Summer Nights with a Rock Star

CHAPTER 1

Hindi ko akalain na magiging ganito ako, na ako pala yung tipo ng tao na tatakbo palayo sa problema. All my life, I faced things head-on. I’m a lawyer, for God’s sake—sino ba naman ang aatras? I was the perfect daughter, always smiling through family dinners, nodding along when I wanted to scream. Pero noon iyon.

It was a calm Monday morning when Derek called. The wedding was only two weeks away, but he said the words with a detachment that felt colder than anything I’d ever faced in a courtroom. "I’m sorry, Dixie… I just can’t do this. I think we’re better off as friends."

As a woman who loved her fiancé more than she loved her own peace, I didn’t even hesitate. Iniwan ko ang tambak na case files sa mesa, at dali-daling lumabas. Nagmadali akong puntahan siya—siguro may mali lang sa pagkakaintindi ko, siguro mali lang ako ng dinig. Ngunit wala siya sa condo niya, ni sa opisina. He was nowhere. Para akong baliw na umiiyak habang naglalakad pababa sa lobby ng condo ni Derek. Alam kong kalat na ang makeup ko, nangingitim na siguro ang mata ko, pero wala na akong pakialam. Nawala na ang hiya, wala na rin ang takot.

Pagdating ko sa kotse ko ay saktong dumating ang sasakyan niya. I don’t know what made me stay, but my gut told me to watch. And there he was—smiling like nothing was wrong. As if he hadn’t broken my heart just minutes ago. He parked, opened the passenger door, and out came a woman I’d seen once before, dressed to perfection in a fitted dress and heels. She leaned over, kissed him, and laughed.

It was like being punched in the stomach. Anger washed over me, but underneath it, there was pain. Masakit. Akala ko ba mali lang ako? Bakit ganito? I had spent every minute blaming myself—thinking I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, sexy enough. Was it me? But seeing them, together, made everything snap into place, leaving only the bitter taste of betrayal.

I raised my phone, taking photos of them as they laughed and kissed, oblivious to the heart they’d shattered. I sent them to my best friend, my maid of honor, who called immediately, but I didn’t answer. Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang ini-start ang kotse at nag-drive palayo. Tears blurred my vision as I tried to make sense of how I’d driven here on autopilot, my mind clouded by questions and shattered memories.

When I finally made it back to my apartment, my knees buckled. I collapsed, finally letting the wave of emotions I’d been suppressing pull me under. My phone slipped from my grip, but I clutched it tightly, staring at the photo I’d just taken. It was him, in the act, as if my love, my years, and my sacrifices meant nothing. I wanted to scream, to throw something, to burn every memory of him.

For so long, I’d lived my life around him. I sacrificed nights out, skipped countless opportunities, shaped myself into the person he wanted. And in return, I got… this? Betrayal with a smile and no warning, as if I’d been nothing more than a phase.

I looked around my apartment. Every corner, every item, had a piece of him in it—the framed photos, the gifts, even the damn scented candles he’d chosen. A surge of energy hit me. One by one, I threw everything into a box. Each item—a framed photo, an old hoodie, the pillows he’d chosen so carefully—felt like another weight being lifted. But the anger wouldn’t leave.

I checked my phone. Multiple unread texts from him. Hey, can we talk? I’m sorry if you saw something upsetting. It’s not what you think.

Not what I think? My heart twisted in fury. After everything, he dared to try to twist this? I typed one last message to my best friend: Don’t let him gaslight me. This is his mess, not mine. Let him explain everything to our family. That’s not my problem anymore. Then I deleted his number. I watched as everything I’d built up, the perfect relationship, the perfect wedding, the life my parents wanted for me—crumbled in the blink of an eye.

The apartment felt too small, too suffocating. If I stayed here, I’d fall apart in a way I couldn’t come back from. I needed to get away—to somewhere no one knew me, somewhere I didn’t have to explain. I opened my laptop and typed "private islands Philippines." My eyes stopped on Banwa Private Island, Palawan—pristine beaches, clear blue water, complete seclusion. Perfect.

Without another thought, I booked it. Money didn’t matter. I packed as quickly as I could, throwing clothes and essentials into a suitcase with hands that wouldn’t stop shaking. I needed to escape, to disappear for a while.

I texted Jane. “I’m leaving for a few weeks. Do what you need to do with the photos I sent. The wedding is off. Don’t worry about me. Love you, J.” Sigurado akong busy din si Jane dahil kasalukuyan syang nasa New York para sa isang brand shooting, but right now, she’s all I have. She’s the only person I trust.

Hours later, I was stepping onto the island’s white sands. The sun was already sinking below the horizon, casting everything in a surreal, golden glow. The palm trees swayed in the breeze, the ocean sparkled like something out of a fantasy. It was the kind of peace I hadn’t felt in years—almost painful in its beauty. It felt… almost obnoxious to be in such a paradise when my whole life was in ruins.

What was I doing here?

For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a plan, no next step, no schedule. I’d flown across the country to escape my past, to escape the person I’d become for him. I’d turned off my phone, promising myself I wouldn’t turn it back on until I’d figured out who I was without him.

Standing there, with only the crashing waves and the whisper of the wind as company, I realized that maybe—just maybe—it was okay not to know who I was for a while. The silence felt foreign, but maybe that was exactly what I needed.

Dixie’s first day on the island felt like a daze. She’d come here to escape, but now that she was actually here, she couldn’t shake the sense of unreality. Her private villa was nestled in a secluded corner of the island, surrounded by lush greenery and with an uninterrupted view of the ocean. It was almost too perfect, like a postcard coming to life. But somehow, the beauty only made her feel emptier.

The silence was absolute. No sounds of city traffic, no conversations in the background, not even a single voice calling out her name. She was truly alone. At first, she didn’t know what to do with herself. She unpacked, mostly out of habit, laying out her clothes and tucking her belongings into the drawers. Her phone was buried at the bottom of her suitcase, turned off since she’d arrived.

Matapos nyang mag-unpack ng mga gamit, naglakad siya papunta sa beach. The sand was soft and warm under her feet, and the ocean stretched endlessly in front of her, blue and inviting. Dixie walked along the shore, letting the waves lap at her ankles. Hindi niya matandaan ang huling beses na nag punta sya sa beach. Sure she had holidays with Derek, but this isn’t his kind of vacation. Mas gusto nyang magbakasyon abroad, visit bars and drink. She doesn’t like it but she has no other choice, she had to go with him. But this, the simplicity of it made her feel small and unburdened, even if just for a moment.

But it wasn’t enough. She kept replaying the moment Derek had ended things, his voice distant and detached as he told her they were better off as friends. It haunted her, circling in her mind like vultures. She’d replayed it so many times, dissecting every word, every little inflection, trying to understand how someone she thought loved her could be so… indifferent. She wanted to scream at the ocean, demand an answer, but all that came out was a shaky sigh as she stared into the endless waves.

Mag-isa siyang naglakad sa baybayin, pinipigilan ang mga luha na gustong tumakas sa mga mata nya.. “How the hell did this happen to me?” she whispered to the wind, hoping it would carry her questions away.

The second day dawned quietly. Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow across the room. Dixie had spent a restless night, tossing and turning, her mind never fully letting go of her grief. She wasn’t used to silence like this; her life was always filled with meetings, court hearings, calls, deadlines. Out here, she had nothing to distract her from the reality of her heartbreak.

Matapos ang mabilis na shower, nagsuot siya ng maluwag na damit at naglakad pabalik sa beach. The staff had prepared a small breakfast spread by the shore, fresh fruit, pastries, and a glass of juice that glowed a bright orange in the sunlight. She picked at the food, watching the horizon, the waves slowly ebbing and flowing in a rhythm that seemed to mock her own chaos. Every bite tasted like sand, and her stomach twisted in knots.

Later, she wandered to the pool by her villa, dipping her toes into the cool water and then easing in, hoping that maybe the water would wash some of the ache away. Floating there, with her eyes closed, the sun warming her skin, she finally let her guard down. Tears slipped out, hidden beneath the surface as she floated, weightless and alone. She let herself cry, truly cry, with no one to hear her or offer empty reassurances. The ocean and the sun were her only witnesses, and they stayed quiet.

As evening set in, the sky painted itself in shades of pink and orange, casting a warm glow over everything. ‘Pink skies’ she thought. Dixie wrapped herself in a light shawl and wandered down to the beach, watching as the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon. She thought about Derek again, but this time the ache felt duller, like it was finally beginning to scab over. She wasn’t ready to forgive, but maybe, just maybe, she could start to let go.

**

It was my third day on the island and I was sitting at the edge of the water, letting the waves wash over my feet. The whole scene felt surreal, almost like I was a ghost haunting the edges of this paradise. The sun was setting, casting everything in a soft glow, and for the first time in days, my mind was quiet. Hindi na rin sumasagi sa isip ko si Derek, walang replays ng nangyari noong nakaraang linggo. Just me and the ocean, and the ache that was finally softening.

Then I noticed him.

At first, I thought he was just another guest passing by, but he stopped, stood there for a moment, then awkwardly lowered himself onto the sand a few feet away. Hindi sya nagsalita, umupo lang sya doon at nakatingin sa malayo. I didn’t bother looking at him, but I could feel his presence, his curiosity practically radiating in my direction. ‘Ang chismoso naman nito.’ I thought.

He was trying to be discreet, maybe even “deep and mysterious,” but I could see right through it.

And yet… I didn’t mind. That’s new.I used to hate people who break my privacy and just someone who wanted to talk to you just to pry.

There was something strangely comforting about having someone there, close but not too close. A stranger who, by some unspoken understanding, wasn’t here to pry. So I broke the silence, my voice barely above a whisper as I looked out at the endless expanse of blue. “This place… it’s like it knows you need to hide.”

Hindi ako nag-expect na sasagot sya sa sinabi ko, pero matapos ang ilang segundo ay nagsalita sya. “Yeah. That’s why I came here.”

I turned to look at him for the first time, and he caught me off guard. He was handsome, in that effortlessly rugged kind of way, but his eyes were what made me pause. They were… tired. I recognized those eyes. Haunted, almost. I recognized the look, because I’d seen it every time I glanced in the mirror these past few weeks.

“I’m Dixie,” sabi ko.. It wasn’t much, but somehow sharing my name felt like a small act of rebellion against everything I was trying to leave behind.

“Jace,” he replied, his voice soft but sure. Just that—no last name, no pretense. Like he was trying to be as invisible as I was. And for the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel the weight of who I was supposed to be. I was just… Dixie.