Whisper of Virtouso (Love Material Series #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX - PART TWO/TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX - PART TWO/TWO

[Ly! Sikat na ang si Baby Zack mo!] bungad ni Shainny na kakasagot ko lang sa video-call na'min.

"Mas din ang honey Lance mo!" I rolled my eyes.

[Ba't ang hot niya!] nakisali pa si Erica sa pang-aasar sa akin.

"Hindi ba hot si Tero?!" ganti ko.

"Stop. H'wag bastos. Malapit na kasal kaya tumigil ka na!] inis sabi ni Erica.

During our video call, I stayed quiet, feeling the weight of unanswered questions hanging between us. Since he left the Philippines, I've been in the dark about how he's doing and what his life is like there. I can't stop wondering about his experiences, his challenges, and if he's settling into his new life.

All I know is that his group has broken up, and that news hits me hard. Even though I understand why they had to disband, I can't shake the feeling of guilt, like somehow I'm to blame for what happened to them.

[Lyy! Balikan mo na siya. Sayang ang lahi niya,] katyaw pa ni Erica. [Kung ako sa'yo Lyy, papalahi ako ulit. Tingnan mo ang inaanak ko, sobrang gwapo!]

Putangina nila! Kung hindi ko lang katabi ang anak ko ngayon, punong-puno ng mura ang maririnig nila sa akin.

[Malaki ba?] natatawang tanong ni Shainny na makahulugang.

[Hoy Shain!] nakangiting tugon ni Erica. [Ang alin ba?]

[Ang puso niya.] sagot ni Shainny.

"Magsitigil nga kayo." umirap ako ng mata sa kanila. "Oo, malaki. 'Yong sa ex-honey mo ba, maliit?"

[Nice. Nice. 'Di mo sure!] pabiro sabi ni Shainny. [Ka-badtrip, naramdaman ko lang sa kamay noon]

Ang gago niya!

Kaya siya nasasaktan sa sarili niyang katarantaduhan. Hanggang ngayon, hindi na sila nagkabalikan ni Lance. May idea kami kung bakit sila naghiwalay pero hindi na'min alam ang buong nangyari.

"Teka lang. Nakita niyo si Kerson?" I suddenly realize came to my mind.

Napatawa na lang ng mahina si Erica, halatang ayaw magsalita. Alam kasi ni Erica ang nangyari sa amin ni Kerson noon kaya iba ang reaksyon niya ngayon.

[Si gaga, laging huli sa balita. Pero sa 'pag sa titi, unang-una sa pila.] sagot naman ni Shainny. [Baka pati kasal ni Erica, kalimutan mo,]

Biglang nailang si Erica dahil sa naging sagot ni Shainny.

[Buksan mo kaya ang T.V. niyo, duh!]

Shainny's words caught me off guard, prompting me to end the call abruptly and switch on the TV. Confusion and a touch of nervousness crept over me as I tried to figure out why he would be on television. Was he pursuing acting instead of his expected path as a chef?

Since he left, his absence from Instagram left me clueless about his life. No updates, no stories-nothing. I didn't even know if he had a girlfriend or what he was up to. But I wasn't planning to spill everything about my life to him, especially the fact that we both now had kids. I didn't want to disrupt his life if he had moved on and potentially ruin any relationship he might have.

As the TV screen lit up, freezing momentarily, I was stunned by his transformed appearance. His muscles had visibly grown, his biceps defined. Clearly, he had been hitting the gym regularly. His hair was perfectly styled, accentuating his handsome features. There he was, dressed in a chef's uniform, looking even more attractive and self-assured than I remembered. It suited him perfectly, adding to his charm as he appeared on screen.