CHAMP is currently glaring at the investigator that he hired to look for his wife. He's been looking for her for quite awhile now. She's nowhere to be found. Her friends and her family. All of them leave with no trace at all. He's been thinking where can they possibly go? Even her flight attendant friend took a long vacation at Luther Lucena's Airport, he got the information from his friend Jeron. Pero bago pa siya nakakuha ng impormasyon mula sa kaibigan ay nagkasagutan muna sila. He knew that his friend likes his wife but he doesn't like the idea that his friend, Jeron would want to take his wife away from him if only he's not the latter's friend.
"I'm sorry sir but, I really can't find anything." - nakayukong sabi ng investigator.
Champ gritted his teeth and rolled his eyes. "Ano bang ginagamit mo sa paghahanap?! Ilong?!" - galit na sigaw ng lalaki.
"I-i'm really sorry, sir."
He slammed his palms on his desk. "Don't tell me your sorry! Keep looking for my wife! Libutin mo ang buong mundo, puntahan mo ang mga pinakamaliit na lugar, mga isla na wala sa mapa or globe. Puntahan mo! Wala akong pakialam basta hanapin mo ang asawa ko! Wag kang babalik dito kung sorry lang din ang sasabihin mo!" Aish! Ginulo niya ang kanyang buhok bago marahas na napahilamos sa kanyang mukha.
Two months. It was already two months and there's still no lead where his wife is.
"Yes, sir. Ipagpapatuloy ko po ang paghahanap. Uunahin ko po ang Spain." - parang may kung anong umilaw sa utak ni Champ.
He snaps his fingers. "Right!" - he stood up and put his index finger on his chin. "Why I didn't even think of that." - he laughed a little.
"You once told me sir that her family came from Spain. Magbabakasali ako na baka doon ko po makikita ang asawa mo." - he said politely.
Champ pursed his lips and hummed. "Look somewhere in Barcelona first." - Barcelona is the place where she was born, maybe she was there. Tumango naman ang investigator. "Remember what I told you. Don't come back if you don't have good news with you."
"Yes sir!"
Mabilis na nilisan ng investigator ang kanyang opisina. He sighed. He hoped that this time, makikita na niya ang asawa niya.
His wife left because she wanted to save his career but Champ did the latter. He cancelled his project with Suella and paid millions for termination of contract. He also stopped accepting projects. Tumigil na siya sa pag-aartista. He loves his wife so much and that, he is willing to lose his career instead of her. Hinahanap na niya ang kanyang asawa at gusto niya na kapag nahanap na niya ito ay wala ng balakid sa kanilang relasyon. His career is one of the biggest torn in their relationship next to his star-manager, Janus Kalibugan. Kailangan niya din pa lang linisin ang pakialamerong iyon. Not long after Jeva left him, someone send him pictures of Janus and Jeva talking together. He clearly knew that Janus said something on her dahil nakayuko lang babae sa harapan nito na tila umiiyak. The person who took that photos was close to their position dahil kitang-kita ang mukha ng mga ito. Champ didn't know who the sender is, but he wanted to thank that person for doing this. Takang-taka pa rin kung paano nalaman ng sender ang tungkol sa relasyon nila. Hindi niya rin alam kung sino ang sender dahil pagkarating niya sa opisina ay nasa table na niya ito. Teresa also said that someone handed it to her at ang sekretarya na niya ang naglagay sa kanyang mesa.
Hindi niya lang makausap ang kanyang star-manager dahil naging mailap na rin ito sa kanya. Masyadong nagpapahalata. Champ clenched his fist. He already told him not to meddle with his and his marriage. Napakatanga niya dahil nagtiwala siya sa taong ito at sinabi niya rito ang tungkol sa kanilang relasyon. Napakatanga rin niya para maniwala sa sinabi nito na mas nakabubuting wag muna ipaalam ang kanilang relasyon sa publiko.
He already planned to tell the public about him being married before his and his wife's vacation on Siargao pero pinigilan siya ng traydor niyang star-manager dahil makakasira raw ito sa image niya para sa kanyang bagong project kasama ni Suella. So sad, because he already pulled himself out from that project. Suella understood her friend's intention so she let it be. Naging magulo ang media dahil dito. Some were digging deeper to know the real reason behind it.
Champ really needs to clear things out before his wife comes back. Kailangan wala na itong stress na mararamdaman dahil sa trabaho niya. He also knew it from Jeron. His friend told him that he was stressing the hell out of his wife. Gusto niya na wala ng problema pagbalik nito. Wala na nga ba? What if his wife doesn't want to come back? Anong gagawin niya? He shrugged his thoughts whether she wants or she doesn't, she will always belong to him. He will do everything to bring her back to his arms. This is her home, and will forever be.
He clenched his jaw when he received a message from Suella saying that his star-manager is in Suella's studio. See you, motherfucker! He stormed out of his office. Teresa, his secretary, goosebumps because she saw his boss on his evil aura AGAIN.
What is it this time? Tanong ni Teresa sa kanyang sarili. May nangyari ba sa boss niyang babae? Tanging mga bagay lang na konektado sa boss niyang babae ang tanging rason na nasa utak niya ang pwedeng makapagbibigay ng ganung awra sa kanilang boss. She sighed. Nasa maging maayos na ang lovelife nila. Teresa is a die-hard fan of this real-life couple.
CHAMP saw Suella talking to his star-manager. Janus back is facing him, parang napakaseryoso ng pinag-uusapan nila dahil hindi man lang nito napansin ang kanyang presensya.
Suella noticed that someone had arrived, she gave him a glance and smirked secretly. She gave Janus a serious face. "So, Janus. When are you going to tell Vladimir that you met his wife, twice." - Suella said. She wanted Champ to hear everything directly from Janus' mouth.
Champ clenched his fist. So, the evidence that he was holding is maybe the first or the second time. He doesn't know. Sumosobra na talaga ang manager niya dahil dalawang beses talaga nitong kinausap ang kaniyang asawa nang hindi niya alam.
Janus shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I won't tell him. He will not know though." - he grinned. "I am going to persuade him again to come back to his acting career and make some more money using his talent."
Champ gritted his teeth. Ano ba ang akala ng manager niya sa kanya? Money maker? He can give him money if that is what he wanted to. He can give him as much as he want. Kahit wala ang acting career niya kayang-kaya niyang bayaran ang baklang ito kung iyon lang naman pala ang habol niya dito. Wag lang sirain nito ang relasyon niya sa kanyang asawa. He is now fuming mad.
He cleared his throat to get their attention. Suella smirked inwardly when she saw Janus stilled. "Long t-time no see, Vlad."
"Ah? Yeah?" - he hid his anger with his sly smile. "So long, Janus." - Champ said with no emotion. "Bakit nga ba tayo matagal ng hindi nagkita?" - he put his index finger on his chin and pointed it up. "Ahuh! Was that because you are trying to avoid me?" - his smile disappeared from his face and glared at the latter.
"What? I don't know what you were saying." - he denied. His eyes didn't stilled. Hindi na nito alam kung saan itutuon ang kanyang mga mata. "W-who's trying to avoid who?"
"STOP MAKING ME LIKE A FOOL!" - Champ shouted which made him and Suella flinched. He has never been this anxious. He is always cool and composed.
Suella smiled bitterly. Mababago talaga ng pag-ibig ang isang tao. It will bring out the best in you and it may bring out the worst in you, that even you yourself couldn't imagine.
"I'm not making you a fool."
Champ snorted. Talagang ipagpapatuloy nga nito ang pagsisinungaling. He pull-out all the evidence that were sent to him and threw it directly on the latters face. While Suella sat at the corner. Ayaw niyang makialam.
Nanginginig ang kamay ni Janus habang pinupulot ang mga litratong nagkalat sa sahig. Who the heck took these photos?! It was the second time she met Jeva. The time that she blackmailed her. Wala naman ibang may alam sa pinag-usapan nila except...
Napalingon si Janus kay Suella na nakaupo sa gilid habang nakatingin sa kanya. He gave Suella a death glare but the latter shrugged and mouthed him 'what?' Only Suella knew about him and Jeva's meeting. Kaya walang ibang tao na pwede niyang paghinalaan
"You!" - Janus is shaking while pointing at Suella. "You did this, didn't you?!" - he accused her.
Suella astonishingly mocked at him. "Me?" - she pointed to herself. "I may have known about your meeting with Vlad's wife but I didn't take those photos. If I were that sender I would not send these photos to Vlad. I will make him come and witness your wickedness." - she said and raised her brow at him. She laughed mockingly. "Your evil deeds will surely backfire on you. Look at you, now. Already exposed." - she smirked.
"You--!"
"Ah. Ah. Ah." - she wiggles her index finger. "Don't you dare point your evil deeds to other people. You deceived me" - she said while gritting her teeth.
Puno ng galit ang mga mata ni Suella habang nakatingin sa baklang star-manager ni Vlad habang ang huli naman ay parang sinisilaban ang pwet dahil hindi ito mapakali. Nakakunot naman ang noo ni Champ.
"What do you mean, Sue?"
Suella whistled bitchly. She is really a bitch. She will keep those she treasures. Hindi niya hahayaang mawala, maagaw o masaktan ang mga ito. As for Vladimir, he is her childhood friend and she treasures him. She doesn't want to get him hurt. She's like a brother to him. "Well, this gay right here." - she pointed and insulted Janus by calling him gay. "He told me that you are already married and that your wife is having an affair behind your back--"
"Wait, does that mean, you already knew that I am married before I told you?" - hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Vlad.
She nodded. "Before I came back, Janus already called and told me about you and your wife. He told me that you are suffering from being heart broken because your wife is having an affair behind your back and that is the reason why you didn't tell the public that you are married. You know that I don't want you to be hurt." - she sighed and glared at Janus. "That's why I agreed to this vicious gay's plan and that is to tell the public that you and me were in a relationship.
Janus was crying deliriously. "I didn't--"
"Oh? Please." - she said mockingly as she rolled her eyes. "Wag ka nang magkaila pa, Janus." - diniin niya ang pagkakasabi nito at pinanlakihan niya ito ng kanyang mga mata.
"Pero hindi ko naman talaga--"
"Shut up! I told you not to stick your nose on someone's business!" - sigaw ni Champ sa kanyang star-manager.
Parang nalunok naman nito ang kanyang sariling dila habang humahagulhol. He glanced at Suella who is now smiling devilishly.
"Your career is my business. Pero hindi ko---"
Suella cuts him. "Ganyan talaga ang mga bakla. Hindi nila alam kung kailan ititikom ang kanilang mga bibig and they're selfish. Hindi mo ba narinig ang sinabi niya kanina? He is just using you to make money."
Itinikom ni Janus ang kanyang bibig at punong-punong ng galit ang kanyang mga mata habang nakatingin kay Suella. He wanted to justify himself but they keep on cutting him.
Champ grabbed Janus' collar. "What did you say to my wife, you punk?!"
Suella stood up and handed her phone to Champ. Showing him the video of Janus and Jeva talking at a café. It's confirmed. It was her. It was her who sent the photos to Vladimir. She was lying a while ago.
"Someone send it to me." - she said and gave a glance to Janus.
Liar! Iyan ang gustong isigaw ni Janus. Hindi siya naniniwalang may nagsend nito sa kanya. He knew that Suella was the one who videoed them. Pero hindi magawang tawaging sinungaling si Suella dahil alam niyang ito ang paniniwalaan ni Vladimir. Suella wasn't the one who you think she is. She is more vicious than Janus. She's a wicked manipulator.
Matapos panoorin ni Vlad ang video ay tatlong suntok ang ibinigay niya kay Janus.
"Leaveeeee!!!" - Vlad roared. "Leave and don't ever come back! I don't want to see your face again! Leave!"
Nanghihina man ay pinilit ni Janus na itayo ang sarili. He bowed his head at the star that he took care for how many years. "I never regret that I've been your star-manager." - he said as a tear fell from his eye.
"Of course, you'll not regret serving someone you love." - Suella said while smirking. "Janus loves you romantically."
Nagulat si Janus sa sinabi ni Suella dahil alam niya walang katotohanan ang sinasabi nito. He loves Vladimir like a son for, he is 10 years older than the latter. Habang hindi naman maipinta ang mukha ni Vladimir.
"What the fuck?!" - gulat na saad nito.
"Hindi totoo yan!" -tanggi ni Janus.
"Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang totoo sa hindi." - Vlad said directly. "But, one thing I know for sure, I can't trust you anymore."
"But--"
"Don't deny it will you? Bakit ba kasi magsisinungaling ka pa, eh bistado ka na." - Janus glared at Suella.
"You bitch!"
"Don't call her names, descarado hijo de puta!" Shameless son of a bitch! Janus was unable to move because of what Vladimir called him. For almost 15 years as Vladimir's star-manager, he was never disrespected and humiliated by him, not even once, ngayon lang.
Hindi pa nakakabawi sa kanyang pagkagulat ay sinigawan ulit siya nito. "Salir!" Leave!
Before he left he saw Suella standing behind Vladimir, and who's smiling at him wickedly as she flickers her fingers playfully.
He sighed as he flashbacks his second meeting with Jeva.
They were at a café but this time, Janus reserved the whole cafe for the two of them with the help of someone so that they can talk with no interventions.
"I guess I already know why you want us to meet again." - Jeva concluded.
Janus gave her a small smile. "You're indeed quick-witted, Miss Villaflor." - Jeva doesn't know if Janus is complimenting her or insulting her.
"It's Mrs. Quiroz for you, Mr. Kalibugan." - she corrected her husband's star-manager.
He gave him a playful grin. "Why would I? As I have said, you two will end up breaking each other."
She clenched her fist and glared at Janus. "And, I also told you that we are not going to break up. Over my dead body." - matigas na sabi ni Jeva.
"Here." - he placed an envelope on top of the table and pushed it a little towards the latter.
"What is it?" - takang tanong ni Jeva.
"Look at it for yourself."
Jeva breathed heavily as she reached the envelope and looked at what was inside.
She slammed her palm on the table and stared at him as if she was going to throttle someone. "What is this? A hush money? What do you think I am? A mistress of my husband?" - galit na tanong niya sa kausap.
"Hindi ka nga kabit pero mas sobra pa sa kabit ang nararanasan mo. Ni hindi ka man lang mapakilala ng asawa mo sa publiko." - he mocked at Jeva making her more furious. "He never loved you."
She clenched her fist more, tears were forming in her eyes because of anger. "Anong alam mo sa nararamdaman ng asawa ko?"
"If he really loves you then why wouldn't he announce to the public that he's married. Kahit yun lang. Kahit hindi na niya sabihin kung hindi. Pero, ano? Hindi niya ginawa, diba? That is because he really doesn't love you. Pinaikot ka lang niya sa kanyang palad." Mabilis na napatayo si Jeva habang masamang nakatingin kay Janus. "What? You'll hurt me? Silly." - he chuckled mockingly. "As if that will change a thing. Wake up, Miss Villaflor. Your husband will never love you."
Jeva took a deep breath and dried her tears harshly. "Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko para tigilan mo na ako."
"Simple lang naman, Miss Villaflor." - he gave him a sly smile. "Let Suella announce to the public that she has a romantic relationship with your husband. Or..." - he paused. "Break up with him."
Parang tinakasan ng lakas si Jeva at napaupong muli. "What if I will not do it?"
"Easy." - He pulled out another envelope from his briefcase. "Then, we will announce to the public that Vladimir is married to a whore."
Jeva slammed her fist on the table. She dislikes anyone calling her names especially if she knows that she isn't. She took the envelope harshly.
Nakita niya ang iba't ibang pictures niya kasama ang mga kaibigang lalaki. A picture of her and Dane, Dane is kissing her forehead. A picture of her and Alvin, Alvin's cupping her facing and their faces were so close together. The other one is, her and Alyxisz who were laughing at each other while their hands were intertwined. Ang mga ito ay nangyari na before pa sila ikinasal ni Champ. Her brows creased as her heart beat deliriously. She felt so agitated. She is wondering where the hell did they get these photos?
But to her shock, most of the pictures were her and Jeron, and these photos were taken on recent events.
She left so helpless, even if she will tell everyone that she's clean and these photos were just nothing, alam niyang walang maniniwala sa kaniya. Kayang-kaya nilang sirain ang pangalan nila at kapag ginawa nila ito alam niyang madadamay ang pangalan ng asawa niya.
Janus smirked as he saw her on her vulnerable state. Alam niya kasing bibigay na ang babae.
"What the hell do you want me to do?" - she asked in defeat. Her voice was shaking.
"I already told you what I want, Miss Villaflor." - he placed his elbows on the table. "Let Miss Velez tell the public that she and your husband have a relationship or break up with him." - he smirked and leaned his back again on the chair.
"Fine. I'll do what you want." - she said as she accepted that she can no longer do anything to keep her marriage.
"Here." - itinulak uli ni Janus papalit sa kanya ang sobreng may lamang cheke. "Take this as your compensation."
"I'll do what you want but I will not accept that money. Hindi ko ipinagbibili ang pagiging asawa ko kay Champ. I'm doing this because I don't want to ruin his career. Dahil alam kong importante yun sa kaniya."
"Okay, madali ka naman pa lang kausap."
Hindi na sumagot si Jeva sa kanya dahil mas pinili nitong tumayo at umalis na sa lugar na iyon.
"Good job, Mr. Kalibugan." - sabi ng taong bigla na lang sumulpot sa kanyang likuran habang siya naman ay napayuko na lang. He doesn't want to ruin anyone's relationship kung hindi lang dahil sa taong nag-utos sa kanya at sa pangbablackmail nito sa kanya.
"Sana lang ay sumunod ka sa usapan natin. Alam mong hindi ko gusto ang pinapagawa mo sa 'kin." - he said.
"Of course." - the person smirked at him. "Don't worry, as I have said, I'll pay for your mother's brain operation." - hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngisi nito sa kanyang mga labi.
"Wag mong ipagsasabi ang bagay na ito kung ayaw mong tuluyan ng mawala sa mundo ang nanay mo." - the evil person said to him before leaving him alone in the café crying helplessly. Ayaw niyang saktan ang alaga niya dahil niyang mahal na mahal nito ang kaniyang asawa ngunit wala siyang magagawa dahil buhay ng ina niya ang kapalit.
Janus dried his tears, matapos na inalala ang dahilan kung bakit nagawa niyang saktan si Vladimir at ang asawa nito. Kung hindi lang dahil sa tanong yun hindi mawawalan ng tiwala at respeto sa kanya ang kanyang alaga, na si Vladimir, na itinuturing na niyang parang anak.
"Hindi magtatagal malalaman din nila ang pinaggagawa mong kasamaan at kasakiman." - he murmured.