorations yet even though it's already summer," Danilo pointed at the store right across the street. I just had a glimpse of it, but it drifted me away from reality.

It was December 25, 2004, when Heaven and I first met.

I closed my eyes and tried to picture the incomparable beauty of Batanes. Located between the West Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it gives us the perfect view of the vast sky, rolling hills, and crystal clear water. I could hear the raging waves slamming against the rocks. My face seemed to tingle as I imagined the gentle touch of the cold breeze on my face.

Although I haven't seen the entire province yet, as I didn't really grow up there, I have seen enough of its magnificent sceneries.

That morning, my parents told us that we would be celebrating Christmas in the city. As I was only fifteen years old then, all I could remember was us riding a boat. The boatmen were singing the provincial song called "Kalusan" while they were rowing in rhythm.

Like my six siblings, I was also happy and excited because it was our first time going to the city, and it felt more like a trip.

Although it was a distant memory now, I could clearly recall falling asleep while listening to their song. And when I woke up, I felt sheer terror upon realizing that my parents and siblings were already gone. They left without me, and I didn't know where I was.

Back then, because I was too young, I thought it wasn't intentional to be left out. But after all these years, I realized that perhaps the reason why I was left on my own was that my parents could no longer raise all of us.

They simply dropped heavy baggage they couldn't carry anymore.

I found myself walking. I didn't know where else to go, but I just didn't want to stop. If I continued moving forward, I thought I would eventually be somewhere – a place I could call my home. And it did happen when I reached the top of a hill and saw a big house made of stones. It was my first time seeing a beautiful mansion, so I was really fascinated that I had come closer. I was close enough to see a little girl sitting on the grass, holding a book entitled "Love, Rosie" so close to her face. She was totally oblivious to what was happening around her.

She was so focused on reading her book that she didn't notice my presence. Even when I heard a dog barking really loud, she didn't take her eyes off the pages of the book.

I could see only her eyes, but it was my first time seeing someone attractive. So I decided to call her attention by dropping a leaf on top of her opened book.

She finally raised her head and looked at me.

As if time had stopped, she looked as breathtaking as the sceneries here in Batanes that I was suddenly lost for words. She was even more beautiful when I saw her entire face. She was angelic – more like a goddess hiding on top of a hill. I knew she was still young, but back then, I already bet that she would break many hearts when she got older.

I thought she would be scared because a stranger had just shown up in front of their house. Worst, I thought she would cry. But she did neither of the two and smiled at me as if she knew me well – as if she was not aware that we were different from each other.

"Hi! I'm Heaven Lim," she was the one who introduced herself first, stood up, and offered her hand.

I couldn't find the right words to say no matter how hard I tried to break my head. It was then when I learned that she has a knack for making me speechless.

As if she knew what was going on in my mind, she took my hand and shook it. "What's your name?" she asked like it was perfectly normal to get to know me.

"Cyrilson."

She was still smiling ear to ear, and I couldn't help but stare at her eyes as I could clearly see the reflection of the sunset in them. Although I've seen the evening several times before, it was never as striking as when I looked at it through her eyes.

Heaven made me realize how easy it was to find joy in life. With her, no matter how complex my emotions were, everything felt simpler. She was able to calm me down.

When her parents saw us speaking to each other, I thought they would drive me away, but they didn't. Instead, they even invited me to be part of their Christmas celebration.

When I told them where I came from and everything that happened to me, they didn't hesitate in asking me to stay with them for a while until I found my family. They didn't ask me for further explanation and just accepted me for who I am.

It was the best Christmas I've ever had in my life. Not because of the blueberry cake that her mother baked, nor the strumming of his father's guitar, but it was simply because…

Heaven became my home.