Foolish Sparks

Special Chapter: Gagong Leading Man

Eros POV

I was devastated in ways no one could ever imagine.

Puro bad publicity ng naka-direkta sa akin. Tinangalan din ako ng projects at endrosements, gaya nang ginawa kay Catherine. I did tell Aeryn that I'll be fine kung ako nalang pero bakit ganon, kaming dalawa ni Cath?

"Eros Marzan still mum about his cheating issues!"

"Eros Marzan gone in showbiz forever?"

"Why does everyone hate Eros Marzan right now?"

"The once loved Eros Marzan is who everyone wants to slap and kick right now. Breaking news!"

'Yan lang ang iilan na mga headlines ng showbiz news website tungkol sa akin. Those are the nicest, actually. Mas marami pa kasi ang mas masahol at mas masakit kaysa sa mga headlines na 'yan.

Ni hindi din ako makapag-air nang side ko dahil maliban sa pinagbawalan ang media na kumausap sa akin, it would just be so feral of me just to speak against her. Ako yung nang-gago, tapos ako pa yung malakas yung loob na sirain image niya. Tss. Di naman ata pwede 'yun. Masyado na 'yun.

Tinry kong i-contact nang ilang beses si Aeryn pero walang sumasagot. The management practically disowned me kaya naman kahit anong luhod at pagmamaka-awa ko sakanila, 'di ako binigyan ng pag-asa.

Amidst that darkness in my life was the reason behind it. It's funny because she causes both the darkness and lightness in my life. I wouldn't have it any other way, anyway.

"It's okay, Eros. Let's just accept it. That's her wrath..." malambing niyang sabi habang hinawakan ang mga kamay ko.

Mas hinigpit ko ang hawak ko sakanya as I closed my eyes. Damn, Cath, only your touch and voice can soothe everything I'm feeling right now. Kahit madilim ang panahon, nandyan ka naman para ilawin ito. You always make my life brighter. You are my light.

Kaya naman simula noon, nag-focus nalang muna ako sa business na nabili ko na galing sa ipon ko sa showbiz. Catherine finally moved in with me and my mother, too. We were happy living simply like that. Heck, I think I'd be happy living any life, just with Catherine Alfonso by my side.

Ngunit pagkatapos nang dalawang taon, nag-start ako gumawa ng mga Youtube videos. At first, it was only to advertise the small businesses I'm handling ngunit nahasa ako dito at iba't ibang vlogs na ang nagawa ko. Agad itong pumatok sa mga tao despite the way they still saw me in a negative light.

Dahil doon, nakabalik ako ng unti-unti sa showbiz along with Cath. We were not on the backlist anymore pero hindi na din ako ganoon hina-hype katulad nang dati. Marami parin mga bashings. Di ko na din naramdaman ang gaanong kasikatan dahil mixed reactions lagi ang public sa mga performances ko na supporting or guest roles na nga lang.

Along with that was Aeryn Almonte's sudden rise. Ibang level ng popularity dahil nasa UK pala siya para mag-model. Nag-hit na nga ang superhero movie niya na mutikan na daw umabot ng 1 billion tapos 'e may ganoon pa siya sa abroad. If anything, I am happy with how she's doing. She deserves all of it... she's good with her craft.

Laking gulat ko nalang nang napag-usapan ang pinost niyang litrato sa social media. I didn't see it because I was blocked from her but with all the showbiz news websites, it's everywhere.

"Di kaya..." si Catherine na mismo ang nag-hinala.

I kept mum about it as I stared at the kid in the photo. Mata... dimples... parang kamukhang kamukha nang akin. That child in the photo looks around 3 or 4, too. Kailan ba nang huli kami magkita ni Aeryn? Obviously, around that time too. There's no doubt about it.