In just a day, the dressing room issue with Rowan was resolved. It was all thanks to Gio's post of a candid photo of me in an event that we attended together with a simple caption: Mine.
Dumadagdag pa ang bagong rumor na lumabas nung gabi. It trended across social media that my issue was quickly forgotten.
The rumor about Rowan pursuing a girl that's not me. It's backed up with a low quality photo of him and a girl, walking side to side. Iyon nga lang ay hindi makilala ang babae. Obvious lang na hindi ako dahil sa height at katawan.
People really have the smallest attention span. They can jump from one issue to another, like a piranha consuming meat. Kaya nga lahat ng atensyon ay napunta sa bagong issue.
Rowan told me he wasn't bothered by the rumor though. His management denied it and claimed that the girl in the photo is a staff.
Maraming fans si Rowan kaya natabunan din ang issue sa sumunod na araw. It was easy for them to debunk it because Rowan and the girl weren't holding hands and if one will look at the photo with a fresh perspective and without any bias, wala naman talagang malisya roon.
It's really insane how easy it is for the media to manipulate the audience's minds. Just a few combination of words for a controversial title can influence the reader's perspective. I've been in this industry for so long but it never ceases to baffle me each time.
"Tapos na, Kaia," Jai's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa sa salamin. "Here's the lipstick, pang retouch mo."
"Thanks, Jai," I sweetly said and accepted the lipstick from her.
I asked Jai to retouch my makeup because I have plans with my friends. They heard that we were leaving for Thailand on Sunday, kaya nag-aya silang mag hangout.
Alam kong magtatampo sila kapag hindi pinagbigyan kaya pumayag na ako ngayong Friday night. Tama lang dahil alam kong maaga kaming matatapos sa taping.
Ayaw kong gumawa ng plano ng Saturday dahil kailangan ko pang mag-empake. Mas gusto ko rin magpahinga sa araw bago ang flight.
Tumayo na ako mula sa beauty chair at tiningnan ang sarili sa salamin. My makeup was nude. It matched my nude pink silk dress that is short and hugged my body well. Mababa ang neckline nito at manipis ang straps.
My rose gold big hoop earring and a lariat gold necklace was good contrast to the color of my dress. Sa paa ay nude laceup stiletto heels ang suot ko.
My perfectly ironed hair made the outfit classier. Lalo na at nasa gitna ang hati.
Pinaghandaan ko talaga ang outfit na ito dahil ayaw ko nang dumaan pa ng unit para magbihis.
Once I was done admiring my look, I stepped away from the vanity table. Naka-packup na ang team maliban kay Jai at ako na lang ang hinihintay para makaalis.
I picked up my clutch to stash away the lipstick inside. Saktong tumunog ang phone ko para sa isang text kaya kinuha ko na rin para i-check.
I had a couple of notification but the most recent one is from Hades. Umuwang ang labi ko nang makita ang apat na text message mula sa kanya.
Ngayon ko lang ito nakita dahil ngayon ko lang din nahawakan ang phone simula nung umaga. I was busy all day.
I casually checked if anyone was peering in my phone. Nang walang makitang kakaiba ay binuksan ko na ang messages niya.
The first three message was sent past nine in the morning. Ang pang huli ay ngayon lang na-send.
Hades:
Goodmorning, Kore.
Hades:
Wanna go out with me tonight?
Hades:
As a friend
Hades:
I'm leaving for France tomorrow :(
I quickly typed in a reply.
Me:
Vacation?
Me:
Also, sorry for the late reply. Super busy the whole day.
His typing indicator instantly showed up.
Hades:
For good :(
Napairap ako.
Me:
Wala kang maloloko dito.
Hades:
Haha. Sabi ko nga
But I still wanna see you again before I go though
Me:
Can't. I have plans with friends tonight. Dinner then Cove.
Hades:
See you at Cove then?
Me:
Di naman kita in-invite?
Hades:
Alam kong tatakasan mo lang ulit sila. Tutulungan lang kitang tumakas :)
I laughed at that. He's right about it though. There's a huge possibility that I'll be tempted to leave the scene early.
"Ready na ako," Jai announced.
I slightly jumped at that. I was so engrossed with Hades that I forgot where I was for a moment.
Hindi na ako sumagot kay Hades at itinago na lang ang phone. Nauna akong maglakad palabas ng dressing room. Sumunod naman sila agad.
Kuya Victor dropped me off in Okada dahil doon ang restaurant na napili ng mga kaibigan ko.
Dharma, Cara, Erich, and Aoki were already at the table at ako na lang ang kulang. They all squealed and stood up from their seats as soon as they saw me.
I met Cara and Erich in a workshop a few years ago. I clicked with them so I requested for them to be in one of my series before.
Aoki, on the other hand, is a model. She's Cara's best friend kaya nakasama na rin namin palagi. She's cool so I don't mind having her in our group.
All of my friends are in the industry. Wala akong childhood non-showbiz friend dahil sa showbiz na ako lumaki. I don't have highschool friends din since I was homeschooled. As for college naman, I haven't taken it because my schedule is too hectic.
We talked about my latest issue. Tinawan nga nila iyon dahil alam nila ang totoo. Sunod na pinag-usapan ang shooting sa Thailand. The transition of the topic was fast dahil aq sa dami ng kailangan namin i-catch up.
The time flew. Dalawang oras din kaming nasa restaurant dahil sa dami ng pinag-usapan. It was past ten when Dharma drove us to Cove.
Hindi na ako nagulat sa dami ng tao. It's the weekend after all.
A staff accompanied us to our reserved table. Nakasunod lang ako kay Dharma sa paglalakad. Magkahawak kami ng kamay at nagpapahila lang ako sa kanya dahil abala ako sa pagsipat sa mga tao.
I was searching for Hades in the crowd. Hindi pa rin ito nag-te-text hanggang ngayon. I wonder if he's already here.
I stuck with drinking Cosmopolitan, my go-to cocktail mix. It was a girl's night, kaya cocktail drinks lang din ang iniinom nila. We only go hard when we're in a large group.
Maraming lumapit sa amin na acquaintances. Pagod na ang labi ko sa pilit na ngiti at mababaw na usapan.
I looked at Dharma's way. Saktong tumingin din siya sa gawi ko. I gave her a look and she laughingly stood up.
"Seph, let's dance?" aya ni Dharma. One look and she knew me that I was asking her to save me.
"Yes," I eagerly said and stood up. Sumulyap ako sa kausap kong noontime TV host. "Excuse me."
"Sasayaw? Sama ako!" Erich yelled.
Sunod na tumayo sila Cara at Aoki. Cara insisted for a bottoms up kaya inubos muna namin ang kanya-kanyang drinks.
We left our things in our table and headed to the dance floor. Dharma assured us that her bodyguards will be watching over it.
I wasn't drunk enough to enjoy dancing, pero wala naman akong magagawa. Pumayag akong sumayaw para makatakas sa mga kausap.
Cara and Erich found new dance partners. Sa aming limang talaga, silang dalawa ang active sa kalandian. Dharma, Aoki, and I remained in our little dance circle.
Hindi nagtagal ay may lumapit din sa aming tatlong lalaki. There's nothing I hate more than getting hit on while partying. I know most people who goes clubbing to find a partner or temporary pleasure, but I only just here for fun.
I lifted my hand to flash my engagement ring to the guy who approached me. He immediately backed away.
I reached for Dharma's arm. Napatingin siya sa akin.
"Couch," I mouthed and pointed at the direction of our table.
She frowned but nodded anyway. Muli niyang hinarap ang kasayaw. Umalis ako para bumalik sa table namin.
No one was there anymore. Kinuha ko agad ang clutch ko para kunin ang phone. Nakita ko agad ang ilang text message mula kay Hades. The first one was sent thirty minutes ago.
Hades:
I'm here at the parking lot. Come out?
Hades:
Kore?
The next message was sent fifteen minutes ago.
Hades:
Galing naman pala sumayaw
He's here! At nakuha niya pa talagang mang-asar.
A new text from him came through.
Hades:
I'll wait for you outside.
Napakagat ako sa labi at umangat ang tingin sa direksyon ng dance floor. Hindi ko sila kita mula rito. Lalo na at marami masyadong tao.
Hindi naman na bago sa kanila ang pagtakas ko. Ngayon pa na ako magui-guilty?
I kept my phone inside my clutch and headed towards the exit. Hindi ko nakita si Hades nang makalabas ako ng club.
I was ready to take out my phone when I spotted a Range Rover just a short distance away from the entrance; away from the people. The headlights were on. Hindi ko kabisado ang plate number niya pero nilapitan ko pa rin ang sasakyan.
Pasimple kong tiningnan ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa paligid. Mukhang wala namang nakapansin sa akin.
It was a bit dark and the glass was slightly tinted. Hindi ko na sinigurado kung kay Hades ba ang sasakyan. Binuksan ko agad ang pinto at pumasok sa loob.
I looked at the driver's seat and saw an amused Hades. Nag-angat lang ako sa kanya ng kilay at sinuot ang seatbelt.
"Paano mo nalaman na akin yung sasakyan?"
"I didn't."
"Pero sumakay ka pa rin?" Tumawa siya. "You have a dangerous habit of entering unknown Range Rovers, Kore."
"Hindi ako pwede magtagal sa labas. Baka may makakita sa akin," nakangusong sagot ko. "Saan tayo pupunta?"
"Serrano Hotel in Parañaque," sagot niya at pinaandar na ang sasakyan.
I grimaced. "We're going to one of your hook up rooms?"
He just hushed me. At dahil wala naman siyang planong sagutin ako, I used the car ride to send a text to my group chat with friends. Ipinaalam ko sa kanila na nauna na ako.
The drive just took us ten minutes dahil malapit lang ang hotel sa club. Well, magkakadikit lang naman talaga ang hotels dito sa Parañaque.
May kinuha siyang paper bag sa backseat bago lumabas ng sasakyan. Hades moved fast and opened the door for me.
"Are we seriously going to hang out in a hotel room?" tanong ko nang huminto siya sa basement parking.
"Just trust me."
Ngumuso ako at bumaba na ng sasakyan. Sinundan ko siya patungo sa elevator. Thankfully, no one was at the parking lot. Wala rin kami nakasabay sa elevator. It was twelve in the midnight, kaya malamang.
He pressed the top floor. Tingin ko ay papuntang rooftop na iyon.
"Bakit d'yan? Baka may tao!" I blurted in panic.
"I asked the management to close it for tonight," he coolly stated.
My lips parted. I gaped at him for a while before forcing myself to scoff. "Ang yabang."
Tumawa lang siya. Palibhasa ay anak ng may-ari.
We reached the correct floor and it was like arriving at a gjost town. It looked like a lobby and an open space restaurant because of the tables that were near the tall glass wall. It's my first time to come here, that's why I'm easily distracted by everything.
I gasped when we reached outside and I saw the breathtaking rooftop. It wasn't just a rooftop. There's a free form pool!
At the center was a spacious rectangular swim-up pool bar and surrounding it was a free form pool. It looked like a river. The pool design was even more unique because of the partition with a small entryway even though it's just the same pool. It looked mystical because of the blue LED pool lights.
"You like it?"
Napatingin ako sa kanya. I could feel the big grin on my face. I giddily nodded. "Are we going to swim? Wala akong dalang swimsuit!"
"You can skinny-dip," he playfully said. I grimaced at him. "Kidding. I bought you a bikini."
Inabot niya sa akin ang paper bag na dala niya. Kinuha ko naman 'yon. There's a towel and toiletries inside. I ignored both and brought out the white stringed bikini. "You know my size?"
"Hula lang," tawa niya. "Come on. Let's get changed," aya niya.
Nauna siyang maglakad patungo sa shower room. I wore the white bikini that he gave me. It was actually a good fit.
Meanwhile, Hades went topless and just wore his board shorts. I openly stared at him from head to toe. He's got a mouthwatering built. Tapos sobrang gwapo pa niya? Is he God's favorite?
I was like a kid when we finally dipped in the pool. The pool is just four feet kaya inilubog ko ang katawan para maibsan ang pagkalamig. It was a bit windy because we're at a high place.
Naunang tumawid si Hades sa partition. Nakasunod lang ako sa likod niya. He even made sure I was following him.
Nang makatawid sa kabila ay sumisid na si Hadeon palayo. Pinanuod ko lang siya. Nang umahon siya ay ako agad ang hinanap ng mga mata niya. He waved me over. I pouted my lips a bit before gliding my way to him.
"Why don't you dip your head?" he asked.
"My mascara might run," I told him.
"Tss. Maganda ka pa rin naman. Sink up to your head," utos niya.
"Ayaw ko," sagot ko at umiling.
Umangat ang kilay ni Hadeon. His eyes glinted with playfulness. Itsura pa lang mukhang may binabalak siyang masama.
He reached for my head, ready to dunk me. I screeched and pushed his hand away. Lumangoy ako palayo sa kanya. Tinawanan naman ako ng demonyo.
"Hades! 'Wag kasi!" I whined.
"I'm sorry. Hindi na," nakatawa niyang sabi.
I scowled. "I don't believe you."
"Hindi na nga. Lapit ka na sa akin. I promise I won't do it anymore," suyo niya.
I eyed him with suspicion pero lumapit na rin ako nang kaonti. Inilubog ko ang katawan ko hanggang leeg para hindi masyadong malamigan. Hades just watched me with a grin.
"Do you always flex your wealth to your girl friends like this? Close down the hotel rooftop so you guys hang out?" I teased him.
"Not really. You're my first friend who is a girl." He looked at the night sky ahead of us.
Umuwang ang labi ko habang nakatingin lang sa kanya. "Bakit ako lang?"
"I don't know either," he truthfully answered. His eyes remained in front.
Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagtitig sa kanya. Naghihintay pa ng ibang paliwanag. Hades finally turned to look at me. Ngumiti siya sa akin at matapos ay biglang hinawi ang tubig. It splashed on my face.
"Hadeon!!" tili ko habang nakapikit.
"Oops." Sinundan pa niya iyon ng tawa.
"Ang annoying mo!" I wiped my face. Nang idilat ko ang mga mata ay hinampas ko rin ang tubig para matalsikan siya pero natalsikan din ako. He laughed harder.
My face was all wet and my hair was starting to annoy me. I gave in and submerged my head in the water for a few seconds.
Palikod akong umahon para maayos ang buhok ko. I gently wiped my eyes and smoothed my hair that was already slicked back.
Nang imulat ko ang mga mata ay naabutan ko si Hadeon na seryosong nakatingin sa akin. His eyes gazed at every inch of my face. Huling tumama ang tingin niya sa mga labi ko.
Hades licked his lips and breathed in sharply. Tumalikod siya sa akin at matapos ay sumisid palayo.