Chapter 22

Loey

I clenched my fist as I watched him approach the girl he let go for another.

"Hey, it's really you," he said carefully when Primrose turned to look at him.

He pursed his lips when his eyes caught us. We just sat silently, observing what would happen. Liam returned his eyes to Primrose when she cleared her throat, getting his attention.

"Nice to see you again, Liam," her voice was so soft as if it became weak in front of him.

My heart started to beat in a harsh way that it hurts a bit, and I don't even want to know the reason behind that as I witnessed how she took a quick glance at me that made me want to drag her out of this place when a glint of pain flashed in her eyes.

Surely, she would look happy whenever she's with us, but she's still embracing her painful past and now, she's facing the ghost that stole the life in her eyes.

"I see, so you're the secret CEO of E Entertainment," Liam said and I could sense that there's bitterness in his voice.

She just nodded at him as a response.

"It seems like you're not comfortable with my presence anymore," he shrugged. "Why would you be, right? Still, I'm really glad to see you again after a year. Enjoy the night, Prim."

And just like that, he walked away without looking at us again. Well, it's better that way as he's not part of the group anymore since the day he decided to leave us like the others. I couldn't blame him though, still, it made a huge impact on all of us.

"You know Liam?" Kuya Eros asked.

She sat next to me and looked at him, "Yes."

He nodded slowly, looking away.

It's not just Primrose who was hurting right now. I looked at the other members who were quiet right now, while Nate was just staring at the stage blankly, pressing his lips together.

I know it's also hard for all of us to see one of our former members. We were all bound to see each other again, especially when we're all in the same industry, but it looks like we're all not ready to face the past yet.

Sighing, my hand made its way to hers, squeezing it gently. She just smiled at me, but unlike before, it was forced.

"What happened to you guys?" We all turned to Dredleigh who sat next to Baron. He frowned at our gloomy faces. "Right now, it seems like the table was for my liking, but, I hate it whenever you're all not in your usual noisy selves."

"Tahimik kaya kami," biro ni Baron.

Dred glared at him, but he just chuckled, leaning forward to whisper something. Dred's face became more serious, and I know that he was already informed about who we saw earlier.

Luckily, we loosened a bit when the emcee started the event.

"Your cousin's a bit cold, don't you think? He's like stone ice or something," I whispered to Primrose when the emcee introduced Vern Velasco.

She giggled, "That's normal. Still, he's caring and a little sweet when he's with me, and I know that he'll show that side to his future lover."

I was really glad that she's also relaxed now, forgetting about what happened earlier, or maybe just like before she's pretending that nothing happened and that she's okay.

Mabuti na lang din at nakaupo lang kami rito't hindi na muling nakita si Liam. Hindi ko rin maiwasan na isipin na baka hindi lang siya ang makasalubong namin dito, lalo na't active na ulit ang iba pa.

"Look, they really have that regal aura. They're cousins indeed," Matt commented.

We all clapped our hands and cheered as the secret CEOs were introduced. Primrose stood beside her cousin. She was that lively princess, while Vern really looks like an ice prince or something as he forced himself to smile in front of the people. He looks bored.

"Cousins?" Dred asked.

"Right, wala ka nga pala kanina. Pinsan ni Primrose iyang secret CEO ng Sakura sa mother side."

We all just watched as Vern guided his cousin back to our table.

"Welcome back, our beloved Primrose!" Baron chuckled.

She pouted, "Para namang ilang araw akong umalis dito, ano?"

Baron teased her more.

Kahit na may pagkain na sa harap namin ay patuloy lang na nag-ingay ang iba, lalo na si Baron at Matt. Nagkaroon ulit kami ng mga sariling mundo.

"You should have witnessed the epic reaction of Loey earlier, Dred," Baron started to tease me.

"Ako na naman nakita mo."

Natawa lang siya habang pinapanuod kami ng asawa kong halatang wala ring alam sa tinutukoy ni Baron.

As we started to enjoy the night as we strolled around the area, a new voice interrupted us, "Hi, Dredleigh!"

When Primrose heard the voice who greeted Dredleigh, she looked down.

Dred greeted the girl back. They worked together in the same drama, so I guess she's just here to greet him. She smiled innocently and even acknowledged my wife's presence, who just nodded her head slightly, avoiding the girl's gaze.

"Shakira."

Fuck.

Akala ko naman ay hindi na namin siya makikita ulit, pero hindi ganoon kalaki ang venue, kaya dapat ay alam namin na makakasalubong pa rin namin siya, lalo na ngayong nasa harapan namin ang ipinalit niya kay Primrose.

"Love!" she clung to him as soon as he stood in front of us. "Look, I saw Dredleigh and well..." she smiled awkwardly when she realized that we're in an uncomfortable situation right now. "Sorry, nakalimutan ko nga pa lang dating magkagrupo kayo."

He smiled softly as he caressed her hair, "It's fine. Nagkita naman na kami kanina."

I glanced at my wife who was just staring at them. Thankfully, someone called Shakira, but Liam stayed and his eyes landed on Primrose's hand that's holding a wine glass.

"So you're still with her," she muttered.

He nodded slowly.

"You're married now?" he asked, staring at the ring placed on her finger.

This time, she looked at him, locking her eyes to his, "Yes. I'm happily married now."

For the very first time, she smiled at him, but I know that she's just really trying. My heart ached for her as if I could also feel her pain. However, when she glanced at me as she said those words, well, call me gay but my heart skipped a beat.

Was she really happy with our marriage though?

Tumango ulit siya at ngumiti, "I'm glad to know that. Well then, maiwan ko na kayo."

Primrose stepped backward as if she's about to faint, luckily, I caught her shoulders and helped her as she composed herself.

"I need to go to the powder room, excuse me." She didn't wait for our reply as she left us quickly. I heaved a deep sigh, while the others behind me were all just staring at where Primrose stood earlier.

"What the fuck did just happen?" Baron cussed. "Anong bang naging relasyon nila ni Liam? Ako lang ba nakapansin o para bang pareho silang nahihirapan na ewan?"

Hindi ako kumibo. Alam ko naman na nag-aalala lang din sila kay Primrose lalo na sa biglaang pagbabago ng mood nito.

"Let's just wait near the powder room," Kuya Jinmin suggested.

Habang naglalakad ay saktong paglabas naman ni Primrose na patungo na sa amin, ngunit bago pa siya makalapit ay may dalawang taong nagpatigil hindi lang sa kanya, kundi rin sa aming lahat.

So I guess it's not Liam who just came back from the past. It's not just Primrose who was facing her ghost, but even the whole SBG like we're all connected to each other.

"Tripp, Kuya Kane," she mumbled their names.

She turned to us as if she's asking for help. When the two followed her gaze, their lips parted a bit when they saw us. My jaw clenched as I decided to go near my wife who looked like she was about to break into pieces again.

"Primrose," Kuya Kane called her name in a deep voice.

"It's nice to see you again, Kuya and Tripp," she smiled at them, but sadness was evident in her eyes.

She then glanced at us as soon we're already beside her before returning it to the two, "I'm happy to know that you're being active again in this industry... with Liam."

He let out a sigh, "Primrose."

"Hmm? Do you have anything you want to say, Kuya? Puro pangalan ko na lang lumalabas sa bibig mo."

I could sense the confusion of others about her connection to our former members. I'm aware of her relationship with Liam, but not with Kuya Kane and Tripp.

Someone cleared his throat, "Pwede ka ba naming makausap?" tanong ni Tripp at saglit na sumulyap sa amin.

She shook her head firmly, "I'm sorry but I was told not to separate with the boys. Besides, wala naman yata tayong dapat pag-usapan na tayong tatlo lang?"

Tripp's jaw clenched with her response, while Kuya Kane just stared at her as if they didn't know the girl in front of them, and that she's now different from the Prim they used to know.

And I know that even the members could sense the bitterness in her, that now, she's letting herself feel and show the emotion she's been holding earlier, or maybe it's the emotion she's been carrying for the past year.

"We also need to go anyway, but, can I ask you one thing?" she calmed herself a bit. When they nodded, she didn't hesitate to ask, "Alam niyo na ba ang tungkol kay Shakira at Liam noong kami pa?"

At first, they just stared at her but slowly, they nodded.

"I'm sorry, Prim," Kuya Kane said weakly. "We let Liam tell you about it. We tried to contact you after you two broke up to apologize and comfort you, but it's like you completely disappeared. Even the Grand Knights avoided us."

I could hear the little gasps of the other members, but I chose to ignore it and observed Prim's reaction. Right, the three of them became friends again after they left the E Entertainment, so they knew about her relationship with Liam, they even knew what happened.

Primrose nodded and forced a smile, "It feels like I was betrayed before. I don't hold any grudges towards the three of you, but what happened made me question my worth, I even questioned your concern about me, because in the end, the three of you were friends already before me, and now I'm still not ready to reopen the wound to completely forget about it. So, excuse me."

They were about to call her name again, but I stretched my arms to stop them, "Our CEO needs to rest now."

Tripp stared at me but I turned away to follow my wife who hurriedly left the venue.

Just like earlier, we're all silently sitting inside the van as Primrose stared blankly outside. None of us dared to make even a single noise, just to let her have the peace she needed at the moment.

Hanggang sa makauwi kami ay isang tipid na ngiti lang ang iginawad niya sa amin bago nagpaalam na magpapahinga na.

"So, she dated Liam before?" Nate asked, shaking his head as if he heard a shocking story. "And it looks like it's not a good ending."

"I'm worried about Primrose," Dred said, staring at the stairs.

"We all are, I guess," Kuya Eros replied.

Sighing, I excused myself.

Pakiramdam ko talaga nawala rin ako sa mood dahil sa nangyari at para bang sobrang naubos ang lakas ko lalo na't nakita ko muli na nasasaktan siya. Kahit hindi siya magsalita, ramdam kong sinubukan niya lang talagang maging matatag kanina.

I'm very proud of her, but I'm still worried knowing that she was reminded again about what happened.

I stared at her door and before I could even stop myself, I knocked on it. Her head was facing the floor when she opened the door.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

She nodded but took a step backward when I entered the room. I gently closed the door that made her face me this time. Smiling, I pulled Primrose into a tight hug. She was stunned for a moment, but her body relaxed and she rested her head on my chest. I carefully caressed her head as if she's a glass that would easily break.

Before I knew it, her shoulder was now shaking as I felt something wet on my shirt. She cried silently in my arms like she was holding it for a long time. I just stood there as I willingly let her feel that she could release the emotion she's trying to conceal in front of me. That, no matter what, I will always be there and will always embrace her fragile body as she let herself be broken into pieces again.

For at this moment, she doesn't need comforting or sweet words—what she needs right now is a shoulder she could lean on, and someone who wouldn't let her feel alone.

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