16

Ready

"Mabuti na lang at hindi na hinalungkat ng maigi ang issue na 'yun, Aeri. Mahirap pagtakpan iyon kung hindi kaagad naniwala ang mga fans na hindi si Elisha iyon." Boses ni Tita Ashley sa phone. Kasalukuyan akong nag nag aayos ng sarili bago pumunta sa studio.

"Sorry, Tita. Dapat nag iingat ako para hindi masira ang image ko." I said

"Sino ba kasi ang kasama mo, Aeri?"

Should I tell her? Or not?

"I-it's just a friend, Tita. We met lang sa airplane and sakto naman, pareho kami ng pupuntahan kaya sumama ns lang ako sakanya. Malungkot naman po kasi kung mag isa lang ako doon."

"Hay jusko, Aeri. Oh sige na magkita na lang tayo sa studio."

Then she hang up. I sighed before reading a text from Jacob.

Love ♥:

Otw to your condo, love. I saw some leaked photos of us sa news nung nasa Palawan. People are going crazy thinking who is the man with you. Hahaha!

I smiled and fix my bags that I'll bring. Jacob will drop me sa studio and he will pick me up after.

I am wearing a plain red overlap dress and a beige block low heels. I was checking myself on the mirror when I heared the door clicked.

It was Jacob. I smiled as he entered my room and went to me, hugging me from the back. Pinagmasdan niya ako sa mirror habang ako ay tinitingnan pa rin ang sarili ko.

"How do I look, love?" I asked. He glance at my refelction on the mirror then he turned me so I can face him.

"You always look beautiful, love. Everything suits you." He tap my nose and leanwd to kiss my lips.

"Let's go?" He asked lending me his hand. Tumango ako tsaka kami bumaba ng condo. We're both wearing sunglasses.

Days flew fast. We finished shooting the whole movie. For the past months, iyon lang ang inatupag ko and syempre si Jacob. We've been going out secretly. If our schedules are clear, we always go on a date.

Even though I've been very busy because of the shooting and tv guestings just to promote our upcoming movies, I always find time for Jacob. Like I said, I'll do everything for him just to make him happy.

Today is our movie premiere night. Jacob should be my date for tonight but he said that our relationship cannot be publitized since merong issues pa kami ni Elisha na kailangang i clear at ayusin. I knew he would understand.

But Jacob will take me to the venue and his going to watch our movie alone. Not with me. Masaya na ako dun basta nandun siya para suportahan ako.

Wearing a velvety burgundy spagetti strapped gown with a slit on the side, I confidently walk to the red carpet. Cameras are flashing and umugong ang usapan ng crowd ng dumating ako.

My gown is a deep V-neck and its backless. I wore a black cross strap high heels. Small strands of my hair are braided and the baby hairs completed the messy look.

I stopped and smile at the cameras. Nag uunahan naman lumapit saakin ang mga interviewers.

"Hi, Miss Aeri, how is your vacation? Maraming nagtatanong kung sino yung kasama nyo dun." Tanong ng isang paparazzi.

"It was fun, actually. Am I suppose to let you know who was with me?"

"Eh, how is your relationship with Architect Elisha?"

Napatikhim ako doon tsaka tipid na ngumiti.

"Uhm, yes. We're fine."

"Where is your ring, Miss Aeri? And that necklace? Bigay po ba iyan ni Sir Elisha?"

Napatingin ako sa ring finger ko. Naalala kong binalik ko iyin kay Elisha. Kinapkap ko naman ang tanging necklace na suot ko na bigay ni Jacob. Damn! Dapat nagsuot ka pa ng isang necklace.

"This necklace is from someone who is very special to me. Yun lang ang sasabihin ko ngayon. And about my ring, Elisha forgot to give it back to me before he left for Spain."

"One last, Miss, What are you wearing today?"

"Oh, this black pouch is from Louis Vitton my shoes are from gucci and this gown was made by a famous designer in New York."

"Wow, stunning. You look pretty,"

"Thank you," pagkasabi nun ay umalis na ako.

Pumunta na ako sa sinehan. Bago simulan ang movie ay tinawag ang director at casts. Nagbigay lang ako ng short message saying 'thank you for coming and supporting our movie. Let's all enjoy..'

Then after nun nagsimula na ang movie. It turned out good naman. We all did a great job. It was job well done. Worth it ang pagod at puyat sa tapings.

2hrs lang ang movie na iyon after nun ay umuwi na rin ako sa condo with Jacob. He slept there with me.

"Congrats, love. You did so well. I'm so proud of you. I love you," he whispered before we sleep.

"Thanks, love. I love you," i whispered back and kissed his cheek.

After a week, I went to the studio again because pinatawag kami ng staffs.

"Blockbuster ang movie natin! Bumenta siya sa mga fans! Suler daming nanuod. Congrats to all of us. This calls for a celebration." Masayang anunsiyo ni Direk Jane.

Ganon nga ang ginawa namin. Nag throw ng party ang mga staffs sa studio. I texted Jacob na baka late ako umuwi. He said that he will pick me up.

Past 10 na ng nagdesisyon akong umuwi. Hindi ko na tinapos ang party at nagpasundo na kaagad kay Jacob.

Nang makarating sa condo ay umupo ako sa coach. Hinilig ko ang ulo ko sa sofa tsaka minasahe ang sintido.

Naramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko kaya napamulat ako at nilingon si Jacob.

"What's bothering you, love?" He asked worriedly.

"Nothing, love. I'm just a bit tired."

"Then, let's rest now," tumango ako at nagpunta na sa kwarto. We were done doing our night routines and my phone beeped so many times.

Nang icheck ko iyon ay nagulat ako. I thought it was just fan's greetings about our movie but it was not.

"Oh, god! Jacob, look." I showed him my phone. Nakita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya.

Nahalungkat nila ang tungkol sa necklace ko. Nalaman na rin nila na si Jacob ang kasama ko sa Palawan. Nalaman na ng lahat na Jacob was my past and alam nilang parang nagkakamabutihan kami ulit.

Maraming fans ang nagalit at nang babash sakin ngayon. Maraming leak photos namin ni Jacob ang kumakalat pati na rin yung sa interview about my ring. Gosh! Buti na lang yung parents ko eh hindi masyadong nag sosocial media.

Suddenly my phone beeped. I answered it quickly when I saw Tita Ashley is the caller.

"Aeri! What the hell is happening?!" Bungad niya. I know she's stressed out kasi sakanya magtatanong ang mga sources.

"Sorry, tita. But I'll explain it to you tomorrow. It's a long story."

"What? Anong sasabihin ko sa mga tao? Pano ko pagtatakpan yang issue mo?"

"Ako na po bahala, tita. Just schedule me for a conference. Bukas ko po i cclear out yung issue. Sorry." I hanged up the call.

I faced Jacob. "I'm so sick of keeping our relationship secret. Ayaw na kitang itago sa mga tao..."

"...I'm ready, love. I am going to tell them about us."

"I would love that, love." He smiled widely.

____♥♥♥____