Loving the Nation's Idol

Stage 32: Heartbeat

"Di pa rin ako fan ng mga skirts at make-up 'ah."

Napayuko siya rito. Nakatingala na pala ito sa kaniya. "What's that all of a sudden?"

"Baka kasi ma-bored ka kaagad sa akin... di kasi ako yung t-tipong pwede mong madala sa mga award shows mo.. tapos tatakbuhan m-mo dala-dala ang trophy mo o yung ka-partner mo sa mga---"

Piningot niya ang ilong nito. "That wasn't the reason I love you, Isla."

Mabilis itong namula ang sinubsob uli sa dibdib niya ang mukha nito. "Alam ko... pero idolo ka pa rin. Dapat ka rin mag-ingat." She looks up to him again. "May nababalita kasi na mga aggressive fan, h-in-a-harass ang mga idolo nila pag nalamang may girlfriend --- AHHHHHH!!" Tili nito nang pumaibabaw siya rito. "A-Ang bigat mo... Isaiah..."

"They can harass me all they want as long as they don't touch a single hair of yours, Isla." His voice is with dangerous threat... his blue eyes darkened.

"O-Oy.. w-wag naman." Lumabi siya. "Ayoko ring...." Nalungkot siya nang maalala ang imahe ni Liam sa hospital. "..masaktan ka."

He chuckles and showers kisses on her neck. "Dito na tayo tumira. Hmm? Hmm?"

"AHHHHHHH!!" Tumatawa siyang umiiwas sa ilalim nito. "MAY KILITI AKO DIYAN, ISAIAHHHHHH~~!"

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PHILIPPINES | MILLER MANSION

Nasa hardin si Dylan at prenteng nakaupo sa wooden garden-set habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo at nagka-kape. His cousins are still asleep on their rooms so he decided to have his breakfast on the garden alone. Tinanguan niya bilang pasasalamat si Yaya Mona na naglapag ng cinnamon bread sa mesa.

Ever since Claudia left for Korea to give birth, she insisted that they should stay at the Miller Mansion. Di man sabihin ni Claudia, alam ni Dylan na nag-usap ito at Isaac hingil sa pansamantalang pagtira nila sa mansiyon. She's worrying -- again -- on what they might do if she's away knowing the spontaneous and adventurous nature of the twins and Santino.

All of them agreed that they won't leave Philippines until they know what their Grandma Cora's real intention are. Alam nilang si Isaiah ang pakay nito, pero di nila alam anong plano nito sa pinsan nila.

He exhales and turns the page of the newspaper. If you're not a Miller, you can simply think that the idea of them protecting their adult cousin is absurd and weird and absurd. Pero pag nasa usapan na ang lola nila, you better think twice. She can go different kind of lengths to protect their family to the point that it's not protection anymore. Pag may nakita itong mali o ayaw sa pamumuhay mo, kukunin ng lola nila na pagkakataon itong makisawsaw sa buhay mo.

And she can do it. For she thinks that money can make people do things whatever she wants them to do.

"Dylan."

Napa-angat ang tingin niya sa naka-pajama lang na si Santino na halatang kakagaling lang sa kama na umupo sa kaharap na upuan.

"We need to talk."

Niyuko uli niya ang hawak na dyaryo at iniba ang pahina. "Yeah, after you put on some damn clothes and brush your teeth."

"Sa tingin mo... buhay pa kaya si Elaine?"

Awtomatikong tumaas ang mata ni Dylan sa pinsan. "You know that's a sick joke, right?"

"I overheard Noah and Fire talked the other day --- "