Hustled Sparks

Chapter 19: Ambushed Interview

Jake POV

Ever since our year-long misunderstanding cleared up, I just feel so surreal because Elodie is warming up to me again. 

We have great banter in our filming set and she's also less resistive to my advances towards her.

I'm not going to lie, but this really feels like a lifelong dream of mine. Kung panaginip man ito, sana'y di  nalang ako magising.

Ang tagal tagal kong pinangarap na maging ganito kalapit sakanya ulit. Damn!

For a while, I was deluded that everything was going to be smooth from now on. Not until an ambush interview went viral on the internet and news outlet overnight.

Kasama ko ngayon ang PA ko na si Kuya Tom, who is my source of the latest happenings in the world. Kung wala siya, I wouldn't know a damn thing dahil I rarely check social media. Except if to stalk Elodie, of course.

Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang video ni Bridgette Dizon na mukhang ambush interview ng iilang media outlets pagkatapos ng isang event.

"Bridgette, totoo ba na break na kayo ni Jake Almonte?" tanong ng isang reporter.

"Yes." Bridgette answered short and simple.

I relaxed at her answer. I don't get why Kuya Tom is showing me this. Noong last kami nag-usap ni Bridgete, maayos naman siya kausap at agad nga siya nag-agree na tapusin na yung set-up namin. Nag-labas din kami pareho ng statements sabay para ipaalam na "break" na kami.

I also find it quite stupid how the media will ask her that despite us both confirming us already through our social media.

"Totoo ba na may third party sa relasyon niyo kaya kayo nag-break?" tanong ng isa pang reporter.

Suddenly, di umimik si Bridgette.

"No comment."

Dahil sa sagot niya, mas lalo umingay ang mga reporter. May iilang sumigaw. Mas madaming nag-flash ng camera para mapikturan pa si Bridgette.

"Kung ganoon, totoo ba na buntis si Elodie Cimafranca ngayon at si Jake Almonte ang ama kaya yun ang dahilan kung bakit nag-hiwalay kayo?"

"As I've said, no comment."

Yun na ang last niyang sagot bago siya umalis sa harap ng mga reporter na pilit pa siyang hinahabol to scoop more stories.

Tangina naman! Ang bobo ng mga tanong. Heck, where did the pregnant rumour even come from? I feel furious just hearing those questions. I really regret my decision for ever going through that stupid agreement with Bridgette. I know my Ate Aeryn love me even if I refused that ridiculous offer!

I suddenly feel so ambivalent about Bridgette too. Anong klaseng sagot yung "no comment" niya?

I don't know why I feel so fucking pissed all of the sudden.

After watching the interview, I put the phone down. I heard Kuya Tom sigh.

"Since napanood mo na, maraming tao ang nag-react sa naging sagot ni Bridgette. Parang cinonfirm na din daw niya na nag-cheat kayo ni Elodie at buntis siya ngayon. Parang naging malaking scandal."

I aggressively put my hand down on the table to purposely hit it.

"Bullshit! And buntis? Her and I haven't even slept together!" I said without thinking.

Kuya Tom shook his head at the inner thoughts I spoke loudly.

"Kahit ano man yung totoo, alam mo naman na ang paniniwalaan ng mga tao ay yung nakikita nilang interview at narratives na nakalabas. Tignan mo yung twitter, binabash si Elodie. Trending topic siya for the wrong reasons this time. Dahil rising star siya, mas lalo siya madaling i-bash dahil sa lumabas na interview na 'yun."

I actually don't even want to see what bullshit people were spurting out online but Kuya Tom was frantically making me see it in front of my face. He laid down the phone and I picked it up just to read the most stupid comments I have ever seen in my whole life.

ShowbizBanderafa: Matagal na akong fan ni Jake and dati palang may something na sa kanila ni Elodie. Di ako masyadong gulat kung siya nga ang third party kaya nag-break sila ni Bridgette Dizon. Ang lakas din naman kasi talaga ng chemistry nilang dalawa sa Maya.

Netizen101: Pero hindi parin tama 'yun. Ahas si Elodie!! May karelasyon si Jake kaya dapat hindi niya muna nilandi even if may past sila.

ShowbizPRgirl: Nako, kawawa naman si Bridgette! Halatang hurt sa ginawa ni Jake at Elodie! May pagka-ahas at maldita talaga yung Elodie na 'to!

StefMich: ELODIE AHAS!

LoonaH: Elodie Cimafrancahas major in being Kabit! Di ko alam bakit iniwan ni Jake Almonte ang gf niyang si Bridgette na edukada at galing sa desenteng pamilya. Katulad niya talaga Kuya Sivel niya na ultimate fuckboy ng showbiz.

I stopped reading more dahil nakakagalit lang talaga. I couldn't care less about what they said about me, but to start a hate train on Elodie and spew all these negative things about her are something I really cannot bear! 

Nararamdaman ko ang titig ni Kuya Tom sa akin, dahil panigurado ako na halatang halata ang galit sa mukha ko. I couldn't even have the energy to put on an act.

"Pero Jake, totoo na ba yung relasyon niyo ni Elodie? May namamagitan sainyo?"

I released a deep sigh and gave him a slight nod.

"Yup. We're not official yet pero nililigawan ko siya. She's the only one I truly ever liked anyway."

Si Kuya Tom naman ngayon ang nagbuntong-hininga. 

"It's complicated right now kung mag-on nga kayong dalawa at gusto niyong i-public. Magba-backlash di lang sa'yo, mas lalo na sakanya. Even if we deny it, mas binabash talaga sa showbiz ang mga babae. Mas delikado din ang posisyon niya dahil kakabalik niya lang sa showbiz at considered siya na rising star. Ikaw, aside from the fact na mas sympathetic ang public sa mga male actors, may established acting career kana with all your awards. Your family name and reputation helps a lot too. Elodie Cimafranca has a shot at being a showbiz superstar but your relationship with her can break her from having that status."

Natahimik ako sa sinabi ni Kuya Tom.

Kung tutuusin, tama naman lahat ng sinabi niya, eh. Pero anong ibig sabihin, 'nun? Na di kami pwede magka-relasyon ni Elodie? Na ipa-pahamak ko lang siya kung magiging kami?

Damn it! I want her so bad but I don't want to be a hurdle to her dreams.