Foolish Sparks

Chapter 13: Trust

Eros POV

I savored the moment I had with Catherine and quickly noticed the differences on her face and body. Our faces were inches apart as we glared at each other. Mas humaba ang buhok niya kaysa noong kami pa. Napansin ko din na medyo pumayat siya.

I suddenly got worried. Is she eating right? Is she taking of herself well?

"Why do you keep insisting that I cheated on you?" sabi ko ng mariin.

Catherine looked tense. I felt like my voice sent shivers to her.

"Ha! Stop playing dumb! Kung hindi ka nag-cheat, paano na naging kayo na nang ilang araw, ha!? Don't tell me that your management decided for you two dahil noong awards night naghahalikan pa kayo!" sigaw niya sakin.

She saw that? Kapag nagagalit talaga siya, para siyang bata kung magsalita. Her voice sounds so high-pitched that I wanna laugh dahil para akong nakakita ng batang nagthro-throw ng tantrums. My jaw clenched as I try to suppress my laughter.

I find it ironic how I can still feel that and notice other things imbes na ang mga ang mga paratang niya ang pagtuunan ko ng pansin.

"It's true that I didn't cheat on you! I never even kissed her outside of our shootings noong tayo pa. Actually, our management did announce that we are together as a PR stunt. It's only kind of real because she has feelings for me..." sagot ko sakanya.

Nakita ko na medyo huminahon ang galit niya dahil sa paglambot ng mga mata niya. Pero nang magsalita siya uli, bumalik ang alab ng apoy sa buong mukha niya. She's so angry that her face was so flushed.

"Stop your fucking lies! Si Bernita bumisita daw siya sa condo ni Aeryn noon. Nandoon ka din daw! Siya naka-robe lang tapos ikaw naka-boxers lang nasa kama niya pa. Ano pang ibig sabihin noon, diba!? Everyone in the set was talking about it. Everyone rooted for you two to be together, you and her just seems so right!" she started with an angry tone pero sa huli ay humikbi siya.

A crying her is really my weakness. Without any hesitations, I pulled her in a warm embrace.

Really, Catherine Alfonso? You'd believe someone like Bernita, who's a known tabloid writer aside from doing supporting roles? Natatandaan ko nga na bumisita ang isang 'yun para ma-interview si Aeryn. But what he kept spreading wasn't true at all!

Nandoon lang kami sa living room ni Aeryn noon. I was even dressed in a formal long sleeves dahil galing ako sa isang photoshoot and Aeryn was clothed in a dress she wore dahil galing din siya sa isang guest shooting. Alam kong malala ang tama ni Bernita but I didn't know na ganoon kalaki ang saltik niya!

Damn that nosy bastard! Kung hindi exaggerated at manipulated ang version na pinagkakalat pala niya, none of the drama would've fucking happened. Catherine and I would still be together in peace. Our management would not have forced us to have PR stunts to cover up for the released pictures. I wouldn't have to tangle myself with Aeryn Almonte or with anyone beside Cath.

Shit!

"I can't believe you'd believe someone like him. Kaya ka ba nagpagalaw sa iba because you think it'll serve as revenge against me, huh? Kaya mo tinapos yung relasyon natin?" I said softly.

Wala siyang sinabi at humikbi pa ng mas matindi. She covered her face in my chest. Throughout the whole time, I kept on rubbing her back to comfort her further.

"And I hate myself so much dahil kahit alam kong nagtaksil ka sa akin at pinaghinalaan ang pag-ibig ko para sa'yo, you're still all I ever think about. I am still so deeply in love with you!" I said to her, tilting her still crying face to look at me.

Slowly, I wiped her tears habang mas huminaon siya. Wala na ding bakas ng galit o paghahamon sa kanyang mukha.

"I'm sorry." maliit niya na sabi. New tears threatened to fall down from her wide eyes but I kept on caressing her face.

We just stayed like that for a moment. Looking at each other's eyes, feeling the presence of each other. Kung sana sinabi niya lang sa akin what's really troubling her, we wouldn't have to go through all that. In the end, communication is really the key.

Then I couldn't help it. I kissed at her longingly, making up for the lost time. I missed her so fucking bad! I wasn't surprised when she kissed me back with the same intensity.

This is my love, Catherine Alfonso.

Sa mga nagdaan na buwan, nagpatuloy ang pagkikita namin ni Cath. We're rebuilding our relationship again, stronger than ever.

Ang pait ng mga ginawa niya sa akin ay madali kong nakalimutan dahil higit na mas matimbang doon ang pagmamahal ko sakanya.

I even rented a house na malapit lang sa subdivision kung saan ko binilhan ng bahay si Mama. She stayed there because it was near to her work and I would often visit there bago umuwi ng bahay. Minsan nga eh doon na din ako natutulog.

We needed to be extra careful dahil kapag nalaman ng paparrazi ang totoong relasyon namin, masisira lahat ng pangarap niya.

"You're not scared anymore when the paparazzi finds out about us, hmmm?" tanong ko sakanya.

Ang bahay na rinent ko ay isang bungalow lang. May kitchen ito, living room, 1 master bedroom, 1 guestroom and 1 common bathroom. Kung tuusin, kahit maliit ito, masyado pa itong malaki para sa aming dalawa.

There were very few items in here dahil hindi naman talaga kami nakatira dito. Although, it does take a lot of our time. May sofa lang sa living room at isang bed sa master bedroom. Mayroon ding kaonting groceries dahil mahilig magluto si Cath. There's also toiletries, of course.

We're both naked in our homey sofa, tangled with each other and only covered by a white blanket.

"Nope. I will choose you more than anything, anyway. Sorry sa mga nasabi ko dati dahil masyado akong nabulag ng galit ko..." maliit niyang sabi habang hinahaplos ang mukha ko.

I caught her hand and kissed it softly.

"Okay, then. But I won't make the same mistake. Alam ko na pangarap mo din ang maging successful sa industriya natin." I said slowly.

She smiled widely at me and nodded profusely.

"I'm slowly reaching it like you did." Cath said, with her eyes sparkling.

Yes, my love, you're slowly reaching your dreams and I won't let anything or anyone hinder you from having your happiness. You deserve all of it.

"If anything happens though, please trust me okay? Let me fight for us." I softly whispered as I started to kiss her neck once again.

"Yeah... I'll fight for us too, this time..." she uttered as she softly moaned, clearly affected from the way I kissed her.

I only stopped when we heard a phone ringing. Catherine pulled away from me a bit but let me cuddle her.

Knowing our situation, to protect both of our careers and future, Catherine isn't as outraged kapag tungkol sa amin ni Aeryn Almonte. Alam na kasi niya ang lahat - the management had us together for PR purposes and she wanted us to be 'real' because she had feelings for me.

Simula palang, alam niyang sira ako at mahal ko parin si Cath. Aeryn knew that yet she still kept on giving all her love for me...

Kaya naman nagui-guilty din ako. I couldn't have the guts to tell Aeryn that Catherine and I got back together dahil alam kong masasaktan siya. Sobrang swerte ko nalang dahil naiintindhan ni Cath 'yun. I don't plan to keep Catherine and I forever a secret, anyway.

I know I'm being unfair to Aeryn pero siya mismo, ginusto niyang may encounters at relasyon kami other than the PR that our management suggested. Minumulto din naman ako ng konsensya ko araw-araw kapag magkasama kami sa umaga pero mas matimbang talaga ang kagustuhan kong protektahan si Catherine.

If protecting Catherine means hurting and lying to Aeryn Almonte and everyone else, I'll gladly do it. I'll go to hell for her.

Inabot ko ang phone habang mas humigpit ang yakap ni Catherine sa akin. Huminga ako ng malalim bago ito sagutin.

Makahulugan at mabilisan kong tinignan uli ang phone bago ito tuluyan na sagutin:

Aeryn Almonte calling....