THE DAY HE BECAME RUTHLESS: The Metaphorical Series #2

FORTY THREE

My desired result from clearing up misconceptions with Dean was to lighten my load aside from fostering a peace of mind on both sides. It did a bit, ngunit may puwang pa rin sa loob kong hindi ako mapalagay kung para saan.

I should be asleep after the exhausting day. My body's weary and my eyes are still puffy. Ngunit tumakas ang antok nang mapagtanto ang mga gagawin bukas.

Malabo ang pagkakaintindi ko kay Marcus sa kabilang linya habang panay gulo sa akin ng mga tanong. I came here, already drawing up my ammos of explanations. But what comes after now that it's done? Iyon ang hindi ko pinaghandaan o pumasok sa man lang sa isip. Telling me to stay I think is not enough for us to be okay yet.

I wonder what kind of definition of enough that should be knocked into my sense. Ba't palaging hindi sapat para sa akin?

"How about their itineraries? They have to be in Cebu the day after tomorrow para naman makapag rehearse sila."

"That's settled, Marcus."

The phone's in loud speaker. I twist the faucet to tone down the loud rush of water. Naghihilamos ako habang kausap siya. My eyes still stung and puffy from the waterworks a while back.

"Okay good. God!" He groaned. "The tix are sold out! Some were selling cheap tickets which were fake ones! Iyon ang inaasikaso namin hanggang ngayon dito sa Vinyl."

He sounded as stress as how I'm imagining him right now while lathering the foam wash in my face.

"And I heard gossips. Mabuti na lang at wala masyadong sinasabi si Jaillin sa ambush interview. Everybody's into Dean's statement so that's what they're trying to catch like a food for their dinner. Tell Dean na lutuin na niya mismo ang pahayag niya nang makain na ng mga media na 'to."

Doon ay tuluyan ko nang pinatay ang gripo. Tinitigan ko ang cellphone na parang gusto ko na itong sumabog.

"What about it?" The idea has already been presented to me but I need the specific.

"A lot of pictures...caught you two canoodling at MOA's entrance."

"Canoodling?" Napangiwi ako. " That's an exaggeration!"

Marahas kong hinablot ang face towel sa gilid at tinapik sa aking mukha. Imagining myself canoodling in a public place, goodness gracious! It had me curse outloud!

I don't want my showbiz career to start from, among of the many ways to boost fame, a scandal or being a third party of a make-believe romance between a multimedia sweetheart and a rockstar!

"How people love to sensationalize..."  aniya nang kinuha ko ang cellphone at dinala sa kwarto.

"Anyways, as a P.A, Ruth, you also have to work with his reputation here. Not that he cared but, people idolize him so he has to set as an example to the masses. That scandal of him sniffing cocaine with Wilmer under the table?  Baby Jesus in a manger! But I hope that would be the last one. That was so not true."

"I'm aware."

I did not only hear about that news but had also witnessed the verging doom of the band's career.  Maraming kumagat sa balitang iyon. Turns out, an impersonator was responsible for that whole shebang na agaran namang sinampahan ng kaso.

The curse of having too much blessing is the companionship of disgraces. Nag-iingat ka na nga, nadidisgrasya pa rin. Pinapangalagaan mo na nga ang pangalan mo, may mga naninira pa rin. And the list goes on and on...

"Na-inform ko na sina Edgar at Curtis.  They'd cooperate when it comes to the security. I'm sure sa airport pa lang ay may dudumog na."

Marami pa siyang mga bilin bago tinapos ang tawag.