Most of the next chapters will be in Maine's Point of View. I hope it's okay with you..

Maine's

Before I click the post button of the picture that has my typewritten Open letter, I made sure that whatever I will do, I'm responsible for the outcome. I know there's no turning back.

Once I clicked it, I did not bother re-reading it. I wrote it the way I wanted to convey my message to my fans and especially Josh. Ayoko ng magpaasa ng mga tao only to frustrate them in the end. Might as well drop the bomb now than wait till more casualties emerge.  I'm also fed up  with the management's insistence na palabasing may relasyon kami kahit naman from the start, I made it clear that I don't like the man. And never would I like him. Kaya lang malakas siya sa taas kaya nasunod ang gusto niya. I did not comment though on any issues regarding our relationship dahil I believe na the best way to deny the issue is to keep my mouth shut. Pero overboard na talaga ang Josh na yun and he should learn his lesson for messing up with me. I felt freedom, instead of fear when I posted that Open Letter. To hell with the management. Let them handle the outburst of the fans tutal sila naman ang may gusto niyan kaya ko nagawa iyon OL. Not me. And never will be me.

***

"Pat, I need to have an interview about this." Sabi ko kay Pat.

"Dapat lang. Ischedule ko kay Kuya Butch."

"Good. I know na may ilang di naniniwala dahil it was only posted in social media. Mabuti siguro kung personal kong sasabihin at babasahin ang Open Letter na yun."

"Tama. About the management, nagpatawag sila ng emergency meeting. And Josh, ayun nowhere in sight. Malamang napahiya na. Ewan ko na lang kung makakalabas pa siya dahil sa kahihiyan. Serves him right. Masyadong mayabang."  Nangiti ako kay Patty.

"Balitaan mo ako Pat. And make sure yun interview is not known sa management. Uunahan ko silang maglabas ng statement then after that, I'm off to hiatus."

"Sure my dear. Anything for you. So get ready. Have to go, I'll do my assignment as soon as possible." Tumayo na si Pat at niyakap ko siya.

"Mag-ingat ka girl." Iyon lang at inihatid ko na siya sa pinto.

Pagbalik ko, RJ was sitting on the couch looking at me.

"Babe, are you sure about it?"

"Never been so sure."

"Good. So maybe we should celebrate."

"Saan naman?"

"Somewhere they won't know."

"I like that baby. But I guess that would have to wait. It's to early for that. But we can go sa Manila Bay." Yumakap ako sa kanya. It's been like this since we came back from Palawan. Lumalabas kami pero discreet. As in total disguise. Buti na lang magaling akong magtago. And besides, malayo ako sa itsurang artista sa kapal ng salamin ko sa mata.

****

Today is my Interview.

We chose RJ's restaurant. He reserved one private room for us. Kumpleto kami, si Patty as my manager and my Lawyer, Atty. Magdalena Esmeralda.
We have discussed already na igigiit sa management na I was forced to cooperate sa kalokohan ni Josh and ng kanyang manager and whoever is behind him. Igigiit din ng abogado ko na wala sa kontrata na nakasaad na pwede akong pilitin na magkaroon ng boyfriend na labag sa kalooban ko for the purpose of my stardom or anybody's.

"Just tell the truth Maine." Sabi ni Atty. Esmeralda.

"I will."

"Kaya mo yan Maine." Si Pat.

I saw RJ standing at the door smiling at me. I know he is there for me kaya nga I am confident that I can pull this off.

Dumating na si Kuya Butch. Siya ang mag-interview sa akin.  He is not affiliated na sa GMA does, alam kong di siya nagsabi about this secret meeting.

Inayusan ako ni Paolo. Inaasar niya ako kay RJ. Tinatawanan ko lang. It's not welcomed now. Saka na. Ursula was there also to give me a hands up. And I guess I can do this.

"So ready ka na?" Tanong ni Kuya Butch.

"Never been ready." Nakatutok ang camera na kontak ni Kuya Butch. This was a secret interview kaya indisclose ito sa other media people. Si Kuya lang ang nakakaalam. And it's a priviledge sa kanya that I have granted this interview with him.

"So kamusta ka na?" First question.

"I'm okay. As a matter of fact I'm happy today."

"Good. So about sa Kidnapping incident, is it true na hindi ka talaga nakidnap?"

"I was not kidnapped. Hindi po totoo ang press release ni Mr. Marco about it. I went to Boracay for a personal vacation, and unfortunately, I encountered a disrespectful citizen who tried to harass me. It's good that a friend was there to my rescue."

"Oh! Kamuntik ka ng mabastos?"

"Actually Kuya Butch, nabastos na ako, buti na lang dumating yun friend ko."

"Okay. I'm glad you're okay na."

"Salamat po Kuya."

"Anyway, about doon sa press release ni Josh na may Mutual Understanding na kayo. And he said na nagselos ka doon sa ex girlfriend niyang si Julia kaya ka umalis at nagbakasyon. Totoo ba iyon?"

"Hindi po totoo iyon. We have no relationship. Wala po kaming mutual understanding, at lalong di po ako nagseselos kay Julia dahil wala po akong gusto kay Josh."

"Bakit kaya niya ipinagkakalat na may relasyon kayo?"

"Hindi ko po alam sa kanya. We are workmates, pero that's it. At the end of the day, kanya-kanya na po kami."

"How about being friends? Magkaibigan ba kayo?"

"Hindi rin po. Sinabi ko na po sa open letter ko iyon na wala kaming kinalaman sa isa't-isa. Hindi ko po alam kung bakit niya pinalalabas ang mga bagay na iyon."

"Do you have any intention na maging boyfriend siya?"

"Wala po."

"Do you have a boyfriend outside showbiz?" Natahimik ako. What will I say? Ayokong pag-usapan ang tungkol kay RJ dahil alam kong di siya showbiz na tao. And given yung previous relationship namin na Bodyguard/Boss I don't think it's good.

Napatingin ako kay RJ. He smiled. And then he motioned me to answer by nodding and giving me a thumbs up.

Tumingin muna ako kay Kuya Butch.

"Yes Kuya. I have boyfriend. And hindi si Josh iyon."

"Wow! Scoop yan. Ang elusive actress, may livelife pala. Thank you at sa akin mo unang sinabi."

"Walang anuman po."

"Teka, non-showbiz ba o artista rin?"

"Non-showbiz po. I don't want to disclose his name dahil ayoko pong madamay siya dito. He deserves his privacy."

"I see. Anyway, what are your plans?"

"Maybe take a rest. I've been busy for the last three years since this stardom. Siguro naman po I deserve this privacy."

"Of course. Goodluck sa bakasyon. Pero last question na Maine, ang management, what do you expect from them?"

"Si Atty. Esmeralda na po ang bahala. And of course my manager Patricia. For now, what comes, comes. Kung parusahan po ako for doing this, I would be open arms to accept."

"Thank you Maine. I wish you well. And I wish na if iaannounce mo na ang kasal mo sa non-showbiz boyfriend mo, sa akin mo ibabalita ng una ha?"

"Of course, Kuya Butch. Salamat din po."

Matapos ang interview ay nagsalo kami sa isang masarap na hapunan. Care of my boyfriend siyempre. But then I asked Pat to pay dahil business ito ni RJ. At di porke boyfriend ko siya ay pwede na ang libre.

Yun off cam namin with Kuya Butch was more on kwentuhan na lang. Iupload niya sa YouTube channel niya ang interview. And he promised na blow-by-blow ang ipapakita. Walang cut.

I felt liberated. Finally, di na ako madidiktahan ni Josh at ng kung sino. I want to do my work without anybody putting knife in my neck forcing me to do what they want. Ayoko ng dinidiktahan. I am the captain of my ship.

A/N No proofread.

Goodnight na po. Bukas po ulit.