The Magnetic: Loving the Ice Man

Prologue

Prologue: "That person who enters your life out of nowhere, and suddenly means the world to you."

It had always been my dream to be a singer and my journey to becoming one wasn't easy. It had been a tough ride. I had been rejected many times and even thought of giving up my dream, thinking it wasn't for me. But just when I was about to do so, a big opportunity came knocking on my door. 

GD entertainment offered me a way to my dream. I knew an opportunity like this shouldn't be wasted. But what happened to me was just so ironic. Just when my dream was within my reach, I met the person who had changed my life. 

But then, we can't have the best of both worlds, can we? I was put in a situation where I had to choose between the dream that I'd worked hard for or the man who gave a new meaning to my once-dull life. 

How did I get in this situation? Oh yes, I remember; It all started on that one fateful day...

I was still in college when I got in GD entertainment. My parents who were working abroad were hesitant at first because they were worried that I might not finish college. But they knew how much I wanted to be a singer. Thus, they agreed in the end but on the condition that I'd finish my studies, no matter what. 

I became part of a girl group called FireIce. We were four girls in the group: Macy, who happened to be the youngest, Phoebe, who's very kikay and funny, Elle, who was the oldest and leader of our group, and I, Samantha Perez. But people call me Sam. We were still trainee under GD Entertainment.

"Girls, get ready. We're going," said Elle. 

Inalis ko ang mga earphones sa tainga ko at inihanda na ang mga gamit ko. The big boss decided to give us a treat along with the other artists. Sa isang exclusive resort daw kami pupunta. 

"Sam, are you sure you can carry all those stuff?" Phoebe asked with a grimace as she glanced at my bag which was quite big. 

I smiled brightly. "I can! Ako pa?" I said, showing her my imaginary muscles.

She snorted. "Good luck na lang sa'yo."

Pagkatalikod ni Phoebe ay napangiwi ako ng mapatingin sa mga gamit ko. Sira kasi iyong de-gulong ko na maleta kaya ganito tuloy ang dala ko. Kailangan kong buhatin. At sa laki nito at bigat ay baka makuba pa ako. 

"Excited na ako! Sabi nila kasama daw natin sa coaster ang The Magnetic!" excited na bulalas ni Macy.

Impit na tumili ang tatlo. "Talaga?" kinikilig na sabi ni Elle. "Akala ko may sarili silang coaster na gagamitin?"

"Hindi ko rin alam."

"Nakita ko kanina si Calem. Grabe! Wagas! Ang ganda ng mukha," sabi ni Pheobe. "Bet na bet ko talaga siya."

"Me, too!" said Celle. "Kaso parang ang cold kasi niya unlike the others."

"Ako rin kaya. Kaso hindi mo naman makausap eh," nakalabing sabi ni Macy. "Ikaw, ate Sam?"

Gulat pa ako na napatingin sa kanya. "Ha? Ako?"

The three of them were looking at me now. "Ikaw, sino ang pinaka-gusto mo sa The Magnetic?" 

I shook my head. "Lahat sila okay naman. Pero wala akong gusto sa kanila."

They all gasped. "Kaloka ka talaga, Samantha!" bulalas ni Phoebe. "Ni isa wala kang bet sa kanila?"

"I wanna focus on my dream. Plus, hindi naman pwede diba? No in-house dating," I said, reminding them.

Sabay-sabay pa silang napa-simangot. Bahagya tuloy akong natawa sa mga reaksiyon nila. We had rules in GD Entertainment. We were actually forbidden to date for three years so that we could focus on our respective career. Most importantly, no in-house dating. It wasn't exactly forbidden, but it wasn't encouraged. 

Okay lang naman sa akin dahil nakatutok ang atensiyon ko sa aking pangarap na maging singer. Love and other stuff had no place in my life. 

"Dapat tularan natin si Sam," said Elle. "We should focus on our careers. Hindi pa tayo nag-sisimula talaga. We shouldn't ruin our only chance at stardom."

Sabay-sabay na kaming lumabas ng room namin para makasakay na. Pero dahil mabigat ang dala ko ay nahuhuli ako sa kanila. Nagulat na lang ako ng biglang gumaan ang dala ko at may bigla na lang kumuha. Gulat na nilingon ko ang kumuhang bagahe ko.

I gasped as I recognized him. It was none other than Calem Imperial. Walang ekspresyon ang mukha na binitbit niya ang bagahe ko. Gusto ko man tumanggi dahil nakakahiya sa kanya ay hindi ko nagawa dahil natulala na lang ako sa kanya. Nasundan ko na lang ng tingin ang papalayong pigura niya. 

Calem Imperial, the leader of the Magnetic. A lot of people didn't know that. Some even thought that it was Vash. Siya kasi lagi ang taga-salita at madalas humaharap sa mga press. While Callem, on the other hand, was just quiet. Tahimik din naman ang dalawa pang miyembro nila. But Calem was different.

I was never the type to appreciate one's physical appearance. Pero hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa ganda ng mukha ni Calem. Siguro nung nag-sabog ng kaperpektuhan ang Diyos ay sinalo niya lahat. 

Nang mahimasmasan ay mabilis na akong sumunod. Naabutan ko pa siya na ibinibigay ang bagahe ko sa driver para maisakay. Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya.

"Uh, Calem," I called. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Thank you."

He just gave me a nod then got on the coaster.   Sumunod na rin ako. Kumpleto na ang The Magnetic sa loob at nakaupo na. 

"Hey, Sam!" bati ni Vash.

I smiled and greeted them all. Ngumiti naman sa akin ang dalawa pa. Habang si Cale ay may nka-headphones na. Hindi ko rin makita ang mga mata niya dahil naka-shades siya. 

"Sam, sit here!" Phoebe said.

Ngumiti ako at umupo sa tabi niya.

The ride to our destination wasn't exactly a quiet one because of Vash who was very active and 'makulit'. Tawa kami ng tawa sa mga kalokohan at mga biro niya. Hindi ko naman maiwasang mapatingin kay Calem na mukhang tulog na pero hindi ako sigurado dahil may suot nga siyang shades. 

Ang ganda talaga ng mukha niya. Perpekto siya kung totoo man na meron. Hindi ko maiwasang kiligin habang inaalala ko kung paano niya kinuha mula sa akin ang bagahe na bitbit ko. Siguro masarap siyang maging boyfriend kasi tingin ko ay maalaga siya. 

I almost smacked my head when I realized what was running in my head. Hindi pwede yan, Sam! Just focus on your goal. I closed my eyes and shook my head. 

"Ang ganda!" bulalas ni Phoebe pagkababa niya ng coaster. "Excited na akong mag-swimming!'

I was about to grab my bag when again, Calem carried it for me. Kaagad akong napasunod sa kanya. 

"I-it's too heavy," I said.

He turned to me and to my utter surprised, he gave me a smile. "It's fine."

Again, I was dumbfounded. Did he just smile at me? That Cold city guy just freakin' smiled at me! Napa-hawak ako sa aking dibdib ng maging iba ang ritmo ng tibok ng puso ko. 

Be still, heart. You can't beat like that for him. He's a forbidden territory. No in-house dating, Samantha. No in-house dating. I repeated that mantra in my head oodles of time. 

Pero bakit kahit ilang beses ko pang ulitin sa sarili ko iyon ay ayaw pa rin kumalma ng puso ko? It only took one gentlemanly gesture and sweet smile for my heart to beat erratically.