Lost in Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"We love you, Blaire!"

"I love you too!" Sigaw ko sa maraming fans na nanonood sa huling mall show ko ngayong araw.

I slowly exited the place with my tired body and fast beating heart. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang ginhawa na nararamdaman ko ngayon na pwede na akong umuwi at magpahinga. I'm working too much this past few days because of my busy schedule. So I am literally dying to have a rest.

"Very good!" Charly, my road manager s***h friend excitedly said as I stepped inside my van.

Pagod ako na sumandal sa captain seat para ipahinga ang likod na kanina pa nangangalay. Halos buong araw ako nakatayo at nagpe-perform. I am so tired that I couldn't even straight right now. My whole body is aching as long as my head.

"Charly, I'm tired," nakapikit na reklamo ko pero salita pa rin siya ng salita kahit wala naman na akong naiintindihan.

I badly want to go home and sleep.

"Blaire!"

Napamulat ako ng bigla siyang sumigaw.

"What?" medyo inis na tanong ko pero ngumisi lang siya ng malaki.

"I am a good friend, and you are so kawawa. So I decided to plan a vacation for you, I mean for us!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. Vacation?

"Ayaw—"

"Walang aayaw! Just grab this opportunity! At awang-awa na ako sa iyo. Are you that broke to work and work and work?"

Inis ko siyang inirapan. Sinisi pa ako. 1 fact he's the one who's giving me these projects.

"Charly, just let me sleep—"

"Fine! My treat! Just come with me! Let's take a vacation! Huwag na muna tayong magtarabaho! Okay lang naman kasi successful ang last drama mo."

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako saka hindi na nagsalita pa. Kapag siya ang nagpumilit wala na akong magagawa. Besides, it's his treat. And maybe I need this? I indeed need a rest after my busy schedule.

Being an artist is not easy. I am acting, dancing, and singing almost every day. Hindi nakakapag pahinga ang mukha ko sa kakalagay ng make-up.

I may not be as well known as some Hollywood actors, but I am in demand here in my own country.

At kagaya ng gusto ko ay natulog rin kaagad ako ng makarating sa bahay. Perks of living alone. I could rest without destruction.

I was sleeping peacefully when I felt that someone tapped my face so hard. Naalimpungatan ako saka dahan-dahan na nag mulat ng mga mata. Naaninagan ko si Charly na nakapamaywang sa gilid ng kama ko kaya inaantok akong umupo para tingnan siya ng maayos.

"What are you, Blaire Arzeña?"

Napaawang ang labi ko.

My schedule is free, right?

"Huh?—"

"Anong pang ginagawa mo? Magbabakasyon tayo diba? Oh my! Get ready! Hindi ko ba nasabi sa iyo na maaga pa dapat tayo?"

Mas lalo akong nagtaka sa sinabi niya? Anong magbabakasyon?

"What—"

"Diba nga pupunta tayo sa The Paradise? The high-end mountain—"

"What are you saying?" naguguluhan na pagputol ko sa kanya.

Ang naalala ko lang ay pagod na pagod ako kahapon? Did we agree on having a vacation?

"Oh my God! Naloko na! Bilis! Maligo ka na at ako na ang mag-iimpake para sa iyo! I am not your manager right now because I am your friend! Bilisan mo na!"

Halos kaladkarin niya ako papunta sa banyo ko dito sa loob ng kwarto. I can't really remember about having a vacation with him. The Paradise? What's that, by the way?

Kahit nalilito naligo pa rin ako kaya medyo nahimasmasan na. When I went out, I saw Charly holding a large stroller who's very familiar. Naningkit ang mga mata ko. Am I really too tired yesterday to forget everything?

"Where are we going?" maingat na tanong ko habang pinapatuyo ang buhok.

I am just wearing a bathrobe, and I have nothing inside. Hindi na bago sa akin ang halos maghubad sa harap ni Charly. He looks like a guy, but he is not. He likes men more than I do.

"The Paradise! Sobrang sikat nito dahil dinarayo ng mga celebrities! Nagsisisi ako na binigyan kita ng maraming projects! Parang taong bundok ka tuloy dahil huling-huli ka na sa balita."

I don't even know what that place is.

Pinagtulakan niya ako para magbihis at dahil ayaw ko na ng marami pang gulo kaya sumunod na lang ako kahit na ayaw na ayaw ko sana. Hindi ko makuha kung saan nanggaling ang pagiging sobrang excited niya. Ganoon ba talaga kaganda ang lugar na tinutukoy niya?

When I'm done, I just put a small amount of lips gloss on my lips to avoid the dryness. Hindi na ako naglagay pa ng kung anong makeup dahil gusto kong makapag pahinga muna ang balat ko.

I intently stared at my face on my dresser. My almond shaped black eyes that could turn into brown when rays on sun hit it. And my pointed nose and pouty lips that really suit my fair skin. Marahan ko rin na pinasahan ng tingin ang buhok kong kulay ash gray na parang silver, malayong-malayo sa kulay natural na itim kong buhok noon.

I suddenly missed my original black hair.

Nang lumabas ako ng closet naabutan ko si Charly na tutok na tutok sa cellphone niya. Tumikhim ako para makuha ang atensyon niya at nakuha ko naman ito kaagad.

"I changed my mind. Hindi na pala kita ililibre dahil ang mahal. Just pay for yourself because I know that it will be worth it. Hindi naman masyadong masakit sa bulsa ang forty thousand pesos per night diba?" ngumiti pa siyang ng sobrang laki kaya kitang-kita ang malalim na dimple niya sa kaliwang pisngi kaya mabilis ako na nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Forty thousand in just one night?"

He laughed and nodded, "Yes!"

Napasinghap ako habang iniisip kung ilang araw kaming magtatagal doon. Forty thousand?

"Just one week—"

"No! One month! I heard that the owner is hot! And he is there! Kaya tara na!"

Napasinghap ako. Now I know why he's so excited! Because of the owner!

"Charly, hindi ako nakapag paalam kay Mama at Papa—"

"Then call them. Ipapadala ko na sa kotse ang gamit mo."

I surrendered. Wala na nga talaga akong magagawa. Using my lazy hands, I quickly called my mother whom immediately answered.

"Blaire, something happened?"

Bahagya akong napabasa sa mga labi ko bago magsalita.

"Ma, nag-aaya si Charly na magbakasyon. I'll come with him since I am free."

Sandali siyang natahimik kaya napanguso ako ng bahagya. Is she still strict? I'm twenty-four already.

"Sige, ako na ang magsasabi sa Papa mo. Just take care, please."

Napangiti ako sa naging sagot ni Mama. At sa hindi malamang dahilan ay naging excited na rin ako. I must really invest for a good vacation. I think I deserve this for working a lot.

Nakita ko na lang ang sarili ko sa loob ng isang SUV habang katabi ni Charly. His driver is silent, same as he because he's busy on his phone. Ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa ma-traffic na daan habang kahawak ang isang kamay sa kwintas na suot.

Bakit parang bigla ako kinabahan at excited sa parehong oras? I trust Charly, so I came with him even though I don't really know where that place is. Sa mahal ay parang nag-eexpect na ako na maganda iyon.

I will spend a million a month just to experience it. The paradise?

I remembered something out of a sudden, but I immediately took it off from my head.

"Wear a shade, I got this," bulong ni Charly ng huminto kami sa tapat ng airport.

I nodded a bit before following him. Nakayuko ako habang bumababa para hindi makilala. Ayaw kong pagkaguluhan ngayong wala ako sa mood.

At sobrang tuwa ko dahil hindi kami sa maraming tao dumaan. Charly did it, I know. Walang nakapansin sa amin hanggang sa komportable na kaming nakaupo sa plane.

And it's funny to think that I don't know where we are going.

"Alam mo 'yong Del Rio?"

Natigilan ako sa biglang tanong niya. Para rin akong nanigas habang nanlalaki ang mga mata.

Familiar, really familiar that it made my heart beat faster.

"What?" I almost whispered.

"The Paradise is located at Del Rio. This was built maybe a year ago, but it was really nice, so it boomed."

Hindi ko mawari ang lakas ng t***k ng puso ko. I suddenly want to jump through the window just to get out of this flying plane.

Del Rio, my province. Where my innocence has been taken away. Kung saan ako nagkaisip at kung saan ako natuto ng mga bagay na hindi ko alam kung pagsisisihan ko ba o hindi.

Sa Del Rio kami pupunta?

"Charly, it's my province. I came from there," nanginginig na sabi ko kaya bahagya siyang napasinghap pero kalaunan pumapalakpak na rin.

"Right! I remember! I think it's good! But it's a vacation, so your privacy will be served."

Bahagyang namuo ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko. I've been away from my beloved province for how many years. But still, ayaw ko sanang bumalik. Ayaw ko sana. Ayaw ko pa rin.

Forty-five minutes, and we already arrived at the place where my memories have been stored. Nanginginig ang buong katawan ko kahit hindi pa man kami nakakalabas ng plane.

"Charly," takot na tawag ko sa kaibigan pero hinigit na niya ako patayo.

"Don't worry, walang nakakaalam na pupunta ang isang Blaire Arzeña dito. And I asked the airport to assist us both. Our sundo is there na yata."

Hindi ako takot na pagka-guluhan. Hindi ako takot na makilala. Takot ako sa sarili ko.

It's been years. Akala ko nakalimot na ako? Ano 'to? Bakit ganito? Bakit nanginginig ako?

He's not here, Blaire. He's in London. Trust.

Dahan-dahan kong tinapak ang paa ko sa lupa ng Del Rio. The fresh air that I've been missing to inhale. The trees were everywhere, making me roam my eyes around.

"Wow, airport pa lang parang paraiso na," Charly commented as we walked towards the airport.

And just like he promised, no one recognized me. At saktong pagkalabas namin sinalubong kami ng isang van na siyang pag-aari yata ng naturang resort kung saan kami pupunta.

Napaawang pa ang mga labi ko. This small town of Del Rio is indeed improving. Hindi ito ganito noong iniwan ko. I missed a lot. It's getting better and better.

Habang nasa byahe hindi ko maiwasang maging emosyonal habang tinatanaw ang buntok at mga puno sa paligid. Meron na ring mangilan-ngilan na malalaking commercial building na natatanaw ko.

But the freshness is still here. It's the same province where I grew up.

"Wow, just wow," sabi ni Charly habang nakatingin rin sa labas.

He is busy capturing the beautiful view. Ramdam ko naman ang pagtingin sa akin ng driver dahil mukhang kilala na niya ako. But I admire his professionalism because he didn't even say something about me even though I could read admiration through his eyes.

Nang pumasok ang van sa isang magandang gate napasinghap ako. Mayroong ganito sa Del Rio! It's nice! A private villas!

May kinausap si Charly sa parang tanggapan nila habang ako nanatili lang sa loob ng van. Hindi ko mapigilan na mamangha. Nasa dapit bundok ang location pero kitang-kita ko kung gaano kalawak. I could see villas. Malalayo ang agwat kaya may privacy talaga.

Mas lalo lang akong nagulat ng lumipat kami sa isang golf cart.

"Welcome to The Paradise, Miss Blaire," nakangiting sabi ng isang babae na medyo maganda. Napangiti naman ako ng matipid saka muling tiningnan ang golf cart.

My forty thousand will be worth it, I guess. Pero hindi pa rin na aalis nito na nasa Del Rio ako.

"What can you say? Paradise nga siya," humahagikgik na bulong ni Charly nang sumakay na kami sa cable car.

After a few minutes, they introduced me to my villa. It's a huge villa which I really like. Soft bed, huge bathroom, glass walls, and it has a mini pool on the side. May parang breakfast place pa na tanaw na tanaw ang kagandahan nitong buong lugar.

The flowers everywhere made me think that I am really in paradise.

Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito na kaganda ang Del Rio. It is so successful and I am happy for it.

"Wow, your villa looks so nice! But they have man-made falls here, a flower plantation where we could picnic, a restaurant where we could eat their delicious foods but we can request to take it in our villa. At meron rin silang spa at butterfly garden! This is indeed a paradise! They have more!"

Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi ni Charly bago tumango.

We decided to visit the restaurant. Charly drove the golf cart, which he really enjoyed. At nang makarating kami sa sinasabing restaurant ay mas lalo akong namamangha. It's so gorgeous! Parang nasa texas and style.

"Blaire!" someone shouted from inside, so I immediately smiled and slightly waved at them.

"Behave," bulong ni Charly dahil may mga nakikita kaming gusto magpa-picture pero hindi natutuloy.

In the end, we chose to sit at the very corner. Kitang-kita pa rin ang maganda view muka dito sa loob dahil glass ang walls ng buong kainan. But when I saw the menu, I was about to roll my eyes, but I stopped myself.

"One thousand for a shake? So good," marahang bulong ko kaya sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Charly kaya napanguso na lang ako.

What did I expect, right?

Sa bigla kong pagtaas ng tingin napadako ang mga mata ko sa mga pumapasok. Napatingin rin doon si Charly dahil parang biglang naging alerto ang mga staff. Napakurap ako at sa muli kong pagmulat may nahagip ay mga mata ko na pamilyar na mukha.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat kalaunan. Sweats immediately formed on my forehead. Nanginig ako sa biglaang kaba habang nakatingin sa kanya. Wearing a formal slack and white t-shirt made him look like a model.

"Oh my," singhap ni Charly na kaharap ko lang.

My eyes immediately watered. Why am I like this again?

As our eyes found each other, my heart beat wildly just like before. The coldness of his eyes. I don't know him. He changed.

The Zachary Montañez I'm looking at right now is different. Way far different from Zach I fell in love with.

Nang mag-iwas siya ng tingin doon ako mas lalong nakaramdam ng pait. He doesn't know me anymore?

I chuckled sarcastically as I looked at him again. Nakita kong kausap niya ang isang babae na parang waiter habang sinusuot ang itim na shades. After some seconds, he turned his back to leave.

Napaawang ang labi ko. I saw a black SUV outside. Iiwas na sana ako ng tingin ngunit hindi sinasadyang nagtanggal siya ng shades at biglang nagtama ang mga mata namin.

I swallowed hard as I looked at my plate.

My heart is beating too fast.

We met again, Zach. But I think you changed a lot, just like how I changed a lot too.

What should I feel? I feel like leaving.