Chapter 16: Complications

Kumaway pa si Via sa papalayong sasakyan ni Matt when he drop her off sa hotel na tinutuluyan niya. Hindi na niya inimbitahan si Matt sa loob since halos maghahating gabi na rin. They have to be back sa theatro early tomorrow. Pumasok na siya sa loob at akmang tutuloy sa elevator nang harangin siya ng receptionist.

"Ms. Via," tawag sa kaniya. Nilingon lang niya ito. "Meron pong naghihintay sa inyo kanina pa."

Nangunot ang noo niya. "Sakin? Sino?"

"Nasa lounge po." Nagpatiuna na ang receptionist habang sumunod naman siya agad. The receptionist lead Via to a room with a glass wall. The blinds were closed but she can see a man lounging on the sofa. Nakatalikod ito kaya hindi niya makilala. The receptionists pushed slide the door. "Sir, Ms. Via is here," turan nito as Via entered the room. Iniwan na din sila agad ng receptionist. Napaharap ang lalaki.

"SJ?!" gulat ni turan ni Via. SJ smiled weakly. Tila nakaidlip ito.

"Hi Babe!" anito na umunat pa. "I've been waiting for you for 4hours. Where have you been?" humihikab pa ito habang nagsasalita. Tumayo ito at pupungas-pungas na lumapit sa kaniya.

"What are you doing here?"

She's not happy to see him. SJ was her it's-a-complicated-relationship. He used to be her boyfriend but SJ is making it complicated. He is a runway model/aspiring British actor. Supposedly what they have is a no-string attached relationship. She knows SJ was just drawn to her for her prestige. But then, he was becoming possesive of her. He wants her to be his exclusive. Nung una, tinanggap niya. But SJ have been rejecting the commitment. Kinompronta niya ito sa totoong relationship nila and he insist of marrying her. But then nakipaghiwalay ito sa kaniya after a week. He said he's scared of the commitment and she is too much for him. Tinanggap niya ang break up nito but he still act as if they were together. He said they may have been broken up but the world won't accept it yet. He's avoiding controversies. That was 2months ago. Iniwan niya ito sa London hoping that he'll have the courage to tell everyone that they have broken up. Pero here he is again.

"I missed you," lambing nito. Umakma itong sasapuhin ang mukha niya for a kiss.

"What the--," tinabig niya ang mga kamay nito. "where is your crew?" Nagugulumihanang tanong niya rito. Lumayo siya rito. Napansin niya ang limang suitcase sa gilid.

"They are staying in a hotel. I'll meet them tomorrow," sagot nito.

Hindi ito umaalis na hindi kasama ang buong crew nito. He consider himself as too important para bumyahe mag-isa.

"Then why are you here alone? Why didn't you checked in the hotel with your crew?"

"Oh comm'on Babe! I'm trying to reach out. I know your mad at me. You left me in London!"

"I left London because I have work here not because I am mad at you or I'm running away from you."

"But everyone was talking," anito.

"Talking what?"

"T-that we've broken up," anito na tila nauutal.

Via's jaw dropped. Hindi niya alam kung matatawa or maiirita. Nahimas niya ang noo.

"SJ, what do you mean? We've broken up ages ago. Aren't you over that yet?" pinipigil ang tawang turan ni Via.

"Yeah, well, internally. I-i mean it's just between us!" rason pa nito.

Habang tumatagal lumiliit talaga ang pagkakakilala niya rito. For the longest time, hinayaan niyang gamitin nito ang pangalan niya for the sake of his career. But it was long enough. She couldn't stand it anymore.

"Oh, please! Let's be over with this. I don't want to be a part of your games anymore. If you don't find a way to clean your name and fix your career yourself, I'll make a stop with it, permanently!" pagdidiin niya.

Dati niya na itong binantaan but she's way too nice kaya hindi niya tinutuloy. But he had his chance. This time it's now or never.

Sumalampak ng upo si SJ sa sofa. Via rolled her eyes, iritable sa pananamantala ni SJ sa kaniya.

"What is it this time?" She's also used to sa mga planned skit nito para mailihis ang scandal na kinasasangkutan. And she knows na kaya na naman ito lumalapit sa kaniya para gawin siyang scapegoat.

"Life Weekly released an article last week," kwento nito pertaining to a largest magazine in London. "They said that I am cheating with Blimey Stayson. It's not true. Blimey likes me and he admit that with the public. He tried to frame me up with dating photos but I just met her in Bolleavue with my crew."

Pailing na napangiti si Via. "But you want her?"

"No!" mabilis na sagot nito. "Not in my dreams," his face looks disgusted.

Blimey was a british actress na medyo saliwa din ang career. The industry name her as the worst actress. No one wants to work with her. But the bitch has connections. And she's stubborn that she would work as hard to get what she wants even if it hurts anyone.

"So how I do fit in all of this again?"

"People are saying that I'm cheating on you. You've been away too long," tila batang maktol ni SJ.

Napangiti siya. No matter how she played along on SJ's made up skits para lang mapabango ang image nito, she will always end up being the damsel in distress and controversies won't leave SJ alone.

"Why are you smiling? You like it?"

"Can't you still realize it? I mean, no matter how much you tried people won't like you. No matter how you insist to clean up your image, I will always be overshadowing you. You will always be the bad guy for me. Can you just figure out a one ending punch to all the roles you've been given me? You kept thinking that this issue will just die down and people will just forget everything eventually. But if something happen again, it would lit another spark from the past. Haven't you learned that yet?" Mahabang turan niya kay SJ.

Nakayuko lang si SJ. Tila naiintindihan nito ang nais ipaabot ni Via. Ramdam din niya ang frustration nito. But SJ loved his craft so much. He likes the attention, the perks that comes along with his career. Aminado naman siyang he did work his ass off in the beginning para marating nito ang pedestal na pangarap nito. He may not be there yet totally but almost. Wala pa itong major awards na natatanggap just endorsements and recognition.

Bumuntong hininga siya. Somehow she also had concern with this guy. For Via, at the end of the day, kahit ano pa ang ginagawa nito, he's still a friend. And a friend needs her help. Besides, nasa bansa ito na bilang bisita.

"Okay. We'll work on this tomorrow. It's past midnight." SJ's face lit up. "But, you can't stay here. Give me your phone."

"Why can't I stay here?" anito habang inaabot pa rin ang telepono kay Via.

"Because, people here doesn't know that I have a so called boyfriend in London and people here have decency issue with a different sex staying together in a hotel over night," aniya na dumial sa phone nito. It rang for awhile. And a groggy voice answered.

"Brent, wake up!" sagot ni Via sa manager ni SJ. "How could you left SJ here without guards? Get your ass off here in 10mins or he will be sleeping on the streets," agad nitong pinatay ang telepono ng kausap and binalik kay SJ ang telepono.

"Comm'on, I'll book you a hotel," ani Via na nagpatiuna sa paglabas.

"Why can't I book here? This is a hotel!" pahabol na sigaw ni SJ. Hindi sumagot si Via. Dire-diretso nag tungo sa reception hall. Napasunod naman si SJ with a clench fist.