Taking Chances

Fork in the Road

Sarah was in the record company to talk about the music video launch when she saw the news bit.

Direk Coy, Kiara, and Nanay Mayette were with her. "Anong Instagram post???" Sarah repeated after the host. She was completely clueless on what he was talking about.

"Sorry..." Kiara murmured, her head hung low in embarassment. "Update lang naman yon sa popsters. Tsaka wala naman akong minention na nagkakamabutihan. Tingnan nyo pa o!"

"Hay nako! Kahit kelan ka talaga!" Mayette cried out, grabbing Kiara's phone to check the post.

"Sorry!!! Sorry Sars!"

"Why should we give a damn naman kung di totoo!" Direk Coy exclaimed. "Just let it fizzle out."

Kiara and Mayette exchanged knowing looks.

"Ibig sabihin..." Direk Coy began to realize that he was the only one in the room who didn't know. "Something was going on?"

The look on Kiara and Mayette's faces confirmed it all.

Direk Coy shrieked. He began gushing about how bagay they were.

"Hahahaha... Kaloka! Bakit di ko napansin!!! Kaya pala laging nagsstay si lalaki kahit tapos na ang part nya. Akala ko sa kin interesado e!"

"Ewww...." Kiara said.

"Hay... For a gay guy, you're pretty dense." Mayette said.

Sarah was just staring at the TV throughout the raucous. She wasn't thinking about the effect of the publicity on her. There was only one question that bothered her- that is what if Bernard found out.

"Hay nako. Makikita talaga ng baklitang yon." Mayette said, already imagining how she would scold the tv host when she sees him. "Don't worry anak. Ako na ang bahala. Wala yan. Madali lang yan."

"Ok po. Thanks Nay." She said quietly, but inside she was very troubled.

Matt called her to discuss the matter. She could hear the concern in his voice. "Ok lang Matt. Si Nay Mayette na ang bahala." She also told him that the reporter was just exaggerating Kiara's Insta post.

"Are you OK?" Matt was driving. He was on the way to a photo shoot.

"Yes I'm fine."

"Ok. I'll see you soon."

Throughout the day the thought stuck like a thorn on her throat.

What would he think?

How he would feel?

Would he care?

She hated herself for caring. She felt guilty that she didn't even give Matt a thought, that there was part of her that wished for Bernard to get jealous.

Sarah didn't have to wait long to find out about how Bernard felt. Later that night, when she was getting ready for bed he personally told her through a text message.

"Heard about you and Matt. Happy for you."

Sarah groaned. It was the first time he said a word to her since the day he left. She was so angry she felt that her heart was going to burst.

"Ganong kabilis mo lang talaga ko papakawalan no?"

She opened her cabinet and took out a box. It contained all the photos and letters from Bernard that she couldn't throw away before. Each one she tore to pieces. It was then that she promised herself. It was going to be the last time that she would cry for him.