Erina's Curse (FILIPINO)

Chapter 19

"Yeah, it's pointless trying to convince them to just address the issue directly than to use distractions."

I was drying my hair after taking a shower while talking to Soo Hyun on the phone. It's Sunday afternoon and I chose to stay here instead of sulking in his condo. We just finish eating lunch habang nanonood ng movie when he was called in the shooting location again. He's busy as hell and their director's making it difficult for them to take at least a day-off. It's making me sad how even calling me was becoming hard for him. The shooting location is in a remote province kaya sobrang hirap daw ng signal. But he calls whenever it's possible kaya pinipigilan ko nalang ding magtampo.

"How's the song writing with Nathan?"

It's been almost a week since Sir Hades informed us about the collaboration. It was actually hard for me because they're demanding us to submit an output within a week. I mean we're really trying but you can't just force a song out of someone. Siguro pwede pero 'wag ka ding mag-expect ng magandang kanta.

"We can't even think of a concept yet, malapit ko nang iuntog ulo ko sa pader baka sakaling may lumabas na idea," I answered while looking for something to eat in the kitchen.

"How about him?"

"If I'm stressed, Nathan's overly distracted. Ang hirap niyang kausap parang wala lagi sa sarili. I tried talking to him but he's just so aloof," pagrereklamo ko pa kasi napu-frustrate na rin talaga ako. I'm not expecting him to magically write a song but at least communicate! Eh halos hindi nga niya ako kausapin. Mag-jowa talaga sila ni Raqi kasi pareho silang wala sa sarili these past few weeks.

"Don't overwork yourself, I'm sure the idea will come soon."

After minutes of talking, he eventually ended the call because their break's over. Natapos na rin akong magluto ng ramen kaya sinimulan ko nang kumain. I was about to open the refrigerator for some kimchi when I heard the front door opened.

"Raqi?"

I walk towards her to kiss her cheek. Naramdaman ko naman na parang mainit siya kaya hinawakan ko siya sa noo. "You're burning!"

I led her to the bedrooms at parang walang buhay naman siyang sumunod lang. I took her coat and shoes before making her lie on the bed before walking towards the bathroom to get the thermometer in the first aid kit.

"39 degrees? What the f**k Raqi!"

I immediately took my phone out to dial the company's doctor when she grabbed my hand. I looked at her at napansin kung gaano siya pumayat. She's also very pale and the dark circles around her eyes are very visible.

"I'll just call the doctor," I tried to grab my hand but she refused and tightened her grip.

Nagulat naman ako nang bigla nalang mag-unahang tumulo yung mga luha niya. She was sobbing too hard na halos mahirapan na siyang huminga. I helped her to sit on the bed then hugged her tight. Ganito na ba ako kawalang kwentang kaibigan? Wala akong alam sa kung anong problema niya at kung anong mga pinagdadaanan niya. I was too engrossed with my own life na nakalimutan ko na siyang kamustahin.

"N-Nathan," she tried speaking but her sobs overpower her. "Nathan and I broke up," she finally said which made me shocked.

I never pry on their relationship but I knew they were happy. I saw how Raqi's eyes sparkle whenever she talks about him. Why did they break up? Instead of asking her to share the story behind what happened, I just caress her back hoping to calm her down.

"Everything will be okay," I repeatedly told her until I felt how her breathing evened which means that she's already asleep. I lay her down the bed and covered her with her comforter.

Instead of calling the doctor, I called the girls instead. Hindi naman sila nag-atubiling puntahan kami ni Raqi kahit na Sunday ngayon at supposedly family day nila. While waiting for them, I cooked chicken soup for Raqi. Kakatapos ko lang punasan siya ng maligamgam na tubig to lower her body temperature. Hinanda ko na ang soup at mga gamot bago napagdesisyunang gisingin na siya.

"Raqi......hey," I caressed her hair while waking her up. Nagising naman siya at inalalayan ko ulit na makaupo.

She was already taking the medicines I prepared when Kesha, Leina and Sassy opened the door. Agad naman silang sumampa sa kama at niyakap si Raqi. Raqi was surprised to see them here kaya nginitian ko nalang siya nang liningon niya ako. Of course they'll be here. What are friends for right?

"Saan nakatira si Nathan para mautusan ko na yung hitman namin?"

Kesha jokingly said. Nagtawanan naman kaming apat habang si Raqi naman ay ngumiti lang ng tipid. Now I know why Nathan's acting weird. May problema na pala silang dalawa.

"Anong gusto mong putulin ko? Yung ulo sa taas o yung ulo sa baba?"

I tried making the atmosphere lighter too. Hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita kaya napilitan na si Sassy na magtanong. "What happened?"

We thought hindi na siya sasagot kaya natahimik nanaman kami nang bigla ulit siyang umiyak. It felt weird how Raqi is crying. Hindi ako sanay na nakikitang mahina siya.

"He broke up with me......."

"What?" sabay-sabay naming tanong. Napatayo pa si Kesha at parang handa nang sugurin si Nathan para suntukin.

"But I can't blame him, I would break up with me too," she said trying to stop her tears but failing miserably.

"Mary Raquelle, the sea is wide as hell. Hindi mo kailangan ng lalaking tulad niya dahil libo libong isda na ang mismong lalapit sayo," Sassy exclaimed.

Tumango tango naman kaming lahat. She's right. Raqi is beautiful, she's kind and driven. Any man would be lucky to have her.

"May nangyari na sa amin......"

What she said next made Leina grabbed her in the shoulders. Nagulat naman kami at hindi na nakapag-react. "Did he force you?" Raqi was shocked too dahil hindi niya masagot yung tanong ni Leina. "Raqi, answer me! Did he r***d you?"

Agad namang inalis ni Raqi ang mga kamay ni Leina sa balikat niya sabay umiling ng sunod-sunod. "No, what happened was consensual."

Napahinga naman ng malalim si Leina. I looked weirdly at her pero umiwas lang naman siya ng tingin. Hinayaan ko muna siyang kumalma bago ko siya ulit kinausap. I let her knew how a piece of flesh does not define her and she is worth more than just her hymen. We really tried making her feel better but I think what she really needs right now is silence and time, so we let her rest at nagkanya-kanya nalang din kami ng ginagawa.

The next few days became incredibly awkward between Nathan and I. Kung dati siya lang yung hindi nakikipag-communicate, ngayon dalawa na kaming hindi nagpapansinan. He hurt my friend! I know it's childish but I'll definitely take Raqi's side no matter what.

The only good thing about what happened is that nakapag-isip na kami ng concept at patapos na yung mismong kanta. Gustong gusto ko na talagang matapos 'to kaya pinilit ko na yung sarili kong mag-isip. Ganun ko kaayaw makita at makasama si Nathan.

'If the world was ending

You'd come over right?

The sky'd be falling while I hold you tight

No, there wouldn't be a reason why

We would even have to say goodbye

If the world was ending.....'

After finishing the demo of the song, nagpaalam na ako agad sa producers. May usapan kami nila Kesha na magcecelebrate dahil matutuloy na rin ang comeback sa wakas. The doctor already gave me a go signal kaya pwede na ulit akong sumayaw. We'd be too busy soon kaya susulitin na namin ngayong gabi.

"Raqi, cheer up already. Ipanghahanap ka nalang daw ni Erina ng bagong mahaharot," Kesha tried to joke around.

Inabutan ko naman ng beer si Raqi which thankfully, she accepted. She's still gloomy these past few days but at least she interacts with us. She'll be back soon. And I hope the news of our comeback is enough to make her happy and cheerful again.

"Sinabi mo na ba kay Soo Hyun yung magandang balita?"

Sassy whispered in my ear. We were careful not to let Raqi hear our conversations about my love life. She's still hurting and it's insensitive to talk about other people's relationship in front of her. 

"Not yet. Hindi ko nanaman siya ma-contact," sagot ko naman.

This is the reason why I'm not a hundred percent happy despite all the good news flying around. Natitiis ko naman na hindi siya makausap sa buong araw dati. Minsan lang kasi gusto kong i-share sakanya yung mga nangyayari dito. Kung gaano ako ka-guilty kasi hindi ko naalagaan si Raqi o kung gaano ako nahihirapan dahil nag-iiwasan kami ni Nathan. I just wanted to tell him everything, every complicated and trivial thing that's happening in my life. But he's not here and I can't even talk to him in the phone.

Is this the price of dating an incredibly famous and busy actor? Well, kahit ano namang pagrereklamo ko, I can confidently say that I'm willing to pay for all the price as long as he's with me.

"Kain ka naman ng kain Sassy, try mo kayang uminom para hindi ka tumataba dyan," Leina tried teasing Sassy na kanina pa nilalantakan yung fried pork.

Napasimangot naman si Sassy at tinigil na ang pagkain. Tinawanan ko naman siya dahil mukhang gusto niya pang kumain pero pilit pinipigilan yung sarili.

"Don't listen to her, kain ka pa."

Inabot ko sakanya yung plato na may lamang pulutan. Nginitian naman niya ako pero hindi na kumain ulit. "Saan tayo sa birthday mo?"

Bigla ko lang naalala na birthday na ni Kesha next next week. Pero malakas yung kutob ko na maagang ice-celebrate yung birthday niya kasi magiging busy na talaga kami sa mga susunod na araw.

"Next Sunday. As always sa bahay, duh!"

Inirapan pa ako eh nagtatanong lang naman. b***h talaga. Kesha came from a very rich family, her father is the Health and Welfare Minister while her mother is the Women government minister of the country. Kaya sa bahay, este sa mansyon nila lagi ginaganap yung private party niya.

"Anong gusto mong regalo?" Raqi asked.

"Kahit ano," sagot naman ni Kesha.

"Pwede na ba yung lupa?" I asked. Kumunot naman yung noo ni Kesha tapos nag-isip saglit. "Wow, ba't di mo pa samahan ng bahay para house and lot na?" pinipigilan ko naman yung tawa ko habang tumatayo. Inabot ko yung halaman sa may veranda then walked towards them.

"Pwede na ba 'to?" I showed her the plant pot.

"Gago ka," binato niya naman ako ng tissue kaya nagtawanan kaming lahat.

The next few days were spent through rehearsals. Doble yung pagod ko kasi dala-dalawang rehearsal yung kailangan kong attendan. Hirap pa rin akong i-contact si Soo Hyun pero nagtetext naman siya minsan.

"This is good, really good."

One of the producers complimented the final version of the song. We've been working on it for weeks and it feels good na nagustuhan siya ng mga tao dito sa kumpanya. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako mas napagod, kung sa paggawa nung kanta o sa pag-iwas kay Nathan. Mula song writing, recording, practice at pati sa photoshoot ng album cover parang may sakit kaming nakakahawa dahil todo iwasan talaga. Napansin na nga din ng ibang managers at pinagsabihan kami na ayusin namin kung ano mang nangyayari dahil hindi pwede 'yon kapag nagpe-perform na.

"Congratulations to you two," Sir Leo hugged us both. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Nathan pero agad siyang umiwas ng tingin. I raised my brow but immediately smiled when another producer shook my hands to congratulate me.

The song would be released in three days at kasama na sa plano yung pagla-live namin ni Nathan for promotion kaya nag-excuse na kami agad para maaga kaming matapos. Dumiretso kami sa isa sa mga studio. He was about to sit on the sofa nang hinila ko siya sa braso.

"Let's make this clear," I displayed my b***h face and looked him in the eye. "I know that you didn't ask to be in this situation, but so am I. So if we want to make this work, we need to talk."

"Sorry," nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nang umagree na siya.

We fixed our faces and expressions first bago sinimulan ang live. We sat side by side and greeted our fans. We followed the script given by the management, tapos kanya-kanya na ng adlib. After almost two hours, pinatay ni Nathan yung phone at halos sabay na nawala yung ngiti sa mga mukha namin.

"Una na'ko," he just nodded at tuloy tuloy na akong lumabas sa pinto.

I still have time kaya nagpahatid ako sa driver papunta sa mall, I'm perfectly in disguise kaya confident akong pumasok sa book store at binilhan si Kesha ng libro. She's very well off she doesn't need more expensive gifts.

Dumiretso na ako sa GreyHouse dahil madilim na rin. Naabutan ko naman silang nagpe-prepare ng hapunan. After eating dinner, hindi na ako nakasama nang manood pa sila ng movies sa Netflix. I have an early appointment tomorrow because Nathan and I will do guesting in an early morning talk show. I sent a text message to Soo Hyun pero hindi ko na nahintay yung reply niya dahil sa inaantok na rin ako.

I woke up the next morning because of the continuous ringing of my phone. Nang makitang si Soo Hyun ang tumatawag, tumayo ako kaagad at dumiretso sa banyo.

"Baby!"

Abot tenga yung ngiti ko habang nakasandal sa pinto. I missed him, ngayon lang niya ako natawagan kasi madalas ako yung tumatawag tapos hindi naman niya nasasagot.

"I miss you," I can hear the longing in his voice. I miss him too pero ito yung pinili naming trabaho eh, kaya hindi maiiwasan na mawalan kami ng oras sa isa't isa.

"Kailan ka ba uuwi dito?"

"Next week love, matatapos na rin kami dito."

We talked some more pero tinatawagan na ako ni Miss Diane kaya naalala kong may maaga pala akong appointment.

"Love, I have something to tell yo--"

"Baby, I really need to go now. Hinaharass na'ko ng managers," halos sabay kaming nagsalita pero dahil nagmamadali na talaga ako at kailangan ko pang mag-ayos, I needed to end the call.

"Okay," after saying our 'I love yous' pinatay ko na ang tawag at nag-ayos na ng sarili.

I chose to wear a Tie dye halter top paired with mom jeans. I also wear a Chanel ribbon as belt, a Chanel Premier chain watch and round locket ring for accessories. I rode a different car dahil sa H&H ang diretso nila Kesha while I'll go straight sa studio kung saan ang interview. Since medyo late na ako, I didn't have time to talk to the people in the backstage at dumiretso nalang sa set.

"So how's working with each other?"

Nagngitian muna kami ni Nathan bago sumagot sa female host. The questions are already given to us yesterday kaya scripted na din ang mga sagot. Nathan and I are also extra touchy with each other dahil instructions ng management na mag spark ng issue about us for good publicity.

After almost two hours of interviews and mini activities sa set ng talk show, kinailangan na naming magpaalam dahil may radio interviews pa kaming kailangan attendan. After that, sa noontime talk show naman. Full ang schedule namin specially saturday ngayon at day-off bukas.

Almost 10 pm na nang makauwi ako sa GreyHouse, after the guesting dumiretso pa kami sa H&H for final rehearsal. Hindi ko na naabutang gising sila Kesha dahil maaga pa kaming pupunta sakanila bukas kaya siguro maaga din silang natulog. After taking a bath, lumabas ulit ako sa sala para balutin yung regalo ko kay Kesha. I tried calling Soo Hyun pero hindi pa rin siya sumasagot kaya tinext ko nalang.

After gift wrapping the book, I was about to sleep already when I received a text message from Soo Hyun.

From: Baby

I love you.

To: Baby

Miss me already? Haha

Natawa naman ako when he replied tinatanong pa ba 'yan? We were just exchanging text messages dahil 'yon lang ang kaya ng signal. He was telling me about how one of the cast hurt himself while doing an act but I guess sa sobrang pagod hindi ko na namalayang nakatulog na ako.

Kinabukasan, maaga kaming lahat nagising. I checked my phone and saw that Soo Hyun sent me an I love you so I texted him back. I just wore a black jumpsuit na may hanggang sikong sleeves. I partnered it with a black Ryker slide sandals and my Navy tumbler bag. Casual lang talaga ang outfit dahil hindi naman formal yung party ni Kesha.

Their limousine fetch us from the house and after almost an hour, nakarating na kami sa mansyon nila. May mga tables and party decors na sa may garden at may mga event coordinators and staff na din na nag-aayos. We walked towards their front door nang makasalubong naming ang dad niya.

"Dad!"

Kesha exclaimed then run towards her father. Tito Bernard also greeted us at inutusang sa loob nalang muna ng bahay tumambay. Unti-unti nang dumadating yung mga kamag-anak ni Kesha kaya halos hindi na siya makaupo sa dami ng binabati. When the clock ticks at 12pm, nagsimula na ang party. The foods are great tapos nakakatawa pa yung video na ipinalabas habang nagme-message ang mga bisita. It's a video of Kesha when she was younger. Bata palang pasaway na siya.

But the highlight of the party was the opening of gifts, halos nabuksan na ni Kesha lahat ng regalo nang abutan siya ni Tito Bernard at Tita Eunice ng isang susi. Napalingon ang lahat sa may garage nang bigla itong bumukas at bumungad sa'min ang isang pulang sports car.

"Why does she look like she won a lottery or something?" I asked as we saw Kesha run towards the car.

"True. She got better cars than that," Sassy added.

"That's a Lykan HyperSport, the most expensive car used in Fast and Furious movies," Leina answered. Napatango-tango naman kami ni Sassy.

"And with her family's wealth, I bet my life that that's the exact same car used in the movie," Raqi explained.

Napanganga naman kami lahat. Kaya pala, that must have cost millions of dollars. Spoiled talaga 'to si Kesha.

We were supposed to go back home pero si Kesha ginamitan kami ng birthday card kaya wala kaming choice kung hindi mag-sleepover. I just finished taking a bath ng maisipan kong mag-check ng phone. Wala namang messages si Soo Hyun kaya nag-check na lang ako ng i********:. Ng-post na pala sila Sassy ng pictures, I'll search my gallery maya-maya para mabati din si Kesha online.

"Anong gusto niyong midnight snacks?" Kesha asked.

"Pizza and Chi---"

Lumapit naman agad sa'kin sila Leina nang huminto ako sa pagsasalita at bigla kong mabitawan ang phone.

"Erina, bakit?"

Hindi ko na alam kung sinong nagtanong pero agad kong pinulot ulit yung phone para makita ng malinaw yung litrato. Nakitingin na rin sila kaya pare-pareho kaming tulala.

"Baka scene lang yan sa drama nila Erina," napalingon ako kay Raqi nang magsalita siya.

She's right. Ano naman kung nakuhanan silang naghahalikan ni Suzy di ba? For sure kasama lang 'to sa mga eksena na kailangan nilang kuhanan at para publicity na rin. Pinapalaki lang ng mga fans at sini-ship sila dahil sila nga ang magkatambal sa drama. Eksena lang 'yan Erina...... I beg my heart to stop hurting and my brain to stop overthinking. Hindi ako lolokohin ni Soo Hyun.

I tried to calm myself then smiled. Pero agad ding nawala yung ngiti ko when I scrolled up. Magkaibang litrato iyon na inedit at pinagtabi. Yung isa ay litrato nilang dalawa na ipinost ni Suzy sa i********: niya. At yung pangalawa ay magkasama sila sa isang pet shop. The fans are claiming na nagde-date ang dalawa after shooting. May mga nagco-comment din na magkaibang tao at pareho lang daw sila ng suot.

But I knew better. Ganon siguro kapag mahal mo. Kahit may takip ang mukha, at kahit medyo malabo alam kong si Soo Hyun 'yon. Alam na alam ko kung paano siya tumindig. I knw his body shape. I knew everything about him.

Kaya pala hindi man lang ako magawang kamustahin. May iba na pala siyang inaasikaso.