Chapter 6

Loey

Nakakunot ang aking noo habang nakatingin sa screen ng phone ko.

From: Loey

Hi, Primrose! What's up?

It's been five minutes since I sent her a message, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siyang reply. Kahit tuldok man lang sana, oh.

"Congratulations! Successful ang comeback stage niyo."

I glanced at kuya Karl. He's walking towards me with his hands in his pocket. When he neared me, I gave him a high-five, same with kuya Eros who stood beside me.

"Thank you, kuya Karl!" he said. "I'll just change my clothes."

Kuya Karl nodded, "Sure, may time pa naman tayo para sa praktis natin."

The two of them were also musical actors and they have an upcoming show, that's why our leader was really busy these past few days. May mga promotion shows pa kami kaya siya ang talagang walang pahinga sa aming lahat ngayon.

"So tell me, successful ang comeback stage niyo, pero bakit nakabusangot ka riyan?"

It's true, our comeback was indeed successful, lalo na itong comeback stage namin. I'm happy, but my mind keeps on thinking about my little future wife. Busy ba siya? Pero alam ko wala siyang lesson ngayon sa pagpapatakbo ng kompanya niya, eh. So, she's definitely free.

Habang naglalakad ay may biglang gumitna sa amin at umakbay, "I think it's because of Prim." When I didn't react, Baron laughed out loud, "Oh shit, I'm right?"

Damn it! Inalis ko ang pagkakaakbay niya sa akin at tiningnan siya nang masama. He only laughed at me and raised his hands as a sign of surrender.

And yep, we know how to swear, especially Baron. Hindi naman kami anghel para hindi magmura, eh. Sadyang hindi lang kami kagaya ng Knights na kahit may camera ay hindi pa rin napipigilan na magmura.

"Fuck, I forgot I need to stream," he glanced at me and kuya Karl. "It's time for me to play and interact with my fans. Isa pa, baka masuntok na ako ni Loey, so, bye!"

Kuya Karl laughed, waving his hands to Baron. Pareho kaming dalawa ngayon ang nakatayo lang sa backstage habang hinihintay si kuya Eros. Ayoko naman na iwan lang si kuya Karl dito.

"What's wrong with Prim?" he asked.

I sighed heavily, "Sabi niyo na sweet siya, 'di ba? Kaso ayon parang laging masungit, tapos mukhang hindi pa kinikilig sa mga ginagawa ko."

I sounded like a child complaining to my mother right now. Ewan ko ba roon sa babaeng iyon. I was really sure that she admires my group, and I swear that I saw a spark in her eyes when she saw me before at the hotel. Akala ko nga mahihimatay na siya, eh. Kaso ngayon naman ay parang ayaw niya sa akin.

Minsan nakikita ko naman na gusto niyang mapalapit sa akin at sa buong SBG, pero siya rin naman iyong lumalayo. Ang labo.

"Loey, she knows how to guard herself so well. Kaya ngayon na magpapakasal siya sa hindi niya naman gaano kilala, may reservation pa iyon panigurado," aniya na may ngiti sa mga labi. "She still needs time to be comfortable with you. Besides, she has trust issues when it comes to having a close relationship with a celebrity."

"Bakit kayo?"

"Well, we're different. Bago pa siya magkaroon ng trust issues ay nakasama niya na kami," he laughed, patting me on my shoulder. "I know you two don't have any romantic feelings for each other, but I tell you, Loey, don't you dare do something that could hurt her."

I didn't respond. I'm an idol singer, which is dangerous for her if someone will find out about the marriage. Hindi namin kontrol ang ibang fans kaya nga nakakatakot din magkaroon ng karelasyon kapag sikat ka na.

"I need to go now." Kuya Karl waved his hands, walking towards kuya Eros. Bago pa sila tuluyang umalis ay agad na sumigaw si kuya Karl. "Oh right, I forgot to tell you that I was with Primrose earlier. She watched your performance backstage!"

My eyes widened and I heard him laugh as he vanished from my sight. What the hell, kuya Karl? Sana sinabi niya kanina pa.

Mabilis akong naglakad patungong dressing room upang magpalit. I also tried to call her but she didn't answer. Ang hirap talagang ligawan ng babae na ito. Nang tumunog ang phone ko ay agad ko itong tiningnan, kaso hindi si Primrose ang nag text.

Baron:

Man, you should fucking treat me! I can make you smile right now.

Loey:

Pinagsasabi mo?

Baron:

I'm serious, man! Haha. I saw her sa dressing room nina kuya Rence. Remember, may show diyan mamaya kung saan host si kuya, kaya ayon, binisita ata ng magiging asawa mo.

Umawang ang labi ko bago napag desisyunan na hanapin ang dressing room ng Knights sa building na ito. Luckily, alam ng manager namin kaya mabilis ko lang din iyon nahanap.

Papalapit na sana ako sa silid ngunit may isang payat at hindi katangkaran na babae ang lumabas. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, and she's wearing a shorts! Kita ko ang puti ng legs niya, pati rin sa kanyang leeg ay napapatingin ako. Gatas ba ang panligo niya? Mas maganda pa balat niya kaysa sa aming mga celebrity!

She didn't notice me since I'm in a corner, that's why she just turned around and walked. I followed her quietly and decided to send her a message.

Loey:

Busy?

Nakita ko ang pagkuha niya sa kanyang phone sa sling bag at hindi rin nagtagal ay binalik niya ito na walang reply sa text ko. I sighed and  walked faster until I was already behind this girl named Primrose.

"Really, Primrose? You're ignoring a text from a famous idol?"

She stopped. When she saw me, her lips parted with her eyes blinking. Ito na naman tayo, eh. Para siyang fan namin na hindi. Lalo ngayon na nakatitig lang siya at parang hindi makapaniwala na nasa tabi niya lang ako. What? Dapat ako ang hindi makapaniwalang kaya niyang dedmahin ang mga mensahe ko, tapos hindi pa nagsabi na andito siya.

"What? I know I'm handsome, so why did you ignore my messages?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Nate is the definition of handsome, Loey, not you," she countered. "Isa pa, I didn't ignore it. I read your texts but decided not to reply. There's a difference."

I shook my head and shrugged, "Whatever you say, Primrose. Anyways, saan ka na pupunta ngayon?" I looked at my watch and saw that it's already four o'clock. "You're free now, right?

She stared at me for a moment before she nodded slowly. I grabbed her wrist. She protested at first but when she couldn't free herself, she just let me drag her to the parking lot.

Mabuti na lang talaga na exclusive for staffs lang ang parking lot dito kaya naman hindi kami natakot na may makakita sa aming dalawa. My manager was shocked when he saw Primrose, but, he just greeted her and didn't ask any questions.

The manager right now is different from our road manager, the head manager of our group that Primrose met the other time. May mga individual managers din kasi kami lalo na't sunod-sunod ang individual schedules namin. Kapag lalabas lang kami bilang isang grupo namin nakakasama si manager Riason.

There were managers who regretted taking the position since it's very exhausting. They'll take care of the whole members, the schedules and everything they need. Kaya mas mabuti na raw na may sarili kaming manager kahit pa-paano.

"Woah! Is this studio yours?" she asked, roaming her eyes around.

Wala pa gaanong mga gamit dito sa studio na gusto kong buuin. In a corner there's another door for the recording, while the whole room was like a living room and office at the same time. Medyo malaki pa kasi ito at ilalagay namin ang ibang equipment na kailangan.

Primrose turned to me, her hands on her hips, "Why did you bring me here?"

"I don't know," I shrugged.

Biglaan lang din naman kasi kaya ito lang ang lugar na naisip ko kung saan walang tao. It's not that I want to be alone with her, but we need to be careful not to get caught by paparazzi.

She settled herself on a couch in the living room area. Pumasok naman ang aking manidyer na may mga dalang pagkain at milktea. Sabi kasi sa akin ni kuya Shawn noon na mahilig si Primrose sa milktea o kaya naman ay iced-coffee. Nilagay niya ang lahat ng iyon sa lamesa sa harap ni Primrose.

"Thank you, kuya!"

He gave me a meaningful smile before leaving. I shook my head as the corner of my lips rose. I wouldn't mind others teasing me about this girl, it's actually refreshing and comforting for me, and don't ask me why because I also don't even know the answer.

Naglakad ako patungo kay Primrose at naupo sa isang sofa sa gilid niya. I grabbed the milk tea and gave it to her. "I know it's not fancy, but let's just consider this as our first date."

She blinked for a moment then she suddenly burst into laughter. I just stared at her, amused. Even when she laughs, she looks prim and proper as if she's a princess or something.

When Primrose saw me staring, she composed herself, "Sorry. I just didn't imagine that you'll consider this as a date. I mean ganito ba talaga makipagdate and isang celebrity? Kapag nalaman ito nila kuya Hendreich, lagot ka! Ayaw nilang tinitipid ako."

Her body was now a bit relaxed unlike the other times that she's too stiff and awkward.

"Hey, that's the point, dear. I'm a celebrity, I can't just go out for a date unless you want to get exposed." I chuckled.

Primrose made a face before sipping her milk tea.

"Well, let's eat."

Inayos ko ang mga pagkain sa lamesa. My manager bought chicken wings and spaghetti. Napapansin ko kasi na hindi naman malakas kumain si Primrose kaya iyong sakto lang talaga para sa amin ang pinabili ko.

Tahimik ko siyang pinagmasdan nang magsimula na siyang kumain. When she turned to me, she frowned.

"What?"

I shook my head and gestured her to continue eating. We just ate in silence since I also observed that she likes it quiet whenever she eats, even when she's with the guys. We're loud as always, pero siya lang ang tahimik tuwing kumakain. Kahit nga si ate Alice minsan ay nakikisama sa amin, samantalang siya puro ngiti lang o kaya naman ay tatawa nang kaonti.

She really has that wall in her, and I don't know why but I want to break that! I swear that I'll definitely do it.

"Say, why did you buy this whole floor for a studio?" she asked.

Niligpit ko ang mga pinagkainan namin bago ako bumaling sa kanya, "Let's just say I'm really into music. This place is like my safe haven where I could learn and do something I'm passionate with."

Maybe this was also one of the reason why I brought her here, I wanted to show her some side of me. Yes, alam naman ng iba na nagsusulat ako ng kanta pero bukod doon ay wala na. Hindi nila alam kung gaano ko kamahal ang musika at gusto kong bumuo ng isang team para rito sa sudio.

Alam kong matatagalan pa lalo na't hindi pa pumapayag ang CEO namin, mabuti nga pinayagan akong bilhin ang isang palapag ng Empire building. May mga iba pang floor ang bakante dahil may mga iba pang plano para sa building na ito.

"Hey, Primrose!" I called her out. She jumped a bit, glancing at me. "Mind if I let you listen to my song?"

"Sure!" she squealed.

I couldn't help but chuckle. That! She's more like the person I met at the hotel. I mean, the excitement and how her brown eyes sparkles, that's the girl I wanted to see every day, well, the Primrose right now is also good but I want her to just relax even just for a moment. Para kasing gusto niyang tumakbo madalas kapag kasama kami tapos lagi pang namomroblema sa mga isyu ng kompanya kaya ako na lang napapagod para sa kanya.

I took my laptop out of my backpack and set it up in front of her. I'm confident about my song and I hope she'll enjoy it.

"Oh, a rap song that's a bit soft but powerful," she commented, leaning forward to listen more.

My lips parted when her eyes started to water. Primrose lifted her head high to stop her tears from falling, then, she turned to me, pouting her lips, "You wrote a great song. It was too great, too powerful, and too emotional. Look! It's making me cry!"

Natawa naman ako sa naging reaksyon niya. She's too cute that it's tempting me to pinch her fluffy cheeks. Mabuti na lang at napigilan ko, baka mamaya magsungit na naman siya, eh. Okay na itong may nakita akong ibang side niya.

Primrose inhaled deeply then exhaled, "Sorry. I know I'm weird, but I really can't help my tears whenever I listen to something soulful like this one." She wiped her tears away.

"Nah, it's fine. I'm actually glad since it means that my music touched your heart," I replied, smiling.

Ang pinarinig ko sa kanya ay isang kanta kung saan binuhos ko lahat ng aking nararamdaman. That song was my life, and I really treasured that. Siya pa lang ang unang nakarinig nito at sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na nagustuhan niya ito.

"I wrote that song thinking about my past," I muttered softly. "How I achieved my dream to be an idol, how depression found me while living the life I wanted. You know how messed up our group was, lalo na noong may mga umalis sa grupo namin. Akala ko mawawala na talaga kami, eh. By writing that was also thanking my members, hindi man nila alam pero nasulat ko iyong mga bagay din na gusto kong sabihin sa kanila."

She just smiled at me warmly before playing the repeat button.

Hindi ko na alam kung ilang beses niya na pinapakinggan ang kantang aking sinulat, basta ang alam ko lang ay umalis ako saglit para sagutin ang tawag ng manager ko habang siya ay nakikinig lang at bumalik ako na ganoon pa rin ang kanyang ginagawa.

Nang mapansin niyang nakabalik na ako sa kanyang tabi ay agad siyang humarap sa akin. She stared at me for a second before speaking, "As your future CEO, future wife, and as a person who admires the group for so long, I wanted to say that I'm so proud of you, Loey."

*******

I hope you enjoyed Loey's POV and mas nakilala niyo pa siya kahit slight lang hihi.
- Hime ♥