Stalk

MABILIS na nagdaan ang mga araw, walang nagbago sa routine ko. Palagi ko pa rin binibisita ang mag-ama sa mansyon nila. Nag-enroll din ako sa isang exclusive gym para madagdagan ang mga ginagawa ko.

Ngayong araw, ang mag-amang Dustin at Thunder naman ang bibisita sa bahay namin. The timing was perfect because Rere will stay in the Philippines for 48 hours. Popsi has work today, but he will leave at six o'clock tonight. Wala pa si Ruru at nasa opisina pa siya.

Nakapaghanda na nga ako ng pagkain kanina. I had finished cooking cheesy baked macaroni and cupcakes for the two of them.

Rere and I went shopping earlier. Rere bought a truck toy for Thunder while I purchased a remote-controlled airplane toy. We bought the toys online and got them delivered the same day we ordered them.

From the second floor of our house, my eyes sparkled when I spotted the familiar Volvo car parked outside our tall gate. I hurriedly marched downstairs to welcome our special guests.

The first one who disembarked from the car was Dustin. He opened the back door, and from there, I saw his adorable son sitting in the baby car seat.

"Hi, boys!" I greeted them with a wide smile.

"T-tata!" Thunder automatically notices my voice.

Both of them were wearing white shirts, denim jeans, and black sneakers. But Dustin's shirt was a muscle shirt. On the other hand, Thunder was wearing a baseball cap in reverse. Ang gwapong bata!

"You are so gwapo!" I quickly kissed him on the cheek.

"Tata, mi-shu!"

My heart swells with his sweet words. His pronunciation wasn't really clear, but I understood what he just said.

"He said he missed you," Dustin clarified.

I smiled widely, "I miss you, too, cutie!" I said, brushing his chubby cheek.

Thunder's dimple deepened when he giggled.

I witnessed a smile spread across Dustin's face. "Mataas na naman ang energy ng batang 'to," he said.

I giggled, "Come on, let's go inside," I invited them inside.

Pagkapasok na pagkapasok namin sa loob, sinalubong agad kami nina Popsi at Rere. Pareho silang namangha nang makita ang mag-ama. Mabilis na lumapit si Dustin para magmano.

"Nandito na pala kayo!" Popsi welcomed them. "Ito na ba ang anak mo, Dustin? Ang gwapong bata! Kamukhang-kamukha mo," My father tattled.

Dustin smiled nervously, "Opo, anak ko nga po. Bud, what will you say to them?" he tilted his head to meet Thunder's gaze.

Thunder quickly waved his tiny hand before saying, "He-yow!"

"Matalinong bata!" Popsi praised.

Rere reached closer, "My name is Rere. What's your name?"

"Me!" Thunder answered quickly.

Nagtawanan kaming lahat. Napailing si Dustin at nahihiyang lumingon sa anak.

"No, bud. Tell them your name," udyok nito sa anak.

"T-thunder!"

Dustin proudly smiled. "That's my boy!"

Thunder quickly hugged his father while giggling. Nakangiti naman kaming lahat, tuwang-tuwa sa bibong anak ni Dustin.

"Hey, Thunder, we got you a gift," I said, showing him the toys wrapped in a colourful wrapper.

His eyes quickly glistened with happiness.

"Wow! Dada, g-wift!"

"Hindi naman siya iyakan?" Tanong ni Popsi.

"Noong medyo bata pa, iyakin po... pero ngayon, hindi na. Hindi rin mapili sa tao," Dustin answered.

"Masubukan nga,"

My eyes widened when Popsi swiftly carried Thunder on his strong arms. Thunder didn't cry, but we all saw him looking at his father, asking for help. I giggled at his reaction. Popsi sat on the couch and let Thunder sit on his lap.

"How old are you?" Popsi asked.

Thunder quickly raised two tiny fingers, "Two!" he answered.

Napangiti ako sa pag-uusap nila. Nakangiti si Popsi habang kumikislap pa ang mga mata. Paniguradong mayamaya lang ay kukulitin na naman niya si Rere para bigyan siya ng apo.

"I cooked nga pala," I tilted my head to the side and met Dustin's gaze.

"Talaga? Anong niluto mo?"

"Cheesy baked mac. I also baked cupcakes," I said proudly.

His lips automatically formed a cheeky smile, "Sakto, gutom na ako,"

"Ay, talaga? Wait, I'll bring them here,"

"I'll accompany you, Aphrodite,"

Ngumiti ako, "Sige,"

"Where are you two going?" Rere was so quick on asking.

"Kitchen. We'll serve the food here," I answered.

Rere nodded, "All right,"

I asked Dustin to get all the plates and utensils while I made the juice, as the baked mac was already in a secure glass receptacle. I stared at him, and I couldn't help but tell him my dilemma.

"Your brother really hates me," I said, making him glance at me.

"What? Hindi naman, 'a?"

I scoffed when I remembered vividly what his older brother told me.

"He does! He was like, I don't like you for my brother-blah, blah, blah," I even copied the way Dwight spoke to me that day.

Dustin amusingly chuckled. "He said that?"

"Yes! Remember when I told you he cornered me in the bathroom at your mansion?" I snapped.

His lips parted a bit before he pressed his lips and sighed. "I remembered. That day, I found out what happened to you,"

"See? He really hates me! What should I do to get your brother's favour? It's not that I should, but I hate it when people hate me for nothing. I don't see my bashers and haters all the time, so I wasn't really bothered about them. But your brother, we always see each other..."

"Make him fall for you, then,"

My stomach swooped for no reason.

"Eww, no! Tin, are you serious?"

He shook his head as he chuckled.

"Nagbibiro lang ako, sa akin ka lang," he possessively said.

I could feel my cheeks burning with his response. "A-ano nga gagawin ko?"

He sighed. "If he pisses you off, annoy his ass, too."

"Eh?!"

Dustin gave me a lop-sided smile. "Give him the same energy, Aphrodite. That's the best way to make him shut up."

I nodded innocently, "Thanks. I'll take note of that."

Bumalik kami sa living room bitbit ang mga pagkain. We caught Thunder dancing to the tune of Baby Shark while Rere and Popsi watched him fondly.

"Ang bibong bata!"

"Pepsi!" Thunder uttered, pointing at Popsi.

"Did he just call you Pepsi?" I asked my father.

"I told him to call me Popsi, but he can't just say it properly," he said, chuckling.

Thunder stopped dancing and crawled up on his father's lap. Hinihingal ito sa kasasayaw kaya pinainom muna siya ng tubig.

"Ano nga ulit pangalan ko?" Popsi asked Thunder.

"Pepsi!"

We all laughed.

Umiling si Popsi, "Mali. Popsi ang pangalan ko."

"Pepsi!" Thunder confidently said.

Huminga nang malalim si Popsi pero nakangiti naman. "Pop..."

"Pop,"

Inosenteng sinundan ni Thunder ang bibig ni Popsi.

"Si,"

"Si!"

"Okay, sabihin mo-Popsi!"

"Pepsi!" Thunder exclaimed proudly.

Popsi grunted in disappointment. But our laugh ensued as we were all amused with Thunder's cuteness. Dustin and I talked seriously. I told him about the details of how my life went in Sweden. Marami akong kinwento sa kaniya na hindi ko pa nasasabi simula noong bumalik ako.

It was almost six in the evening when we decided to end the day. Dustin waved his hand and smiled at us, silently watching his son finish saying goodbye to us.

"I'll see you again, Thunder, makulit!" Rere said and hugged this cute little boy. Thunder just giggled loudly.

"Bye-bye, Tata!" Matunog ko siyang hinalikan sa pisngi bago ko maingat na sinarado ang pinto.

"Drive safely!" I ensued, waving my hand at them.

Nakangiti akong pinanood mawala sa mga paningin namin ang sasakyan nila. Mga ilang sandali pa at si Popsi naman ang sumunod na umalis para pumasok sa trabaho. Noong sumapit ang alas-otso, hindi na ako kumain ng dinner at busog pa ako.

It was ten in the evening when Rere knocked on my bedroom door and said, "Gummy bear, I'm going somewhere tonight. Kasama ko ang mga kaklase ko noong college. Will you be okay here alone?"

My eyes laid on him. I was reading the Sweetest Redemption book when he barged into my room. Bumangon ako at binitawan ang libro.

"I already texted Ruru and asked him if he was about to go home. He answered yes. Okay lang ba kung aalis na ako? Hindi naman ako magtatagal. I'll go home early, don't worry,"

"Rere, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me. I'm a big girl now," I guarantee.

He sighed, "Are you sure? Huwag na lang kaya ako umalis? I'll just text my classmates to-"

"No! Go, explore and enjoy the night with your friends!" I interjected.

"Are you sure?"

Napasampal ako sa noo, "Rere, minsan ka lang lumabas na kasama ang mga kaibigan mo. Don't missed this opportunity, 'kay?"

"Wow, gummy bear, coming from you?" His voice is full of teases.

Binato ko siya ng unan na agad niyang nasapo at binalik sa kama ko. I glared at him, "Leave, Rere! I want some peace!" I said traightforwardly.

"Ito na, aalis na, nanginginig pa!" He quickly kissed me on the forehead before running away. I thought he already left, but he walked in again and said, "I love you, gummy bear!"

I shook my head as my lips parted for a cheeky smile. I grabbed the book and continued reading the part where the male character realized he was already in love with the female character, which is his fuck buddy.

Sa huli, I didn't finish reading the book. Masyado siyang maganda at ayoko pa tapusin agad kaya pinagpabukas ko na lang dahil baka mangulila agad ako.

Since sleep hadn't caught me, I decided to scroll through the Instagram app. Nang umuwi ako galing Sweden, nakapagdesisyon ako na bumalik ulit sa social media pero bagong account na ang gamit ko. Nandyan pa rin naman ang main account ko, sadyang hindi lang active.

Before I decided to abandon my account, I changed the location from the Philippines to Sweden. Para kahit hindi ko sabihin, alam nilang nasa ibang bansa ako.

The guilt of leaving my fans and the people who helped me throughout my hardships gripped me. If I could return to the past, I would make more moments with them.

I miss interacting with my fans. I miss hanging out with my manager and road manager, ate Dani.

Iyong mga simpleng pag travel namin sa iba't-ibang probinsya kapag may mall shows ako, 'yong batuhan namin ng mga kapwa ko artista ng linya sa tuwing may taping at shooting kami, I miss those days.

However, despite missing those days, I am still undecided about going back. I am still reluctant. I still don't have the courage to go back to the things I once loved.

Hindi pa talaga ako handa na bumalik kaya habang hindi pa ako bumabalik, I am trying to live my normal life to the fullest.

I love living like a normal person. Iyong tipong kahit lumabas ako at pumunta sa mall, walang makapapansin sa akin, walang lilingon, walang lalapit.

Noong nasa Sweden ako, walang mga mata ang humahabol sa akin... walang mapanghusgang mga tao ang naghihintay sa magiging mali ko.

Hindi sila sobrang namangha sa itsura ko't marami ang magaganda roon. Most of the people in Sweden have blonde and ginger hair with blue or green eyes. My face was considered common in Sweden.

Bumuntong hininga ako. I spun to my side, and my face encountered the huge window with hush white curtains.

I don't know what came to my mind, but I found myself typing a man's name on the search bar. My heart skipped a beat upon seeing the name on the top of the search bar. I bit my bottom lip as I clicked his profile.

Dwight Altamirano
@Dwight_01

Architect
D&A legacy founder-CEO
D&A Auto Care founder-owner
🇵🇭-ᴜꜱᴀ-ᴅᴇRacing Driver

6 posts 14.49k followers 231 following

All of his businesses are tagged in his bio. He has an automotive business and a successful architecture firm. I didn't know he was an architect. But I was more surprised to find out that he was also a racing driver. Damn!

I immediately clicked his display picture to view his image clearly.

It was a stolen picture of him. His back was leaning on a jet-black car, and he was wearing a black three-piece suit. One of his hands was holding the button of his open coat.

Dwight doesn't have any highlights. He has no recent posts, but he has a few old posts that were posted years ago.

All of his posts consist of random things, such as coffee, but his veiny and huge hands are visible in the frame. He also posted a beach view with a beautiful sunset and a photo of his wide back while he was on the top of a mountain.

Does he love hiking?

He has another post, but this time, he is inside a car, wearing a racer suit and a helmet that only shows his eyes. The photo was shot on the race track.

I unconsciously bit my bottom lip as I stared at this particular post.

When I first saw him in person, I already acknowledged that he was really attractive. He looks so dashing.

Dwight's face card and aura suit the elusive, reclusive, uptight and shrewd damn billionaire in every romance book. He looks like a book character that came to life.

I checked his tags and got excited when I saw a few photos. Halos naroon ang mukha ni Dustin at ni Duke. May mga travel photos sila, locally at internationally, kasama ang mga pinsan at kapatid niya. But most of the tagged photos were shot in a bar.

May picture ang magkakapatid sa bar kung saan akbay nila ang isa't-isa at pare-parehong basa. Nasa gitna si Duke habang nasa magkabilang gilid niya sina Dustin at Dwight. Nakadila si Dustin, malaki ang ngiti ni Duke at si Dwight... seryoso ang mukha niya habang may hawak na alak ngunit nakabukas naman ang suot niyang polo kung saan nakabalandra ang katawan niya sa kamera.

Sunod-sunod ang naging paglunok ko. Suddenly, I felt my throat dry. I felt the need for water. I shook my head repeatedly to erase the dirty thoughts inside my brain.

Rashaiah, umayos ka!

I immensely stalked him more.

Dwight has three more tag photos. Two of them were graduation photos outside Stanford University in California. I quickly spotted Dwight in the photo. He studied at Stanford University! Wow, he's really interesting.

The last tag photo was a faceless rugby team. Walang mukha pero bakit naka tag si Dwight? I clicked the photo and saw that in each blurry headshot, one of them was Dwight! This man is also a rugby player!

The longer I stalked him, the better I knew about him, and the deeper he became my interest.

I was about to leave the app when a post from his grid caught my attention. I didn't notice this one earlier. I clicked the photo and stared at it.

The photo was shot from paskuhan 3 years ago. Dwight was with a friend... and a girl-not his cousin, but a girl.

Maybe his girlfriend? I don't think so. They looked awkward here-like they didn't like the idea of them being touched by each other. She's pretty, though. She has beautiful olive skin and dark long hair.

"Oh, fuck!" I loudly cursed when I accidentally clicked the heart button below. "Damn, mahuhuli pa yata ako."

I immediately unlike the photo and exit the page. I was about to turn off the wifi when a notification arrived. I opened it only to go back to Instagram. Natulala ako nang makita ang lumabas sa skrin.

Dwight_01 requested to follow you.

My lips parted as my whole system was shocked to the core.

Oh, hell no!

What should I do?!

Deep breaths, Rara. Trembling, I decided to click the accept button with my eyes closed. I only opened my eyes when the notification suddenly flashed.

Dwight_01: Stop stalking me.

I could feel my cheeks burning upon reading his message.

Paano niya nalaman?!

I was about to reply when my phone beeps again. Dwight sent me a second message.

Dwight_01: We'll talk tomorrow.

Again?!

Ngumuso ako't nagtipa nang sasabihin.

Rareriroru: Ano po pag-uusapan natin?

Dwight_01: About you stalking me.

My trembling lips parted.

Rareriroru: I just clicked your name accidentally!

I lied, of course.

Dwight_01: We'll talk tomorrow. Sleep, Rashaiah.

The green dot above Dwight's name quickly disappeared. Nag offline na siya.

I grabbed a pillow, covered my face and screamed with the pillows on. My eyes watered as my cheeks burned in embarrassment and disbelief.

Hindi ako pupunta bukas!

Hindi na ako magpapakita sa kaniya!

I suddenly feel myself slowly drifting to sleep, thinking about how to deal with him from now on

:)