Chapter 29

Loey

I glared at Dredleigh who also did the same. His grip tightened as he shook his head, telling me not to follow Liam, who ran after my wife. He heaved a deep sigh when I removed his hand on mine and walked towards the door without saying anything.

Bago pa ako makalabas nang tuluyan ay narinig ko na ang boses ni Liam.

"I guess you're still the Primrose I loved. Well then, whenever you're ready, just tell me."

I slowly walked outside and saw that Primrose was already walking away while he just stood ther—watching my wife's retreating back.

What I heard bothered me a bit. He already has a girlfriend, right? Maybe he just really wanted to talk to Primrose. I know that she also needed to face him someday. So why did I follow them?

"Hey."

I blinked. Damn. Hindi ko napansin na nakatulala na lang pala ako at nasa harap ko na si Liam.

"What are you doing there?" Liam asked me with a frown.

"Ah, ang tagal mo kasi kaya balak sana kitang tawagin," rason ko.

"Oh, sorry," he said, glancing at where they stood earlier. "I just need to talk to someone important."

I only nodded.

Liam called the boys inside the room while I waited outside. I shook my head to remove all the unwanted thoughts and feelings. There's nothing wrong if the two of them talk, but maybe because I know that he still has some effect on her that's why I couldn't help but be scared that she'll get hurt or something.

Yes, maybe that's it.

Gladly, the boys walked out of the practice room, kaya naman medyo nakatakas ako sa mga iniisip ko.

"Kailangan mag usap ni Liam at Primrose. Para din sa ikabubuti ni Prim," sabi ni Dred sa tabi ko habang naglalakad.

Medyo malayo ang iba sa aming dalawa at mas pinili ko talagang mapunta lang sa likod nila. They were all occupied with whatever Nate's telling them that they didn't notice the two of us behind them.

"I know that," I replied without looking at him.

Hindi na siya muling nagsalita pa.

"Hey, you have your own drink!" I complained when Nate suddenly grabbed my milkshake and sipped on it.

Kulang pa nga sa akin iyon, eh. He just smiled at me, trying to use that he's the youngest card. Seriously, he's too spoiled, lalo na kay Kuya Eros. Kahit nga kay Primrose nagiging spoiled na rin siya kahit siya naman mas matanda roon.

"Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago, Nate," komento ni Liam.

Lahat kami ay nasa cafeteria. May mga ibang napapatingin sa amin pero dahil Empire ito, kahit gusto man nilang kunan kami ng litraro ay hindi nila magawa. Except doon sa kung sino man ang kumuha nung litrato namin sa lobby. Sa mga nadaanan naming employees ay bumabati kaming lahat, kahit sina Kuya Kane.

The cafeteria's almost empty because it's already past lunchtime. Our CEO treated us, but since some employees worked here for years, they were glad to see the three and they bought us some drinks. I guess it's our lucky day today.

Kuya Jinmin looked at the three, "Mabuti pala wala kayong schedule ngayon?"

"I have a commercial shoot later. Pero mga gabi pa naman iyon kaya free time ko pa ngayon," sagot ni Kuya Kane.

"Well, it's my day-off. Same with Tripp," Liam replied. "Kayo? Alam ko sa lahat ng artists ngayon ay kayo ang pinakabusy, ah?"

"Nah, we took a long weekend," Kuya Jinmin answered, sipping on his coffee. "Isa pa, Grand Knights kaya ang pinaka-busy, lalo na sa mga individual schedules nila."

"Oo nga pala! How's kuya Hendreich? I've read the article about his accident during the concert."

Kuya shrugged. "That always happened though. But, Kuya Hendreich needed to rest and some treatment, so he won't be performing in the meantime. Of course, the emcee side of him will continue."

Liam sighed. "I bet Primrose was really worried. After all, she grew up with them. She loves Kuya Hendreich, kahit na lagi siyang inaasar nito't kinukulit."

I looked away when Dred took a quick glance at me as Liam mentioned Prim's name. Thankfully, Dred turned his attention back to our former member.

It's natural for Liam to know something about my wife. After all, they have a past. I have to admit that I don't like the feeling of knowing they've shared some precious moments together, much more than I've shared with her.

I cleared my throat. "She's doing well naman. Alam niyo naman din siguro na ayaw ni Kuya Hendreich na may nag-aalala sa kanya,"

It's true. He's the type of person who wanted to see the people laughing rather than getting worried about his health. He's okay for us to worry about his playfulness though, especially when he's in a show with others' he's close with. He might reveal something he shouldn't or he might cuss in front of the camera, again.

We visited him yesterday, and he seems fine, or maybe he's trying to be fine in front of Primrose.

"It seems like you really know her, Liam. Paano naging kayo?" Kaito asked suddenly. "Oh, if you don't mind me asking that question, of course, so it's fine if you don't want to answer it."

For a moment, everyone went silent. I became a bit interested, too. I want to know more about their past. I want to understand Primrose even just a little.

Liam looked at us as if he was hesitating but then he gave in.

"Hmm... Primrose was the one who helped me get my reputation back. I survived in this industry because of her. You know that when I left the company, I had to go back from scratch," he said. "I found a company but it's just a small one that's why it was a rough journey for me. Then, there's a time that my management told me that I was recommended by someone to act in a short drama. I took the opportunity and attended some acting workshops for it. Thankfully. I had my acting debut and it became successful."

Everyone was listening to him except Kuya Kane and Tripp who I think already know their story.

"When everything was going well, I asked my manager if I could meet the person who helped me. I was told that she's a fan of SBG who has a connection. I didn't even know she was a heiress. She didn't want to meet me at first, but she agreed one time because of my persistence. That girl is Primrose." Liam looked at us with a huge smile on his face. "When I met her, I could already tell that she's very kind and humble. I asked her why she helped me, and she told me that she wanted me to at least have my own name in the industry, and that she didn't want me to be remembered as the Liam of SBG, but the Liam who could also shine even on my own. I was touched. That's why I wanted to repay her kindness that I continued to meet her and take her out for lunch or dinner. I got to know her but I didn't know she will be the next CEO of Empire. I thought she's just a relative that's why she's also close with the Grand Knights. Anyways, we went out for months and that's how I started to have romantic feelings for her. I confessed and she rejected me," he chuckled. "I didn't give up. It wasn't easy to court her, especially when there's Grand Knights who were overprotective. But when she accepted my heart, it was like a dream come true to me."

For some reason, I smiled at his story, but it quickly faded when a question popped in my mind.

Why did he fall out of love? Why did he cheat on her?

"Wow, our CEO is indeed admiring! I have so much respect for her," Baron exclaimed, shaking his head. "How come she helped a hopeless jerk like you? Aw!" He glared at Liam, who was sitting next to him, and punched him on the shoulder playfully.

"Hey, I'm not that hopeless!" Liam complained.

We laughed at them.

When he left the group, we got the news that his popularity had dropped so bad. Everyone predicted that he would give up, unlike Kuya Kane and Tripp who still have backing from people in the industry. That's why we were shocked when Liam made his acting debut. He started to make a name as an actor that gave him the courage to go back as a singer.

"Wait," Nate said, turning to Leigh. "We're all interested in Kuya Liam and Prim's story, but why do I feel like you're not interested at all, Kuya Leigh?"

Leigh looked at Nate and shrugged before turning his attention on his phone again. Now, he has his own world even though we went here to bond and catch up with our former members.

Someone laughed that caught our attention.

Kuya Kane cleared his throat after laughing a bit. "He didn't tell you, guys?"

I frowned. "Tell us what?"

"Alam niyo naman siguro na magkakilala na si Prim at Leigh, 'di ba? Leigh was also there for her whenever Liam and Prim got into a fight."

I immediately scowled at Leigh who looked at me with those sleepy eyes of his.

"It's not my story to tell," he just said.

Yeah, that's so him. Kuya Leigh would never tell anyone about something he knows unless he's permitted to.

"Well, he just found out about us accidentally, and we're grateful because at least aside from the two, there's someone she could talk to and vent her emotion if she needed," Liam said, getting our attention back to him. "You see, Grand Knights didn't really approve of me, especially when they found out that Prim was helping me behind the scenes and they thought that I was just using her. I was also linked to every girl I worked with. It bothered Primrose and they hated it. That's how protective they are."

"So protective that when they broke up, pinuntahan nina Kuya Yeshua si Liam sa condo niya at ayon, suntok ang inabot niya. Mabuti nga si Kuya Yeshua lang sumuntok at isang beses lang, eh," natatawang kwento ni Tripp.

Tiningnan siya nang masama ni Liam pero tinawanan lang siya ni Tripp.

The others started teasing Liam as Tripp shared how he was scared of the Grand Knights, especially because they really showed that they didn't approve of their relationship but for the sake of Primrose, they let them continue it, still, they always warned Liam not to make her cry, which he did.

"Prim knows about that, kaya sa akin siya umiiyak kapag may problema silang dalawa. She's also scared how the Grand Knights would react if they found out that she's struggling emotionally with her relationship with Liam," Leigh said suddenly.

Kaso iyon lang ang sinabi niya at bumalik na sa kung ano man tinitingnan niya sa sa kanyang phone. Well, at least he shared something with us. My lips curved upwards with that.

"Say, why does it seems like she has some trust issues with celebrities?," I asked. "Aside from having an ex-boyfriend."

Kuya Kane, Tripp, and Liam exchanged looks for a second then Liam groaned as if he just remembered something horrible.

"You know how the industry works and how all of us struggled just to climb up or stay on the top," he smiled bitterly. "Even if it means using someone who considered us as a friend, some would still take advantage of that person. Many did that to Primrose. She attended some events where there were celebrities. So, many concluded that she has some big connection to be able to attend the event. They befriended her. I even remember how someone clung into her and asked her to talk to some producer to get a deal, which she actually did. Then when that person achieved her goal, she ignored Primrose and even denied her. When Prim visited that person in a set, that wench said she doesn't know her."

I leaned against the chair and closed my eyes.

"No wonder why she was distant when we all first met her. She has that wall we need to destroy or climb to be close to her," Kuya Eros said. "Also, no wonder that it looks like she didn't want to get married to a celebrity."

Liam told some stories of how Primrose closed her mind not to be attached to anyone, especially to those who work in the Entertainment industry. Akala ko nga iyong sa kaibigan lang, pero iyon pala ay may iba rin na sinubukang ligawan siya tapos may karelasyon pala na idol o artista at parehong sinusubukan lang kumuha ng projects sa tulong ni Primrose. Of course, she was young back then and also wanted to have friends, but in the end, she realized that she was just being used.

Also, thanks to Grand Knights who have her back. They really protected her. Binantayan nila ang mga celebrities na lumalapit kay Primrose. Liam said that they were always the ones who will first find out that their precious Primrose was being used.

"Kapag nakita ko iyong mga gumamit kay Primrose baka kung ano ang magawa ko," saad naman ni Baron na may hawak na juice.

Bago pa mag gabi ay umuwi na kami kaya ngayon ay nakatambay kaming lahat sa may pool side ng bahay nina Primrose.

"Sa tingin niyo, ano kayang tingin ni Primrose sa atin? Baka kasi mamaya isipin niya na ginagamit din natin siya," sabi ni Kaito na nakasimangot ngayon.

"I doubt that," I replied. They all turned to me with that. "What? Come on, maybe she thought about that before or not. We don't know. But what I know right now is that she started to bring down her walls and opened herself to us. You know, she's more comfortable with us than before. And I bet she even considered each and every one of us as her friend."

Kasi kung hindi ay hinayaan niya lang na hindi maganda ang relasyon namin kela Kuya Kane. If she didn't consider us as her friend, she wouldn't care about our happiness. She also knows what's best for us.

Being with her for months showed me how she tried to put a barrier between her and the members, but she became comfortable. She could now laugh, eat, and talk with us freely. We're really grateful to have Primrose in our lives. She gave everyone hope for a better future.

Lahat kami nanahimik nang biglang may taong sumilip sa sliding door.

My workaholic Primrose.

"Hi guys!" she greeted.

Mabilis naman na tumayo si Nate at sinalubong siya. Minsan aakalain mong siya ang asawa ni Primrose dahil madalas ay siya ang excited tuwing umuuwi ito. I wanted to stand up and walk towards her, but Nate's faster than me so I just let him welcome Primrose.

"Kumain na ba kayo?" she asked and stood behind me. We all shook our heads as an answer. "Hmm. I'll just take a quick shower and ask manang to cook for dinner."

Before she could turn around, Dredleigh stood and said. "I'll cook."

"Okay. Then, see you in a bit."

Everyone went inside while I assisted Dredleigh again in the kitchen. Nate offered to help but Dred gave him a death glare that's why he settled in the living room with the others.

For sure naman kasi magkakalat lang si Nate dito sa kusina o kaya naman ay magrereklamo sa mga bagay na pwede niyang ireklamo. Again, he's spoiled. Only Dred couldn't really tolerate him most of the time, but sometimes he's also spoiling our youngest member.

"You really need to treat her right," Dred said suddenly. "We all need to make her feel special and that she can trust us."

I smiled, "Yeah, she deserves better. Let's just do our best to show that she can also lean to us."

*****

And yes, I changed the book cover, again. Thanks to my friend Hairon :)

-Hime