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TITLE: It's Complicated: A KathNiel FanFic

LENGTH: 1095
DATE: Apr 21, 2014
VOTE COUNT: 2523
READ COUNT: 221336
COMMENT COUNT: 106
LANGUAGE: Filipino
AUTHOR: pajama_addict
COMPLETED: 0
RATING: 3
MODIFY DATE: 2014-06-08 02:32:00

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It's Complicated: A KathNiel Story
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I have been getting a lot of requests for a KathNiel fanfic but I refused. I have
stopped 'shipping' since DaraGon (G-Dragon and Sandara) broke my frail little
heart. Ayokong gawan ng kwento ang mga totoong taong nag-i exist because I couldn't
help but wish that they'd really end up together and usually my heart just gets
broken kasi sino ba naman sa loveteams ang nagkatuluyan? But I saw KathNiel's
holding hands while sleeping pic and I was like awww! Langya naman lakas maka-PBB
teens! So ito na, magsusulat na.

This will have super slow updates kasi magiging anim na ang on-going stories ko.
Utang na loob wag kayong mag comment ng 'ud pls' at nai-stress ako.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

It's Complicated: A KathNiel Story

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

One drunken night. One chance to profess his undying love. One opportunity to be a
Romeo. But it's the wrong window. It's the wrong room. It's the wrong girl.
####################################
Chapter 1
####################################

"Lasing ka na, kailangan mo nang umuwi." RJ said as he tried to take the bottle of
beer from his brother's hand. They were inside an exclusive bar at lasing na lasing
na ang kapatid nya. Buti na lang nasa isang sulok sila na hindi pansinin or else
there would have been bigger trouble. Hindi nya maintidihan kung bakit halos buwan-
buwan ay broken-hearted si DJ -- sa iba't ibang babae. Kapatid nya si DJ sa ama
pero aakalain mong buong magkapatid sila dahil sa closeness nilang dalawa. Unlike
him na mas pinili ang isang tahimik na buhay bilang investment banker ng isang
sikat na bangko, ang kapatid nya ay lumaki na sa spotlight as an actor.
"Kuya, sabihin mo nga sa akin kung anong kulang sa akin?" DJ slurred after he took
a swig from his bottle. "Gwapo naman ako, sikat naman ako, in fact tinitilian naman
ako ng mga babae pero yung mga babaeng nagugustuhan ko--" He stopped as he
hiccupped. "Ay ayaw sa akin." He finished as he tried to gulp down the contents of
his beer. RJ, who's seven years older than eighteen-year old DJ, shook his head in
disbelief.

"Kulang ka sa pagseseryoso. Ano bang akala mo sa mga babae, ice cream na may flavor
of the month?" RJ, who's in a five-year relationship, asked. "Pag nagmahal ka pang-
matagalan yan, hindi yung iihi ka lang ay iba na ang gusto mo paglabas mo ng
banyo."

"Hindi ako ganun, Kuya--"

"Sus. Noong nakaraang buwan iniyakan mo si Annie, the month before si Girlie at
three months ago ay halos magpakamatay ka na dahil kay Isabel. Meron bang pusong
ganun kabilis magbago? Napaka-versatile naman yata ng puso mo?"

"Kuya, anong magagawa ko kung bawat buwan ay iba-iba ang tinitibok ng puso ko?" He
garbled.

"Hindi pa tumitibok yan ibig sabihin kung paiba-iba."

"Pero itong si Louise, Kuya sigurado ako sya na."

"Si Louise? Yung leading lady mo ngayon?" RJ asked and he couldn't help but
chuckle. Si Louise Bernardo ay ang pamangkin ng isang tanyag na director na si
Teodore Bernardo. Sya rin ang kapareha ni Daniel sa isang movie na ginagawa nito.
"Isn't she three years older than you? Kelan ka pa nahilig sa mga babaeng mas
matanda sayo?"

"Iba to, Kuya." Daniel murmured and RJ laughed.

"Noong nakaraang buwan sabi mo mahilig ka sa babaeng petite, the month before
mahilig ka sa mga babaeng mestiza. Paiba-iba ang gusto mo, pinagdadasal ko na nga
na sana ay makahanap ka na ng babaeng gugustuhin mo talaga para hindi na lang
buwan-buwan kitang sinusundo dito sa bar na to."

"Pero mahal ko sya, Kuya..." DJ said as he pointed at his chest. "Sya na ang
tinitibok nito."

"Gago. Na naman? Parang kung sino yung leading lady mo ay yun ang nagiging gusto
mo. Tara na nga iuwi na kita." RJ said as he stood up. He motioned for DJ's
bodyguards and they stepped forward to help him carry his brother. One of the floor
managers assisted them in their exit as he led them to a secret door that leads
directly to the VIP's parking area.

"Louise--" Daniel groaned and RJ chuckled. "Louise, mahal na mahal kita--"

"Loko-loko talaga tong batang to, buwan-buwan na lang."

"Sunod ako. Ideretso nyo sa condo nya." He told the guards and they nodded their
heads as they hoisted the young actor inside the van. He got inside his car and was
about to drive off when his phone rang. "Tita, good evening po."

"Are you with DJ, RJ?"

"Opo."
"Lasing na naman?"

"Medyo po." He replied. "Pinauwi ko na po. Pinaderecho ko po sa condo nya."

"Salamat, RJ ha. Alam mo naman yang kapatid mo, ginawa nang hobby ang pagiging
broken-hearted. O, sige mag-ingat ka. Tell your Mom, I said hi." DJ's mom said and
RJ smiled.

"Makakarating po, Tita." He answered. His brother knew about him barely five years
ago pero sya kilalang-kilala nya ang kapatid nya dahil parati nya itong napapanuod
sa TV at pelikula but he never found the guts to step forward to introduce himself.
Until one day, when DJ was filming at the bank where he was just a trainee, the
teenager had sought him out and introduced himself. The rest was history. RJ had no
other siblings and he was uncomfortable at first that DJ seemed to want to be
around him pero nasanay na rin sya sa kakulitan nito at nasanay syang sa kanya ito
tumatakbo kapag nagkakaroon ng problema na kadalasan ay babae. Tumunog ang telepono
nya habang sya ay nagmamaneho at ikinabit nya ang hands-free kit sa kanyang tenga.

"Sir RJ nasa basement parking na po kami ng condo." He heard the driver say.

"Hintayin nyo ako. I'll be there in 10 minutes."

"Sige po." The driver replied.

Kathryn Chandria Bernardo stared at the canopy of her bed. She just got back after
spending most of her years in the U.S. and it felt weird to be in her old room
again. Her parents divorced when she was just eight years old and she has been
living with her mom since then. Kath no longer harbor any kind of bitterness
towards her parents, tanggap na nya na may mga taong nagpapakasal at may mga taong
naghihiwalay. She wanted to study Film at New York University and her dad had asked
her to come home before she does.

"Anak?" She heard her father knock and she stood up to open the door.

"Yes, Dad?" She asked and he smiled as she opened the door wider to let him in. He
stepped inside her bedroom and they both sat on her bed.

"Are you comfortable, anak? Has your fever gone down?" He asked as he felt her
forehead. "May lagnat ka pa rin, do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

"Hindi na po, Dad. Yung weather lang siguro, drastic kasi yung change kaya sumama
pakiramdam ko but I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." She retorted smiling. She
maintained communications with her father even after the divorce and she was glad
she did.

"I'll leave later kasi may shooting ako and I have to be at the location at two in
the morning. I hope you'll get well soon para maisama kita sa set and you'll see
how your old man works."
"Opo, sana nga po. Ate Louise is in that movie you're shooting later, right?" She
asked referring to her older cousin who temporarily lived with her father when she
had her condo unit renovated.

"Oo. Yung room katabi nitong kwarto mo ang ginamit nya nung nandito sya."

"Oo nga po naikwento nya sa akin kanina." She said. "Dad meron po ba kayong Tylenol
dito? Or any fever-relief medicine?" She inquired and he shook his head.

"I rarely get sick, anak. Teka magpapabili ako ng gamot mo." He said as he stood
up.

"Hindi na po, Dad. I'll be fine." She said and his face softened.

"Ang anak kong mahilig sa I'll be fine." He teased as he rumpled her hair. "Alam mo
naman ang number ko di ba? Itong isang telepono ko muna ang gamitin mo, nandyan na
ang number ko in case you need me."

"Thanks, Dad." She replied smiling before she stood up to give him a hug. "Mag-
ingat po kayo ha."

"Oo naman, ikaw rin, you should take a rest. I'll be home before you know it." He
muttered kissing the top of her head before he left her daughter's room.

RJ looked at his brother's sleeping form and sighed. He was glad na walang nakakita
na sumuka sa elevator ang kapatid nya dahil sa kalasingan. The media labeled DJ as
a bad boy and he shivered at the hype his brother's bout of negligent drunkenness
would cause.

"Itong batang to talaga." He murmured as he pulled a blanket from one of the closet
and covered the teenager with it. He heard a knock and he walked to the door to
open it.

"Ser, nagpaalam po ako noong nakaraang linggo pa kay Ser DJ na uuwi po ako ngayon
kasi birthday po ng anak ko bukas." Rolando, one of the bodyguards, said and RJ
nodded his head.

"Sige po, naswelduhan na po ba kayo ni DJ?"

"Opo, binigay nya po kahapon pati po yung regalo nya sa anak ko." The old man
replied. "Sige po, Ser."

"Sige po, ingat po kayo at pakibati na lang po sa anak ninyo ng Happy Birthday
galing sa akin."

"Sige po, Ser salamat po." Rolando said before he left.

"Manong Chris, gusto nyo po bang umuwi din sa pamilya ninyo? Ako na po ang bahala
dito sa kapatid ko tutal Sabado naman po bukas at ang pagkakaalam ko ay walang
shooting si DJ hanggang Linggo."

"Okay lang po ba, Ser?"

"Oo naman po." RJ answered smiling at his brother's other bodyguard who immediately
stood up.

"Ser, salamat po."

"Sige po, si Manong Erning kasi pinauwi ko na rin at nasa ospital daw ang anak.
Ingat po kayo, Manong." He said. Mabilis syang naligo at sinilip muna nya ang
kapatid bago tumungo sa kwartong tinutulugan nya kapag nasa condo sya ni DJ. He
dialed his girlfriend's number and smiled as soon as he heard her voice. "Hello,
Babe." He said over the phone.

DJ bolted upright and ran to the bathroom to throw up. He kneeled in front of the
toilet bowl and retched. Without taking his clothes off, he stepped under the
shower and groaned as he leaned his head against the tiled wall. He felt dizzy and
miserable.

"Louise--" He drunkenly called as he let the cascading water drench his misery.
"Ano pa bang kailangan kong gawin para mapansin mo, ha?" He asked as he paused and
stared at his wet clothes. "Langya, nakadamit pa pala ako." He slurred laughing at
himself before he took his clothes off and haphazardly discarded them on the floor.
He soaped himself and applied shampoo on his hair as he thought of ways to have her
notice him. "Kulang na lang magtapat ako sayo, lahat na lang ginawa ko pero di mo
ako pinapansin!" He muttered as he rinsed himself. Stepping out of the shower, he
immediately brushed his teeth and stared at his reflection on the mirror. "Sa gwapo
kong to, ayaw mo pa rin sa akin?" He garbled. "Kulang na lang magtapat--" He
started to say and stopped, the fog temporarily lifting off his mind. That's it!
Kailangan ko lang magtapat sa kanya. Baka hinihintay nya lang akong magsabi! He
thought grinning as a plan formed inside his head.

Kathryn moaned at the pain in her temple. She stood up and rummaged her bag for
whatever medicine that she might have brought with her and sighed when she found
nothing. Standing up, she went to check the medicine cabinet inside her bathroom
and grew more frustrated when she found it empty.

"Wala man lang kahit anong gamot itong pamamahay na to?" She asked herself as she
went out of the room to check the bedroom her cousin used. She opened the medicine
cabinet and sighed with relief when she found a small blue box. "Sleepasil." She
read aloud. "The food supplement that lets you sleep." She recited the description.
Siguro kung hindi talaga masakit ang ulo nya ay magdadalawang-isip syang inumin
yun, but she was desperate so she headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
She took two tablets and went back to her bedroom waiting for the sleeping pills to
take effect. Lumabas muna sya sa terrace ng kwarto nya at nagpahangin, unaware that
someone was staring at her from the darkness. Louise? DJ thought as he squinted
from inside his car. Kelan pa humaba ang buhok ni Louise? Nagpalagay ba sya ng
extension? He drunkenly thought as he peered at the girl again. Pero hindi sya
pwedeng magkamali, yun ang kwarto ni Louise. Alam nya dahil nung minsang
inimbitahan silang lahat ni Direk Teo, na Tito ni Louise, sa pamamahay nito para sa
isang gathering ay dun nya nakita ang dalaga na kumaway sa kanila nung paalis na
sila. "Dyan ba o sa katabing kwarto?" He thought aloud, his mind still foggy. The
girl yawned and went back inside the room and he hastily got off his car. It was
pure luck on his part na kilala sya ng guard ng subdivision kaya pinapasok sya. Fan
nya daw ang anak nito at humingi ito sa kanya ng autographed picture dati na
pinagbigyan nya naman. He stared at the thirty-foot concrete fence and had he been
sober, he would have ran back to his car and left. But he was drunk and his logical
reasoning was overpowered by a mixture of whisky and beer. "Kaya ko to!" He
murmured aloud as he started climbing the tall tree near the fence. Tatlong beses
syang muntikang mahulog at ganun na lang ang saya nya nung narating nya ang
terrace. "Pero kung naka-lock to, patay." He uttered and was relieved when the
glass sliding door moved when he pushed it sideways. He held his breath as he
stepped inside her room. "Louise?" He murmured in the dark. "Louise...?" He tried
again and cussed loudly when he bumped against her bed. The room was pitch-dark and
he waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness until he could make out her
sleeping form on top of the bed. Hurriedly he kneeled down to profess his feelings.
"Alam kong magagalit ka sa kapahangasan ko pero hindi ko na matiis na hindi
ipabatid ang nararamdaman ko sayo. Ika nga, it's now or never." He said bowing his
head. "Mahal kita kahit hindi pa tayo gaanong magkakilala." He said as he cleared
his throat. "Pinapangako ko na paliligayahin kita, aalagaan kita at ikaw ang
kahuli-hulihang babaeng mamahalin ko. Hindi ako magsasawang pagsilbihan ka kasi
nararapat ka naman talagang tratuhing parang reyna." He said and frowned because
Louise did not move or displayed any indication that she heard him. "Louise?" He
asked as he stood up and moved towards the bed to peer at her face. Bakit parang
tulog mantika to? He mumbled to himself as she groaned and turned towards him.
Hurriedly, he stood up but she sleepily grabbed his hand and he felt his heart slam
painfully against his chest, as volts of electricity seem to travel from his
fingers to the tips of his toes. Silently, he sat down on her bed to take off his
shoes and lie down beside her and she snuggled against his chest as he wrapped her
in his embrace. "I love you." He murmured against her hair sealing their fate.

####################################
Chapter 2
####################################
"Direk, talagang may biglaang party para sa pagdating ng unica hija!" Halos
matiling sabi ni Mario na isa sa mga reporters na inimbitahan ni Direk Teo sa
kanyang bahay. He wanted to show his daughter off at hindi nya kinakahiyang proud
na proud sya sa anak nya.

"Natural, nag-iisang anak ko si Kath at syempre gusto kong makilala nyo sya. Balak
din ng dalaga kong maging direktor katulad ko." Buong pagmamalaki nyang sabi.

"Parang kailan lang, Direk karga-karga nyo si Kath sa set at ngayon ay dalaga na
sya at mag-aaral na ng Film!"

"Oo nga, hindi rin ako makapaniwala. Ang bilis ng panahon."

"Siguro napaka-westernized na ni Kath dahil ilang taon na ba syang nanirahan sa

ibang bansa?" Tanong ni Hilda na isang matalik na columnist ni Direk Teo.

"Ang masasabi ko lang, lumaking maayos na bata si Kath. Ni walang kolorete sa mukha
nung sinundo ko sa airport. Napaka-simpleng bata lang."

"Eh di mabuti, Direk kung ganun."

"Oo nga, napalaki sya ng Mommy nya ng maayos at lubus-lubos ang pasasalamat ko sa
kanya." Sagot ng direktor.

"Speaking of Mommy, kumusta naman po ang ex-wife ninyo, Direk?" One of the
reporters asked and Direk Teo smiled at him.

"We're good friends." He replied. It was already 9 AM and Direk Teo just got back
from his shooting. He invited the artists, crew and some friends from the media to
meet his only daughter, Kathryn. Kaninang madaling araw pa nya naabisuhan ang mga
katulong na magkakaroon ng kaunting salu-salo para sa kanyang anak.

"Direk, nandyan na po sina Louise at ang ibang artista." His personal assistant
said and he nodded his head before he turned to one of the helpers.

"Rosalie."

"Po?"

"Ayusin mo na ang mga pagkain at baka magising na si Kath maya-maya." He

instructed.

"Ano na ba ang itsura ni Kath? Ilang taon na nga ba sya?" Medring, another
reporter, asked.

"Eighteen. Kakadebut nya lang ngayong taong ito. Natural maganda, kasi ako ang
ama." Direk Teo joked and his friends laughed.

"Bakit di nyo na lang yayaing pumirmi sya sa Pilipinas Direk? Ayaw ba nyang mag-
artista?"

"Noong bata pa sya gusto nya pero kaming dalawa ng Mommy nya ang ayaw at gusto
namin syang magtapos muna. Pero ngayon mukhang she'd rather be behind the camera
than in front of it."

"Saan mag-aaral si Kath ng Film, Direk?"

"Pumasa sa NYU. Matalinong bata. In fact, nakiusap lang akong bisitahin muna nya
ako kasi mukhang magiging busy na sya sa pag-aaral. Mabuti at napakabait na bata
kaya pumayag."

"Maiba tayo, bakit wala yata si DJ ngayon, Direk?" Tanong ni Mario. "Hindi ba sya
invited?"

"Wala syang scenes na shinoot kanina, sa Lunes pa." Direk Teo replied. "Pero
pinadalhan ko na sya ng text message na pumunta dito para makilala rin naman nya
ang anak ko."

"Balita ko may kinakabaliwang babae daw itong si DJ, Direk. Kilala nyo ba kung
sino?" Hirit na isang reporter.

"Hindi ganyan ang narinig ko, Manay! According to a very reliable source ay meron
daw syang girlfriend na non-showbiz."

"Naghiwalay na yata sila at may nakakita daw kay DJ na naglalasing sa isang bar
noong nakaraang Linggo." Banat ng isa.

"Pabayaan nyo na yung bata." Direk Teo said. "Natural nagbibinata kaya natural lang
din na magkaroon ng nobya. Lumaki na sa harap ng camera ang batang yun at nakakaawa
naman na bawat galaw nya ay napupuna ng media."

"Pero totoo ba na pinopormahan ni DJ si Louise, Direk?"

"Walang katotohanan yan, alam naman nating lahat na may boyfriend si Louise." Direk
Teo dismissively said.

"Direk, nandito na yung ibang managers." Tawag ng isa sa mga assistant ng direktor
at humingi sya ng paumanhin sa mga kausap nya bago lumabas.

"Sayang at wala si DJ, gusto ko pa naman syang ma-interview." Medyo disappointed na

sabi ni Medring.

"Oo nga." Sagot ni Mario. "Ako rin gusto kong malaman kung sino ang babaeng
kinakabaliwan at tinatago nya."

RJ woke up and rubbed his eyes with his hands. He stretched languidly as he stood
up to check on his brother. Napasarap ang kwentuhan nila ng girlfriend nyang si
Liza at madaling araw na syang nakatulog.

"DJ?" He knocked on his brother's door. "DJ?" He called again as he opened the door
and stared at his brother's empty bed. Agad-agad syang lumabas at pumunta sa kusina
pero wala doon ang kapatid nya. Binuksan nya ang isa pang kwarto pero walang taong
nandun. He opened the bathroom but his brother wasn't there. Tumakbo sya pabalik sa
kwarto ng kapatid nya at kinatok ang banyo nito. "Deej?" He called and his heart
hammered inside his chest as he opened the door and found his brother's clothes
littered on the bathroom floor. He ran back to his bedroom, picked up his phone
from the side table to call his brother's number, and groaned aloud when he heard
his brother's familiar ringtone. Pinuntahan nya ang kwarto ng kapatid at kinuha ang
cellphone nito sa ilalim ng mga unan. Sana umuwi sya sa bahay nila. Bulong nya sa
sarili habang hinihintay na sagutin ng Mommy ni DJ ang telepono.
"Good morning, RJ!" He heard her enthusiastically greet him. "Nandyan pa rin ba
kayo sa condo ni DJ? Pupunta ako dyan para dalhan sya ng groceries. May dala rin
akong pagkain kasi alam kong wala na namang laman yang ref ng kapatid mo kundi puro
tubig at softdrinks."

"Tita..."

"Bakit? Is there something wrong?" She asked immediately sensing his unspoken fear,
her voice laced with concern.

"Si DJ po nawawala."

"Anong nawawala?"

"Paggising ko po wala na po sya sa kwarto nya."

"Paanong wala? Have you checked the rooms? O baka lumabas lang saglit at may
binili. Nandyan ba ang mga bodyguards nya? Baka kasama nila ang anak ko."

"Tita, pinauwi ko po sila kagabi. Tita, sorry po kasi hindi ko nabantayan ng maayos
si DJ. Pero wag po kayong mag-alala hahanapin ko po sya." RJ quickly said.

"Diyos ko, RJ saan kaya nagpunta ang kapatid mo? Wala syang shooting ngayon. Teka
tatawagan ko si Direk at ang road manager nya."

"Sige po, magbibihis lang po ako para po hanapin sya. May number po ba kayo ni
Louise Bernardo, Tita?"

"Wala. Anong kinalaman ni Louise sa anak ko?"

"Sya po kasi ang bagong crush ni DJ, Tita baka kako pinuntahan nya."

"Diyos ko naman. Sana walang nangyaring masama sa kapatid mo, RJ."

"Sorry po, Tita."

"Let's talk later; I just need to make phone calls."

"Sige po. Please update me kung sakaling mahanap nyo po sya." RJ replied before
they said goodbye. Saan ka ba nagpunta? Tanong nya sa sarili nya. Mabilis syang
naligo at nagpalit para simulan ang paghahanap sa kapatid. Gusto nyang ipa-pull-out
ang mga CCTV footages ng condo pero ayaw nyang magsimula ng mas malaki pang gulo
para sa kapatid nya. DJ, nasaan ka? He thought. He was already driving off when
DJ's mom called and he immediately attached his hands-free kit and pressed a button
to turn it on. "Hello, Tita."

"Naku, RJ hindi sumasagot si Direk sa mga tawag ko kaya hindi ko sya nakausap.
Tinanong ko na ang ibang mga kaibigan ni DJ pero hindi daw nila nakita ang kapatid
mo. I am getting worried."

"Tita, mahahanap natin sya wag po kayong mag-alala." Kalmadong sagot ni RJ kahit
todo kabog ang dibdib nya. He imagined a hundred of things that could have happened
to his brother at alam nyang kung sakaling may hindi magandang nangyari sa kapatid
nya ay di nya mapapatawad ang sarili.

"Nakausap ko ang road manager ni DJ at wala daw syang kahit anong schedule ngayon.
RJ, nasaan kaya ang kapatid mo? Baka napaano na sya!" He could hear the desperation
in her voice and he felt guiltier.
"Hindi kaya nandun sya sa bahay ni Direk, Tita?"

"Bakit mo naman nasabi yan?"

"Kasi po dala ko po yung phone ni DJ at may text po si Direk na pinapapunta nya si

DJ sa bahay nya dahil daw meron pong party doon. Baka po sa kakamadali ni DJ ay
naiwan nya ang telepono nya." RJ said and he frowned as soon as the words were out
of his mouth. It's not like his brother not to ask permission kapag meron itong
pupuntahan. At hindi rin ugali ni DJ na pag-alalahanin ang mga tao sa paligid nya.
He wanted to tell his Tita about his thoughts pero hindi sya nakapagsalita kasi
narinig nyang nabuhayan ng loob ang ina ng kapatid dahil dun sa sinabi nya,

"Baka nga nandun ang kapatid mo, RJ! That explains kung bakit hindi sinasagot ni
Direk yung mga tawag ko kasi may party pala sa bahay nila at dahil nga party
maraming tao at malamang may tugtugan kaya baka hindi nya narinig!"

"Tita--"

"Alam ko kung saan yung bahay ni Direk. I'll text you the address and let's meet
each other there!"

"Sige po, Tita." RJ replied before the call got disconnected. "DJ, sana nandun ka.
He prayed not realizing that his prayer was already granted.

Kathryn rolled away from her pillow but that pillow pulled her back as it wrapped
its arms around her. She opened her eyes and frowned. Weird dream. She thought as
she closed her eyes again. "Gumising ka na, Kath." Sabi nya sa sarili nya habang
nag-uunat. She froze nung may naramdaman syang gumalaw sa tabi nya.

"Dad?" She asked as she turned to her side and promptly screamed. Daniel was so
surprised when she yelled that he fell off the bed.

"Ano ba, ang ingay mo!" He bit out.

"Who the fuck are you?!" She demanded as she threw pillows at him. "What are you
doing inside my bedroom?!" She shrieked as DJ stared in confusion at her. Nasaan
ako? Tanong nya sa sarili nya before he looked around the girlishly pink room. Sino
to? He asked himself, perplexed until a pillow hit him squarely on the face.

"Sino ka?!" Kath demanded as she covered her chest with one of the pillows. Hindi
sya nagba-bra kapag natutulog at inisip pa lang nyang nahawakan sya ng lalaki sa
mga lugar na di sya dapat mahawakan ay nasusuka na sya sa takot. "Sino ka?!" She
repeated and DJ's expression became thoughtful as he tried to remember what
happened the night before. Pinuntahan ko si Louise...

"Nasaan si Louise?" He asked as he stood up at nanlaki ang mata ng dalaga nung

nakita nyang naka boxer shorts lang ito. "Sorry, sorry." He mumbled as he looked
around the room to find his pants.

"Manyakis ka, anong ginawa mo sa akin?!" Mangiyak-ngiyak nitong sigaw bago pinulot
ang suklay na nasa ibabaw ng side table at binato sa binata."Sino ka?! Anong ginawa
mo sa akin?!" She sobbed as she looked around the room trying to find things to
throw at him.

"Miss! Teka lang!" Daniel said as he tried to dodge her attacks. "Miss, hindi ako
masamang tao! Ano ba, Miss pwedeng kumalma ka muna?"

"Rapist! Rapist!" Sigaw nya at nanlaki ang mata ng binata nung bigla nyang hilahin
mula sa saksakan ang lampshade.

"Ako? Rapist?! Artista ako!" He said at dahil may hang-over ay hindi ganun kabilis
ang reflexes nya at tumama ang lampshade sa kaliwang banda ng ulo nya. "HOY! ANO
BA?! Sigaw nya pero lahat ng mahawakan ng babae ay dali-dali nitong binabato sa
kanya. "Wag kang bato ng bato at baka matamaan ang mukha ko! May shooting pa ako sa
Lunes!"

"Manyak ka! Demonyo ka!" She repeated as she looked around the bedroom for a
weapon. "Rapist! Dapat sayo sinusunog!"

"Miss, don't flatter yourself! Sa dinami-dami ng mga babaeng nagkandarapa sa akin,

ikaw pa talaga ang mamanyakin ko?!"

"Ah ganun!"

"Oo, ganun! Hindi ka maganda, ano!" Sigaw ng lalaki. Nakita ni Kath ang maliit na
upuan sa harap ng kanyang vanity at agad-agad nya tong kinuha para ibato sa binata.

"Hoy! Pag ako tinamaan nyan!" Daniel yelled as he ran to the door and yanked it
open, Kathryn hot on his heels.

"Bumalik ka dito!" She screamed not realizing that there were visitors waiting for
her grand entrance.

"Oh my God, is that Daniel?" Tanong ng isang artista habang pinapanuod nilang naka-
boxer shorts si Daniel Padilla na pababa ng hagdan. Direk Teo stood motionless as
he watched his only daughter in her pajamas ran after a nearly-naked boy.

"Bumalik ka dito!" Kathryn screamed. "Ipapapulis kita! Panagutan mo ang ginawa mo

sa akin!" She yelled as she ran down the stairs and nearly bumped into Daniel who
stood petrified looking at the sea of faces in front of him. The girl looked from
behind him and her eyes widened seeing her father's visitors.

"It is Daniel Padilla!" One of the visitors excitedly whispered as DJ clutched his
pants tighter in his hand.

"I can explain--" He started to say and stopped as cameras and phones started
flashing.
####################################
Chapter 3
####################################

The two teenagers stood still as cameras were waved in their faces. Parang natauhan
naman si Direk Teo at agad na hinawakan ang kamay ng dalawang bata at hinila
papunta sa taas. Nagkagulo ang reporters, crews at artista sa nakita.

"Ang anak ni Direk ang girlfriend ni DJ?"

"Anong ibig sabihin ng sinabi ng anak ni Direk na panagutan mo ako at ipapapulis

kita? Ibig bang sabihin may ginawa sa kanyang hindi maganda si DJ?"

"Kakabalik lang ng anak ni Direk galing sa ibang bansa at ang sabi sa isang blind
item ay non-showbiz ang girlfriend ni DJ, ibig bang sabihin nito si Kath Bernardo
yun?"

"Magkasama ang dalawang bagets na natulog?"

"Diyos ko ang babata pa nila!"

"Naka boxers lang si DJ!"

"Teka gagawa muna ako ng column!"

"Ihahabol ko to sa noontime news!" The reporters exclaimed as the others guests

murmured at each other.

"Ipapa-flash report ko to sa istasyon ko!"

"Louise, girlfriend ba ni DJ ang pinsan mo?" Tanong ng isa sa kanila.

"No comment." Sagot ni Louise. "Excuse me muna at aakyat ako sa taas. Kain na
kayo." She added. "Manang! Pakainin nyo na po ang mga bisita!" Sabi nya bago
nagmamadaling umakyat sa second floor ng bahay. Dumiretso sya sa kwarto ni Kath at
kumatok nung hindi nya mabuksan ang pinto. "Tito, si Louise po ito." She uttered
and a few seconds later the door was pulled open by Direk Teo himself.

"Louise, ikaw na muna ang bahala sa baba.
pinsan mo at si DJ." Sabi nito at tumango
soon as the door clicked close, Direk Teo
and his daughter looked wary. "Okay, what
them to sit on Kath's bed while he pulled
Please. Kailangan ko lang makausap ang
sya bago bumaba ulit sa first floor. As
faced the two teenagers. DJ was trembling
happened?" He asked as he motioned for
a chair to sit facing them.

"Pagkagising ko po, Daddy katabi ko na po sya."

"Direk, lasing po ako kagabi at aaminin ko po inakyat ko po itong bahay nin--" DJ

started to explain but the director held out his hand.

"Inakyat mo itong bahay ko?" He asked, his voice very calm yet DJ could feel the
underlying anger in his tone and he swallowed hard.

"Sorry po--"
"Hindi ka ba nag-iisip?!" The director yelled as he stood up. "Maliban dito sa
gulong pinasok mo na dinamay mo pa ang anak ko, hindi mo ba alam na trespassing ang
ginawa mo at pwede kang nabaril ng isa sa mga guards kung napagkamalan ka niyang
akyat-bahay?!"

"Sorry po, Dir--"

"Daniel, nineteen ka na pero tarantadong bata ka pa rin! Kelan ka ba magma-

mature?!"

"Sorry po, Direk pero--"

"Kath!"

"Po?" Kathryn asked as she stood up trembling.

"Are you okay?" Her father asked, his voice softening when he saw how shaken she
was.

"Opo, Dad."

"Good. Anong ginawa nito sayo?" He asked looking a DJ whose head was bowed in
shame. Napatingin si Kath sa binata.

"Wala naman po...yata..." She uncertainly murmured. May ginawa kaya to sa akin?
Tulog na tulog ako because of the sleeping pills tapos sya naman lasing? Paano kung
mabuntis na lang ako bigla? Tanong nya sa sarili nya at bigla syang kinabahan.
"Excuse me lang po." She said as she ran to the bathroom. She stripped her clothes
off and checked her underwear. Okay, medyo walang kakaiba. She murmured before she
checked her nakedness on the full-length mirror. May physical manifestations naman
siguro kung nagahasa ako and I read somewhere that you'll feel soreness down there.
She mumbled. She put her clothes back on again and stepped out of the bathroom.

"DJ, I am kicking you out of my movie." She heard her Dad say.

"Po?" DJ asked in surprise as he looked up. "Pero Direk--"

"What you did is very irresponsible at ayoko makatrabaho ang mga ganung klaseng
artista. You may leave, I need to talk to my daughter."

"Pero, direk--"

"Leave DJ, nagtitimpi ako dahil ayaw kitang saktan physically at baka di ka na
makilala pag labas mo ng pamamahay ko sa dami ng magiging pasa at bali mo sa
katawan. Hindi mo siguro ramdam pero galit na galit ako sayo. Artista ka at
nakuhanan ka ng litratong halos hubad kasama ng nag-iisa kong anak. Ang anak ko
nagbabakasyon lang and at this rate mukhang mapapabilis ang pagbalik nya sa New
York dahil sa iskandalong kagagawan mo. Galit na galit ako kaya wala kang
karapatang makiusap."

"Opo." The teenager answered nodding his head as he sighed.

"Magpantalon ka sa banyo at pagkatapos ay umalis ka na." He instructed and DJ

nodded his head. Nagkatinginan sila ni Kath nung papasok sya ng banyo but she
averted her gaze. Hinintay muna ng Daddy nya na makalabas sa kwarto si DJ bago ito
humarap sa kanya para kausapin sya.

"I'm sorry, anak." He blurted out and she frowned.

"Bakit po kayo nagso-sorry, Dad?"

"Kasi iniwan kita ditong mag-isa. Lahat ng kasambahay natin sa baba ang kwarto kaya
siguro hindi nila narinig kung may kaluskos man dito sa taas. I'm sorry kasi wala
ako dito. Are you really okay?"

"Opo. Wala naman po akong kakaibang nararamdaman and I don't think he's capable of
doing something heinous like what you and I have in mind, Dad."

"I want you to pack and leave. This is going to get ugly. Artista si Daniel,
tinitilian ng mga babae at maraming fans ang nag-iilusyun na boyfriend nila sya.
Your picture with Daniel will be all over the news, baka nga ngayon may news na
about this little escapade of his. I want you out of the country ASAP. Ako na ang
bahala dito. Pag-uusapan namin ng management ni Daniel kung ano ang sasabihin. Both
camps will release press statements. Ayokong sumagot ka sa kahit anong interview.
There is a possibility na susundan ka nila sa New York and all I want you to say is
no comment."

"Dad, I just got here--" She started to protest but her father shook his head at
her.

"Anak, kung normal na empleyado lang sana ang Daddy mo at tambay sa kanto lang si
Daniel ay walang papansin sa balitang yun but that's not the case, anak ka ng isang
kilalang direktor at artista sya."

"But Dad--"

"No buts, Kath. Please do as I say. I know how this industry works at ayokong
madamay ka sa isyung ito. Dadalawin kita sa New York as soon as I finish filming
the movie which is in three to four months."

"Hindi ba ako pwedeng magpaliwanag? I should at least release a statement. Bakit

ako iiwas when in fact wala naman akong ginawang masama?"

"Kath, ibang mundo ito. Masalimuot. Ang mga tao dito huhusgahan ka kahit hindi ka
nila kilala, lalo na't ang mali-link sayo ay isang Daniel Padilla." Her father
said. "My decision is final. Pack your bags; I'll inquire for the earliest flight
available." He uttered before he stood up and kissed her on the forehead.

Daniel ignored the questions thrown at him. Halos di sya makalabas ng pintuan sa
dami ng taong humarang sa kanya para magtanong. Some questions were rude while most
were downright ridiculous.

"DJ, bakit naka-boxers ka lang? May milagro bang naganap sa taas?"

"Ang anak ba ni Direk ang girlfriend mo, DJ?"

"Kelan kayo nagkakilala ng anak ni Direk at kelan naging kayo?"

"Sa New York mag-aaral ng Film ang anak ni Direk, magtatagal kaya ang relasyon nyo?
Ano ang masasabi mo tungkol sa long distance relationship?"

"DJ, virgin ka pa ba? Si Kath ba ang nakauna sayo?" Someone asked and he looked at
the person and narrowed his eyes at him.

"Hindi ka ba nakukunsensya na paninira ng buhay ng tao ang pinanggagalingan ng

pinapakain mo sa pamilya mo?" He hissed before he pushed his way out of the crowd.
Muntik na nyang takbuhin ang gate pero alam nyang maraming nakatingin sa kanya kaya
dahan-dahan pa rin sya sa paglakad at kunyari ay hindi apektado sa mga nangyari.
Pagbukas nya ng gate nagulat sya kasi may mga camera at iba pang reporters ang
nakaabang sa kanya. "No comment po." Tanging sagot nya sa mga tanong as he tried to
get away from them.

"DJ! DJ! Totoo ba na kasintahan mo ang anak ni Direk Teo?"

"Totoo bang buntis si Kath Bernardo?"

"Kelan nyo balak magpakasal?"

"DJ! Ano ang masasabi mo sa balitang ayaw ni Direk Teo na ikaw ang mapangasawa ng
anak nya?"

"DJ!" He heard familiar voices and he turned his head to find his mother and
brother. He has never felt so relieved to see two of his most-loved people in the
universe.

"Excuse me!" RJ elbowed his way towards his brother. "Excuse me!" He repeated as he
pulled his brother with him. Naramdaman nyang inakbayan sya ng Kuya nya at hinila
papunta sa kotse. Hindi rin nagsalita ang Mama nya at agad na binuksan lang ang
pintuan ng sasakyan. Even without being told, DJ got inside the car amidst camera
flashes and questions being shouted at him. They drove off in silence.

"May nakasunod sa atin." DJ's mom commented and RJ checked the rearview mirror.

"Baka pati sa condo nandun na rin sila." DJ uttered, his voice devoid of emotion.
Naguguluhan sya sa mga nangyari at tangang-tanga sya sa sarili nya. Buong buhay na
pinundar at pinagpaguran nya kung nasaan man sya sa industriya ngayon pero mawawala
lang sa isang iglap because of some drunken mishap. Alam nyang maimpluwensyang tao
si Direk Teo sa industriya and he could make or break a talent.

"Anong nangyari, anak?" Karla asked her son. "Bakit ang daming press sa labas ng
bahay ni Direk?"

"Mahabang kwento, Ma." DJ murmured as his mother made him lay his head against her
shoulder.

"Di bale na, mamaya sa bahay pag-usapan natin ha? Okay ka lang ba? Wala bang
masakit sayo?"

"Wala po."

"RJ, sa bahay tayo." She said and RJ nodded his head. The rest of the drive was
quiet, walang nagsasalita at lahat ay nag-iisip. "May nakasunod pa ba sa atin?"
Karla asked asked.

"Wala na po, Tita." RJ answered as they neared the village's gate.

"Good afternoon po." The guard greeted and RJ smiled and waved at him. Paghinto ng
kotse sa garahe ng bahay ay agad-agad na bumaba ang mag-ina at si RJ at dumiretso
sa loob.

"Manang, ipaghanda mo nga ng pagkain sina RJ at DJ." Karla instructed as she made
her son sit on the sofa. "What happened?" Tanong nya. Tahimik na nakinig sya sa
kwento ng anak at pinigilan nya ang sariling magpakita ng emosyon o reaksyon pero
hindi nya maitago ang galit nya when she learned how Direk Teo kicked her son of
the the movie he's currently filming. "Pwede ba yung ganun-ganon ka na lang
tanggalin ni Direk sa pelikula? This is all a misunderstanding!" She asked
heatedly. "Tatawagan ko si Direk para makipag-usap kami." She said as she stood up
but her son grasped her hand.

"Ma, wag na." He murmured and she sat back down. "Isang pelikula lang yan, madami
pang pelikula ang dadating." Sabi nya kahit hindi nya pinaniwalaan ang mga salitang
lumabas sa bibig nya. Everyone in the business knows that Direk Teo is a force to
reckon with.

Kath spent the rest of the day inside her bedroom. Sabi ng Daddy nya wag nya daw
bubuksan ang TV at baka kung ano pang inis ang maramdaman nya. Sabi rin ng Daddy
nya na sya na ang bahala sa lahat, na wala nang kailangan gawin si Kath. Her Dad
bought her a plane ticket that's scheduled the following day at kahit nalulungkot
sya na di nya makakasama ang ama ng matagal ay nirerespeto nya ang desisyon nito.

"Ang boring naman!" She groaned as she plopped on her bed. Tumayo sya ulit at
naglakad-lakad sa harap ng kama nya. Her eyes fell on the 56-inch TV and she
picked up the remote control from her side table to turn it on.

... At ang sabi ay kakasuhan daw ni Direk Teo si Daniel Padilla ng trespassing
dahil sa pag-akyat nito sa bahay nya-- The news said and she changed the channel.

...Si Kath Bernardo ang nag-iisang anak ni Direk Teo Bernardo sa dati nitong asawa,
kaka-debut lang ni Kath-- She pressed the button to change the channel again.

...Ayun sa balita ay tinanggal nang tuluyan ni Direk Teo si Daniel Padilla sa

pelikula nito na entry sa Metro Manila Film Festival ngayong Disyembre. May iba
ring nagsabing nagpahayag ng pagkadismaya ang mga heads ng produktong ini-endorse
ni Daniel Padilla dahil sa balita. Ayun pa sa isang kilalang source ay galing ang
sikat na binatang artista sa isang bar at naglasing ito doon bago ang nangyari...
Kath sighed and changed the channel again.

...Marami ang nagsabing this will be the end of Daniel Padilla's career...

"Ano ba yan, puro ganito ang palabas?" She murmured to herself. She heard someone
knock and she walked towards her door to open it.

"Bakit po, Manang?" She asked.

"May tawag ka sa telepono, John Ford daw po."

"Po? Sino pong John Ford? Wala po akong kilalang John Ford."
"Ewan ko po, mukha kasing pang-Amerikano ang pangalan eh kaya akala ko kaibigan nyo
na taga New York. Ano pong sasabihin ko, Mam?"

"Sige po kakausapin ko." Sabi ni Kath bago kinuha ang wireless phone na dala-dala
ng kasambahay nila. "Hello, Kath Bernardo speaking?"

"Ako to." Someone said at napakunot ang noo nya.

"Okay, ikaw yan pero sino ka?" May halong pagtataray na sabi nya at narinig nyang
may tumawa sa kabilang linya. Baliw yata to.

"Si DJ, yung kayakap mo kaninang umaga."

"Tarantado!"

"Chill. Wag kang magalit, nagpapatawa lang ako kasi ang awkward na magkausap tayo.
Gusto ko lang mag-sorry at gusto ko lang sabihin sayo na wala akong ginawa sayo.
Na-chansingan man kita ng hindi sadya pero hanggang yakap lang at halik sa noo." He
said and Kath felt herself blush. "Sorry ulit, okay?"

"Hindi okay pero sige tatanggapin ko yang sorry mo." She answered. "How are you
holding up?" She asked and arched her brow. Like may pakialam ka sa kanya, Kath?
He's the reason why your time with your Dad is cut short!

"Okay lang, sanay na ako dito. Sanay na ako sa magulong mundong ito kasi dito na
ako lumaki at kahit na pagod na ako titiisin ko kasi ito lang ang kaya kong gawin."
DJ answered sincerely and Kath felt a twinge of pity towards him, which she brushed
aside.

"Kakausapin ko si Dad tungkol sa pagtanggal sayo dun sa movie ninyo ni Ate Louise."

"Wag na, Kath." He blurted out. "Is it alright if I call you Kath?"

"Yes, it's alright." She heard herself say. "Anyway, this is goodbye kasi babalik
na ako ng New York. Ingat ka at good luck." She said and frowned. Wow, kailangan mo
syang i-inform? Close kayo?

"Goodbye and good luck." He replied. "O sige, yun lang ang tinawag ko. Nasa
sasakyan ako papunta kami ng studio kasi may interview ako. Salamat sa pagsagot.
Ako nga pala si Daniel John Ford Padilla, it was a pleasure meeting you."

"Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo, meeting you might have been unconventional but
it's a pleasure." She retorted politely and he laughed.

"Bye." He said.

"Bye." She replied. They listened to each other breath dahil walang nagbaba ng
telepono. "Hoy, bye na!" She said.

"Ibaba mo na." He answered and was surprised when she ended the call. He stared at
the cellphone in his hand and laughed. "Kakaibang babae, talagang binabaan ako ng
telepono." He murmured shaking his head in disbelief.
####################################
Chapter 4
####################################

Hindi sya mapakali. After the call, she powered her laptop on and read about him.
Of course gusto kong malaman kung anong klaseng tao ang nakayakap ko magdamag. She
jokingly thought as she started typing his name on the search bar. "Ikaw na ang
sikat." She uttered as countless articles showed up. She clicked an article from
Wikipedia and started reading. Nalaman nyang nag-iisang anak si DJ at lumaki na ito
sa harap ng camera. Nalaman din nyang ang ama ni DJ ay may sarili nang pamilya pero
meron pa rin silang komunikasyon. Ganun? Kaya sya nag-artista para makilala sya ng
Daddy nya? She murmured as she continued perusing. Hindi nya namalayan ang oras as
she clicked on one article after another. "Masyado namang chronicled and buhay
nito. Ano kaya ang pakiramdam pag ganun?" Tanong nya sa sarili nya. When she was
younger, she wanted to be an actress but her parents vehemently disagreed at
ngayong binabasa nya ang talambuhay ni DJ sa internet, laking pasasalamat nya na di
sila pumayag. Kulang na lang yata pati utot nya gawan nila ng article. She mumbled
to herself.

"Miss Kath." Narinig nyang may kumatok at tumingin sya sa relos nya.

"Mag-aalas kwatro na?" She asked herself in disbelief not realizing na halos apat
na oras na syang nagbabasa. Tumayo sya para buksan ang pinto. "Bakit po, Manang?"
Nakangiting tanong nya sa isa sa mga katulong.

"Tumawag po kasi ang Daddy ninyo, tinatanong kung nagmeryenda na daw po kayo. Ano
pong gusto ninyong kainin, Miss Kath?"

"Kahit ano pong nasa ref, di naman po ako maarte sa pagkain." She replied.

"May chocolate mousse po sa ref, okay na po ba sa inyo yun?"

"Opo. Sobra pa po sa okay." She answered. Sabay silang bumaba ng katulong papuntang
kusina at umupo si Kath sa mesa habang pinag-slice sya ng katulong ng kapirasong
cake. "Maraming salamat po!" Sabi nya at ngumit lang si Rosalie. "Sina Ate Celia at
Ate Linda po pala?

"May pinabili lang ako sa grocery, gusto kasi ng Daddy mo espesyal ang ulam mo
mamayang gabi at aalis ka na daw bukas."

"Oo nga eh." She replied. Bigla syang nalungkot. Wala pa syang isang linggo pero
aalis na sya agad.

"Juice, Miss Kath gusto nyo?"

"Naku, wag na po. Tubig na lang po, Manang." She answered. Mabilis nyang kinain ang
cake at hinugasan ang platito at tinidor na ginamit bago umakyat ulit sa taas. She
went back to read the rest of the articles and the more she found out about him,
the more curious she got. "Ang bata nya namang nag-artista, ano yun hindi na sya
nag-aral?" She asked herself as she opened another news about him. Detalyado kung
paano umangat ang career ni Daniel Padilla na nagsimula bilang isang commercial
model ng isang gatas. Lahat ng larawan ng actor nakangiti pero parang ang lungkot
nito, parang yung ngiti nya hindi umaabot sa mata nya, it's like he was hiding some
deep sorrow inside him. "You're one hell of a sad boy, it must really be difficult
growing up the way you did -- no privacy, your flaws magnified and everything about
you written." She uttered. She was about to touch her screen to trace the contours
of his face and realized what she was about to do. "Kath! Ayan ka na naman! Stop
romanticizing everything!" She berated herself. Tumayo sya at tumungo sa higaan
nya. "Ang sarap lumabas ng bahay." She said. Gusto nya sanang gumala pero wala
syang kasama kasi busy ang Daddy nya at ang pinsan nyang si Louise. She decided to
text her Dad.

'Ddy, malling po muna ako, nabo-bore na po talaga ako dito sa bahay. Don't worry
about me, kaya ko pong lumabas mag-isa. I'll just take a cab. Love you.

She reread her message before she sent it to her father and stood up to take a
shower. Nagbihis sya at nagpatawag ng taxi.

"Miss Kath, sigurado po ba kayo na okay lang po sa Daddy nyo na lumabas kayo?"

"Manang, nagpaalam po ako. Tinext ko po si Dad."

"Kasi po ang kabilin-bilinan po nya ay wag daw po kayong palabasin ng bahay--"

"Manang, ito po yung text ko kay Daddy o." She said at pinakita nya kay Manang
Rosalie ang nasa cellphone nya.

"Yun nga po, Miss Kath pero hindi naman po nagreply ang Daddy ninyo kaya wala pa
rin pong permiso nya."

"Manang naman, maawa naman po kayo sa akin. Aalis na po ako bukas eh, gusto ko
naman pong makapamasyal kahit saglit lang. Itong apat na sulok ng bahay lang ang
napuntahan ko ngayong bakasyon ko." She said.

"Pero po bilin po kasi ng Daddy ninyo--"

"Babalik naman po ako agad, Manang eh. Dyan lang ako sa malapit na mall dito,
promise hindi po ako lalayo."

"Baka po kasi ako po ang mapagalitan."

"Hindi po, bakit naman po kayo ang papagalitan." Sabi nya at natuwa syang nung may
narinig syang bumusina. "Nandyan na po yata ang taxi, sige po Manang , bye!" She
added as she ran out of the house.

"Miss Kath!" Rosalie called as she followed the teenager.

"Mag-iingat po ako! Bye!" Kath said and waved at the house help who was wringing
her hands in worry as she helplessly watched Kathryn open the gate.

"Saan po tayo Ser, didiretso na po ba tayong condo ninyo o dun po sa bahay ng Mama
nyo?" Tanong ng driver ni Daniel sa kanya. Kakagaling lang nila sa isang interview
para sa home network ni DJ and although he thought that the interview went well
hindi pa rin nya maiwasang mag-alala.

"Hindi po muna tayo uuwi." Sagot nya. Malalim ang iniisip ng binata dahil sa text
na natanggap mula sa handler nya, nag-back out daw ang isang major sponsor ng
kanyang concert. He knew hindi yun ang una at hindi rin yun ang huli pero kinagulat
pa rin nya kung gaano kabilis syang binitiwan ng sponsors na ilang taon na nyang
kasama.

"Saan tayo, Ser?"

"Dyan sa mall. Manunuod ako ng sine." He told his driver and his bodyguards. "Wag
nyo na akong samahan, gusto kong mapag-isa." He added. Hindi sya mahilig manuod ng
sine but he likes the darkness inside the theater, at least kapag madilim walang
makakakilala sa kanya at walang manghuhusga.

"Pero, baka po--"

"Gusto kong mapag-isa, Mang Chris." He repeated. "Please."

"Pero, Ser--" His other guard, Rolando, started to protest.

"Hintayin nyo na lang po ako sa sasakyan. Wala naman sigurong makakakilala sa akin
sa ayos kong to." He uttered. He was wearing a pair of faded denim jeans, a plain
white polo shirt and a pair of rubber shoes and he hoped he looked ordinary enough
with his shades and cap on.

"Paano po kapag may makakilala sa inyo ulit, Ser tulad dati na nagkagulo kasi gusto
nyong magkapeng mag-isa?" Chris asked the teenager.

"Tatawag po ako agad, sa south entrance po ako lalabas. Hindi po ako naging maingat
nun kaya po may nakakilala pero magdodobleng ingat po ako ngayon. Ang dami po
kasing tumatakbo sa utak ko kailangan ko pong mag-isip." He told them. "Sige na po,
ibalato nyo na sa akin tong araw na to." He uttered with a sad smile and his
bodyguards looked at each other. "Kapag may gulo, sasabihin ko kay Mama na
pinagalitan ko kayo at pinilit ko kayong wag akong samahan. Hinding-hindi ko kayo
idadamay." Sabi nya. Matagal na nyang kasama ang mga bodyguards nya at kilalang-
kilala na sya ng mga to, alam din nilang hindi sila ilalaglag ng binata kung
sakaling magkatanungan man.

"Sige po basta tumawag kayo agad, kahit missed call lang alam na namin kung anong
ibig sabihin nun." Rolando finally relented. They dropped him off at the south
entrance kung saan kakaunti lang ang taong pumapasok and DJ pulled his cap lower.
He would have preferred staying inside one of the coffee shops pero alam nyang
masyadong exposed at mas malaki ang tsansang may makakilala sa kanya. He kept his
head bowed as he started walking. Hindi nya matandaan kung kelan ang huling
pagkakataong pumunta sya sa isang mall para lang mamasyal and he felt a little
excited at the idea. His stomach grumbled and he was again reminded that he only
had coffee at wala syang kinain buong araw.

"Alin sa mga kainan kaya ang walang masyadong tao?" He murmured to himself as he
peered inside one of the diners. "Sorry!" He said when he bumped into someone.

"Sorry din po!" A familiar voice replied. "Sorry po talaga." The girl repeated.

"Kath?" He asked and she looked up.

"Hala!" She exclaimed before she covered her mouth with her hand. "Anong ginagawa
mo rito?" Patanong na bulong nya.
"Bakit, bawal ba ako dito?" Nakangiting tanong nya.

"Mag-isa ka lang?" She asked in disbelief and he nodded his head.

"Well, kanina oo pero since nandito ka na dalawa na tayo." He said and she laughed.

"Loko, hindi tayo pwedeng magsama ano, meron tayong scandal."

"Halika na." He murmured pulling her with him because people were starting to get
curious.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Sa isang lugar na madilim at malamig." He joked.

"Sa sinehan?" She asked and he actually laughed.

"Alam mo bang sa lahat ng sinabihan ko ng joke na yan ikaw lang ang hindi violent
ang reaction?"

"Ano namang ikaka-violent reaction ko sa sinehan?"

"Yun nga eh, ikaw lang ang naka-gets na sinehan pala yung tinutukoy ko." He
retorted. They walked quickly towards one of the cinema houses and Kath wondered
why she went with him.

"Teka, uwi na pala ako--"

"Ano ka ba, wag kang matakot sa akin hindi ako bampira."

"Hindi ako takot sayo pero kailangan ko nang umuwi."

"Kath, samahan mo na muna ako." He murmured. "Please." He pleaded and she

remembered those articles she read about him. Kahit ang pagmo-malling mag-isa ay
luxury sa taong to. She thought. "Please?'

"Fine." She mumbled and he smiled.

"Kahit anong movie na pwede na kaming pumasok." DJ told one of the cashiers who
looked at them weirdly. Nag-abot sya ng pera at kinuha ang tickets pero iniwan ang
sukli nya. Agad-agad na binalikan ni Kath ang pera at inabot sa kanya.

"Obvious ka, walang normal na tao na mag-iiwan ng sukli." Sabi nya. "Anong cinema
yan?"

"Cinema 5. Alam mo kung saan to banda?"

"Hindi eh, gusto mong magtanong?"

"Baka makilala ako." He retorted.

"Sige na nga ako na ang magtatanong." She said as she approached one of the guards.
"Dun daw sa kabila." She uttered as she pulled him with her. "Bilisan mo
nagsisimula na yata!"

"Bakit manunuod ba tayo?"

"Bakit ka bumili ng ticket?"

"Gusto ko lang mapag-isa."

"Gusto mong mapag-isa sa loob ng sinehan? Hindi ka naman masyadong weird." Tugon ng
dalaga at di nya napigilang tumawa. Pumasok sila sa loob ng sinehan at agad naman
nilang nahanap ang upuan nila. "Alam mo bang gustong-gusto kong nanunuod ng sine?"
She whispered as the lights dimmed.

"May napanuod ka na bang pelikula ko?" He couldn't help but ask.

"Wala pa." She retorted truthfully. "Ayoko sa mga movies na pa-tweetums." She added
and he burst out laughing.

"Shh.. ang ingay mo!"She scolded him lightly. Talagang manunuod tong babaeng to? He
thought glancing at her.

"Okay lang bang matulog ako?"

"Loko, manuod ka!"

"Inaantok ako eh."

"Basta manuod ka, mukhang maganda to kaso walang popcorn. Hindi kumpleto ng movie
experience kapag walang popcorn."

"Bili ako?"

"Wag na." She said as she leaned back against her seat. "Ayan na nagsisimula na."
She whispered and he glanced at her profile. She was staring intently at the
screen. Pinilit ng binatang manuod pero parang pagod na pagod sya at ilang gabi na
syang hindi nakatulog sa kakaisip kung anong project o anong endorsement na naman
ang mawawala sa kanya.

"Kath, di ko talaga kaya, inaantok talaga ako." He whispered and she turned her
face to look at him.

"Gusto mo na bang lumabas?" She whispered.

"Hindi, manuod ka lang." He retorted before he closed his eyes. He had removed his
dark glasses as soon as they stepped inside the theater.

"Ako na hahawak baka mahulog mo." Kath said taking the glasses from him.

"Salamat." Tugon ni DJ na antok na antok ang boses. His breathing evened and she
realized that he must really be tired to sleep through the noise. Kawawa naman to.
Bulong nya sa sarili nya. At least ako nakakatulog ng mahimbing sa bahay, siguro
sya ang dami nya talagang iniisip. She thought. Nakita nyang humihilig pakaliwa ang
binata at hinila nya to papunta sa kanya.

"DJ, gusto mo bang lumabas na para makauwi ka na?" Pabulong na tanong nya dito.

"Hindi ako nakakatulog sa bahay." He replied. "Pwede bang pasandal?" Tanong nito sa
kanya at hindi pa man sya nakasagot ay inangat na nito ang arm rest na nasa pagitan
nilang dalawa bago sumandal sa balikat nya. She felt her pulse race but she ignored
it as he moved to find a better position. He fell asleep immediately and she was
left wondering why her heart was thumping crazily inside her chest.
####################################
Chapter 5
####################################

Kath's mind was somewhere else as he snuggled into the crook of her neck. She
nearly giggled but stopped herself as she cleared her throat. Ano ba to nakikiliti
na ako. She murmured to herself.

"DJ." She whispered but he only moved closer. "Tara na uwi na tayo."

"Hm..." He mumbled and she bit her lower lip. Nakikiliti na ako! She wanted to
scream but pushed him off her instead.

"Ano ba yan, sumandal ka dyan sa kabilang katabi mo." She said as she tried to
concentrate on the movie again. But after a few minutes, sinuksok na naman ng
binata ang mukha nito sa leeg nya at sa sobrang gulat nya ay napatili sya.

"Ano ba naman yang kung makapagharutan!"

"Wala ba silang pang-motel?!"

"Parang nasa bahay lang kayo ah!"

"Kung makapaglandian sa loob ng sinehan wagas!" The other patrons complained and
Kath scooted lower on her seat in embarrassment.

"Pahamak ka talaga!" She hissed and arched her brow when his face slid to her
chest. Walangya, chinachansingan yata ako nito! She thought until she heard him
snore. He moved to find a better position as he lay his head under her chin, his
arms wrapping around her waist. Ano ba to. She thought, her face growing warm with
embarrassment. "DJ." She called his name again.

"Ma, mamaya na pagod na pagod ako." He murmured and she sighed. Had it been any
other day baka nanampal na sya pero hindi nya alam bakit sya naawa sa binata. She
found it weird na feeling nya ay kilala nya ang isang Daniel Padilla na dalawang
araw pa lang nyang nakasama. And on both accounts ay tulog sya. She mumbled with
amusement. She stopped pretending to watch the movie and instead leaned against her
seat while he slept pillowed against her chest.

"Pasalamat ka lalayas na ako sa Pinas bukas kaya generous ako ngayon." She
whispered against his hair inhaling his scent, realized what she did, and squirmed
uneasily. Kath, sa dinami-dami ng pwede mong landiin itong lalaking to pa talaga
ang napili mo! She reprimanded herself. She started to drift off sa kalagitnaan ng
palabas at nagising na lang sya nung biglang sumindi ulit and mga ilaw sa loob ng
sinehan at nagtayuan na ang mga tao. "DJ." She called as she tried to shake him
awake. "DJ, ano ba gising! DJ!"
"Bakit?" He asked sleepily as he lifted his face off her. "Oh shit, sorry." He
murmured as he took his handkerchief from his pocket and she immediately brushed
his hand off when he started patting her chest with it.

"Hoy, ano ba!" She exclaimed as people looked at them.

"Nalawayan kita." He murmured, his ears turning red with embarrassment at

napatingin si Kath sa t-shirt nya.

"What the!" She exclaimed looking at her wet blouse. "Ano ba naman!"

"Sorry."

"Paano naman ako lalabas nito?!" She grumbled.

"Sorry talaga, Kath." He repeated and that's when they noticed the murmurs
starting.

"Hindi ba si Daniel Padilla yan?"

"Si Daniel ba yan?"

"Sino yung girl?"

"Dali kuhanan natin ng picture."

"Is that Daniel Padilla's girlfriend?"

"Kath." He called her name and she looked at him, her eyes wide with fear.
"Halika." He said taking her hand before he stood up to pull her to her feet.

"Si Daniel Padilla nga!" Someone screamed and commotion ensued.

"Daniel!"

"Oh my God pwede na akong mamatay!"

"Daniel! I love you!" Were some of
but the crowd gathered around them
trembling, hindi dahil sa takot sa
ng DJ pero dahil sa takot sa Daddy
ako.
the screams they heard as they tried to leave
making it impossible for them to exit. Kath was
mga taong parang baliw sa kakasigaw ng pangalan
nya. Diyos ko po, pag nalaman ni Daddy to patay

"Excuse us po." Daniel said as the crowd moved closer. "Pwede pong padaan." He
tried again but they were soon surrounded by screaming, nearly-crazed fans. "Teka
lang--" He said as they clawed, took pictures and tried to grab him. "Teka lang
po--" He uttered again as someone grabbed Kath's hair. "TEKA LANG!" He yelled
protectively wrapping his arms around her. The crowd looked surprise that he
screamed and they watched as he cupped her face with his hands. "Okay ka lang?" He
asked and she nodded her head. "Wag naman po kayong manakit." He said as the
cinema's security team arrived.

"Tabi po muna tayo." One of the guards said as they created a path for the
teenagers. They were quickly escorted out of the cinema but the news that Daniel
Padilla was inside the theater with a girl has spread as people texted friends to
brag about the news kaya paglabas ng sinehan ay mas maraming tao ang naghihintay sa
kanila.

"Daniel, girlfriend mo?"

"Sino sya, Daniel?"

"Hindi ba si Kathryn yan yung anak ng direktor?"

"So totoo nga ang balita at sila nga?"

"Nag-date?" Bulungan ng mga taong nakasunod sa kanila.

"Bawal pong pumasok." Sabi ng isa sa mga guards. They reached a small hallway at sa
dinami-dami ng pasikut-sikot na dinaanan nila ay hindi malaman ni Kath kung paano
sila lalabas kaya hinigpitan nya ang pagkapit sa kamay ng binata. Pag naiwan ako
dito malamang hindi na nila ako mahahanap. She thought illogically.

"Dito, Kath." Daniel murmured and she did not even realize that one his arms was
draped around her shoulders while he held her hand.

"Nasaan na tayo?" She asked in a whisper.

"Wag kang matakot, kasama mo ako." He whispered back. Pumasok sila sa isang opisina
at agad-agad nagtayuan ang mga nasa loob nun.

"Good afternoon po." They greeted as one of the men in polo barong stepped forward.

"Dito po, Sir." He said. Pumasok sila sa isang airconditioned na kwarto at agad
kumuha ng dalawang upuan ang lalaki.

"Salamat po." Daniel said.

"You're welcome po, Sir." The man replied.

"Okay ka lang?" DJ asked the young girl beside him and she felt her shake. He
hasn't gotten used to mobbings even if he's been in the industry for years and he
knew the experience earlier must have been very traumatic for her. "May tubig po ba
kayo?" He asked and the man who led them inside the room exited to get bottled
water. "Kath, magsalita ka naman please."

"Okay lang ako." She whispered without looking at him.

"Sorry. Alam kong may posibilidad na magkaganito pero dinamay pa kita."

"Okay lang." She answered in a small voice. "Gusto ko nang umuwi." She added as her
phone rang. She took it out of her pocket and trembled in fear again when she saw
her father's number reflected on the screen. "Hello, Dad." She said as Daniel
watched her.

"I leave you for a few hours and you get yourself in another scandal!" Her father
screamed and she flinched.

"Hindi ko naman po sinasad--"

"Hindi ba sabi ko sa bahay ka lang?! Hindi ba sabi ko wag kang umalis?! Ang tigas
ng ulo mo!"

"Kasi po, Dad--" She started to say but her father cut her off again.

"Alam mo ba kung ano ang naramdaman ko nung nakita ko ang picture mo kasama ni
Daniel Padilla sa TV?! Your little escapade is all over the news, Kath!" He
screamed and she started to sob.
"Sorry po--" She began to apologize but Daniel took the phone from her hand.

"Hello, po Direk. Si DJ po."

"Isa ka pa, DJ! Hindi ba sabi ko layuan mo ang anak ko?!"

"Hindi naman po namin sinadyang magkita pero sa akin na lang po kayo magalit, wag
na po sa anak ninyo. Kasalanan ko po to lahat--"

"That's what you said the first time! Kasalanan mo lahat! Ano ang gagawin mo
ngayon?! Hindi artista si Kath but her haters are growing by leaps and bounds
because of you!"

"And I will take responsibility, Direk. Don't be mad at her, wala po syang
kinalaman dito."

"Stay where you are! I am coming for my daughter!" DJ Heard Direk Teo say before
the call ended. He looked at the sobbing girl beside him and he felt pity. Kung di
lang sana nya niyaya ang dalagang samahan sya sa loob ng sinehan ay di ito
mangyayari.

"Tahan na." He murmured. "Hindi ka naman siguro sasaktan ng Daddy mo."

"Hindi naman ako dun takot." She said. "Alam ko namang may kasalanan ako eh kasi di
ako nakinig sa kanya pero takot ako kung anong magiging epekto ng mga nangyari sa
trabaho ni Daddy."

"Kath--"

"Kaya sila naghiwalay ni Mommy because he loves his work and he rarely had time for
us. They parted ways because he chose his work over his family and I cannot stand
the idea of ruining it for him."

"Hindi mo masisira ang reputasyon ng Daddy mo. Isa na syang haligi sa industriya.
Besides, direktor sya at hindi sya artista kaya hindi matitinag ang track record
nya bilang isang magaling na direktor dahil lang dito." He explained and she looked
at him as she sniffed.

"Sigurado ka dyan?" She asked willing to believe everything that he said.

"Oo." He answered and she gave him a tearful smile.

"Salamat." She murmured as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

"Okay ka na?" He asked. "Sorry ha, parati ka na lang nadadamay sa mga kalokohan ko
sa buhay."

"Exciting nga ng buhay mo eh. Hindi tulad ng sa akin, ang boring."

"I would trade places with you anytime." He uttered. They sat in silence as the man
left to attend to them arrived with two bottled water. He smiled uncertainly at
Daniel before he spoke.

"Sir, pwede po bang makakuha ng autograph ninyo? May pamangkin po kasi ako na
magbi-birthday po sa susunod na linggo at gustung-gusto nya po kayo."

"Oo naman po." The teenager answered readily. "Ayaw nyo po ng picture?"
"Okay lang po ba?"

"Oo naman." He replied again as the man took his phone out while Daniel signed the
piece of paper that he handed and gave it back to him.

"Salamat po." He gratefully uttered and Daniel smiled.

"Ma'am pwede po ba." The man said and Kath took the phone he handed. "Salamat po."
He said as he stood beside the teenager. Kath took their pictures and handed the
phone back to the man.

"Erwin po pala ang pangalan ko." He volunteered.

"Ako po si Kath."

"Pwede ko po ba kayong kunan ng picture kasama si Sir?'

"Naku, hindi po ako artista, Kuya." Kathryn said shaking her head.

"Halika na." DJ uttered pulling the girl beside him and Erwin took photos of the
two teenagers.

"Salamat po, marami pong salamat." Paulit-ulit na sabi nya. May kumatok at
napatingin silang tatlo sa pinto at nagulat si DJ nung pumasok ang personal
bodyguards nya.

"Okay lang po ba kayo, Ser?" Chris asked.

"Okay lang. Paano nyo nalaman--"

"Nasa balita po kayo. Buti na lang nakikinig kami ng radyo sa sasakyan." Rolando
muttered. "Di po ba usapan natin tatawag po kayo?"

"Nakalimutan ko po, ang bilis kasi ng mga pangyayari." The teenager reasoned.

"Tara na po." Chris invited but DJ shook his head.

"Hindi pwede, hindi pa dumating Daddy ni Kath."

"Pero bilin po ng Mama ninyo--"

"Hindi nga pwede." Daniel repeated and his bodyguards sighed. Tumunog ang telepono
ni DJ at agad nya tong kinuha sa bulsa nya.

"Diyos ko naman, Daniel ano na naman ba to!"

"Tita Luz--"

"Ikaw talagang bata ka masyado kang pasaway eh! Alam mo bang natuyo na ang dugo ko
sayo at isa-isa nang nalalaglag ang mga buhok ko sa kunsumisyon?"

"Tita Luz naman, mabait naman po ako ah." Daniel joked.

"Heh! Mabait-mabait ka pa dyan. Pinatawag ako ni big boss at pinapaayos sa akin

tong kaguluhang pinasok mo na naman! Ano ba talagang balak mo ha? Di ba ang usapan
natin wag magkamali ng dalawang beses sa iisang babae kasi pagpipyestahan kayo ng
media! At least kung paiba-iba mukhang malabo!"

"Tita, hindi naman po sadya."

"Sagutin mo nga akong bata ka, girlfriend mo ba yang anak ni Direk?"

"Hindi... pa sa ngayon pero malapit na." He replied grinning looking at Kathryn who
was talking genially to his bodyguards.

"Malaking problema yan! Di mo ba kilala tatay nyan? Kakainin ka ng buhay nun!"

"Kilala." He replied. "Pero anong magagawa ko kung mas gusto kong kilalanin ang
anak nya?" He asked as the door opened to reveal a huffing Direk Teo.

"DJ!" Direk Teo yelled angrily.

"Sige po, Tita nandyan na po ang Daddy nya."

"Good luck, wag kang papabugbog masyado ha." His handler replied before DJ ended
the call and pocketed his phone. His bodyguards immediately stood up but he
motioned for them to sit back down.

"What did you do?!" Direk Teo demanded as DJ stood up. Kath stood up too but kept
her head bowed as she stared at her shoes.

"Pwede ko po bang ligawan ang anak ninyo?" DJ asked and Direk Teo's jaw dropped as
Kathryn's eyes flew to his face in surprise.

####################################
Chapter 6
####################################

"Pwede ko po bang ligawan ang anak ninyo?" He asked and Kathryn looked at him in
surprise.

"What?!" Direk Teo demanded. "Anong akala mo sa anak ko, tulad ng mga babaeng
inuuto mo?!" He yelled as he went to his daughter to pull her towards him. "DJ,
tantanan mo ang anak ko at wag mong sinasali sa mga kalokohan mo!"

"Daddy..."

"Shut up, Kathryn! Sa bahay na tayo mag-usap. You owe me a lot of explaining, young
lady!" He muttered angrily before he took his phone out to call his driver. "Meet
us at the east exits." Sabi nya.

"Direk, teka lang po--" Daniel called but the director ignored him as he took his
jacket off and draped it over his daughter's head before he pulled the teenager
with him. "Kath!"
"Ser, wag nyo na po silang sundan at sobra pong madaming tao sa labas." Chris said
and Daniel sighed.

"Kailangan kong mag-explain--"

"Sir, hindi ngayon ang tamang pagkakataon, lalo nyo lang guguluhin ang sitwasyon
kung hahabulin nyo pa yung mag-ama." He wanted to protest. Gusto nyang sundan si
Direk Teo at gusto nyang sabihing kasalanan nya ang lahat pero may punto ang mga
bodyguards nya. Sa huli, mas pinili nyang sundin yung instructions nila. Nagulat
sya kasi punung-puno nga ng tao ang labas ng opisina and it took nearly an hour
bago sila makalabas sa gulo ng mga tao. His phone vibrated endlessly and he spewed
an endless round of no comments as microphones and recorders were waved in front of
his face.

"Ser, yung Mama po ninyo kanina pa po tumatawag." Sabi ng driver nya pagkapasok na
pagkapasok nya sa van. "Ang bilin po sa akin sabihin daw po sa inyo na tawagan daw
po sya kaagad."

"Okay po." Daniel replied as he took his phone out of his pocket. 52 Missed Calls.
189 Messages. "Ma." He said as soon as someone answered.

"Nasaan ka? Ano ka ba naman, kakatapos lang ng iskandalo mo may bago na naman?
Dumiretso ka dito sa bahay at kailangan nating mag-usap! Nandito si Tita Luz kasi
may sasabihin daw syang importante sayo."

"Ma, bukas na lang tayo mag-usa--"

"Hindi pwede! Umuwi ka ng bahay ngayon din!"

"Opo." He answered with a sigh. Alam ni Daniel kung anong klase ng gulo ang
pinasukan nya at alam nya agad kung bakit nasa bahay nila si Tita Luz pero hindi
yun ang tumatakbo sa isip nya. Ang totoo ay mas nag-aalala sya kay Kath dahil
mukhang galit na galit ang ama nito. Hindi naman siguro sya sasaktan ng Daddy nya.
He thought with concern. At ang tanga ko hindi ko man lang kinuha ang cellphone
number nya.

"Ser, saan po tayo, sa condo po ba ninyo o sa bahay po?"

"Sa bahay po, Manong." He answered and his driver nodded his head as they changed
lanes. Pagkadating na pagkadating nya ng bahay ay sumalubong na kaagad ang Mama nya
hindi pa man sya nakababa ng sasakyan.

"Are you okay?" Pambungad na tanong nito at nung tumango sya ay pinaghahampas sya
nito sa braso. "Ano ka bang bata ka! Hindi ka na nagtanda!"

"Aray ko naman, Ma."

"Anong aray ko?"

"Wag nyo naman po akong paluin." Sabi nya sa ina at piningot nito ang tenga nya.
"Aray, Ma!"

"Alam mo ba kung anong gulo itong pinasok mo, DJ? Sa dinami-dami ng babaeng pwede
mong paglaruan, yung anak pa talaga ni Direk Teo!"

"Sino bang nagsasabing pinaglalaruan o paglalaruan ko sya, Ma?"

"Daniel John, umayos ka. Kilala kita! Mabilis kang magkagusto sa isang babae pero
mabilis ka ring magsawa. Tingnan mo nga yang mga crush mo na paiba-iba na lang
bawat linggo!"

"Iba to, Ma. Seryoso to."

"Neknek mo! Anong seryoso, sige nga kelan yung birthday nya?"

"Hindi ko pa po natanong."

"Anong paborito nyang pagkain?"

"Hindi ko po alam."

"Anong buong pangalan nya?"

"Ah, alam ko yan. Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo." Buong pagmamalaki nyang tugon
at binatukan sya ng ina. "Ma, naman." He complained as they stepped inside their
house. "Hi, Tita Luz!" He greeted as he hugged his handler.

"Naku, ito ang ayaw ko dito sa anak mo, Karla parati na lang akong dinadaan sa
lambing." Luz uttered with a giggle. "Uy, ikaw na bata ka kung anu-ano ang
pinaggagawa mo. Alam mo bang tatlo na sa sponsors mo ang nag-back out? Kaya nga ito
may dala akong memo at pinapunta ka ni Big Boss bukas sa opisina nya para
kausapin."

"Tita Luz naman, kailangan ko bang pumunta dun? Magaling naman kayo sa damage
control eh kaya nga bilib na bilib po ako sa inyo."

"Tumahimik ka ha, binobola mo na naman ako. Pero ito seryosong usapan, alam mo
naman siguro na maimpluwensyang tao si Direk Teo, di ba? At ang balita ko
nakikipag-usap na sya sa iba't ibang direktor para i-boycott ka."

"Pwede ba nya yung gawin?" Karla couldn't help but ask as she looked at her son
worriedly. "Anong ibig sabihin nun? Anong magiging epekto nun sa career ng anak
ko?"

"Pwedeng mawalan sya ng projects--"

"Hindi yun mangyayari." DJ cut her off. "Wala naman akong ginawang masama, bakit
naman nya po yun gagawin sa akin? Yung pagkikita namin ni Kath sa mall aksidente
lang, hindi kami nag-usap na magkita."

"Pero totoo bang katabi mo magdamag yung dalaga nya nung isang araw?"

"Opo pero--"

"Naku, itong batang to kasi!" Karla exclaimed. "DJ, tumino ka na, anak please.
Paano kung nabaril ka nung gabing yun kasi umakyat ka sa bakod nina Direk? Paano
kung napahamak ka?"

"Ma, hindi naman ako napahamak eh. Tingnan nyo naman ang gwapo ko pa ring nakatayo
sa harapan ninyo." He kidded and his mother hit his arm again. "Si Mama nagiging
bayolente na. Chill, Ma."

"Chill? Chill?! Nauubos na dugo ko sayo!"

"Ma, naman."

"Pero, DJ gusto mo ba talaga yung anak ni Direk Teo?"

"Oo." Walang pag-aalinlangan nyang sagot. "Gusto ko syang maging nobya."

Meanwhile, the situation at the Bernardo household was very different as Kath sat
quietly while her father paced like an angry tiger in front of her. Her cousin,
Louise, was beside her to lend her support and she squeezed the younger girl's hand
consolingly.

"Explain yourself, Kathryn." Direk Teo started. His voice was calm but the girls
could feel an undercurrent of anger with every word he spoke. "Ipaliwanag mo nga sa
akin kung bakit kayo magkasama ni Daniel Padilla sa loob ng sinehan? Ipaliwanag mo
rin sa akin kung bakit ka lumabas when I specifically told you to stay at home!"

"Dad--"

"Kelan tumigas yang ulo mo? Kelan ka natutong magrebelde? I've never been so
disappointed in you!" He yelled and sighed when his daughter started to sob.

"Hindi naman po kami nag-usap na magkita. Kaya po ako lumabas ng bahay kasi nabagot
po ako at inisip ko rin po na huling araw ko na po ngayon sa Pilipinas pero wala
man lang po akong ibang napuntahan. Hindi ko naman kayo mayayang lumabas kasi
pareho po kayong busy ni Ate Louise kaya lumabas po akong mag-isa." She cried
quietly. "Sorry po."

"Kath, kaya lang naman galit si Tito because Daniel Padilla is bad news. Alam mo
bang niligawan ako nun? Oo, niligawan nya ako at wag kang magulat. Sa tingin mo
matinong lalaki ang manliligaw sa babaeng alam nyang may boyfriend? Besides, Kath
mabilis magpalit ng isip yun kaya nga kung sinu-sino ang nali-link dun eh."

"Your cousin is right, I don't want you to see him again. Wag mo ring seryosohin
yung sinabi nya kaninang gusto ka nyang ligawan because I'm sure he just said it
out of whim." Direk Teo uttered as he sat beside his daughter. "Anak, I'm sorry if
I was harsh, nag-alala ako. Iniwan ko nga ang shooting nung napanuod ko kayo sa TV
kasi natatakot ako para sayo. Layuan mo sya, wala syang maidudulot na mabuti sayo."
He stated and Kath nodded her head. "Sige na, umakyat ka na sa taas at magpahinga
ka na at bukas na ang flight mo. I'm sorry if I yelled at you earlier ha, anak?
Hindi mo maalis sa akin ang mag-alala. I was just looking after your welfare."

"Opo. Sorry din po kasi pinag-alala ko po kayo." She murmured and her father smiled
dotingly at her. "Akayat na po ako. Salamat po, Ate Louise." She said as she smiled
shyly at her cousin who gave her a hug. Umakyat sya sa kanyang kwarto at humiga sa
kama. Hindi nya alam kung bakit lalo syang naawa sa binata dahil dun sa narinig nya
sa kanyang ama at nakakatandang pinsan. He seems nice. She thought remembering how
he shouted when someone pulled at her hair. Mukhang hindi naman totoo ang mga
sinasabi nila tungkol sa kanya? She murmured to herself as she took her Dad' phone
out of her pocket. She absentmindedly browsed the contacts and her heart leapt when
she saw his name. Bigla syang kinabahan at agad-agad syang tumayo. Bigla syang
nakaramdam ng kilig kaya bumalik sya sa paghiga sa kama at tinakpan ang mukha nya
ng unan bago tumili. "Meant to be to!" She happily shrieked. Tumakbo sya sa banyo
para maghilamos at magsuklay at natawa sya sa sarili nung na-realize nyang iti-text
nya lang pala ang binata kaya hindi na nya kailangan pang magpaganda.

DJ, this is Kath Bernardo. Thanks for earlier. I hope you got home safe.

She reread the message she composed for the fourteenth time before she pressed
send. Pagka-pindot na pagkapindot nya ng send ay agad nyang tinago ang phone sa
ilalim ng mga unan. Hindi nya alam kung bakit kakaibang kilig ang dala ng lalaking
yun sa kanya. She's had crushes before but her feeling towards them weren't as
intense as the one she's feeling for DJ. She waited for his reply and her shoulders
slumped when minutes later ay wala pa ring dumating na sagot galing dito.

"Baka hindi na yun ang number nya." She murmured to herself as she rolled into her
stomach and began tracing the flowery prints on her bed cover. Kinuha nya ang
telepono sa ilalim ng unan at tinitigan ang screen nito. "Hay naku, wala to." Sabi
nya sa sarili nya. Tatayo na sana sya nung biglang nag-ring ang phone at nagulat
sya nung nakita kung sino ang tumatawag. "Oh my God, anong sasabihin ko!" She
shrieked and covered her mouth with her hand. Tumakbo sya para i-lock ang pinto
bago tumakbo pabalik sa kama nya upang kuhanin ang telepono. She went inside the
bathroom and locked herself in. And for the second time ay humarap sya sa salamin
and nearly smacked herself when she realized what she did. "Hello...?" She said
over the phone and rolled her eyes at how breathy her voice sounded.

"Kath?" He answered and she nearly squealed. Clearing her throat she brought the
phone close to her mouth again and spoke.

"DJ?"

"Kath, are you okay. Sinaktan ka ba ng Daddy mo? Napagalitan ka ba? Anong ginawa
nya sayo? Nasaan ka ngayon at pupuntahan kita." He asked in rapid succession and
her heart just did a backflip.

"Okay--" She stopped and cleared her throat kasi parang naipit boses nya. "I'm
fine." She said. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Pwede ba namang hindi ako mag-alala?" He said at tumalon-talon ang dalaga sa

kilig. "Anong nagyayari dyan bakit parang may tumatakbo?"

"Ha?" Kath asked. "Ah, wala...um...ano... yung ano, yung TV." She reasoned as she
winced.

"Ah, okay."

"O sige, DJ salamat sa pagtawag." She said afraid that she'd say something na hindi
dapat o kaya mapatili sya bigla habang kausap ang binata. "Bye."

"Kath..."

"Yes?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked and she shrieked before she covered her mouth
with her hand and nearly dropped the phone into the toilet bowl in her excitement.

"Sorry, sorry!" She murmured. "Ano kasi nagulat ako...kasi...um...nanunuod ako ng

horror...tapos ano..." She stammered and he laughed, at tumayo lahat ng balahibo
nya. Ano ba, Kath masyado ka namang halata! She scolded herself.

"So, pwede ba?" He asked again and she bit her lower lip.

"Pwedeng ano?"

"Pwede ba kitang maging girlfriend?"

"Hala ang bilis naman." She uttered kahit yung puso nga ay nagwewelga na sa saya.
Hindi nya alam kung anong meron dito at parang huling-huli nito ang kiliti nya at
hindi nya alam kung bakit kahit hindi pa nya ito lubos na kilala ay hulog na hulog
na ang loob nya dito.

"Kapag naman mahal nyo ang isa't isa hindi na dapat pinapatagal." DJ said and
warning bells started to peal inside Kath's head but she was too smitten to pay
attention.

"Ganun?" She breathlessly asked.

"Oo, ganun. So uulitin ko ang tanong. Will you be my girlfriend Kathryn Chandria
Manuel Bernardo?" He asked and she nearly fainted.

"Yes!" She heard herself say. "Yes, I'll be your girlfriend!"

####################################
Chapter 7
####################################

"Seryoso? You want to be my girlfriend? You really want to be my girlfriend?" He

asked over the phone. He knew the question was too sudden but her answer caught him
off guard.

"Funny isn't it how you had to ask me twice even after I said yes." She stated
laughing. "Ang bilis mo ha pero mas mabilis ako. It's a silly question, DJ so I
gave you a silly answer. Artista ka, I find you gwapo and attractive pero kahit
ikaw alam mong hindi kapani-paniwalang magiging tayo sa ganun kaigsing panahon.
Your questions and the disbelief in your voice proved that. Anyway, thank you kasi
pinakilig mo ako but it's not going to work because we don't know each other and
I'm leaving. It was short but sweet."

"Kath, I'm serious."

"No, you're not. The attraction's there, alam ko and I won't deny it pero baka
ilang tulog lang magfi-fade lang din. Kinikilig ako sayo, sobra pero malakas ang
loob kong sabihin lahat ng ito kasi aalis na ako kinabukasan and it would be years
bago tayo ulit magkita. At siguradong-sigurado ako na kapag nagkita tayo ulit, wala
na yung kilig. Good luck sayo, DJ dalawang araw lang tayong nagkakilala at
nagkasama pero pinakabog mo ang puso ko."

"Anong gagawin ko to change your mind?"

"Wala." She replied laughing. "Hanggang dito lang to."

"Anong oras ang flight mo bukas?"

"Hindi mo na kailangang malaman. Ikaw talaga. Papakiligin mo pa ako eh baka mamaya

di na ako umalis. Baka confused ka ha, si Kathryn ang kausap mo at hindi si
Louise." She jokingly said and he chuckled. "Pasalamat ka hindi ako selosa." She
flippantly muttered and he burst out laughing.

"Alam kong ikaw yan or else hindi magwawala ang puso ko ng ganito."

"Naks, sarap pakinggan." She replied. "Ang galing mo talaga. Ganyan pala magpakilig
ang isang Daniel Padilla. Anyway, pwede mong sabihin sa media sa interviews mo that
I'm a crazed fan and you have nothing to do with all the scandals that I've caused.
Pwede mo akong gamitin and I wouldn't mind kasi paalis na nga ako."

"Bakit kita gagamitin? Dapat ba akong ma-offend sa sinabi mo?"

"I don't mean to offend you. I'm just stating a fact and you're really the only
friend I have here. Ang pathetic ko di ba, dalawang araw lang tayong nagkakilala at
friend na agad ang turing ko sayo? Thank you, DJ kasi ang boring ng buhay ko pero
nabigyan mo ng kulay."

"Gusto kitang makausap ng personal."

"Wag na. Wag na nating dagdagan yung gulong pinasok mo at tulad ng sinabi ko, pwede
mo akong gawing rason para ma-clear yang mga issues sayo. Unlike you, I have no
showbiz reputation to protect and you're right, Dad will be evaluated differently
kaya hindi sya maapektuhan ng lahat ng to."

"Kaibigan ang turing mo sa akin pero sinasabi mong gamitin kita? Anong klaseng
pagkakaibigan yan?"

"Masyado ka namang chivalrous at principled, kinikilig tuloy ako lalo."

"Kathryn, lakas mong magpa-in love ah." He complained over the phone and smiled
hearing her bell-like laughter.

"Loko, naniniwala ka bang love yan? Init lang ng panahon yan." She stated. "O sige
na, nice knowing you, Daniel John Ford Padilla. You made my vacation
unforgettable."

"But I want to know you more."

"Sadly, that's not possible. Besides, I really am not a fan of long-distance

relationships. Tsaka, ikaw ha ang bilis magbago ng isip at puso mo wag ganun.
Dadating ang panahong maiin-love kang talaga tapos yung babaeng mahal mo di na
maniniwala sayo kasi may reputasyon kang sobrang bilis magpalit ng babaeng gusto.
Payong kaibigan lang, pwede mong seryosohin pwede ring hindi."

"So crush mo ako, Kath?" He asked and she laughed.

"Parang ganun. Sino namang hindi magka-crush sayo? Nothing serious though, kaya wag
kang ma-pressure."

"Aba kung crush mo ako, hindi ka pwedeng umalis. Paano kita paalisin knowing that
our feelings are mutual?"

"Naks. Kinilig daw ako lalo. Ang galing mo talaga. Tama na nga baka di ako
makatulog mamaya. O sige na, goodbye."

"I won't say goodbye."

"Even if you refuse to, it really is goodbye, Daniel." She said before she ended
the call. She stared at the phone in her hand for a very long time as she waited
for her heartbeat to stop drumming like crazy. Pumasok sa isip nya bigla ang mga
what ifs pero ayaw nyang i-entertain, it's enough na nakilala nya ang binata kasi
alam nya ring walang patutunguhan. Just like her Dad, she knew showbiz owns Daniel
Padilla and it would be stupid to try take him away from its grasp. She heard a
knock and she stepped out of her bathroom and walked to the door.

"Kath..."

"Yes, Dad?" She asked as she opened the door.

"Are you really okay, anak?"

"Opo." She replied truthfully.

"I'm sorry about earlier, your old man just wants to protect you. I'm sorry, anak
if I was harsh. Gusto lang kitang protektahan sa magulong mundong ginagalawan ko."

"Dad, you don't have to do that." She said as she stepped aside to let her father
in. "I've always been intrigued about the kind of world that you love. At naisip ko
ngayon baka yun ang rason kung bakit gusto ko ring maging direktor -- ang
intindihin ang mundong mahal mo o kaya mapabilang sa mundong umagaw sayo sa amin ni
Mommy. Hindi na ako bata, Dad and my eyes are wide open."

"I am proud, anak that you want to be a part of Dad's world but I'm also sad that
you think you have to be a part of that world for me to love you. Mahal na mahal ka
namin ng Mommy mo, Kath and I would have given everything para naging iba ang
kinalabasan ng pagsasama namin pero--"

"Dad, tapos na po yun. I already spent three years in therapy for that. At
naiintindihan ko po na kahit gaano ninyo kamahal ang isa't isa, mas nakabuti para
sa lahat ang naging desisyon ninyo. Dati tinanong ko ang sarili ko kung anong mali
sa akin at kailangan nyong maghiwalay but through time, I realized na may mga
desisyong dapat gawin no matter how painful they are and the only way to lessen the
pain is by acceptance."

"I wish we have more time to bond and I really wish you can stay longer."

"Ako rin po, yun lang po ang regret ko kasi alam ko matagal bago tayo magkita
ulit." She retorted.
Daniel paced back and forth in front of his mother who ignored him. Naasar pa rin
sya sa mga gulong pinasok ng anak at alam nyang kapag ang binata nya ay di
mapakali, may hihingin itong pabor sa kanya.

"Ma--"

"Hindi pwede. Ayoko." Karla intoned as she continued to browse the new issue of
Home and Living magazine.

"Hindi nyo pa nga alam yung sasabihin ko ayaw nyo na agad?" Daniel asked as he sat
down beside his mother and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Ma..." May
paglalambing nyang sabi.

"Naku, DJ wag mo akong daanin sa ganyan. Kung ano man yan, di magbabago ang sagot
ko. A-YO-KO."

"Ma, alam nyo ang ganda-ganda nyo at nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa Maykapal kasi sa
dinami-dami ng pwedeng maging nanay, kayo ang binigay nya sa akin."

"Ayoko."

"Ma, di ba sabi nyo po gusto nyo akong tumino?"

"I've given up, alam kong di ka na titino. Nagka-kalyo na lang ang tuhod ko
kakadasal wala pa ring nangyari. May dugong Padilla ka kaya in-expect ko yang mga
kaguluhang pinasok at ipapasok mo."

"Pero, Ma true love talaga to."

"True love?" Karla asked as she finally looked at her son. "Kada buwan na lang true
love? "She asked outrageously. "Aba, ang laki naman ng puso mo at ang daming true
love namang pwedeng magkasya dyan!"

"Ma, naman. Di po ba sabi nyo unang kita nyo pa lang kay Papa nakita nyo na ang
future nyo na kasama sya."

"Ang taas ng sikat ng araw nun, Anak at dehydrated ako kaya kung anu-anong
kabaliwan ang pumasok sa isip ko."

"Pero, still alam nyo na sya na."

"Oo, akala ko nun pero nasan na sya ngayon? Kasama ba natin? Hay naku, DJ tigil-
tigilan mo ako ha kasi sumasakit na ulo ko sayo. Itulog mo na lang yan, pagkatapos
ng isang linggo ay sigurado akong di mo na matatandaan ang itsura nyang anak ni
Direk Teo."

"Ma, totoo nga to!"

"At totoo din tong asar ko sayo!" Karla snapped and her son sighed. Hinarap ni
Karla ang anak nya na parang pasan ang buong daigdig na nakahandusay sa tabi nya.
"Nak, alam mo namang mahal na mahal ka ni Mama di ba? Pero utang na loob naman, Nak
tantanan mo yang kalokohang yan. Dalawang araw mo lang nakilala tapos sasabihin mo
na sa akin na true love? Tindi naman nyan, Nak."

"Gusto nya ako, Ma."

"Eh sino bang babaeng hindi nagkakagusto sayo?" Karla tried to joke and Daniel
groaned in frustration.

"Oo, pero gusto ko rin sya. Kayo po ba kung alam nyong may gusto sa inyo yung gusto
nyo pakakawalan nyo na lang ng basta-basta?"

"Kung yun ang mas nakakabuti, bakit hindi?" Karla replied. 'Hindi ba pinakawalan ko
ang Papa mo?"

"Ayokong matulad sa inyo, kapag ako nagmahal ipaglalaban ko."

"Mahal na agad? Akala ko ba gusto lang, ang bilis namang magbago nyan." Karla
teased and stopped when Daniel continued to look like he's in extreme pain. "Nak--"

"Kahit anong ipapagawa nyo po sa akin, gagawin ko basta tulungan nyo lang ako
ngayon." He murmured, his eyes closed and Karla stared at him. Sa dinami-dami ng
escapades ng anak nya at sa haba-haba ng listahan ng mga babaeng kinahumalingan
nito ay hindi na sya naniniwala kapag nagsasabi ito sa kanyang meron itong bagong
true love.

"Lilipas din yan." She answered patting her son's shoulder.

"Ma, paano kung sya na tapos pinakawalan ko? Paano kung ito na pala yun pero mas
pinili kong balewalain? Paano kung matapos ang ilang taon, sasabihin ko sa sarili
kong sayang, sana pinaglaban ko? Alam ko naman pong pabagu-bago ako ng isip eh kasi
gusto kong makahanap ng taong mamahalin ako at di ako iiwan. Gusto ko lang naman
pong merong isang taong nandyan, maliban sa inyo, na masasabi kong yayakapin pa rin
ako kahit hindi ako perpekto."

"Hindi na sapat ang pagmamahal ni Mama, Nak?" Karla asked, her tone light although
she felt her heart painfully squeeze.

"Iba kayo, Ma. Given na po yun na mahal nyo ako kahit na kung anu-anong sama ng
loob ang dala ko sa inyo pero iba din po yung may isang tao sa mundo na kayang
tumayo sa tabi nyo kahit iiwan ka ng karamihan. Lumaki ako sa showbiz, Ma at nakita
ko ang mga relasyong nabuo at basta-basta na lang nawasak dahil sa napakaliit na
bagay. Ayoko sa ganun, I could leave showbiz kung ang kapalit nun ay yung taong
mamahalin ako at di ako iiwan habambuhay." Daniel said and Karla felt her eyes
water so she averted her gaze. Her son looked for a father that wasn't there and
worked hard to have that father recognize him. At ang akala nya, naget-over na ng
anak nya yung ganun episode ng buhay nito pero hindi pa pala, nag-iba lang at nag-
evolve lang but her son's need to be loved never faded.

"Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko?" She asked as she finished wiping her tears. "Anong
kailangan kong gawin?" She added and her son's eyes fluttered open before he smiled
and wrapped his arms around her.
Direk Teo looked at his daughter's averted face at habang papalapit sila sa airport
ay lalong tumitindi ang panghihinayang nyang aalis na ang kaisa-isang anak na hindi
man lang nya nakasama ng maayos.

"Kath, tawagan mo ako agad pagdating mo ha?" He asked and she turned her face to
smile at him.

"Opo, Dad."

"Have a safe flight. Dad loves you so much." He added emotionally and her
daughter's eyes glazed over with unshed tears.

"I know, Dad. I love you so much too." She answered as she leaned towards him to
give him a hug.

"I'll see you in three months?" He murmured against her hair and she nodded her
head as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. They were at the airport's
entrance and the driver immediately got off to help Kath with her bags. Bumaba rin
sa sasakyan ang Direktor para ihatid ang anak. "Mel, tatawagan kita at ikutan mo na
lang ako dito." He instructed his driver who nodded. Desidido sya na paalisin ang
anak para maiwas sa gulo pero habang naglalakad sila papuntang entrance ay hindi na
sya ganun ka-sigurado kung tama ba ang desisyon nya.

"Sige na po, Dad hanggang dito lang po yata kayo pwede." Kath turned to him with a
smile and he pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

"Mag-iingat ka ha."

"Opo."

"Mahal na mahal kita."

"Alam ko po."

"Parang ayaw kitang umalis pero hindi ko alam kung ano pang dahilan bakit ka
mananatili dito sa Pilipinas."

"Dad, don't worry about that. I'll be fine." She replied as she leaned away from
him. "Pasok na po ako sa loob." She added and he nodded his head. He watched her
walk away and was surprised when someone called his daughter's name.

"Kath!" Said the familiar voice and he turned to watch Daniel run towards his
daughter who looked very surprised.

"Hoy, anong ginagawa mo dito?" She asked and laughed when he suddenly enfolded her
in a hug. "Paano mo nalaman yung oras ng flight ko?"

"Wag kang umalis." DJ said. "Dito ka muna."

"Grabe ha, hindi ka naman demanding ano?" She answered as she smiled at him.

"Hindi ako papayag na aalis ka ng ganito. Alam ko it's too soon but I feel that
you're really someone special. I need a chance to prove that I'm right."

"That's sweet." She answered. "Ang galing mo talagang magpakilig." She added with a
laugh not realizing that her father was watching her laugh aloud for the first time
since he and her mother divorced. "Pinasaya mo ako." She said.
"Yun naman pala, ako naman pasayahin mo. Wag kang umalis." He insisted as he smiled
charmingly at her. "Sige na Kath. Sa dinadami-dami ng babae dito, ikaw lang ang
makapagpapasaya sa akin but you'd rather make me sad?" He asked. The teenagers were
starting to draw a crowd as people took out their phones to take videos and
pictures.

"Hindi pwede eh." She answered her smile sorrowful.

"Bakit?"

"Because it's too complicated." She retorted as she turned her head to smile weakly
at her Dad. "Sige na, DJ thanks for the surprise." She uttered as she pulled her
hand from his grasp and started to walk away. Wala pang isang metro ay may humablot
na sa kamay nya at gulat syang napatingin sa binata. "Aray naman." She murmured.

"Sorry." He mumbled as he steered her away from the airport's entrance. They
stopped in front of her father and Daniel took his shades off before he spoke.

"Direk, dalawa lang po pagpipilian ninyo. Iuuwi nyo po si Kath sa bahay nyo o sa
amin na po sya titira." He uttered as Kathryn's gaze flew to his face in surprise.

####################################
Chapter 8
####################################

Kath was too surprised to talk but she saw how her father fisted his hands and she
immediately moved in-between him and Daniel.

"Dad, teka lang po. May understanding lang po yata. Teka lang po, kakausapin ko
lang po sya."

"How dare you issue instructions at me? How dare you threaten me with your words?!"
Tiim-bagang na sabi ni Direk Teo.

"Teka po, Dad. Teka po." Kathryn repeated as she put a hand against her father's
chest. "Gutom po yata si DJ at kung anu-ano na lang po ang sinasabi."

"Hindi ako guto--Aray!" He groaned as she stomped on his foot.

"Mag-sorry ka!" She hissed.

"Para saan? Totoo naman lahat ng sinabi ko, kung hindi ka nya iuuwi--Aray naman!
Yung takong ng sapatos mo ang tulis. Dapat dyan pinagbabawal na." He mumbled as she
grinned appealingly at her father.

"Hindi mo pwedeng ligawan ang anak ko, Padilla!"

"Kung ganun po, pwede ko po bang hingin ang kanyang kamay--Aruy! Kath, nakakarami
ka na." He moaned in pain as she tramped on his foot again.

"May future sya sa comedy di po ba, Dad?" Kath tried to laugh before she whispered
angrily at Daniel. "Kung hindi ka pa tatahimik dyan, sasaktan na talaga kita!"

"Hindi pa ba pananakit ang tawag mo dito?" He whispered back before he too tried to
smile at Direk Teo. "Pasensya na, Direk masakit kasi tyan ko kaya kung anu-ano pong
nasasabi ko. I don't mean any insult and I don't mean to offend you. Pasensya na
po." He added and the director narrowed his eyes at them.

"Halika na, Kath umuwi na tayong bahay." Direk Teo ordered much to Kathryn's
surprise.

"Hindi na po ako babalik muna ng New York?" She inquired.

"Baka sundan ka pa ng damuhong yan dun at lalo kitang hindi mabantayan!" He snapped
as he glared at Daniel.

"Oo nga po, balak ko po talagang sundan sya--"

"Tumahimik ka na!" Kathryn angrily mumbled. Her father took her trolley back from
DJ's hand before he pulled her with him. He took his phone out and called his
driver. "Ikutan mo na kami sa may entrance." He instructed.

"Pssst! Kath!"

"Heh!"

"Tawagan mo ako." He mouthed and she nodded her head.

"Alis na." She mouthed back and he smiled before he gave her a flying kiss.

"Loko!" She whispered giggling and stopped when her father cleared his throat. She
bowed her head and bit her lower lip because she couldn't stop herself from
grinning.

"Bawal kang magpaligaw dun." Her father said and for some weird reason she
remembered Daniel asking for her hand and she started sniggering. "Kathryn!"

"Po?"

"Narinig mo ba ang sinabi ko?"

"Opo, Dad." She said as she tried to maintain a straight face. Pagdating nila ng
bahay ay agad-agad na syang umakyat sa kwarto nya para magpalit ng damit.

Nasa bahay na ako. She sent him a message and her phone rang after a few seconds.

"Hello, Kath." Daniel said over the phone and Karla rolled her eyes looking at her
son's very wide grin.

"Sarap batukan nitong batang to." She murmured to herself. "Ilang kandila pa ba ang
sisindihan ko magbago lang tong anak kong to?" She added.

"Ano po yun, Ma?" DJ asked and she shook her head.

"Wala, sige maglandi ka lang dyan na kunyari ay wala nang bukas." She said and he
laughed.
"Hello, Kath. Si Mama kasi akala ko may sinasabi, wala naman pala. O ano, kelan
tayo ulit lalabas? Pwede ako basta't pwede ka. Since sabi ng Daddy mo hindi kita
pwedeng ligawan ay didiretso na ako sa pagtawag sayong girlfriend." Karla heard her
son say and her eyes widened in surprise. "Aray, Ma!" Nagulat na sabi ni DJ nung
bigla nya itong batukan. "Wala, si Mama ang kulit. O ano, tayo na ba?"

"Agad-agad?" Karla whispered to herself.

"Bakit hindi pwede? Pwede namang we can get to know each other habang tayo na, mas
sweet nga yun eh."

"Rey." Karla called her driver.

"Bakit po, Mam?"

"Daan nga muna tayong simbahan, kailangan ko yatang magdasal." She said and the
driver nodded his head.

"Kath, gusto mo ako tapos gusto kita bakit pa natin patatagalin? Mamaya nyan
kinabukasan pala magugunaw na ang mundo at hindi man lang naging tayo."

"Por dios, por santo tong batang to." Karla murmured to herself again.

"Paano nga kita liligawan kung ayaw nga ng Daddy mo?" He asked with a sigh.
Meanwhile, Kathryn couldn't stop herself from laughing at Daniel's silly ideas.

"Hindi nga ako pwedeng ligawan eh tapos sa tingin mo pwede akong magkaroon ng
boyfriend? Okay ka lang?" She asked over the phone.

"Eh paano tayo?" She heard him reply.

"Paanong paano tayo? Eh di ganun pa rin. Si Daniel Padilla ka at si Kathryn

Bernardo ako." She flippantly retorted.

"Kath naman, wag mo naman ako masyadong pahirapan." He complained and she laughed
aloud.

"Padilla, ang kapal mo ha. Tatlong araw pa lang tayong nagkakilala tapos sasabihin
mo sa akin na nahihirapan ka? Nahiya naman pagiging babae ko sayo."

"Ano palang gusto mong mangyari sa atin? Sa tingin mo makakatulog pa ako knowing
that our feelings are mutual? Paano naman ako, Kath? Eh di napuyat ako sa kakaisip
sayo?" He said.

"Akala ko ba artista ka eh di sanay ka sa puyatan." She answered and he groaned.

"Ganyan ka pala, wala ka palang puso. Pero sino ba naman ako para magreklamo sa mga
pananakit na ginagawa sa akin ng isang dyosang tulad mo?" He stated and she burst
out laughing.

"Oo na, dyosa na ako." She uttered after she caught her breath. "Ang galing mong
mambola."

"Aanhin ko naman ang galing ko sa pambobola kung di mo naman ako pinapa-three

points?"

"Loko! Ano ba tong usapang to tama na nga! Hindi ka ba busy ngayon? Wala ka bang
shooting?"
"Meron sana kaso di ba tinanggal na ako ng Daddy mo sa production nya?" He said,
his tone light but she felt the underlying sadness in his words. "Pero hindi bale,
isa lang ang ibig sabihin nun, ang pagkakaroon ko ng oras na mas makilala ka pa."
He said and she remained quiet. "Kath...? Kath, alam kong pang-bedroom yung boses
ko pero wag mo naman akong tulugan." He complained and she laughed.

"Gising ako!" She said as she plopped down on her bed. "Paano na yan, tinotoo pala
ni Daddy yung sinabi nya dati?"

"Hindi na yun mahalaga, isang movie lang yun." He replied trying to keep the gloom
off his voice. Alam nyang hindi lang isang movie ang mawawala sa kanya pero ayaw
muna nyang isipin yung susunod na pwedeng mangyari.

"Deej, I'll call you later kasi may gagawin lang ako." Kathryn said.

"O sige, tawagan mo ako kaagad kapag free ka na ha?"

"Oo. Salamat at pinuntahan mo ako sa airport kanina."

"Wala yun, pero maraming salamat din at nagpapigil ka. Pinasaya mo ang puso ko."

Direk Teo made notes on the script in front of him. Bago pa man nya sino-shoot ang
isang eksena ay buo na sa utak nya kung ano ang magiging kalalabasan nito.
Pinalipat nya sa ibang oras ang shooting nila dahil sa pag-alis sana ni Kath and it
would be unfair sa mga crew at artista kung bigla syang magsasabi na ibalik sa
dating oras ang shooting sa araw na yun. He heard a knock and he turned to look at
the door.

"Bukas yan. Pasok." He said and the door opened to reveal his daughter.

"Hi, Dad." Kathryn greeted smiling uncertainly at him. Ramdam nyang may kailangan
ang anak so he motioned for her to sit down as he leaned against his seat. "Busy po
ba kayo? Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"No. It's okay. Ano yun, anak?"

"Dad, about DJ--"

"No. I've already talked to my friends who are directors and producers at
nakumbinsi ko silang wag nang kunin si DJ sa mga projects nila. I heard na pati
yung sponsors ng concerts nya nag-back out na. We're watching the end of Daniel
Padilla's career, Kath and I don't want you to get involved."

"What?" She asked in disbelief.

"Kath, ayaw kong nagiging malapit ka kay DJ. He's a Padilla at kilalang playboy ang
lahi nila. Wala yatang Tito yan si DJ na hindi nakabuntis well, except for Rus--"

"Isn't it unfair how he's being judged because of what his family did and the kind
of family he has? Pwede bang piliin ng isang tao kung saang pamilya sya
ipapanganak?"

"Kath--"

"So ang kasalanan ng buong angkan mo ay kasalanan mo rin? Ganun ba yun, Dad?"

"Pero yun ang totoo! Look, Kath
head-over-heels for his father.
pinagpatuloy nya pa rin and she
isang taon lang ang tinanda nya
allow it!"
dati kong artista ang Mommy ni DJ and she fell
I advised her against the relationship pero
had him when she was just nineteen! Nineteen, Kath
sayo noon! Do you want to be like her? I won't

"Anong kinalaman ng Mommy nya sa usapan natin, Dad? Anong kinalaman ng desisyon ng
Mommy nya na ituloy ang pagbubuntis nya even when she was just nineteen sa usapan
natin ngayon? At anong kinalaman ko o kinalaman nyo kung anong mga pinagdaanan
nila? If we are to follow your reasoning eh di dapat iwasan na rin pala ako ng
ibang tao because I came from a broken family and since nasa ugat ko ang dugo ninyo
kaya pwede rin akong mang-iwan!"

"Don't you dare, Kathryn!"

"No, Dad! Don't you dare! Naririnig nyo po ba ang mga pinagsasabi ninyo? I didn't
realize that you're so judgmental. Akala ko po kaya ayaw nyo sa kanya dahil sa mga
incidents involving me but I thought wrong, didn't I? You don't like him because of
his last name!"

"I know him more than you do! Ilang oras mo pa lang ba syang nakasama o nakausap?
Wala pang 24 hours and you're acting like you know him? Are you out of your mind?!"

"I am not saying that I know him! Obviously, the number of hours spent with a
person is not enough assurance to know him! Look at us; I used to think that I know
you too!" She answered and he looked surprise. "Pati yung hanap-buhay nya
pakikialaman ninyo? Pati yung projects nya? Ano yun, tatanggalan nyo sya ng
trabaho? Papatayin nyo sa gutom ang pamilya nya just because you don't want your
daughter to get to know him because of his last name?!"

"Kathryn!"

"You have no right to use your influence to ruin a person's life! You have no right
to play God! At kung ganuong klaseng tao lang naman pala ang makakasama ko sa bahay
na ito sana sumama na lang ako sa kanya!" She shouted before she stood up and left
banging the door close. Her father stared at the seat she vacated and expelled a
heavy breath.

Daniel glanced at his watch. He's bored kasi hindi sya sanay na hindi nagsu-
shooting at walang ginagawa. May kumatok sa pinto nya at alam nya agad na Mama nya
yun.

"Okay ka lang, nak?"

"Oo naman, Ma. Mas gusto ko nga po to pahiga-higa lang." He replied trying to hide
the pain he felt. "Meryenda po ba yan?"

"Oo, dinalhan kita ng makakain. Gusto mo bang mamasyal? Mukhang bagot na bagot ka
na dito sa loob ng bahay."

"Hindi po. Okay lang po ako. At tsaka kailangan ko pong magpahinga. Kayo, Ma baka
gusto nyo pong lumabas? Di nyo naman kailangang samahan ako dito sa bahay, kaya ko
naman po ang sarili ko."

"Gusto mo bang tawagan ko si Kuya RJ mo para samahan ka nya dito?"

"Wag na po. Nagpi-prepare si Kuya para sa sixth anniversary nila ng girlfriend nya.
Okay lang talaga ako, Ma kaya wag po kayong mag-alala." He said smiling as his
phone rang. "Teka lang po."

"Sige, maiwan muna kita at mukhang kailangan mong mag-isa." Karla muttered before
she stood up and left.

"Hello, Kath." DJ said over the phone.

"Padilla." She said and he was surprised at the tone of her voice. "You need to
work your ass off because you will be going against my father."

"Ha? Are you okay, Kath? May problema ba? Nasaan ka at pupuntahan kita?" He asked
as he stood up.

"I'm sorry, DJ."

"Sorry tungkol saan?" He asked in confusion. "Umiiyak ka ba? Nasaan ka? Wag kang
umalis dyan, susunduin kita." He said and she cried harder. "I'm sorry kasi
kinausap na ni Daddy yung mga kaibigan nyang wag ka nang kunin pa sa projects. I'm
sorry kasi pati sponsors mo nag-back out. I'm really sorry." She wept and he
sighed.

"Okay lang yun, bakit kailangan mong mag-apologize? Tama na iyak. Ito naman ang
liit na bagay iiyakan pa." He said but she couldn't stop. She had read everything
about him and she knew he's the bread-winner. "Tahan na, Kath. Susunduin kita at
para maaliw ka ay dadalhin kita sa ABS kasi may meeting ako with the big boss.
Bawal kang magka-crush ha, seloso ako." He jested and she laughed in spite of her
tears. Less than an hour later ay nasa kanto na sya malapit sa bahay nila. She left
without her father and the house helps noticing. She checked her watch again.

"Napaaga yata yung labas ko. Pero kung maya-maya rin ako lumabas eh gising na sina
Daddy at yung mga katulong kaya di na ako makakaalis." She murmured as a black
Dodge Challenger stopped in front of her. She arched her brow until the window
rolled down.

"Hi." He greeted.

"Nice ride." She said and he laughed.

"Get in." He added and she opened the door and slid into the passenger's seat.
"Seat belt please." He uttered and she snapped her seat belt in place. Kung anong
dinaldal nila sa telepono ay yun namang tinahimik nila nung nasa loob na sila ng
sasakyan. They reached ABS-CBN in no time since patay na oras at hindi ma-traffic.
"She's with me." He told the guard who asked Kathryn to write down her name before
he nodded his head at them.
"Anong gagawin mo dito?"

"Pinapatawag ako."

"Okay lang ba na kasama mo ako?"

"Oo naman." He replied although he wasn't sure. Pinagtitinginan sila ng mga tao as
they held hands and took the elevator. "Dito na tayo." Daniel said nodding at the
guard near the elevator door. "Good afternoon po." He greeted at nagtaka sya nung
hindi sila sinita. Usually, mga artista lang at staff ng ABS-CBN ang allowed sa
loob ng opisina. But the thought vanished from his head nung nakita nya ang pintuan
ng opisina ni Mr. M. "Kath, okay lang ba sayo na maghintay sa labas?"

"Oo naman."

"Teka, magpapakuha ako ng upuan para sayo."

"Hindi na, ano ka ba wag ka nang mag-abala." She said and was surprised when the
door suddenly opened.

"Mr. M. Good afternoon po." Daniel greeted as he pulled Kath closer to his side.
"Si Kath po--"

"I know who she is. Isn't she Teo's daughter who made headlines with you?" He
stated and Kathryn felt herself blush. "Pasok." The man said and Kathryn nodded her
head at Daniel who squeezed her hand before he moved forward. "Pasok, Kathryn." Mr.
Manahan invited and she looked at him in bewilderment. "Pumasok ka." He repeated
and she followed, suddenly nervous. They stood in front of his table holding each
other's hand and only sat down when he motioned for them to take their seats.

"Daniel, ano na naman tong mga nakarating sa akin na balita?" He started to say and
Daniel swallowed hard. "Don't you know that Teo is out to ruin you?" He asked and
Daniel kept his head bowed. "Are you two together?"

"Hindi--"

"Hindi pa po official." Daniel answered for her and Mr. Manahan nodded his head.

"Gusto mo bang mag-artista, Kathryn?" Mr. Manahan asked the teenager who looked
perplexed at his question.

"Ako po?" She asked.

"Oo, Iha ikaw."

"Ay naku, hindi po. Hindi po ako marunong umarte."

"Nasa dugo mo ang pag-aartista kasi anak ka ni Teo Bernardo." He stated plainly and
Kathryn wasn't sure whether to smile or frown. "Your father is out to ruin Daniel's
career and you can help your special friend." He added. "I was trying to come up
with a plan to save Daniel's career and you, my dear is the answer. I don't think
kayang sirain ni Teo ang anak nya so I'll play fire with fire."

"Ano pong ibig ninyong sabihin?" She asked.

"You could be Daniel's love team." Mr. Manahan replied.

####################################
Chapter 9
####################################

"Love team?" Kathryn asked in surprise. "Para saan po yun? Because I know for a
fact that Daniel is doing well alone. Sabi nga po sa mga articles na nabasa ko,
he's the only teen star who broke the mold kasi sumikat po sya ng walang ka-love
team."

"Yun na nga, he's doing well alone until your father came. Do you know how many
major sponsors pulled-out of DJ's concert, Kath? Tatlo. And in showbiz world, that
spells disaster. But your father has this feverish, if not crazed, idea that he
needs to avenge your honor, Kathryn kaya nya ginagawa tong mga pinaggagawa nya. I
know Teo, matagal na kaming magkakilala at kadalasan nagpapadala sya sa mga emosyon
nya tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay. I don't really mind your father's quirkiness but if
it's affecting the career of my artist, it's another matter."

"I can talk to Dad po and I apologize on his behalf. I know he has a tendency to
become overzealous but he is my father and you cannot make me go against him.
Maliban pa po dyan, wala po akong alam sa pag-arte. The only acting experience I
have is when I played a talking tree when I was in fourth grade."

"Overzealousness is the reason why he's such a great director and I know that he's
your father, Iha. I know how much you love him but it isn't fair how he plans to
ruin DJ's career singlehandedly. At kung pag-arte lang din naman ang problema mo,
naniniwala akong mabilis ka namang matututo kasi nasa dugo mo ang show business.
Star Magic provides the best training for our artists at continuous ang acting
workshops namin kaya you have nothing to worry about." Mr. Manahan said and Kath
glanced briefly at Daniel.

"I don't think I can do it, Sir. Pasensya na po." She mumbled apologetically and he
sighed.

"Don't say you can't. Please. Daniel needs your help. Anyway, you don't have to
decide today. Hindi lang naman yun ang rason kung bakit kita gustong kuning ka-
tambal ni DJ. Meron kayong chemistry and that's hard to come by these days. Iba
yung Chemistry na pilit at iba naman yung Chemistry na nandyan na. At kayong dalawa
ni Daniel may sparks na tinatawag. I can sense that you're both comfortable with
each other at kung ang pagbabasehan ay ang body language naman, kanina pa kayo
magkahawak ng kamay." Mr. Manahan observed and the teenagers let each other's hand
go. He gave them a knowing smile and they both blushed.

"Pero Mr. M, I would rather na di na po masama si Kath sa gulo. Nagbabakasyon lang

po kasi sya at hindi naman po fair sa kanya na hingin nating isalba nya yung career
ko. She has a life waiting for her in New York although I am hoping that she'd
choose to stay here but not for the reason that you have in mind."

"DJ, I know you're a gentleman but we're looking at the career that we built for a
long time going down the drain just because you are seeing this young lady. Bakit,
wala ka bang karapatang magkagusto kay Kath?" He said before he looked at Teo
Bernardo's only daughter. "Think about it, Kath. You don't have to decide today.
Here's my card and you can call me anytime. I hope it's soon kasi habang nagtatagal
tayo ay lumalala ang damage na ginagawa ng father mo sa career ni DJ."

"Thank you po. Pag-iisipan ko po." Kathryn quietly said as she took the calling
card that Mr. Manahan handed her.

"Please do that, Iha. At ikaw naman Daniel, just continue seeing Kathryn. Pag
naisipan na ni Ms. Bernardo na mas makakabuti para sa ating lahat yung suggestion
ko at least we've laid down the foundation para sa tambalan ninyong dalawa. Pero
just in case she turns my offer down, wag naman sana, at least na-enjoy mo maging
teenager for once." He spoke.

"About po dun sa memo--"

"Forget about it and just help me convince Ms. Bernardo to accept my offer." He
answered with a half smile. He stood up and opened the door for them and they knew
their time with him has ended.

"Salamat po." DJ said and Kath bowed her head slightly before they stepped out of
his office. Hindi sila nag-imikan pagkalabas ng opisina and it was Daniel who broke
the silence.

"Hindi mo kailangang gawin yun. Okay lang ako. Si Mr. M kasi masyado lang grim mag-
isip pero sa tingin ko naman lilipas din yung galit ng Daddy mo. Hindi mo naman
kailangang magsakripisyo para lang dun."

"Kelan ba ang concert mo?" The young woman asked. "At tsaka anong plano mo tungkol
sa mga nag-back out na sponsors?"

"May iba pa namang sponsors siguro na makukuha. My marketing team is working on it.
I am praying that everything will fall into place before the concert. In two weeks
pala yun kaya starting next week, I will be busy with rehearsals so baka di muna
kita mapuntahan pansamatala pero kung gusto mong manuod at samahan ako habang
nagri-rehearsal ay okay lang. In fact, tatanawin kong isang malaking utang na loob
kung nandun ka."

"I am worried for you--"

"Don't be. I have weathered issues far more challenging than this." He retorted
with a reassuring smile. Alam nyang may point si Mr. M pero ayaw nyang magkaroon ng
hindi pagkakaintindihan si Kath at ang Daddy nito. He knew how important family is
and if he were to make the choice for her, he would opt that she maintains her good
relations with her Dad. "Kath, hindi ko man maintindihan yung pinaglalaban ng Daddy
mo pero ayokong magkasiraan kayo. Mabuti ka nga meron kang tatay kahit paminsan-
minsan mo lang sya nakikita pero at least alam mong nandyan sya para sayo." He
uttered. She caught the sadness in his eyes, which vanished immediately that she
thought she must have imagined it.

"Anong gusto mong gawin?" She asked trying to keep his mind off his problems. "Game
ako kung saan mo gustong pumunta. May gusto ka bang kainin? Puntahan? Panuorin o
kaya ay pakinggan? I'm at your disposal for today. Limited offer lang yan kaya i-
grab mo na." She said smiling at him.

"Pwede ka bang iuwi?" He asked and she laughed.

"Ano yan, tanan? At ano naman ang gagawin ko sa bahay mo? Gagawin mo akong
tagaluto, tagalaba at tagaplantsa?"

"Gusto ko yan, gawain yan ng asawa." He answered laughing too.

"Anong gawain ng asawa, baka gawain ng katulong kamo!"

"Gawain ng asawa ang alagaan ng pamilya."

"Diyos ko, napaka archaic ng thoughts mo. Hindi lahat ng babae ngayon eh nakapirmi
na lang sa bahay para hintayin ang pag-uwi ng mga mister nila."
"Kahit na gusto kong nakapirmi ka lang sa bahay pero susuportahan ko kung ano man
ang gusto mo. Ganun ako kabuting asawa."

"Padilla, maghunos-dili ka." She said. "Pero hindi nga, kung may gusto kang gawin
sasamahan kita." She repeated and he narrowed his eyes at her. "Ano yang tingin na
yan? Bigla naman daw akong kinabahan."

"Green-minded ka pala, Kath."

"Loko!" She uttered and they both laughed. "O, ano na? Mag-i-expire na ang offer in
five minutes."

"Kumakain ka ba ng isaw?" He inquired and she looked blankly at him.

"Ha? Ano yun?"

"Bituka ng manok na inihaw." He retorted and she wrinkled her nose.

"Parang hindi yata masarap pakinggan." She murmured and he took her hand and led
her towards the elevators. They waved at the guard when they stepped inside the
lift and pressed G on the panel. As soon as the elevator door closed, the guard
dialed a number from his local phone.

"Sir, pababa na po sila." The guard said.

"Good. Have them followed." Someone replied.

"Mukha kang rockstar na napag-iwanan ng panahon." Kathryn remarked seeing Daniel's

get-up. The young man was wearing a blue wig over his hair and dark, oversized
shades and a cap.

"Ito lang meron ako sa sasakyan eh." He answered grinning.

"Eh di wag ka na lang mag-disguise. Ako na ang bibili nung bitukang sinasabi mo
kasi di naman nila ako kilala tapos wag ka nang bumaba at dumito ka lang sa loob ng
sasakyan."

"Okay lang ba na ikaw ang bumili?"

"Oo naman. Bakit naman hindi? Tsaka hindi ako sikat tulad mo kaya wag kang mag-
alala walang dudumog sa akin na madla." She declared with a grin. "O san ba tayo,
tara na ba?"

"Sige." Daniel agreed as he started the engine.

"Hindi naman tayo magkaka-hepa dahil dun di ba?" Kathryn asked the young man who
laughed at what she said.

"Hindi. Ang daming estudyanteng kumakain dun. Tsaka na-feature na yun sa TV."

"Okay. Naniniwala ako sayo. Besides, may bakuna naman ako."

"Yun naman pala. Ako rin meron." He answered and she burst out laughing.
"Akala ko ba safe kumain nun? Tapos biglang ang usapan natin puro bakuna?"

"Ikaw nauna kaya. Pero masarap yun. Pipila ka para sabihin yung order mo. Fifty
pesos na isaw, sampung laman at bumili ka ng tatlong chicharon at apat na can ng
soda. Humingi ka na rin ng dalawang baso tapos lagyan mo ng suka, paghaluin mo yung
matamis at maanghang. Yung suka nandun sa parang water jug na nasa gilid."

"At paano mo naman daw to nalaman?"

"Dalawang beses na akong nakapag-order dun. Buti nga di ako nakilala. O natatandaan
mo ba yung mga sinabi ko?"

"Oo. Fifty pesos na isaw, sampung pirasong laman, tatlong chicharon, apat na soda.
Baso. Suka. Matamis at maanghang." She repeated and he smiled fondly at her.

"Kath, salamat ha."

"Salamat saan?"

"Kasi kahit alam kong ayaw mo namang kumain ng isaw pero handa kang samahan ako."

"Parang ang sweet pakinggan ano?" She joked and they both laughed. "Gusto ko lang
din maranasang kumain nun. Saan tayo after? Dito natin kakainin sa loob ng
sasakyan?"

"Hindi. Merong track oval dun, walang masyadong tao ng mga ganitong oras kaya dun
tayo." He answered. "Pwede bang magtanong ako sayo?"

"Tungkol saan naman?"

"Tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay." He replied vaguely.

"O sige." She said.

"Bakit ang ganda mo?"

"Yan tayo eh. Lakas ng arrive." She quipped and they doubled over in laughter.
"Lakas ng tama mo. Sigurado ka bang hindi ka lasing?"

"Hindi ako umiinom."

"Weh."

"Kapag mataas pa ang araw." He added and turned to look at her.

"Anong nakukuha mo sa pag-iinom? Alam mo bang nakakasira ng atay yun at pinapabilis

nun ang ang pagkamatay ng brain cells mo? Maliban dyan, pinapaigsi din nun buhay
mo, so uulitin ko ang tanong ko, bakit ka umiinom?"

"Awat na, kinikilig na ako sa concern mo." He answered grinning and she rolled her
eyes.

"Hilig mong magpa-cute kaasar. Siguro resulta na yan ng ilang taon mong pagiging
leading man."

"Hindi ah. Sweet lang talaga ako, Kath."

"Yun na nga eh, sweet ka sa lahat ng babae." She remarked.

"Selos agad? Aga naman nyan."

"Baliw! Hindi ako nagseselos. Okay ka lang? Besides, may naghihintay sa akin sa New
York." She uttered offhandedly and he slowed the car down, turned the hazard lights
on before he stepped on the brakes.

"May boyfriend ka?" He asked.

"Ano naman kung meron?" She asked back.

"Potek, magpapasagasa na ako." He mumbled as he unsnapped his seatbelt and opened

his door.

"Sige pasagasa ka lang."

"Hindi mo ako pipigilan?"

"Aba, matanda ka na. Alam mo na ang mga ginagawa mo." She said and he scowled.

"Ang sama mo. Magpapasagasa na talaga ako."

"Sige lang."

"Tatlong araw pa lang tayong magkakilala tapos ganyan ka na sa akin?" He said and
she laughed.

"Exactly, tatlong araw pa lang at magpapasagasa ka na dahil sa sinabi ko? Hina mo

naman."

"Pero may boyfriend ka nga?"

"Mukha ba akong two-timer?"

"Sagutin mo naman ng diretso yung tanong ko. Masyado kang matalinghaga, meron o
wala lang. May boyfriend ka ba?"

"Wala."

"Ayun, mag-a-apply ako." He said as he closed his door and put his seatbelt in
place.

"Mataas standards ko eh."

"Aba, sa gwapo kong to hindi pa ako papasa? Sobrang taas naman nya." He kidded and
she arched a brow.

"Padilla, ang yabang mo." She complained and he laughed.

"O, ito seryosong tanungan na. Nagka-boyfriend ka na ba?"

"Uy, fishing..."

"Aba, valid na question yun ah. Pwede mo rin akong tanungin."

"Hindi na, nasa internet naman lahat ng kailangan kong malaman tugkol sayo." She
said.

"Stalker ba kita?"
"Hoy ang kapal."

"Siguro puro pictures ko ang nakalagay sa dingding mo, ano?"

"Excuse me pero puro pictures ni Chace Crawford ang nasa dingding ng kwarto ko."

"Akala ko ba mataas ang standards mo, mas gwapo naman ako dun."

"Patayin mo na nga yung aircon, ang hangin na eh di na kailangan." She muttered and
he laughed.

"Biro lang, Kath. Pero sagutin mo naman ang tanong ko ang galing mong umiwas ah."

"Alin dun?"

"Nagka-boyfriend ka na ba?"

"Hindi pa."

"Ganun ba? Salamat."

"Salamat saan?" She asked in confusion.

"Salamat sa paghihintay sa akin." He said before he gave her a wink.

####################################
Chapter 10
####################################

She stared at his very wide grin as if stupefied. "Kath, wag mo ng pigilan ang
kilig mo, ilabas mo na yan. Ikaw din." He kidded as she continued to gawk at him.
"Gwapung-gwapo ka talaga sa akin. Alam ko namang gwapo ako, Kath pero yung mga
ganyang titig para naman gusto kong mag-blush nyan."

"May supot ka dyan?" She suddenly asked and he frowned.

"Ha? Aanhin mo?" He inquired.

"Nasusuka ako sa mga pinagsasabi mo. Nakakahiya namang sukahan tong sasakyan mo
kaya baka may supot ka dyan." She replied and he laughed aloud.

"Itong mukhang to, nakakasuka?" He asked and she rolled her eyes at him.

"Hindi lang mukha, buong katauhan. Tindi mo ha, dinaig mo pa si Yolanda. Lumipas na
sya at nakaalis na sya sa Philippine area of responsibility at naglaho na syang
tuluyan, please lang wag mo na syang binubuhay dyan sa kaanyuan mo." She said and
he laughed harder.

"Nakakatuwa ka talaga, kaya kita gustong maging girlfriend eh." Sabi ni Daniel.
Langya tong lalaking to, sobra sa self-confidence! Pero nakakakilig ka, ano ba to!

"Hoy Padilla, hindi na kinakaya ng lungs ko ang hangin na binubuga mo. Nalulunod na
ako kasi hindi ko kayang i-inhale lahat ng yabang mo."

"Ah, kaya pala!" He exclaimed and she frowned at him.

"Kaya pala ano?"

"Kaya pala nauubos amoy ko dahil sinisinghap mo."

"Manong, para sa tabi. Bababa na po ako, naglolokohan na po tayo eh." She uttered
and he laughed again. "Nagkaka-alta presyon na po kasi ako sa mga sinasabi nyo,
maawa naman kayo sa akin ang bata-bata ko pa."

"Ito naman pikon masyado."

"Kakaiba ka kasing humirit."

"Pero, aminin na natin Kath na bagay tayo." He jested winking at her and her frown
deepened.

"Daldal mo, bilisan mo na ngang magmaneho at nang makabili na ako ng isaw."

"Akala ko ba hindi ka pa nakakain nun at sabi mo parang di masarap tapos ikaw tong
excited."

"Matindi pangangailangan ko dun."

"Dahil?"

"Kailangan ko yung mga barbecue sticks at isasalaksak ko dyan sa bunganga mo." She
mumbled and he doubled over in laughter. "Tawa ka pa dyan, ang laki ng problema mo,
alam mo ba yun?"

"Iba kasi naiisip ko sa salaksak at bunganga." He confided. "Sorry pero iba talaga
pumasok sa isip ko."

"Bakit? Anong naisip mo?"

"Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin sayo."

"Ano nga?" She insisted and he turned sideways to look at her.

"Sigurado kang gusto mong malaman?" He asked and for some reason her heart drummed
crazily inside her chest. Ano ba naman tong lalaking to, nakakabwisit pero ang cute
cute pa rin. Nakakainis!

"Kung ano man yang naiisip mo, keep it to yourself at for sure hindi maganda yan."
She muttered and he laughed harder. "Tumigil ka na nga, parang tuwang-tuwa ka sa
buhay mo ah."

"Syempre."

"Fine, ikaw na ang masaya."

"Kasi kasama kita." He murmured and her pulse raced. Hay naku, si Padilla ang lakas
magpakilig sarap tadyakan palabas ng kotse. She thought as she bit her lip to stop
her smile from showing. Wag kang ngumits, Kath utang na loob! Kathryn Chandria, wag
kang ngumiti! She scolded herself silently. Yun nga lang hindi nya talaga napigil.
"Uy, Kinikilig." He teased and the smile vanished from her face.

"Ang kapal."

"Bakit ba kasi hindi ka umaamin, ako naman aminadong kinikilig sayo. Wala namang
ibang tao dito eh, tayo lang at hindi ko ipapamalita. I assure you, your secret is
safe with me." He grinned. The heck! She murmured to herself. May pa your secret is
safe with me pa itong nalalaman. Kung di ka lang talaga cute eh.

"Hindi ako kinikilig. Pwede ba?"

"Hindi kinikilig pero napapangiti ng walang rason? Hindi na nga kilig yan, Kath."

"Talaga! Hindi kilig to ano!"

"Kasi pag-ibig na yan. Yes!" He said and she couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"Tama ba ako? Umiibig ka na ba sa akin?"

"Baka umiigib at hindi umiibig."

"Sus, dini-deny pa eh. Aminin mo na, I won't kiss and tell."

"You have nothing to tell. Period."

"Tayo na, Kath?" He asked smiling and her blood pressure rose for unknown reasons.
Papatayin yata ako sa kilig nitong isang to. Pero ang swerte mo kung agad-agad tayo
na ha, hindi ka man manliligaw? Ililibre mo lang ako ng bituka ng manok tapos
girlfriend mo na ako agad? Kahit ba gwapo ka eh, maganda naman ako kaya manigas ka
dyan!

"Tayo magkalinawan nga kasi ang bilis mo, ano ka LTE? Hindi mo ako madadala sa
ganyan-ganyan, DJ."

"Anong ganyan-ganyan? Linawin mo, akala ko ba kailangan nating magkalinawan."

Daniel responded smiling.

"Hindi mo ako madadala dyan sa mga hirit at banat mo. Sinamahan lang kita dito
because you were upset earlier but that doesn't mean na binibigyan na kita ng
permisong manligaw. Hind mo pa nga napapatunayan ang sarili mo if you're worthy to
be considered as one of Kathryn Chandria Manuel Bernardo's avid suitors. Pumila
ka." Paismid nyang sabi at ngumiti ang binata.

"Permiso para ligawan ka? Kailangan pa ng permit yun? Baka pati barangay clearance
nyan kailangan ko pang kumuha."

"NBI clearance lang." She answered unable to hold back her laughter. Baliw ka
talaga!" She added as they both laughed.

"O sige, mahal na binibini. Ano ang mga kinakailangan kong ipasa para makuha lang
ang permisong ligawan ka. Gusto kong maging karapat-dapat na tawaging manliligaw mo
at kahit na anong pagsubok at susuungin ko para sayo."

"Unang-una--" She started to say but he cut her off.

"Yun naman pala, pasado agad. Salamat sa konsiderasyon." He said and she glowered.

"Wala pa akong sinasabi!"

"Ah wala pa ba." He said. "Kath naman, walang halong biro. May ganyan pang
requirements na kailangan i-fulfill maligawan ka lang? Alam mo ba kung gaano ka-
hectic ang schedule ko? Wala na nga akong panahong matulog o maligo minsan sa
sobrang dami kong ginagawa. Kaunting awa naman sa tulad kong sikat na artista na
naghihikahos sa oras at gumagawa ng paraan makasama ka lang."

"Anong naghihikahos? Wala ka nang time maligo? Ah, kaya pala ganyan ang amoy mo."
Banat nya at iginilid ulit ng binata ang sasakyan bago hininto. "O ano na naman?"
She asked as he unbuckled his seatbelt and moved his seat backwards. "Hoy Padilla,
anong gagawin mo?"

"Pinaghahandaan ko lang na ipaamoy sayo ang kili-kili ko."

"What?!" She asked. "Kadiri ka!" She exclaimed laughing.

"Sabi mo may amoy ako. Halika na, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to." He invited
again as he pulled her towards him.

"Ayoko nga!" Natatawang sigaw ni Kath habang nilalayo ang sarili sa binata.
"Padilla, sisipain na talaga kita."

"Mahirap yung nasasabihan kang may amoy. Ang putok kasi mahirap i-defend ang sarili
mo dyan lalo na't artista ka kaya nga pinapaamoy ko kili-kili ko sayo para ikaw na
mismo ang mag-investigate." He answered grinning at hindi na halos makahinga si
Kath sa kakatawa.

"Ang baboy mo!"

"Wag ka nang mahiya. Yung ibang babae nga nagkakandarapa maamoy lang ang pawis ko.
Ikaw talaga buong kili-kili ko papaamoy ko sayo."

"Shit, kadiri ka!" She said as she continued laughing. "Wag mo akong hilain!
Sasampalin na talaga kita!" She protested. "DJ!"

"O sige, ako na lang ang pupunta dyan." He said. "Usog ka."

"Dyan ka lang, para kang tanga!" She answered as she continued to laugh. He moved
sideways and slid into the space above the shift knob. Yung isang paa nya ay nasa
side na ni Kath samantalang yung kaliwa ay nasa driver's side. "DJ, ano ba! Kadiri
ka, ayokong amuyin yang kili-kili mo! I swear pag pinaamoy mo yan sa akin kakasuhan
talaga kita ng acts of lasciviousness!"

"Acts of love, ayaw mo?" He joked as she moved closer to the door and further away
from him. He moved until he was sitting beside her. "Buti na lang sexy ka kaya
kasyang-kasya tayo." He teased. "Ang cozy ano?"

"Mukha kang ewan! Ano ba ang sikip!" She mumbled blushing as she averted her gaze.
Bakit ba ako nahihiya dito eh sya nga tong balahura? She asked herself as she
glanced sideways at him only to find him staring at her. "Mukha kang manyakis
dyan!"

"Bawal kang tingnan? Sorry naman, kamahalan."

"Tsupi, aliping sa gigilid."

"Makasabi naman to ng aliping sa gigilid. Halikan kita dyan eh."

"You wouldn't dare."

"I would. Dare me."

"Asa ka naman, hindi ako tanga ano. Bumalik ka na nga dun, ang kulit mo eh." She
mumbled and arched her brow in defiance when he continued to stare at her but he
didn't move and they started the staring contest.

"Ang magbababa ng tingin, pipikit o kukurap ay magpapakiss." Daniel said.

"Uy teka lang." She said scowling at him. "Kiss ka dyan, swerte mo ha."

"Bakit, di mo ba kayang makipagtitigan sa akin? Takot ka bang madala ng pungay ng

aking mga mata?"

"Pungay ka pang nalalaman, malaki kaya mata mo!"

"Yan ang mahirap sayo eh, puro ka ganyan pero di mo naman tinatanggap ang hamon ko
para sana magkalabasan na ng totoo."

"Totoo ako at wala na akong mailalabas." She answered.

"Takot ka lang eh."

"Asa."

"Takot ka naman talaga."

"Fine! Magtitigan tayo hanggang sa mapatid mga ugat natin sa mata kasi romantic
yun. Kapag ikaw pumikit, kumurap o nagbaba ng tingin sasapakin kita ng tatlong
beses sa mukha." She challenged. Wag ka na. For sure magde-decline to kasi mukha
nya puhunan nya at takot syang magasgasan. Hindi mo ako maiisahan loko-loko. She
thought triumphantly.

"O sige. Call." He replied after a few seconds and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Anong o sige? Papasapak ka sa mukha?"

"Oo, bakit?"

"Hindi ka ba natatakot na ano--"

"Kath naman, matatalo mo ba naman ako?" He asked laughing and she frowned.

"Ang yabang mo. Nanamnamin ko talaga ang bawat sapak ko sa mukha mo. Pwede bang may
bonus na suntok at tadyak?"

"Oo." He confidently answered and she felt more annoyed. Lakas mambwisit nitong
isang to.

"O sige, sabihin mo pag go na. Ang sakit naman sa leeg nito kasi nakatingala ako
sayo."

"Sandal ka sa bintana." He suggested casually and she obeyed. "Okay na?" He asked
and she nodded her head. "Go." He murmured.

"Teka lang bakit ka lumalapit sa akin?" She asked panicking when he moved closer.
"Hoy!"

"Bakit, may usapan ba tayong bawal akong lumapit?"

"Ilayo mo ang mukha mo, ano ba!"

"Careful, Kath baka bumaba bigla yang tingin mo makaka-first kiss pa ako sayo." He
teased and her eyes widened considerably. Takot na takot naman to. Daniel thought
laughing inside. He never intended to kiss her without her permission and he was
just teasing her but he had to admit that he was enjoying her innocent discomfort.
"Lumayo ka, ano ba!" She uttered as he continued to move closer until his face was
mere centimeters away from hers. "Ang daya mo!"

"Ang bango naman ng hininga mo."

"Bwisit ka!"

"Thank you." He teased.

"Lumayo ka, DJ I'm not kidding!"

"Gusto ko kasi close tayo." He taunted grinning. "Pag pala nilabas ko dila ko, Kath
labi mo na." He said and her eyes grew wider.

"Wag na wag kang magkakamali!" She hissed and he moved closer as he braced his arms
on either side of her head. "Hindi ka ba nangangawit dyan?"

"Bakit mo tinatanong, concerned ka?"

"Feeling ka ha." She replied. "Pwede bang itigil na natin to? This is so childish.
Nasaan na ba tayo? Mamaya sitahin tayo kasi kanina pa tayo nakatigil dito."

"Naka-hazard ako. Nasa University Avenue na tayo at bakit natin ititigil to

samantalang malapit na akong manalo?"

"Ganito na lang, itigil na natin to tapos walang panalo, wala ring talo."

"Asan ang excitement dun?"

"Kailangan talaga ng excitement?" She asked. "At teka lang ha, bakit mo ba ako
pinapahirapan eh ako na nga tong nagmamagandang-loob na samahan ka?"

"Nahihirapan ka pa samantalang nakasandal ka, ako nga nangangawit na eh."

"Bumalik ka na nga kasi dun."

"Parang hindi ko na maramdaman ang mga paa ko." He remarked and she laughed.

"Buti nga sayo. Ang bilis ng karma."

"Seryoso ako, hindi ko na maramdaman ang mga paa ko."

"I assure you nandyan pa rin naman sila." She joked, her spirits suddenly up at his
discomfort. Karma, I love you na talaga. She couldn't stop grinning as he winced.

"Ihinto na natin to, Kath."

"Ngayon pa eh mananalo na ako?" She victoriously declared. "Eh di sana kung

nagmagandang-loob ka kanina eh di quits na tayo. Ayan kasi ang swapang, masasapak
ka tuloy ngayon." She continued to say.

"Ang sakit talaga ng paa ko eh."

"Nyahahaha! Nag-text sa akin si Karma kanina at ang sabi nya dadalawin ka daw nya
ngayon."

"Ayaw mo ba talagang ihinto to?"

"Ayaw." She answered.

"Okay, pakitingnan nga, Kath kung anong posisyon ng mga paa ko at bakit masakit."
He asked and she obeyed as she lowered her gaze to look at his feet. "Hindi ba
bawal magbaba ng tingin?" He asked. Dapat sasabihin nyang biro lang but she wet her
lips with her tongue and he was lost. He vaguely heard her squeak before he opened
his mouth over hers for a kiss.

####################################
Chapter 11
####################################

It wasn't a kiss she expected or imagined. Hindi sweet, hindi tentative at lalong
hindi innocent. His lips were soft but demanding as he gently bit her lower lip.
She remained unmoving and he lifted his mouth off hers.

"Kath..."

"Gusto ko nang umuwi." She murmured and he nodded his head.

"Okay." He acceded.

"Mamaya na kita sasampalin kapag bumalik na ulirat ko." She added and he smiled.

"Ah, sasampalin mo ba ako. Lubusin ko na pala." He whispered before she felt his
lips on hers again.

"Ano ba!" She exclaimed as she pushed at his chest but he cupped the back of her
head with his hand. "DJ! Ano ba!" She yelled and squeaked when he held her face in
place to kiss her again. She felt heat creep from her neck up to her face as he
kissed her protests away. Nakakakilig ang mahalikan, lalo na kung gusto mo naman
yung humalik sayo. But she didn't like the idea that he did it without her
permission. Para syang na-harass. "Tapos ka na?" She asked coldly when he stopped.
"Kulang pa ba? Baka gusto mo na rin akong hubaran para one time, big time na yung
pang-momolestya mo sa akin?" She added, her eyes brimming with tears. "Get off me."
She commanded evenly although she was trembling.

"Kath--"

"Do not dare apologize kasi kung ano man yang sasabihin mo excuse na lang yan at
hindi excusable yung ginawa mo." She mumbled before she opened the car's door and
stepped out.

"Kath!" He called. "Shit!" He whispered harshly as he followed her out. "Kath,

please--" He said but she ignored him as she continued walking. "Kath, sorry na."
He pleaded as he followed her. "Kath naman." He continued to beg. "Kung kailangan
kong lumuhod dito sa gitna ng daan para mawala yang galit mo sa akin gagawin ko."
He said but she continued walking. "Kath!" He called before he went down on his
knees. "Kath, please naman." He said but she didn't pay him any attention. Ang
hindi nila alam ay may nakasunod pala sa kanila and all the drama were captured on
video. "Kath, sorry hinalikan kita hindi ko lang napigil... Kath!"

"Talagang lumuhod si DJ?" Estella, a production assistant from ABS, asked. Nasa
loob sila ng isang red na van at kanina pa nila sinusundan ang dalawang teenagers.
"Narinig mo ang sinabi nya? Sorry hinalikan kita...?"

"Todo na ito! Kinikilig ako!" Halos mapatiling sabi naman ni Loudette na isang PR
trainee. "Kung ako niluhuran ni Daniel Padilla, di lang puso ibibigay ko sa kanya,
pati panty at panty liner ko na." She added. "Kaya nagalit ang babae dahil kiniss
sya ng isang Daniel Padilla? Choosy si Ate!"

"Korak!" Estella agreed.

"Teka, kukunan ko sila ng picture gamit yung cellphone ko." Loudette said but
Estella shook her head.

"Day, mahal yang picture na yan baka pati panties at panty liners mo eh kailangan
mo nang i-auction. Nasa kontrata natin na bawal yan."

"Wala namang makakaalam." Loudette whispered and Estella looked meaningfully at

their driver. "Sayang naman." Loudette added and Estella shook her head.

"Pwede masira buhay mo dyan, sige ka."

"Oo nga, hindi na."

"Nasaan na sila? Nakaalis na yung babae?" Estella asked. Si DJ ay nakaluhod pa rin

pero wala na si Kath.

"Nandyan lang, ayun sya o." Sabi ng driver nilang si Manong Timi sabay turo sa
kinatatayuan ng dalaga ni Direk Teo.

"Ay ayan, ang taray parang shooting." Loudette said. "Ayan na naglakad na pabalik."
She added as she watched Kath walk back towards Daniel. Hindi alam ni DJ kung gaano
sya katagal nakaluhod and he was more worried na aalis si Kath ng di sila
nagkakaayos.

"Tumayo ka na dyan." Sabi ni Kath na hindi man lang huminto nung nadaanan sya nito
pabalik sa kotse. With a sigh, he stood up and followed her to the car. Alam nyang
maraming nakakita sa kanila dahil maraming jeep papuntang UP ang dumaan pero
nagpapasalamat sya at wala man lang huminto para mag-usisa. That would entail a lot
explaining. And another memo. Nasa loob na ng kotse si Kath and he expelled a heavy
breath before he slid into the driver's seat.

"Tutuloy pa ba tayo?" He asked haltingly and she arched a brow.

"Wag na at baka imbes na kainin ko yung isaw eh itusok ko sa mata mo." She replied
and he bowed his head.

"Sorry." He said.

"Lahat sayo laro, ano?" She asked as he turned the engine on. "Lahat sayo biro.
Lahat tingin mo makukuha mo kasi isa kang Daniel Padilla!"

"Kath--"
"DJ, sumama ako sayo because I am trying to cheer you up. I am trying to apologize
for my Dad's actions and I truly want to be your friend. Pero kung iba ang basa mo
o iba ang dating sayo ng pagsama ko sayo wag na tayong magkita."

"Nag-sorry na ako, di ba--"

"Hindi lahat nadadaan sa sorry at hindi lahat ng tao tumatanggap ng sorry."

"Ano ang gusto mong gawin ko?"

"Ihatid mo na ako sa bahay and don't try contact me again."

"Kath naman--"

"I do not like being disrespected. I do not like being treated like a property and
I do not like that you think so poorly of me that you actually have the guts to
cross the line and mistreat me."

"Sorry, okay?" He said. "Shit." He murmured. "Sorry. Hindi ko naman sadyang halikan
kita nung una. Wala naman yun sa plano at di ko rin sadyang bastusin ka. Sorry kung
ganun ang dating sayo at sorry kasi ang gago ko lang at ginawa ko yun lahat kahit
alam ko namang dapat hindi." He uttered and she felt her heart beat wildly. Ano ba
to, ako na nga daw yung hinarass, eh ako pa daw tong kinikilig.

"Shut up and drive." She answered unfeelingly as she tried to keep her emotions at
bay.

"Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko, Kath?"

"Paulit-ulit yung tanong at nakakabwisit na. Hindi pa ba malinaw sayo na gusto ko

nang umuwi?" She asked tartly and shrieked when he suddenly changed lanes. "Saan
tayo pupunta?!" She demanded but he ignored her. "Padilla!"

"Hindi ka uuwi sa inyo hangga't hindi tayo nag-uusap ng maayos."

"Bwisit ka! Kidnapping na to!"

"Bahala ka kung anong iisipin mo basta hindi tayo uuwi hangga't hindi mo ako
kinakausap ng maayos at hindi tayo magkalinawan!"

"At ikaw pa daw ang may ganang magtaas ng boses?! Ikaw pa daw ang galit?!"

"Hindi ako galit!" He shouted as he swerved again. "Mas-seat belt ka!" He added and
she heeded.

"Umayos ka dyan mamaya mabangga tayo patay ka talaga sa akin!" She screamed and he
slowed down.

"Sorry." He mumbled as he reduced speed.

"Apology accepted. Iuwi mo na ako." She said dahil gusto na lang nyang matapos na
at makauwi na sila. But Daniel had other things in mind as he attached his hands-
free kit to his ear.

"Ma." He said and Kath stared quizzically at him.

"O, DJ bakit? Nakausap mo na ba si Mr. M? Anong sinabi?" He heard his mother say
over the phone.
"Opo, nagkausap na po. Ma, gutom na gustom na ako. May pagkain po ba dyan?"

"Ha? Wala pero pwede akong magpaluto. Ano bang gusto mong kainin?"

"Kahit ano po. May bisita pala akong dadalhin dyan, Ma para ipakilala sa inyo."

"Sino?" Karla asked her son.

"Basta po. Sige, Ma. Bye." He said and ended the call. He glanced sideways at
Kathryn who pretended that she did hear what he told his mom. "Kath--"

"Iuwi mo na ako, DJ. Meron ka pa palang susunduin anong oras na. Besides, baka
hinahanap na ako ni Daddy."

"Anong susunduin?" He asked in confusion.

"Di ba may bisita kang dadalhin sa inyo?" She asked back.

"Ikaw yun." He stated and she frowned before her eyes widened.

"Bakit mo ako ipapakilala sa Mommy mo?" She asked.

"Isusumbong kita." He spoke.

"Hindi ko sinabing lumuhod ka ha, ikaw ang lumuhod ng kusa!"

"Ilang araw mo pa lang akong nakilala pero parati mo nang sinasaktan ang puso ko."
He uttered.

"Bwisit ka, ako pa daw ang nanakit sayo. Ilang araw mo pa lang akong kilala pero
ini-introhan mo na ako ng kamanyakan mo."

"Kath, wala namang halong maduming intensyon yun eh. It was an innocent kiss."

"Innocent mo, mukha mo!"

"Hindi ko na yun kasalanan kung napukaw ko ang damdamin mong uhaw."

"Ang sarap mong lunurin eh, badtrip ka." She murmured under her breath and he
smiled.

"Bati na tayo, Kath. Wag ka nang magalit. Peksman, di ko na uulitin kahit

magmakaawa ka pa sa harapan ko talagang hindi na kita hahalikan." He said and
laughed when she began beating him with her handbag. "Wag, baka mabangga tayo!" He
laughingly said.

"Nakakabwisit ka eh! Nakakabwisit ka!"

"O sige, pag nakiusap ka hahalikan kita agad-agad di mo na kailangan pang lumuhod.
Aray ko!"

"Ang kapal mo, DJ!" She exclaimed and he grew serious.

"Kaya nga kita ipapakilala kay Mama eh para alam mong seryoso ako."

"Seryoso saan? Sa pambibwisit sa akin?"

"Na seryoso ako sa hangaring mapasagot ka."

"Basted ka na, wag ka nang mag-try."

"Wag naman, Kath. Isipin mo na lang pag tinanong ka nila ng who is your first kiss,
anong isasagot mo? Alangan namang sabihin mong hindi mo boyfriend ang unang
nakahalik sayo? Hindi ba parang magiging masama naman ang dating mo sa ibang tao
nun?" He uttered grinning and she scowled at him.

"At sino namang nagsabi sayong ikaw ang first kiss ko?" She inquired.

"Nalalasahan kaya yun." He retorted and laughed again when she resumed beating him
with her handbag.

"Ang bastos mo! Nakukuha mo pa talagang magbiro? Wala ka man nararamdamang remorse
dahil sa ginawa mo sa akin?!"

"Remorse? Bakit naman? Hindi ko pinagsisihan yun. I am honored to be your first

kiss."

"I am not honored that you're my first kiss." She snapped and he grinned.

"So totoo nga, ako nga ang first kiss mo?"

"Hindi ah!" She denied vehemently.

"Paano ba yan, Kath eh di mapapanaginipan mo na ako gabi-gabi nyan? Di ba ganyan

daw pag first kiss?" He teased and she rolled her eyes at him. Alam nyang dapat
syang magalit at hindi nya alam kung bakit nawala agad ang asar nya. The legendary
Padilla charisma. She thought. Hay, Kathryn gamitin mo yang utak mo or else you'll
find yourself in deep shit. She murmured to herself as they entered the gate of a
subdivision.

"Okay lang bang pumunta sa inyo?" She questioned, suddenly unsure.

"Oo naman, masanay ka na. Malapit kasi ako sa Mama ko at gusto kong malapit ka rin
sa kanya."

"May ganun? Para saan?"

"Para mahiya ka namang saktan ang damdamin ko." He kidded and laughed when she hit
his arm with her handbag again. Huminto sila sa harap ng isang two-storey na bahay.
Bumusina si DJ at may tumakbo para buksan ang gate. "Welcome sa aming bahay, Kath."
He said as the car halted inside the garage.

"Di ba ikaw bumili nito para sa Mommy mo?" She asked remembering the article she
read.

"Sabi ko na nga ba stalker kita eh." He jested. "Uy, tama na ang palo masakit
kaya." He said. "Sobrang yayay ng braso ko, kiss mo to mamaya ha." He added and she
couldn't stop herself from laughing.

"Alam mo, para kang sira." She said as he got out to open the door for her. Nasa
pintuan at naghihintay sa kanila ang Mama ni DJ at biglang nakaramdam ng hiya si
Kath. Okay lang bang ipakilala ako nito sa Mommy nya? Parang kakaiba naman.

"Ma." DJ said before he hugged his mother. "Bakit habang tumatagal ay lalo yata
kayong gumaganda?" Nakangising tanong nya dito.

"Alam mo kung wala lang sa harapan natin si Kathryn binatukan na kita." Karla
replied before she smiled at the young girl. "Hello, Kath." She greeted.

"Hello po. Good afternoon po." Kath greeted shyly. "Pasensya na po bigla po akong
dumating ng walang paunang pasabi." She added and Karla waved her apology off.

"Naku, pwede kang pumunta dito kahit anong oras. Tara na pasok na sa loob." She
invited before leading them inside. "Nag-order na lang ako ng pizza, DJ." Karla
told her son whose grin widened.

"Salamat, Ma. Di lang talaga kayo maganda, mabait at ubod ng sexy, sweet at maalaga
din po kayo." He said and Karla laughed looking at Kath.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na yang batang yan, magaling yang mambola may pinagmanahan." She
joked. "Saan nyo gustong kumain?"

"Dito na lang po sa sala, Ma." DJ replied as they sat down on the brown and white
sofa. "Teka ipapa-microwave ko ang pizza at ipagtitimpla ko na rin kayo ng
maiinom."

"Sige po." Kathryn said. Inikot nya ang paningin sa paligid ng bahay and was
surprised to find DJ looking at her. "Bakit?" She asked.

"Nagustuhan mo ba?" He questioned and she nodded her head.

"Oo, sobrang cozy nga eh." She replied.

"Mabuti." He said.

"Dahil?" She asked.

"Kasi gusto ni Mama na pag nag-asawa ako ay dito tayo titira." He retorted and she
laughed.

"Praning, sinagot na ba kita?" She asked and Daniel laughed too. He picked up the
remote control of the television and turned it on.

Sa showbiz naman, kitang-kita
aktor na si Daniel Padilla sa
anak ng tanyag na direktor na
loob mismo ng kotse ng batang
on DJ.
kung paano lumuhod at parang nagmamakaawa ang batang
kasintahan nitong si Kathryn Bernardo na nag-iisang
si Teo Bernardo. Napag-alamang nag-date ang dalawa sa
aktor... The news anchor said as the camera zoomed in

Kath, sorry hinalikan kita hindi ko lang napigil... Kath!

Kathryn heard the words loud and clear at napatayo sya sa gulat at kaba. She looked
at DJ with fear in her eyes when her phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, Dad." She nervously said over the phone.

.
.

####################################
Chapter 12
####################################

"Kathryn! Where the hell are you?!" Teo Bernardo bellowed over the phone. "Ano na
naman tong katarantaduhang ginawa mo? You're on television! Again! Did Daniel
Padilla kiss you?! Did he take advantage of you?! Nasaan ka?!"

"Dad, ano po nandito po ako sa--"

"Ang tigas ng ulo mo! Hindi ba ang sabi ko ay layuan mo ang gagong Padilla na yan?!
Sinusuway mo na ba talaga ako ngayon?! Hindi ka ba nag-iisip talaga, Kath?! I
thought you're smart! Bakit puro katangahan na lang yata ang pinaggagawa mo mula
noong nakilala mo yang Padilla na yan?!"

"Daddy kasi po--" Kath started to say as she trembled with fear but her father cut
her off again.

"I'm sending you back to New York. I am calling your Mom and I will make sure that
Daniel Padilla's career will end as soon as you get on the plane!" Her father
screamed. "Tingnan natin kung saan pupulutin ang gagong yan! Tingnan natin kung may
magagawa siya! How dare he mess with me?!"

"I'm not going back." Kalmado nyang sagot. "I'm staying, Dad."

"What?! No, Kathryn! You can't stay because I won't allow you!"

"And I'm eighteen and considered an adult so your permission is really not needed."
She replied. She heard her father's sharp intake of breath and tears started to
gather in her eyes. "Dad, please. Stop what you're doing; you're turning into
someone I don't like."

"Kathryn, don't try my patience kasi nauubos na ang pasensya ko sayo. What happened
to you? You used to be a level-headed girl. Anong pinakain sayo ng Daniel na yan at
parang hindi ka na nag-iisip lately?!"

"Gagawin ko po lahat ng sinabi ninyo, Dad--" She said and stopped because DJ's
mother and one of their househelps arrived with the pizza and juice. Ngumiti sya sa
Mama ni Dj before she excused herself. Lumabas sya ng bahay at dire-diretsong
tinungo ang garahe. Nahihiya sya sa Mama ni DJ kasi maayos naman ang pakikitungo sa
kanya nito at lalo syang nahihiya sa mga pinaggagawa ng Daddy nya. "Dad, gagawin ko
po lahat ng gusto ninyo but please leave DJ out of this. Tayo na lang po ang mag-
usap--"

"Noong una, naisip kong wag ituloy ang balak ko pero dahil sa katigasan ng ulo mo
ay talagang sisirain ko na ang buhay ng lokong yan!"

"Dad--"

"It is your fault, Kathryn kung bakit mawawalan ng career yang si Padilla! It is
because you are my daughter and I do not like that you're getting rebellious!"

"Dad, huling pakiusap na to, please--"

"And the answer is still no! Come home and pack your things dahil bukas na bukas
din ay aalis ka na at babalik ka na sa Mommy mo!"

"What if I don't want to?"

"Hindi ka pwedeng humindi dahil nakatira ka sa pamamahay ko! Bumalik ka na dito o

maghanap ka na ng ibang matitirhan! Ang lakas ng loob mong suwayin ako!"

"Now, I understand why Mom left you." She murmured quietly before she ended the
call. Hindi man lang nya namalayang tumutulo na ang mga luha nya until someone
handed her a handkerchief. "Salamat po." She mumbled as Karla guided her back
inside the house. She couldn't seem to stop crying. "Tita, pasensya na po--" She
sobbed and Karla shook her head.

"Iiyak mo lang yan, minsan kailangan mo talagang ilabas yung sakit." She said as
she made Kath sit on the sofa. Kath looked around for DJ and Karla smiled at her.
"Pinapunta ko muna sa kwarto nya kasi alam kong kailangan mo ng babaeng kausap."

"Sorry po talaga, Tita."

"Okay lang, you don't have to apologize. Kung gusto mong magkwento sa akin, I'm
willing to listen."

"Nahihiya po ako eh." She murmured as she wiped her eyes with the handkerchief.
"Galit po kasi si Daddy kay DJ."

"Alam namin yun. Mama ako ni DJ, Kath and my loyalty will always be with my son
pero magulang ako at alam ko ang nararamdaman ng Daddy mo. Siguro ay nagulat lang
sya sa bilis ng mga pangyayari. Pilit kong inintindi kung anong nasa isip nya kahit
nasasaktan ako sa paninirang ginagawa nya sa anak ko. Ang mga magulang kadalasan ay
nakakagawa ng mali para sa anak nila."

"Pilit ko po syang inintindi, Tita."

"Sa totoo lang, gusto kong sugurin sa bahay nyo ang Daddy mo at murahin pero naisip
kong pareho kaming may kanya-kanyang pinaglalaban. I just wish that I'm as
influential in show business like your Dad para may silbi naman ako sa anak ko at
matulungan ko man lang sya sa mga pinagdadaanan nya ngayon." DJ's mother smiled
sadly at her. "Ang hirap kasi wala man lang akong magawa para sa anak ko." She
added as she averted her face as her tears started falling. "Hay, naku pasensya na,
Kath." She uttered. "Alam mo naman tayong mga babae, masyado emosyonal."

"Tita, sorry po." Kath mumbled as her tears started falling again.

"Hindi ako galit sayo pero bwisit ako sa Daddy mo. Wala syang karapatang saktan ang
anak ko." Karla replied and Kath grasped her hand.

"Gagawan ko po ng paraan, Tita."

"Naku, Kath wag na baka lalong gumulo. Pinagdadasal ko na lang na sana yung
pagmamahal ng fans ni DJ sa kanya ay matatag at hindi magbabago kahit na ganito na
ang mga nangyayari. O sya, kumain ka na muna, alam kong gutom ka rin. Pababain ko
lang si Daniel." Sabi ng Mama ni DJ bago tumayo. Kathryn was thinking of ways to
pacify her father when her phone rang again. She swiped her phone's screen to
answer the call from her cousin, Louise.

"Ate." She said over the phone.

"Kath! Nasaan ka? Alam mo bang galit na galit si Tito? Nandito ako sa bahay ninyo
at pinapaligpit nya sa katulong ang mga gamit mo!"
"Kakausapin ko po si Dad kapag hindi na po mainit ang ulo nya."

"Kath, please umuwi ka na kasi pinapatapon ng Daddy mo ang mga gamit mo sa labas!"

"Ha?"

"Yun ang narinig kong sabi nya sa katulong--"

"Is that your cousin, Louise?!" She heard her father's voice and she flinched.
"Sabihin mo sa kanyang wag na syang umuwi dito kung patuloy na magiging matigas ang
ulo nya! Isa syang kahihiyan sa pamilya! I have talked to her Mom and I told her
that I don't want anything to do with Kath anymore!"

"Tito, teka lang po--"

"Tumahimik ka, Louise! Wag mong subukang ipagtanggol si Kath! I've had enough of
her antics!"

"Kath, bye muna." She heard her cousin whisper before the line died. She stared at
her trembling hands and she wrapped her arms around her middle as panic started to
set-in. Pinapalayas sya ng Daddy nya kasi alam nitong wala syang matitirhan. Alam
din ng Dad nya na hindi magtatagal ang perang dala nya kaya mapipilitan syang
bumalik sa New York. Her phone rang for the third time and she nearly cried when
she saw her Mother's name on the screen.

"Mommy." She said.

"What happened? Bakit galit na galit ang Daddy mo?"

"Wala po." She wept. "Mommy." She continued to cry.

"Tahan na at baka mapano ka pa.Tell me everything." Her Mom said and she haltingly
told her what happened. Bumaba na si DJ at ang Mama nya but they left again,
probably to give her space. Hindi nya alam kung gaano sila katagal nagkwentuhan but
she felt a little better after she told her mother her side of the story.

"Ayoko lang naman po na sisirain nya na lang yung trabaho ng ibang tao because he
didn't get what he wanted. Ayokong pabagsakin nya yung career ni DJ dahil hindi ko
po sya sinunod." She cried uncontrollably. "Wala naman po kaming ginawa eh."

"Kath, stop crying. Ganyan talaga yang Daddy mo, ang gusto nya ay parati syang
sinusunod at ang gusto nya ay kung anong sinabi nya ay yun ang mangyayari. Akala ko
nagbago na sya because he sounded more mellowed during our talks over the phone
pero ganun pa rin pala sya. Well, as they say, you can't teach old dogs new
tricks."

"Kung aalis ako, Mommy paano si Daniel? I couldn't help but think that this is all
my fault. I couldn't help but feel guilty that his career will be in shambles
because of me. And he has a family to look after, paano na lang po sila?"

"Kath, I understand how you feel but you don't know your Dad like I do. Hindi
magbabago ang isip nyan. If he says that he'll ruin Daniel's career then he will
because he can."

"But that's unfair--!"

"That's a reality, Darling. You cannot go against the wishes of Teo Bernardo. Alam
kong nakukunsensya ka pero wala ka rin namang magagawa kung nandyan ka. Lalo mo
lang gagalitin ang Daddy mo if you stay. At sabi mo nga pinapatapon na nya ang mga
gamit mo sa katulong so ibig sabihin nyan ay hindi ka na welcome sa poder nya, saan
ka pupunta? I'll pay for your ticket, please come home, Kath."

"I can't."

"I am worried about you, Kath. Please."

"Don't worry about me, I'm a big girl now and I use my head."

"I know pero, anak hindi mo kaya ang tatay mo."

"Ako na po ang bahala." She replied. Her mother tried to convince her some more but
she declined and they said goodbye. She dialed her cousin's number and was relieved
when she answered the phone. "Ate Louise."

"Kath, dinala ko ang mga gamit mo. Pinatapon nga ni Tito sa basurahan pero nakuha
ko naman lahat. Kung gusto mo sa akin ka na muna tumira--"

"Ate, ayoko kasi alam kong madadamay ka kung kukupkupin mo ako. Ayokong madagdagan
yung mga taong maapektuhan dahil dito sa away namin ni Daddy. I'll think of a way.
Nakuha nyo po ba yung trolley bag ko?"

"Oo, nandito."

"Nandyan po kasi yung passport at pera ko. Baka sa hotel na lang muna ako, Ate
Louise."

"Kath--"

"Ate, ayoko pong madamay although I really appreciate your support."

"Fine, decision mo yan." Louise answered with a sigh. "Saan tayo magkikita para sa
mga gamit mo?"

"Tatawagan ko po kayo ulit kung saan. Kaya nga ako tumawag para sana ipakisuyo
kahit yung trolley bag ko lang. Maraming salamat po, Ate."

"Okay. Hihintayin ko ang tawag mo. Sana before seven ng gabi, Kath kasi pupunta
kaming Antipolo for a shooting."

"Sige po, tatawag po ako agad. Bye po muna, Ate." She said before she ended the
call. "Nasaan po sina DJ?" She asked one of the househelps and was directed to the
kitchen.

"Kain ka muna, Kath." Bungad kaagad ni Karla sa dalaga. "Teka ima-microwave ko ulit
to para sayo." She said as Kathryn sat down.

"Salamat po, Tita." She answered smiling before she turned to DJ. "Deej, pwedeng
favor? Kailangan ko kasing makipagkita kay Ate Louise para sa mga gamit ko at tsaka
kailangan ko ring magpahatid sa hotel."

"Hotel? Bakit ka magho-hotel?" Tanong ni Karla sa dalaga.

"Ano po kasi, si Daddy po medyo mainit ang ulo sa akin." Kathryn replied smiling.
"Pero di bale po, mawawala din po yun. Ganun lang po talaga yun maglambing minsan."
She lied and she continued to smile at them.

"Dumito ka na muna. Bakit kailangan mo pang mag-hotel?"

"Oo nga, Kath dito ka na muna para na rin may kasama si Mama." DJ piped in. "Bakit
ka pa maghohotel? At tsaka mag-isa ka, delikado yun."

"Naku, wag na po nakakahiya naman. Baka rin po lalong magalit si Daddy."

"Naku, Kath wala akong pakialam sa nararamdaman ng Daddy mo kaya wag syang pampam."
Karla declared as she put two slices of pizza on a plate. "Kain ka muna." She said
as she put the plate in front of Kathryn. She watched how DJ and his mom interacted
at para lang silang magbarkada -- nagbibiruan, nagtatawanan at nagkukulitan.

"Ma, ayokong magsuot kayo ng mga plunging ang neckline na blouse. Alam ko naman
pong dalaga kayo eh pero seloso po ang anak ninyo." DJ said and Karla laughed.

"Loko kang bata ka, tumatanda na si Mama kailangan na ng lovelife." Karla replied.
"Di ba, Kath?"

"Bata pa naman po kayong tingnan, Tita." Kathryn replied and Karla laughed louder.

"Naku, kayong dalawa tigilan nyo ako ha." Karla replied as she stood up. "Ubusin
nyo na yan, tatawagan ko pa yung masahista ko at magpapa-home service ako. Na-
stress ako sa inyo." She said smiling at them before she left.

"Ano nang balak mo, Kath?" Daniel asked as soon as his mother was out of earshot.
Nag-aalala sya para kay Kath pero hindi nya maipakita yung pag-aalala nya kasi ayaw
nya ding mag-alala lalo ang Mama nya. Kathryn took a bite from her pizza before she
turned to him and smilingly asked.

"Okay lang ba sayo may ka-loveteam?"

.
####################################
Chapter 13
####################################

"Loveteam? Papayag kang maging ka-loveteam ko?" Daniel asked in disbelief. "Seryoso
ka? Paano ang Daddy mo? Hindi ba sya lalong magagalit sayo? Kahit mahal mo ako,
ayokong magkaroon kayo ng hindi pagkakaintindihan ng Daddy mo dahil sa kin."

"Unang-una, anong mahal pinagsasabi mo? Gusto mo bang murahin kita dyan?" She asked
and he beamed boyishly. "Pangalawa, mukha ba akong nagbibiro? Tinakwil na ako ni
Daddy at wala akong matirhan kaya kailangan ko ng pera."

"Libre kang tumira sa condo ko at pagsisilbihan pa kita habang nandun ka."

"Ano ka nanalo ng lotto?" She asked as she chewed on her pizza. Had it been any
other boy ay na-conscious siguro syang ngumuya pero hindi nya alam bakit
comfortable sya kay Daniel. "Sorry ha, baka madiri ka na nagsasalita ako habang
kumakain."

"Cute nga eh, ang takaw mo pala." He answered grinning and she frowned. "Okay lang
naman maging matakaw, ang cute nga ng mga babaeng matatakaw."

"Ay naku, palusot ka pa, Padilla."

"Anong palusot, ang ibig sabihin ay sinasabi mong para sa akin ay ikaw lang ang
babaeng matakaw na cute?" He jested. "Grabe naman yan, Kath sobra naman ang tiwala
mo sa pagkahumaling ko sayo, kahit pa humaling na humaling ako sayo ay grabe pa
rin."

"Alam mo nakakawala kang gana. Yung mga hirit mo ang sakit sa bituka kaya hindi na
ako kakain." She said as she put the pizza that she was holding down.

"Biro lang, kain ka." He uttered laughing. "Kath, biro lang. Kain ka na."

"Ayoko."

"Bakit ayaw mo? Dahil ba gusto mong magpa-cute sa akin at ayaw mong tinatawag
kitang matakaw?"

"Alam mo ikaw nakakabwisit ka rin minsan eh! Actually hindi lang pala minsan,
parati!" She muttered under her breath as he laughed aloud. "Feeling mo talaga ang
gwapo, gwapo, gwapo mo!"

"Okay na sa akin ang gwapo lang, Kath. Pero kung gusto mong gawing gwapong,
gwapong, gwapo ay okay lang din."

"Okay, fine nagbago na isip ko. Uwi na lang akong sa New York kesa mainis pa ako
sayo ng sobra at baka kung ano pang magawa ko!" She said as she got off her seat.
He immediately stood and barred her path.

"Napakamatampuhin mo naman. Ang sabi pa man din nila kapag daw ang babae
nagtatampo, ang ibig sabihin nun nagpapalambing." He announced and her frown
deepened. "Kath naman, kakasimula lang nitong pagmamahalan natin tapos ganyan ka
agad?" He added grinning broadly and her jaw dropped as she opened her mouth to
retort.

"Anong pagmamahalan?!" She snapped. "You're losing it, Padilla!"

"Pag-iibigan?"

"Pag-iibigan?! Are you crazy?!"

"Pagkakaunawaan?"

"What?! Pagkakaunawaan?! Ang tindi ng problema mo sa utak, DJ! Bahala ka na nga

dyan, alis na ako!"

"O sige, ayaw ko sanang sabihin to kasi naiilang ako pero since pinipilit mo ako--"

"Hindi kita pinipilit, ano!"

"Pagnanasa sa isa't isa?" He said and laughed when she spluttered indignantly in
front of him.

"Yuck! Kung anu-anong sinasabi mo!" She stammered as she repeatedly hit his arm.
"Mama, si Kath! Sinasaktan ako!" He yelled as he laughed and Kathryn stopped
hitting him. She glared at him before she turned on her heel to leave. Ang laki ng
problema nitong isang to, pareho sila ni Daddy na parang ewan! "Kath, saan ka
pupunta?" He asked as she continued walking.

"I'm going home!" She answered.

"You're home. Di ba nga sabi nila home is where the heart is, nandito heart mo o."
He said and for some reason, she felt like laughing. Alam nyang dapat maasar sya
pero natatawa sya sa sinabi ni DJ. She bit her lower lip to prevent her laughter
from spilling but he gently grabbed her hand and made her face him.

"Ano ba!" She murmured as she averted her face.

"Bakit ayaw mo akong tingnan? Nagka-aminan na nga tayo ng feelings tapos biglang
naging mahiyain ka?"

"Hoy, ang kapal mo ha. Kelan ako umamin sayo?"

"Ibig sabihin may aaminin ka nga? Yes!" He said as he pumped his fist. "Sabi ko na
eh. I love you too."

"Baliw!" She muttered. "Anong I love you too?"

"Ano bang gusto mo? I love you more?"

"Alis na nga ako, wag mo akong ihatid. Natatakot na ako. Baka contagious yang
kahibangang mo at mahawa pa ako."

"Kath." He whined as he followed her to the door. Karla looked up from the magazine
she was reading when the two teenagers walked in. "Kath naman." Daniel uttered as
he wrapped both his arms around the girl. Hindi maiwasan ni Karla na magtaas ng
kilay. Aba, anak ang aga naman nyang pana-nyansing mo.

"Bitiwan mo ako!" Kathryn murmured, filled with embarrassment. "Ano ka ba, hind ka
ba nahihiya sa Mama mo?" She whispered.

"Hindi ko kayang bitiwan ka at mawawasak puso ko, Kath."

"Tita, o!" Kathryn said but the young man held her tighter. "Tita, yung anak po
ninyo."

"Hoy, DJ bitiwan mo yang si Kath. Ano bang akala mo dyan teddy bear na yayapos-
yapusin mo na lang kung kelan mo gusto?"

"Ma, kailangan ko support nyo dito. Balak mag-walk-out ng babaeng tintibok ng puso
ko, Ma."

"Loko-loko!" Karla and Kathryn chorused and Daniel laughed.

"Paano ba yan, yung mga babaeng malapit sa puso ko ay pareho ng sinasabi." He said
as he let Kathryn go. Lumapit si Karla sa anak at hinampas ng magazine na dala nya.

"Irespeto mo yung babae! Pag sinabi nyang bitiwan mo sya, bibitiwan mo! Pinalaki ba
kitang bastos?" She asked.

"Ma, pinalaki nyo akong nakaka-appreciate ng ganda kaya kasalanan mo ito lahat eh."
Tumatawang sagot ng anak nya.
"Aba! Aba! Pilosopo ka nang bata ka!" Karla said as she used the magazine she was
holding to hit her son's arm repeatedly.

"Tita, tama na po." Kathryn suddenly spoke. Napatingin sa kanya ang mag-ina.
"Nagbibiro lang naman yata po sya." Nahihiya nyang sabi.

"Kath, o si Mama." Sabi ni DJ na agad-agad na nagtago sa likod ng dalaga. Karla

stared at the two teenagers - her son was grinning happily while Kathryn was
blushing profusely.

"Hay, Diyos ko. Wag muna kayong mag-asawa agad ha." She mumbled.

"Po?" Kathryn asked.

"Wala." Karla replied with a sigh. "Saan kayo pupunta? Lalabas ba kayo?"

"Oo, Ma kasi pumayag na si Kath na maging ka-loveteam ko." Daniel announced

smiling. "Hindi nya kasi ako matiis." He added and got a scowl from Kathryn. "Biro
lang kahit alam nating dalawa na totoo naman."

"Makakaganti rin ako sayo." She mumbled as he continued to grin. Napatingin sya sa
relos nya at napansin ang oras.

"Kath, halika na para makapirma ka na ng kontrata." He said as he pulled her with

him. "Bye, Ma! Dito kami maghahapunan ni misis... este ni Kath." He waved happily
at his mother and Karla frowned as she watched the teenagers walk out the door. She
felt different kinds of emotions regarding the teenagers' actions- natutuwa sya
kasi masaya ang anak nya pero nag-aalala sya para sa dalaga knowing how DJ changes
interests often. Paano kung bigla ka na lang magsawa sa kanya? Ginulo mo ang buhay
nya, anak. She thought with a sigh. "Hay, Kath mag-ingat ka. Kahit ako ang nanay
nyang anak kong yan, Padilla pa din yan at natatakot ako para sayo." She muttered.

Mr. M received a call as soon as Kathryn and DJ entered the building. He opened his
drawer and carefully pulled the folder containing the contract out.

"Tuloy." He said when someone knocked. "DJ and Kath, my newest favorite love team!"
He exclaimed as he smiled.

"Good afternoon po." They both greeted him and he motioned for them to sit down.

"Good afternoon. So, have you decided, Ms. Bernardo?" He asked.

"I want to see the contract first kasi gusto ko po munang basahin. I understand
that I need a lawyer too?"

"Hindi na, you're of legal age."

"Okay. So babalik na lang po ako kapag nandyan na po ang contract."

"You're in luck, I've already drawn the contract." Mr. M. declared as he handed
Kathryn the leather folder. "Nandyan na ang lahat ng gusto mong malaman. Kung meron
kang gustong itanong, wag kang mahiyang magtanong sa akin at hindi ako mag-
aatubiling ipaliwanag sayo ang mga hindi mo naintindihan."

"Bakit po merong nang ganito agad?"

"I was hoping you'd say yes and now you're here and you said yes. The power of
believing." He uttered with a smile as Kath scanned the contract quickly.

"Nakaka-overwhelm naman po ito." She murmured and Mr. M laughed.

"Basically, ang nakasaad dyan ay you're giving permission to Star Magic to manage
your career. The contract is valid for two years, after which ay magkakaroon ng
renewal, kung parehong sumasang-ayon ang dalawang parties. Nakasulat din dyan na
required kang mag-attend ng workshops and classes to hone your acting."

"Pwede ko po ba muna itong dalhin sa bahay para pag-aralan?"

"Pwede pero may pagkakaiba ba kung ngayon ka magsa-sign o sa ibang araw when this
all boils down to your desire to help a very special friend whose career is in
jeopardy because of your father?"

"Po?" Kath asked, suddenly confused as she glanced at the contract again. Mr. M
handed her a pen and smiled.

"Hindi ba gusto mong tulungan si Daniel?"

"Bago po ako pipirma, I have terms of my own." She uttered and Mr. M arched his
brow. He stared at the young girl who bravely stared back.

"Okay, ano yun?" He asked.

"Ayoko pong may kahit anong nudity involved. Ayoko rin na may kissing scene at
lalong ayoko po na may love scene." She articulated and Mr. M threw his head back
and laughed.

"You're cute, Ms. Bernardo." He spoke with admiration. "Pero makakaasa ka na hindi
kita ipapahamak. I know you're young and you will get roles that befit your age.
May anak din akong babae and I wouldn't want her subjected to something akin to
exploitation. Iingatan ka namin, Kath. Ang sa amin lang, uphold and respect this
company's values kasi kapag kayo lumabas, hindi ka na lang si Kathryn Bernardo o si
Daniel Padilla, you also represent Star Magic. Mahigpit ako sa mga artists ko dahil
gusto ko kayong magtagal sa business na to para hindi naman sayang ang oras nating
lahat. Hindi ba?"

"Okay." She murmured, still unconvinced.

"Bweno, kung hindi ka pa ganun ka-sigurado ay okay lang. You have the right to
review any legal document that needs your signature. Kaya lang naman kita
minamadali ay dahil I've drawn out schedules for you and Daniel. Gusto ko na kasing
simulan itong loveteam ninyo since DJ is losing a lot of supporters and endorsers.
Ngayon ay kaya ko pa yung agapan pero baka bukas o sa makalawa ay baka hindi na. DJ
will start the rehearsal for his concert in a few days at gusto kong i-formally
introduce ang love team ninyo sa concert nya mismo. Now, hindi naman basta-bastang
ia-announce namin na bigla na lang may ka-loveteam si DJ, kailangang pag-isipan,
planuhin at syempre kailangang maganda yung execution ng plans."

"Mr. M, let her read the contract first. Ayoko rin po na hindi sya sigurado." DJ
interjected and Mr. M nodded his head.
"Sige, let's wait for Miss Bernardo to decide pero you're losing endorsers and
projects, DJ as we're talking."

"Saan ako pipirma?" Kathryn asked after reading the contract quickly. It was very
standard and direct-to-point.

"Kath, kailangan mo munang-"

"Nabasa ko na." She said. "At alam naman siguro din ni Mr. M that I'm a Bernardo
and I mean business." She said.

"I know, kaya nga magkakasundo." Mr. M. smilingly pronounced as Kathryn affixed her
signature. Agad-agad nyang kinuha ang kontrata sa dalaga at nakipagkamay dito. "I
heard na pinalayas ka daw sa inyo?" He questioned and Kathryn stared at him in
surprise. "Come on, Kath don't look so surprised, this is a small world and Teo
Bernardo asking his precious unica hija to leave his kingdom is bound to reach my
ears."

"Magho-hotel po ako for the meantime." Kathryn stated and Mr. M shook his head.

"No, bakit ka magho-hotel? There is a vacant unit beside DJ's condo at pwede ka
dun."

"Po? Eh di magkapitbahay na kami nito?" She inquired frowning at DJ who looked like
Christmas came early. "At tsaka saan naman po ako kukuha ng pambili ko ng condo?"
She asked and Mr. M smiled.

"Didn't I say that we'll take care of you?" He asked.

####################################
Chapter 14
####################################

"Teka po! Teka lang po." Kath exhaled heavily holding up her hand. "Masyado naman
pong mabilis. Sir, ano po yung condo? Pahiram? Pautang? Rent-to-own? Charity--" She
stopped talking when Mr. M laughed.

"You're so funny, Kath." He said shaking his head. He stared at the pair and
laughed again. Ano naman kayang nakakatawa? Kathryn asked herself seeing how Mr. M
was laughing hard.

"Gusto ko lang po na malinaw ang usapan. Is the condo part of my contract?

Babayaran ko po ba yun buwan-buwan? Kanino po ako magbabayad at saan? Is the
monthly payment going to be deducted from my talent fee--?"

"Kath, you're eighteen and way too serious. Look at Daniel, siguro kopyahin mo ang
one-fourth ng kanyang pagiging bibo, that's how teens your age ought to act."

"Sir, I'm so sorry if you find me too serious. I'd like to reassure you that your
words did not offend me but considering that I have just been kicked out of my
father's house, signed a legal document by myself which lawfully bound me to
publicly go against my father, I think you cannot blame me for taking this
seriously." She announced and Mr. M smiled. Anak nga ni Teo Bernardo to. He told
himself. Fierce just like her father.

"My apologies, Kath. It's just unnerving to see an eighteen-year old so grave. But
you're right, you have the right to feel that way. Bweno, yung condo will be on
loan, sabihin na nating for six months muna until such time na makahanap ka na ng
bago mong titirhan. Now kung magustuhan mo sa condo at makapag-decide kang
permanently ay bilhin yun, you also have that option. Don't frown, Kath."

"Am I being given a special treatment? I don't think may ganito po kayong program
para sa artists ninyo. Mahilig po akong magbasa ng showbiz news and this is the
first time I've heard of this. I hope that I'm not coming across as rude, Sir.
Ayoko pong magkaroon ng utang na loob dahil alam ko pong mahirap yun bayaran. Kung
ano man po yung ibibigay sa akin, gusto kong nababayaran ko ng monetary
equivalent." And sharp like her Dad. Mr. M thought with admiration.

"You're clever like your Dad." He declared grinning.

"Thanks." Sagot ng dalaga.

"Sabihin na nating yung condo na gagamitin mo nang libre for six months ay sign-in
bonus mo." He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to protest. "Alam kong
mahirap ang pinapagawa ko sayo, Kath. As you said, you will be publicly going
against your father and allow us to repay your bravery with this. Ano ba naman yung
tulungan namin ang taong tumutulong sa amin? Let's consider this quits -- wala kang
utang na loob sa amin at ganun din kami sayo. So magmula sa araw na ito,
nagkabayaran na tayo ng utang." Mr. M smiled kindly at the teenager. "I hope
malinaw na ang lahat. Do we have an agreement, Kath?"

"Kailangan ko pong mamili ng gamit para sa unit?" Magkano na lang ba pera ko?
Siguro I can spare for a bed, a refrigerator and an airconditioner-- Her thoughts
were interrupted by Mr. M's answer.

"Hindi na, the unit's fully-furnished kaya wala ka nang poproblemahin." He said and
Kath nearly sighed with relief. Ayaw nang gastusin yung pera nya dahil limited ang
funds nya at nahihiya rin syang humingi sa Mommy nya for additional cash.

"I see." She uttered smiling. She wanted to ask kung kelan sya pwedeng lumipat pero
nahihiya sya at ayaw nyang pangunahan si Mr. M but he must have read her thoughts.

"Pwede ka nang doon umuwi later." He told her and she gave him a bright smile. "I'm
so relieved to see that smile, Kath. Anyway, I'd like both of you to come with me
for a briefing regarding your new reality show."

"Po?" Kath asked.

"Reality show?" DJ, who was unusually quiet the whole meeting, asked. "Saan kami
papasok, sa Big Brother house po ba?"

"Komedyante ka talaga, Daniel." Mr. M said as he stood up. Wala silang choice kundi
tumayo din at sumunod sa kanya. "We found no better way to introduce your love team
to the public through this reality show. Kaya nga maswerte rin na bakante yung
katabing unit ni Daniel because it worked greatly with our plans." He spoke and the
teenagers glanced sideways at each other.

"Anong reality show po ito?" Kathryn asked.

"The Birth of KathNiel." Mr. M replied and Kath arched her brow.

"KathNiel?" She asked in confusion as DJ frowned.

"KathNiel? Hindi po ba dapat mas mauna ang pangalan ko kasi ako ang lalaki?"

"Uy, sexist ka ha, isusumbong kita sa Mama mo." Kath muttered as Mr. M hid his
smile. "Tsaka ang pangit pakinggan ng NielKath ano, parang lagyan mo na lang ng ER
sa dulo panggupit na ng kuko."

"Pasalamat ka talaga alam kong ako ang tinitibok ng puso mo eh." DJ kidded and
flashed a peace sign when Kathryn glared at him. "Ikaw din naman tinitibok ng puso
ko, Kath." He added and Mr. M laughed.

"Well, that's good to hear. At least hindi nyo na kailangang pekein ang sweetness
ninyo." He uttered before he knocked and pushed a door open. May mga tao sa loob na
nag-uusap at huminto sila nang makitang pumasok si Mr. M.

"Good afternoon po." They greeted as they stood up and stared in surprised when
they saw the teenagers.

"Good afternoon po." Daniel and Kath spoke in unison.

"Bakit kayo nagulat, nandito na ang mga bida ng show natin." Mr. M announced with a
flourish. It took a few seconds before the room was filled with excited whispers.

"Buti napapayag mo si Kath, Mr. M!"

"S. Mr. M pa?" Someone piped in.

"Dinala ko lang si kath at DJ dito so they'll know everyone." Mr. M uttered. "O
magpakilala na kayo." He told the staff and they introduced themselves and shook
the Kath and DJ's hands. Kath looked overwhelmed but DJ played it cool at nagawa
pang makipagbiruan sa crew. After nearly fifteen minutes of introductions ay sinabi
ni Mr. M na pwede nang umalis ang dalawa.

"Sige po, una na po kami." Kathryn said as she waved goodbye at them. Nagpaalam
din si DJ before he led Kath out of the room.

"Ang gandang bata ng anak ni Direk Teo."

"Oo nga, bagay sila ni DJ."

"Hay, sino ba naman ang mag-iisip na magkakaroon ng love team ang isang Daniel
Padilla?"

"Hindi kaya lalong magwarla si Direk Teo?"

"Ito ang kauna-unahang reality show about a couple dito sa Pinas, excited ako na
kinakabahan!"

"Ako din, mother!"

"Pakitawag ang ibang members ng KathNiel team. I want them to be here in 5
minutes." Mr. M said and the chatter stopped as someone stood up and ran out of the
room to do his bidding.

"Good afternoon po, Mr. M." They greeted him one-by-one as they entered the room.
he nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Nandito na ba lahat?" He asked after a few minutes.

"Nandito na po."

"Good, now let's talk business." He said and the smile vanished on everyone's
faces.

They met with Kath's cousin to get her things. Kathryn got teary-eyed again when
Louise told her na inulit-ulit ng Daddy nya na bawal na syang bumalik sa bahay.

"Sure ka bang hindi ka sasama sa akin?" Louise asked the younger girl.

"Okay na ako, Ate. Ayoko pong madamay kayo."

"Saan ka titira?"

"Basta po ako na pong bahala." Kath murmured and Louise gave her a hug.

"Kung may kailangan ka, tawagan mo ako." She whispered and Kath nodded her head. DJ
carried Kathryn's things to his car. Napansin nyang singhot nang singhot si Kath na
parang umiiyak.

"Alam mo bang masarap magluto si Mama? Sabi ko sayo mas masarap pa kesa mamahaling
restaurant kaya doon na lang tayo maghapunan."

"Okay." Kath murmured.

"Anong problema, Kath? Hindi ka pa rin ba makapaniwala na iyong-iyo na ako?" DJ

joked and Kathryn turned her head to scowl at him. Biglang nawala yung lungkot nya
at napalitan nang asar. Ang laki ng problema talaga nitong isang to!

"Di ka ba kinikilabutan dyan sa mga pinagsasabi mo?" She asked as he laughed,

relieved that she no longer looked so forlorn. "Tindi ng problema mo sa utak."

"Wag ka nang mag-deny, Kath. Tsaka matakot ka naman sa Panginoon."

"Ano?!"

"Di ba nga nasa ten commandments ang love thy neighbor? Paano ba yan, pati bibliya
nakisang-ayon na kailangan mo akong mahalin."

"Blasphemy na tawag dyan. Kakaiba!"

"Sus, kunyari pa tong nagtataray, kinikilig naman."

"Utang na loob naman, DJ. Can you be serious for once?!" She snapped at him. "Lahat
sayo laro! Lahat sayo katuwaan lang! My life's a mess, I don't know how to act but
I signed to be an actress!"

"Yun ba ang dahilan kung bakit ka kanina pa nagbubuntong-hininga?" He questioned

and she sighed.

"Susuwayin ko publicly si Daddy sa field na wala man lang akong kaalam-alam. I must
be crazy."

"Nagsisi ka ba ng nag-decide kang tulungan ako?" DJ asked softly and she shook her
head.

"No! That's not the point." She sighed again. "Baka hindi ako makatulong sayo, DJ.
Baka maging pabigat lang ako sa career mo at baka imbes na tulungan kitang umangat
ay lalo kitan ibaon."

"Grabe ka naman, Kath hindi pa nga naipapakilala ang love team natin laos na agad
para sayo?" He kidded laughing softly but she remained quiet, her expression
worried. "You'll do fine." He assured her. "Tutulungan naman kita, hindi naman kita
pababayaan. Besides, kung reality show naman pala ang una nating gagawin, hindi mo
kailangang umarte doon. You just need to be adorable at para sa akin ay wala nang
mas adorable pa sayo."

"Bola pa more." She murmured trying to hide her smile.

"Ngiti pa more." He countered and she rolled her eyes at him. "Ito ang hilig mag-
deny. Umamin ka na nga na may gusto ka sa akin sa phone eh tapos nagkukunyari kang
hindi bumibilis ang tibok ng puso mo tuwing ngumingiti ako sayo?"

"Yun nga eh, cute ka dati nung hindi pa kita lubusang nakilala. Pero habang
tumatagal ang pagsasama natin nababawasan na yung appeal mo."

"Normal lang yan, Kath. Natural dati, sa pisikal na anyo ka lang nahuhumaling sa
akin, ngayon sa buong pagkatao ko na. Yihee!"

"Loko!" She laughed and he laughed along. Nagtawanan na sila hanggang nakarating
sila sa bahay nina DJ. Karla was standing by the door waiting for them. "Good
evening po, Tita." Kathryn greeted as DJ hugged his mom and kissed her cheek.

"Good evening, Kath."

"Ma, yan ang problema sa inyo eh masyado ko kayong mahal kaya ko kayo nami-miss."
DJ spoke and Karla arched her brow.

"Wag mo na akong bolahin ha, anak at nagawa na yan ng tatay mo sa akin dati kaya
natuto na ako."

"Pambobola ba, Ma ang pagsasabi nang totoo?" He asked and she laughed.

"Loko-loko talaga tong batang to. Mukhang masaya ka."

"Parati kaya akong masaya."

"Hindi na ako maglilitanya at nandyan si Kath kaya magpasalamat ka sa kanya." Karla
said as she pinched her son's cheek. "Tara na pasok sa loob." She ushered them
inside. "Ikwento nyo sa akin kung ano ang nangyari." She said and DJ told his mom
about their new show. Medyo nawala ang pag-aalala ni Karla tungkol sa career ng
anak nung narinig nya ang kwento nito.

"At ito pa, Ma magkapitbahay kami ni Kath sa condo." Her son excitedly announced
and her brow nearly rose.

"Magkapitbahay?"

"Oo, Ma magkatabi po kami ng units." DJ said and Karla hid her worry behind her
smile. Ayaw nyang ipakita kay Kath na nag-aalala sya.

"Pero may kasama naman si Kath sa unit nya?" She asked carefully.

"Wala pa po, Tita. Pero magkakaroon daw po ako ng PA." It was Kath who replied and
Karla nodded her head.

"Wag mong papapasukin tong batang to sa kwarto mo ha, Kath." Karla blurted out,
unable to hold her tongue back. Kathryn looked confused and DJ was frowning. "Alam
mo na si DJ lalaki tapos... alam mo naman ang mga lalaki..."

"Bakit po?" Kath questioned. "May kakaiba po ba kay DJ?"

"Well--"

"Ma naman! Anong pinagsasabi nyo. Baka nga di na ako papasukin ni Kath sa bahay
nya."

"Kasi alam mo na pag lalaki nga--"

"Ano po?" Kath inquired, baffled.

"Makalat!" Karla exclaimed. "Makalat ang mga lalaki. Pag yang batang yan pumunta sa
bahay mo baka magkalat lang yan doon, nahihiya naman ako sayo." She added. "Tara
na, dinner na tayo." She told them as she walked towards the dining room. Kath and
DJ were left frowning at each other.

"Makalat ka? Wag kang magkakalat sa bahay ko ha!"

"Damot mo naman. Iba ka na, Kath di ka na ma-reach." DJ replied as he draped an arm

around her shoulders.

"Ano ba!" She uttered as she tried to shake his arm off.

"Pero tingin ko hindi yun ang ibig sabihin ni Mama." He whispered conspiratorially
and she stilled.

"Ano?" She whispered back.

"Tingin ko ay iniisip nya na baka..."

"Na baka ano?" She asked back and he motioned for her to move closer. "Ano?" She
muttered.

"Baka pagsamantalahan mo ang pagkalalaki ko." He breathed in her ear and it took a
few seconds before the meaning of his words sunk in.
"ANG KAPAL!" She yelled as he sprinted away from her reach.

"Langya ang tagal mong nakapag-react siguro totoo." He teased and she took off her
shoe and threw it at him.

"I REALLY HATE YOU, PADILLA!" She bellowed and Daniel doubled over in laughter.

"Wag kang mangbato, Kath. Magagalit sayo magiging anak natin nyan sige ka."

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo!"

"Mama o, si Kath!" Daniel called and Karla sighed hearing the teenagers's exchange.

"Hay naku, ang bata ko pa para maging lola." She murmured to herself.

####################################
Chapter 15
####################################

They left at around 7 PM after they've eaten dinner. Natutuwa si Karla na masaya
ang anak. Halata din naman nyang komportable ang dalawang bata sa isa't isa but she
couldn't help but worry. Lalaki ang anak nya and Kathryn needs someone-- "Hay naku,
Karla! Wag ka na ngang mag-iisip ng kung anu-ano! Kung gusto ng anak mong lumandi
kahit ikandado mo pa yan ay lalandi yan!" She told herself.

Pero hindi nya alam kung bakit nag-aalala sya kay Kath. Kahit na anak ko si DJ,
natatakot ako para kay Kath. She thought. Maybe because she was so like her once --
nene, walang-muwang, walang alam... Kaya ayun tuloy madaling nagoyo. And knowing
how her son changes his mind and the girls he likes often, Karla felt a strong
sense of foreboding.

"Hay naku, anak utang na loob naman, hinay-hinay lang ha." She said out loud. She
heard her phone ring and she picked it up from the center table.

"Mama!" Daniel said over the phone. "Nandito na po kami sa condo ni Kath."

"Anong ginagawa mo dyan?" Karla couldn't help but ask.

"Ito po, naghuhubad."

"Ha?!"

"Mama talaga, napakadumi ng isip." DJ laughed and heard his mother huff over the
phone.
"Hoy, DJ mag-behave ka ha, anak. Alam ko namang pogi ka pero wag mo namang abusuhin
yung sex appeal mo."

"Mama talaga. Paano nyo po ba ako pinalaki? Di ba matino naman?"

"Hindi ko sigurado eh." Karla answered and DJ laughed.

"Matino po ako. Ang pangarap ko lang naman sa buhay ay ang pasayahin kayo. Kaya
heto ako ngayon, nagmamadaling mabigyan kayo ng apo. Goodnight, Ma."

"Ano?!"

"Bye, Ma!"

"Daniel John, umayos ka!" He heard his mother yell before he gleefully ended the
call and turned his phone off. Lumabas si Kath galing sa kwarto nito at nagtaas ng
kilay.

"O bakit ka nakangisi dyan?" Tanong sa kanya.

"Kath, gusto mo ba akong tulungan para mabigyang-katuparan ang pinapangarap ni

Mama?"

"May surprise ka sa kanya?" Kathryn asked as she sat down beside him. She likes
DJ's mom kasi napaka-approachable nito at kahit kelan ay hindi sya nakaramdam ng
ilang dito.

"Oo sana eh and I need your cooperation."

"Aba, oo naman! Anything for Tita Karla. Bakit kelan ba birthday nya?"

"Malayo pa naman pero yun nga ngayon pa lang ay nagpaplano na ako kung anong
ibibigay sa kanya. Medyo kailangan kasi ng mahaba-habang panahon."

"Oo, I'm in. Sabihin mo sa akin kung anong gagawin ko. I'll be more than happy to
help you."

"Salamat ha, Kath." Ngisi nang ngisi ang binata at sumimangot si Kathryn.

"Nakakaloko yung ngiti mo."

"Natutuwa lang kasi ako na pagbibigyan mo ang hiling ko."

"Oo naman, yun lang pala eh. Pero teka, ano ba ang surprise mo kay Tita Karla? May
kailangan ba tayong bilhin, puntahan, gawin..."

"Oo, may kailangan tayong gawin." Tawa nang tawa si DJ samantalang nagtaas naman ng
kilay si Kath.

"Para kang tanga, kinikilig ka ba at kung makangiti ka wagas? Teka nga, anong
regalo ba ang ibibigay mo sa Mama mo para mapaghandaan ko na?" She questioned and
DJ burst out laughing.

"Talagang tutulungan mo ako ha."

"Oo nga, ang kulit!"

"Gusto ko syang bigyan ng apo." He said and Kathryn stared at him for a few seconds
before she opened her mouth and screamed.

"BWISIT KA TALAGA, PADILLA! MANYAKIS KA!"

"Uy, teka lang. Hindi kita pinilit ah!" DJ laughingly stood up as Kathryn threw the
throw pillows at him. "Voluntary naman to eh at pumayag ka!"

"Hindi mo naman sinabing apo pala ang ibibigay mo sa Mama mo!" Kath shouted as she
picked the remote control up and hurled it at him. "Puro ka kaloko--" She stopped
talking when the remote control hit DJ squarely on the forehead.

"Aray!" He fell down on her carpeted floor holding his head. She stood immobile for
a few seconds before she ran to his side.

"Deej!" She called his name as he groaned as if in serious pain. "My God, my God!
Sorry! Patingin ako sa sugat mo!" She panicked as she tried to pry his hands off
his face. "Deej! Sorry na! Teka lang, teka lang kukuha akong ice!" She stood up and
ran to her refrigerator. Wala syang mahanap na ice cubes so she pulled the first
thing she saw and ran back to him.

"Ano yan!" DJ asked aghast when Kathryn covered his face with a piece of meat.

"Wag ka na ngang maarte dyan! Ito lang ang nakita ko sa loob ng freezer eh!"

"Ang langsa!"

"Natural kasi hilaw!"

"Ano ba, tanggalin mo yan!" DJ pushed her hand off his face before he stood up and
ran to her bathroom to wash his face. Kathryn put the piece of meat back inside the
freezer and followed Daniel to her bathroom.

"Effective di ba?" She grinned as he repeatedly splashed water on his face.

"Alam mo ikaw, di rin kita maintindihan eh." DJ said moving aside as Kathryn opened
the faucet to wash her hands. "Sa dami ng pwede mong kunin sa loob ng ref, yung
karne talaga ang naisip mo?"

"Aba, bakit? Gusto mo atay?"

"May atay sa loob ng freezer mo?!"

"Wala." She smiled. "Pero may atay ka naman at may kutsilyo naman ako." She said
and he stared at her.

"May hindi ka ba nasasabi sa akin, Kath?" He asked and she beamed.

"Tulad ng ano?"

"Tulad ng serial killer ka pala at nagtatago ka lang sa likod ng mapang-akit mong

ngiti? Gahasain mo na lang ako, Kath hindi ako papalag pero wag mo naman akong
patayin."

"Kadiri to. Gahasain talaga?" She asked as she made a face and he smiled. "Sa
dinami-dami ng gwapo sa buong mundo ay talagang ikaw pa daw ang pipiliin ko."

"Unang-una, aminin mo na kasing ako lang ang gwapo para sayo. Pangalawa, pinili mo
na ako eh wag ka nang magbago ng isip at pangatlo alam naman nating dalawa na
nagsisimula na tayo para sa isang panghabambuhay na pagsasama--"
"Umuwi ka na!" She angrily cut him off. "Bakit ka ba nandito sa bahay ko ha?!"

"Ang sungit mo naman, ikaw na nga tong tinutulungan ko eh."

"Paano mo naman daw ako tinutulungan, aber?"

"Hindi ba enough yung presence ko para pagandahin ang gabi mo at i-welcome ka dito
sa condo? Baka di mo alam, parte ako ng sign-in bonus ng ABS." He grinned and she
rolled her eyes at him before she pushed him out of the bathroom. "Ano ba yan,
dahan-dahan naman."

"Lumabas ka na!" She pulled him with her towards her door. "Labas na, matutulog na
ako!"

"Pwede kitang samahang matu--" He stopped as she opened her door and pushed him
outside.

"Goodnight!" She closed the door on his face.

"Ang taray ng babaeng to. Kung di ka lang sexy eh." He grumbled. Pumasok sya sa
unit nya and decided to watch TV but his mind was somewhere else. "Sige, Kath
pakasaya ka lang ngayon, pasasaan ba't maglalaway ka rin sa abs ko pag nagka-abs
ako." He said.

He took a shower and changed into a pair of cotton shorts and white shirt. "Ano
kayang ginagawa nun ngayon?" He asked himsef as he opened his refrigerator. "Bakit
ganun, Mr. M yung ref ni Kath may karne samantalang nung bagong lipat ako sa
condong ito ay puro de lata ang naabutan ko? Nagugutom ako." He sighed. Hindi sya
nakapag-grocery at walang laman ang ref nya. With a smirk he closed his
refrigerator and decided to raid his neighbor's ref.

"Mabuti na lang talaga tiningnan ko kanina kung ano ang password mo." He happily
told himself as he typed in Kath's unit's password. "And voila! Bumukas ang langit
para papasukin ang isang anghel!" He victoriously announced as he let himself in.

He was humming to himself as he went straight to her ref. "Aba, ang daming laman.
Wala, may favoritism talaga dito, halatang-halata ko na." He took 2 cans of soda,
chocolates and a bunch of grapes before he sat down in front of her TV. "Bakit kaya
parang mas komportable itong bahay ni Kath?" He asked himself as he started eating.
He was sure na lalabas na lang bigla si Kath at magwawala na naman ito para lumabas
sya pero mahigit isang oras na lang ay walang Kath na nagpakita at nagtataka sya.

"Saan naman nagpunta yung babaeng yun?" He asked himself as he stood up. "Kath?" He
called as he opened her bedroom. The room was dark but he could make out her
sleeping form in the darkness. "Tulog mantika talaga to kahit kelan." He murmured
as he sat on the edge of her bed after his eyes got used to the room's dimness.
"Miss Bernardo, gising. May poging nasa loob ng kwarto mo kaya dapat nagbubunyi
ka."

He sniggered. Linapit nya ang mukha nya sa mukha ni Kath. "Miss Bernar--" He was
surprised when her arms went around his neck and pulled him towards her. "K-Kath?"
He whispered in the darkness. "Itutuloy mo na ba ang pangmomolestya mong matagal mo
nang plinano?" He laughed softly at his own joke.

"Daddy--" She murmured and he froze. Hindi nya maintindihan kung bakit bigla syang
na-guilty.

"Miss mo na ba Daddy mo Kath?" He muttered as he kissed her on the forehead. He

heard her contented sigh as he lay down beside her. "Nakakahiya naman hindi pa ako
nagtu-toothbrush." He said as he stared at the outline of her upturned face. "Dyan
ka lang, toothbrush lang ako." Tumayo sya at lumabas sa kwarto.

Babalik pa sana sya sa sarili nyang unit pero tinatamad na sya kaya pumasok na lang
sya sa banyo ni Kath. "Bakit walang spare na toothbrush dito?" He murmured to
himself as he stared at the lone pink toothbrush inside the holder. "Mamili ka,
Kath tatabi ako sayong hindi nagtu-toothbrush o gagamitin ko toothbrush mo?" He
asked his reflection on the mirror. "Di bale na, para namang hindi tayo close." He
told himself as he took her toothbrush and put toothpaste on it. Hindi nya
maiwasang ngumisi habang ginagamit nya ang toothbrush ni Kath. "Sarap." He was
grinning like an idiot after he rinsed the toothpaste off his mouth.

Bumalik sya sa kwarto ng dalaga at humiga sa tabi nito. "Ayan ha, mabango na ang
hininga ko, nakakahiya naman kasi sayo." He said. She snuggled against his chest
and he enfolded her in a hug. He was asleep a few minutes later.

"Alam ba ni Kath na pupunta tayo sa bahay nya ngayon?" Tanong ng isa sa mga crew ng
The Birth of KathNiel reality show.

"Hindi ko alam pero kagabi ko pa tinext si DJ. Imposible namang hindi nya sasabihin
di ba?" Someone replied. "San ba tayo mauuna, sa unit ni DJ o sa unit ni Kath?"

"Sa unit na lang ni Kath."

"O, sige. Ready na ang camera. Exciting naman nito."

"Korek! Excited ako para sa dalawang ito. Nasaan ang handler ni Kath at DJ? Manay,
yung password sa unit ni Kath, please."

"Hindi ko alam kung anong password nya kaya katukin na lang natin." They started
knocking. "Kathryn! Kami ito! Ready ka na ba for the shooting?" They called. A few
minutes later someone opened the door and their jaws dropped to see a shirtless
Daniel in front of them.

"Good morning." He sleepily greeted. "Bakit ang aga nyo?" He asked as he opened the
door wider for them. The crew looked at each other before they stepped inside.

"Manay, wiz shirt si papa DJ."

"Korak."

"Anong ibig sabihin nito?"

"Shh..."

"May schedule ba tayo ngayon?" DJ asked looking at them, he was still half-asleep
and he completely forgot that he wasn't inside his unit. The bedroom door opened to
reveal Kath who was only wearing a mid-thigh night shirt. She stretched and yawned
in front of them unaware that there were people inside her unit.
"Um.. Miss Kath..." Someone spoke and Kathryn opened her eyes before she shrieked
and covered her chest with her arms.

"Diyos ko po, ano pong ginagawa ninyo dito?" She asked her face flaming with
embarrassment. DJ stood up and she stared at her bare chest. "Daniel! bakit wala
kang t-shirt?!"

"Nasa kwarto mo yata, ganun talaga ako naghuhubad in the middle of the night." He
announced nonchalantly as everyone gasped.

"Magkatabi kayong natulog?" One of the crew asked and Kathryn shook her head as DJ
nodded.

"Oo, pinagod nga ako ng babaeng ito kagabi eh. Gusto ko nang matulog pero pulupot
nang pulupot sa akin." He replied yawning.

"Juskey! Di namin alam na nag-aano na pala kayo! Alam na ba ni Mr. M ito?"

"Teka lang po there is a misunderstanding--" Kathryn spoke. "Hindi ko po alam kung

paano sya nakapasok dito, maniwala po kayo sa akin." She added as DJ went inside
her bathroom.

"Kath, pahiram ulit ng toothbrush mo ha!" He shouted and everyone froze.

"PADILLA!" Kathryn's scream rang inside the unit as the cameras continued rolling.

####################################
Chapter 16
####################################

Kathryn stammered helplessly in front of the crew. Hindi nya alam kung paano
ipapaliwanag ang eksena kasi hindi nya rin maintindihan kung anong ginagawa ni DJ
sa unit nya. Pinalabas ko sya at pinagsarhan ko sya ng pintuan! Pero paanong
nandito sya sa loob? Saan sya dumaan?!

"Kayo ba ni DJ, Kath? Totoo ang mga balita?"

"Naku, scoop ito!"

"Ang tanong, alam ba ng mga boss na may ganitong sitwasyon?"

"Hindi po...ano po...di po...ewan ko po...basta po natulog lang po ako...tapos

po..."
"Hindi mo alam na magkatabi kayo?"

"Hindi... po..." Gustong sabunutan ni Kathryn sarili nya kasi alam nyang lalong
hindi kapani-paniwala ang explanation nya because she was too nervous to speak.
Someone draped something around her at napalingon sya sa bandang likuran.

"Mag-robe ka ang igsi ng damit mo." Daniel whispered. "Labas po muna kayo,
nakapantulog pa po si Kath." He told everyone and they stared stupefied at him.
"Pwede po bang sa labas kayo maghintay?" He repeated and the crew seemed to wake up
from their daze as they all scampered towards the door.

"Sa labas na lang kami, Kath, DJ." Someone said and Kathryn nodded her head.

"Salamat!" DJ said before he turned to look at his new love team. "Sa susunod mag-
pajama ka kasi may mga ganito palang pagkakataon na bigla silang susulpot para sa
show. Kung ganyan kasi ang suot-"

"ANONG GINAGAWA MO DITO?!" Kathryn screamed as she repeatedly hit Daniel's arm with
her fists.

"Aray! Kath!"

"Bakit ka nandito sa loob ng unit ko?! Manyakis ka! Anong ginawa mo sa akin?!"

"Hindi mo ba natandaan-"

"Manay, mabuti talaga hindi mo ni-lock ang pinto." The crew whispered amongst
themselves as they shamelessly eavedropped on the teenagers.

"Shh...baka marinig tayo." One of them murmured and they all nodded in agreement as
they resumed listening to Kath and DJ's conversation.

"-Anong hindi ko na matandaan?! May nangyari bang dapat kong matandaan?!

"Wag mo namang akong sabunutan. Alam mo bang madaming babaeng nababaliw sa buhok ko
pa lang?"

"Wala akong pakialam! Baliw talaga sila kung nababaliw sila sayo!"

"Aruy! Aruy! Teka lang, Kath dala ba ito ng matinding selos kaya ka nananakit? Ikaw
lang at walang iba-Aray ko masakit na yan."

"Ang sarap mong ibalibag palabas ng building! Mag-aaral talaga ako ng martial arts
para magawa ko yun sayo! Ngayon, sagutin mo ang tanong ko! Paano ka nakapasok
dito?!"

"Wag naman palabas ng building. Ibalibag mo na lang ako sa kama, Kath di ako-Aray!
Pwede ka namang magtanong nang hindi nananakit. Ako na nga itong pagod dahil
magdamag kang nakalambitin sa akin eh."

"Hoy! Ang kapal ng mukha mo at napakasinungaling mo!" Kathryn yelled as she tried
to kick DJs knee. "Ano ba! Bitiwan mo ang mga kamay ko!"

"Wag ka kasing nananakit. Bad yan."

"Bad mo mukha mo! Bitiwan mo ako sabi!"

"Aray! Kath, nakakarami ka na. Kahit sexy ka kasi wala nakapantulog ka lang eh
medyo nakakasakit ka na!"

"You're a pervert! Paano ka nakapasok dito?! I remember closing the door in your
face! Bakit ka nandito! Akyat-bahay ka ba?!" She demanded.

"Ms. Bernardo, naririnig mo ba yang sinasabi mo?" He asked, his voice filled with
disbelief. "Ako? Ako? Si Daniel Padilla? Paghihinalaan mong akyat-bahay? Sobra ka
naman. Hindi naman porke't nanakawan kita ng halik at ako ang nagmamay-ari ng puso
mo eh akyat-bahay na kaagad ako."

"Alam mo ang kapal mo!"

"Yan tayo, Kath eh. Ang aga-aga deny agad."

"Tumahimik ka at sagutin mo na lang ang tanong ko!"

"Ano bang tanong mo?"

"Paano ka nakapasok dito?!"

"Anong paano ako nakapasok eh di sa pinto." DJ answered and Kathryn glowered at

him. Ang sarap murahin nito! Kung nagmumura lang ako pinaluguan ko na ng mura to!

"Paano ka nakapasok sa pinto?!"

"Eh di binuksan ko. Ang slow mo yata ngayon, Kath? Okay ka lang ba?"

"Hindi ako okay!" She screamed and he looked at her in surprise.

"Ganito ka ba talaga kapag umaga? Mainit ang ulo?" He asked and Kathryn pulled her
hands free from his grasp before she squatted on the floor. "Uy, Kath."

"Ano ba itong pinasok ko, Lord?" She groaned as she covered her face with her
hands. "Mabait naman akong bata bakit kailangan kong makilala itong taong to?"

"Bakit?" Daniel asked as he curiously looked at the young woman. "Anong meron?" He
questioned and Kathryn looked up to glare at him.

"Anong anong meron?! Baliw ka ba?! Are you really not aware of what happened and
what you did?! Ano na lang ang sasabihin nung mga crew na nasa labas?! Na nagsasama
tayong matulog?! Baka isipin nilang may ginagawa tayong kakaiba!"

"Yun lang ang pinuproblema mo?"

"Anong yun lang?! Bwisit ka! Mag-t-shirt ka nga dun! Hindi ka man lang nahiyang
maghubad! Buti sana kung may abs ka eh! Para kang magnanakaw na bigla na lang
susulpot-"

"Sakit mo namang magsalita, Kath."

"Sorry kung natawag kitang magnanakaw-!"

"Anong walang abs?" He asked and Kathryn stared at him as if he grew another head.
"Kaunting gym lang at magiging perfect na ang physique ko. Antayin mo. Kung
makasabi ka namang walang abs."

"Mas concerned ka talaga na sinabi kong wala kang abs kesa magnanakaw ka?!"

"Syempre. Gusto ko kayang maging macho para sayo."

"Diyos ko, DJ pwede ba? Ang bata ko pa para mamatay sa highblood. Tantanan mo nga
ako." She stood up.

"Kath-" He called but she ignored him at dere-derecho syang pumasok sa loob ng
kwarto nya. Sumunod naman si DJ at nagulat ito nang binato sya ni Kath ng t-shirt
na hinubad nya kagabi.

"Umalis ka na. Maliligo na ako. Maligo ka na rin, bilisan mo kasi nakakahiya sa mga
taong naghihintay sa labas."

"Ayaw mong sabay tayong mali-Joke lang. Ang sama ng tingin mo."

"Umalis ka na!"

"Oo na. Ito kung makapagtabuyan parang hindi nya ako mahal."

"Daniel!"

"Oo, aaalis na nga." He said before he stepped out of her bedroom. The moment he
left, Kath plopped on her bed and pulled one of her pillows to cover her face.

"Kath, mag-isip ka kung anong paliwanag ang gagawin mo sa mga taong nakakita sa
inyo." She groaned. "Tatagal kaya ako dito sa trabahong ito? Siguro mas malaki ang
chance na tatagal ako kung di ko parating nakikita si Padilla. May sakit sa utak
yata yung isang yun!" She sighed and got up. "Kath, kailangan mong ngumiti kasi
walang ibang tutulong sayo kundi sarili mo lang." She faced the large wall mirror
and smiled at her reflection. "Ayan, dapat ganyan." She told herself as she smiled
some more. "Ayan, mukha kang tangang nakangiti at kinakausap ang sarili mo! Hay,
naku makaligo na nga!"

She took a quick bath. Gusto sana nyang magtagal kasi nawawala kadalasan ang sakit
ng ulo nya o kaya ay ang sama ng loob nya kapag naliligo sya pero naalala nyang may
mga naghihintay pala sa kanya sa labas. She put on a pair of denim pants, thong
sandals and a simple white blouse.

"Hello po, pasensya na po at salamat po sa paghihintay." She apologetically greeted

everyone.

"Okay lang, Kath."

"Gusto nyo po bang pumasok sa loob para maipaghanda ko po kayo ng kakainin ninyo?"
She asked and they looked at each other.

"Ipaghahanda mo kami?"

"Opo, nag-agahan na po ba kayo?" She smiled again. The door to DJ's unit opened at
lumabas ang binata. Wow, saan pupunta to? She asked herself. Kung anong sinimple ng
damit nya ay yun namang binongga nung kay DJ although naka-pantalon, t-shirt,
rubber shoes, shades at blazer lang naman ito ay ramdam ni Kath na kapag pinagtabi
sila ay magmumukha syang yaya. The crew must have realized this too because two of
them stepped forward.

"Kath, ako nga pala si Verna at ako ang magiging stylist mo."

"Ako naman si Lindy at ako ang magmi-make-up sayo."

"Po? Stylist? Make-up?"

"Oo, dala ko ang mga piraso ng dami na pagpipilian mo. Tara pasok tayo sa loob."
Verna smilingly told Kathryn.

"Hindi ka pa rin tapos, Kath? Todo-todo talaga ang paghahanda mo para sa akin ah."
DJ kidded and got a glare for his effort. "Oops, sorry. Ganun talaga the truth
hurts." He grinned.

"Halika na, Kath." Lindy said and Kathryn smiled at her. Pumasok sila ulit sa unit
nya.

"Limang outfits lang ang dala ko, Kath." Sabi Verna bago nilapag sa sofa ang mga
damit na nasa clothes cover bags. "Bagay naman ito lahat sayo pero gusto kasi ni
Mr. M na komportable ka sa suot mo at ayaw nya daw na conscious ka that you're
being filmed. Kaya ikaw ang pumili kung alin sa mga ito ang gusto mong isuot." She
added.

"Mas komportable po ako kapag naka-pants o kaya ay shorts." Kathryn confided. "Okay
lang naman pong mag-skirt ako kapag kinakailangan. Ano po ba ang gagawin natin?"

"We'll just be filming how you and DJ go about your daily lives. May schedule
namang sinusunod, si Manay ang nakakaalam nun pero ang pagkakaalam ko ay sa
rehearsal kayo pupunta ngayon."

"Rehearsal po?"

"Oo, rehearsal ng concert ni DJ. Kailangang nandun ka sa concert nya mismo kasi
doon kayo unang ipapakilala as a love team. May production number yata kayo."

"Hindi po ba pwedeng ito po yung suot ko?" Kath asked and Verna eyed her outfit.

"Pwede...siguro pero palitan natin yung pantaas mo tsaka shoes." She smiled as she
rummaged the bags. Pasensya ka na, madalian kasi ito, kagabi lang ako in-inform ni
Mr. M-"

"Naku, Ate okay lang po. Naisip ko lang po kasi it's a rehearsal at panigurado
ilang oras yun so I want to wear something comfortable."

"Tama ka." Verna smiled. "Sige ako na ang pipili at dadalhin ko na lang sa kwarto
mo.

"Dun tayo sa room mo, Kath para maayusan kita." Lindy spoke and Kath nodded her
agreement. Pagpasok nila sa kwarto ay pinaupo sya ng make-up artist nya sa harap ng
vanity bureau nya. "Ang ganda ng skin mo."

"Thank you po." Kathryn answered sincerely. It took nearly an hour before the
preparation finished. Paglabas ni Kath sa kwarto nya ay nasa loob na ng unit si
Daniel kasama ang mga crew at kumakain sila.

"Nagpa-deliver na ako kasi ang tagal mo." Daniel said. "Kumain ka muna."

"Hindi ako gutom." She lied but Daniel shook his head.

"Kumain ka. Sabi ni Mama ay dapat daw nag-aagahan. Ikaw din mamaya himatayin ka sa
gutom dun sa rehearsal ko at baka akalain nilang nahimatay ka kasi hindi mo kinaya
ang karismang taglay ko." Ang kapal talaga nito. Kathryn thought as DJ and the crew
laughed. Kung wala lang sanang ibang tao dito eh binugbog ko na to.

"Kain ka, Kath." One of the crew members invited and Kathryn smiled and she took a
seat.
"Dito ka sa tabi ko, bakit ang layo mo? Takot kang di ka makanguya kapag ngumiti
ako?" DJ kidded and the smile vanished from Kathryn's face.

"Ate." She called one of the crew members. "Pakiabot nga po ng kutsilyo dyan po sa
loob ng drawer, may tatadtarin lang po ako." She said and everyone burst out
laughing.

"Yieee! Kinikilig ako. Tatadtarin mo ba ako ng halik?" May sira ba sa utak to?! She
thought. "Sige, sige hindi na muna ako magsasalita. Kain ka muna."

"Salamat ha." She sarcastically muttered. She wanted to brush her teeth but was
worried about her make-up.

"Okay lang, madali lang yan i-retouch." Lindy assured her after she voiced her
concern. "Basta wag ka lang maghilamos." She added as a joke.

"DJ, totoo bang nag-share kayo ng toothbrush ni Kath?" A member of the crew asked.
"Ganun kayo ka-close?" Pero nagkibit-balikat lang ang binata at di ito sumagot.
Kath emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later and Lindy immediately retouched
her make-up.

"Ready ka na?" DJ asked as soon as the crew stepped out of Kath's unit.

"Alam mo nakakaasar ka. Bakit mo ba ako pinapahiya parati?" Kathryn couldn't help
but ask as soon as the crew left and was surprised at how serious DJ's expression
became.

"Kath, this is a business. Negosyo to and gusto kong lagi mong tatandaan yan. Hindi
sila nandito kasi kaibigan natin sila, they're here because they are paid to be
here. Get it? Ang tagal ko na sa showbiz and I've experienced countless times how
your supposed friends can turn their backs on you. Ayokong maranasan mo yun kasi
masakit sya." He smiled.

"So wala akong kakaibiganin?"

"This is a game and you have to play it right."

"Okay, nalilito na ako. So makikipag-plastikan ako? Pakikitunguhan ko sila nang

maayos dahil pinapalastik ko lang sila?"

"Hindi. Pakikitunguhan mo sila nang maayos kasi mabuting tao ka. Pero sa business
na ito, you have to guard your heart, wag kang masyadong magtiwala."

"What do you mean?"

"Malalaman mo rin, pero wag kang mag-alala nandito naman ako."

"Salamat." She smiled sincerely at him. "Maraming salamat because you're taking
good care of me."

"Natural. Bakit naman kita hahayaang masaktan?" He said and she beamed. "Eh ako
lang ang may karapatang manakit sayo." He grinned at her.

"Ganun?!" She demanded frowning and he laughed.

"Ito naman di na mabiro." He said and she huffed as they stepped out of her unit.

"Lahat na lang dinadaan mo sa biro!" She complained. "Sa totoo lang, di ko alam
kung kelan ka seryoso."

"Sasabihin ko sayo kapag nagbibiro ako o hindi."

"Kelan mo naman ginawa yan? Never pa kaya. Kailangan ko parating manghula kung
seryoso ka ba sa mga sinasabi mo o hindi!" She grumbled and he smiled.

"Kath."

"Ano?" She asked as she looked at him but he remained staring at her. "Parang
timang to, ano nga?"

"Akin ka lang." He answered and she rolled her eyes. He laughed and bent his head
to whisper something in her ear. "Seryoso ako." He murmured and she frowned as he
put a possessive arm around her shoulders.

####################################
Chapter 17
####################################

Biglang kinabahan si Kath sa narinig nya. Hindi nya alam kung kilig pa ba yun or
iba na. Kakaiba din itong si Padilla, kung anu-anong sinasabi. She thought to
herself. They took the elevator and fortunately ay sila lang ang laman. Naiilang
kasi syang makita sila ng iba lalo na't si DJ ay todo akbay sa kanya.

"Wag ka ngang akbay nang akbay!" She grumbled trying to shrug his arm off.

"Wag mong tatanggalin yung pagkaka-akbay ko kundi yayakapin kita." Daniel

threatened. "Ang swerte mo nga, sa hinaba-haba ng pila, ikaw ang napili kong
akbayan."

"Salamat ha! Ako na nga itong tsinatsansingan mo ay ako pa daw talaga itong
maswerte! Sige, yakapin mo ako, sisigaw talaga ako!"

"Sanay na kaya akong may mga babaeng tumitili ngiti ko pa lang." DJ replied and
Kathryn snorted. "Pero kung hindi mo na mapigil ang kilig mo sa yakap ko, sige,
sigaw ka lang."

"Grabe! Tumataas talaga blood pressure ko sa kayabangan mo! Ang hangin mo, alam mo
ba yun? Kung hindi pa, pwes uulit-ulitin ko sayo! Ang hangin, hangin, hangin,
hangin, hangin mo!"

"Kath naman. Ganyan ka eh ang lakas mong magpakilig. Kaya ba hangin ang tawag mo sa
akin because you can't breathe without me?" Nakangising tanong ni DJ.

"Oh my God! Utang na loob naman! Do not twist my words around!" She blurted out and
he burst out laughing.

"Ikaw talaga, Kath. Although confident naman ako sa pagmamahal mo sa akin pero
sobra naman yata yung ihahalintulad mo ako sa hangin na kailangan mo-"

"Tumahimik ka!" She snapped at him as the elevator stopped on the third floor and
the metal door slid open. May dalawang lalaking sumakay na parehong nakasuot ng
shades. Oh, okay uso pala talaga ang mag-shades sa loob ng building na ito. Kath
thought trying to keep a straight face. One of the guys removed his shades to smile
at her.

"Hi." He greeted. She was surprised at his greeting but she smiled back.

"Hi." She replied. DJ could not help but raise his brow as he pulled Kathryn closer
towards him. "Ano ba!" She whispered.

"Bagong tenant ka dito?" The guy asked seemingly ignoring Daniel who had his arm
possessively draped around Kathryn.

"Oo, kakalipat ko lang kahapon." She answered. Ano ba to si Padilla? Sapakin ko

kaya to?! She angrily murmured to herself.

"I see." The guy's smile widened. "I'm Albie."

"Kath." She replied as the elevator opened on the first floor. Albie and his
companion got off and he turned to smile at Kath.

"Nice meeting you, Kath. See you around." His eyes insolently rested on Daniel
before he smirked and left.

"Ano ka ba naman! Halos ingudngod mo na ang mukha ko dyan sa dibdib mo sa sobrang

lapit ko na sayo-"

"Sinong nagsabi sayong pwede mo syang kausapin?" Daniel questioned and she frowned.

"Ay teka lang, wala akong nabasa sa kontrata na bawal akong makipag-usap sa iba!"

"Hindi mo nga kilala yung tao pero kung makangiti ka naman."

"Alangan umiyak ako kasi kinausap nya ako? Ang labo mo!" She said.

"Ang hilig mong makipag-usap kahit sa lalaking hindi mo kakilala? Ganun ka ka-
friendly?!" Medyo nagtaas ng boses si Daniel at lalong napakunot ang noo ni Kath.

"Normal sa isang taong gantihan ng ngiti ng kahit sinong ngumingiti sa kanya!" She
reasoned.

"Hindi ka normal na tao, artista ka!"

"Hindi pa ako artista! Nagsisimula pa lang! At hindi ba dapat talagang friendly ako
or else people will see me as a snob? Ano bang kinakainit ng ulo mo?!"

"Hindi mo kilala yun! He's bad news! Alam mo bang kung sinu-sinong babaeng ang
nililigawan nun?!"

"O tapos?! Eh di pareho pala kayo! Di ba legendary ka rin sa panliligaw ng kung

sinu-sino?!" She yelled and he stared at her.

"Ganun ang tingin mo sa akin?" He sounded hurt and she was taken aback. "Sa tingin
mo ay tulad ako nun na kahit sinong babae ay lalapitan at liligawan?"

"Hindi ba?!" She angrily retorted and he smiled bitterly before he averted his
gaze.

"Okay. At least malinaw kung anong tingin mo sa pagkatao ko." He quietly muttered.
Ano bang isyu nito sa buhay? Hindi ba totoo naman talagang madami tong nililigawan?
Paiba-iba buwan-buwan?! Kathryn asked herself.

"Bahala ka na nga." She murmured as the elevator door opened. Nasa basement
parking sila ng building at kahit hindi nya kabisado ang lugar na yun ay desidido
syang maunang lumabas kay Daniel sa sobrang pikon nya.

Daniel had removed his arm around her shoulders when they had started arguing and
oddly enough, she felt cold without it. Bahala ka sa buhay mo, Padilla! She
grumbled to herself as she stepped out of the elevator. She thought he was going to
go after her pero hindi sumunod si DJ sa kanya. Pag lingon nya ay malungkot na
nakatingin lang ang binata na nasa loob ng elevator pa rin. The door slowly slid
close and she panicked.

"DJ!" She shouted and was relieved when she saw his hand stop the door from
closing. "Ano na naman bang drama nitong isang ito?" She muttered under her breath
as she watched him walk towards her. Pero dere-derecho si Daniel sa paglalakad at
hindi sya pinansin nito. Ano ba yan! Sana sumabay na lang ako sa crew! She griped
as she followed him to his car.

Ipinagbukas pa rin sya nito ng pinto pero patuloy itong hindi nagsalita. Ang
awkward naman nito. She told herself as she slid into the passenger's seat.

"Salamat." She mumbled before he closed the door. Nasaan nga pala yung mga
bodyguards nito? Bakit di ko na nakikita pati yung driver nya?

"Seatbelt." DJ said and she hastily buckled her seatbelt. Wordlessly, he pressed a
button and the engine came to life. Tumunog ang telepono ni DJ and he quickly put
his handsfree kit on. "Papunta na kami, sa venue na lang tayo magkikita." She heard
him say.

Sa sobrang tahimik ay gustong magpatugtog ni Kath pero nahiya naman syang makiaalam
sa loob ng kotse ni DJ. With a sigh, she leaned back against her seat and closed
her eyes. Gusto sana nyang matulog na lang dahil naiilang sya sa katahimikan nilang
dalawa. Pero kahit bwisit sya kay DJ minsan ay ayaw naman nyang magkasamaan sila ng
loob.

"Okay. Fine! Ano bang problema mo?" She demanded but he didn't reply. "Ano ba,
Daniel nakakaasar ka na!"

"Ako ang nakakaasar?" He asked and she rolled her eyes heavenwards.

"So ako ang may kasalanan?" She questioned and he shrugged. "Bakit? Hindi na ba
kita pwedeng salungatin? Hindi na ako pwedeng sumagot at hindi na ako pwedeng
makipagkaibigan?"

"May sinabi ba akong ganun?" He queried without looking at her.

"Ano pala?"
"Wala." He answered and she nearly pulled her hair out in frustration. Ano ba naman
ito si Padilla! Dinaig pa ako sa pag-iinarte! They reached the venue and he got out
of the car first before he opened the door for her. Tahimik silang nagtungo sa
entrance kung saan ay naghihintay ang crew nila.

"DJ, Kath, wag nyong isiping may camera, ha. Just go about your business. Hindi nyo
kailangang umarte sa harap ng camera kasi ang gusto naming ipakita sa audience ay
ang tunay na kayo. Yung natural na sweetness ninyo sa isa't isa ay added bonus and
we will bank on that. Okay?" The director asked.

"Okay po." They both replied.

"Wag kayong mahiyang maglambingan, magbiruan, mag-asaran o magtawanan. We want this

show to be as natural as possible and we will try to be inconspicuous para naman
hindi kayo mailang." Ngumiti si Direk sa mga bata before he gave them a thumb-up
sign.

"Opo." Kathryn replied.

"Okay, everyone ready?" The director asked and everyone nodded. He gave them a
thumb-up sign and the camera started rolling as the teenagers stepped inside the
venue.

"Bakit parang nagkakahiyaan yang dalawa?" One of the crewmembers whispered. "Eh
kanina lang masayang naghaharutan yan kahit nandun tayo."

"Oo nga." Another answered. "Di bale, first time kasi kaya ganyan. Tsaka, first day
pa lang naman ngayon kaya medyo hindi pa nila nakukuha ang tamang timpla. Baka
masyadong conscious."

Pero patapos na lang ang practice ay parang tuod pa rin ang dalawang teenagers and
even the crew members were starting to get bored.

"Sabihin ko ba, Direk na medyo magpaka-sweet sila?"

"Hindi. Kabilin-bilinan ni Mr. M na dapat natural lang ang eksenang kinukuhanan

natin. Nag-away ba yang dalawang yan?"

"Hindi po namin alam eh pero kanina po okay naman sila. Grabe naman sa ilang
minutong pagitan ay bigla silang hindi nagkaunawaan."

"DJ!" They heard the concert director call Daniel's attention. "Are you okay? Ang
tamlay mo. Put more life into your performance. This is your second concert and
your fans are expecting a lot."

"Pasensya na po medyo wala lang sa mood." The teen actor replied.

Kath was sitting quietly near the stage. She looked calm and composed pero ang
totoo ay samu't saring bagay ang tumatakbo sa isipan nya. Nagsayang lang ako ng
oras dito! Magko-concert ba itong isang ito o kakanta sa lamay? She asked herself.
DJ never looked her way, in fact parang wala naman syang papel dun sa rehearsal ng
concert at naisip nyang mas mabuti pang natulog na lang sya kesa tumunganga habang
nag-iinarte si Padilla.

"Kath." Someone called her name and she turned to see who it was.

"Hello po." She smiled at one of the crew. "Ano po yun?"

"Natatandaan mo ba kung sino ako, naipakilala ka sa amin dun sa station."

"Di po ba kayo po si Digno?"

"Ay, nakakaloka! Wag naman Digno, Diggy na lang."

"Pasensya na po. Hello po, Kuya Diggy." She smiled again.

"Nakakaloka itong batang ito. Wag nang Kuya at baka lalong manlagas ang mga buhok
ko! Diggy na lang talaga!"

"Naiilang po kasi ako kasi mas matanda po kayo sa akin-"

"Ate Diggy."

"Ah, okay. Hi po, Ate Diggy." Kath gave him a small wave.

"Hello, Kathryn!" Diggy replied. "Anyway, may itatanong ako sayo."

"Ano po yun?"

"May nangyari ba sa inyo ni DJ?" The crew asked.

"Nangyari? Ano naman po?"

"Pansin lang kasi namin na medyo matamlay sya. Actually, hindi matamlay, talagang
walang buhay at parang di na kayo naghaharutan. Nakakalungkot tuloy, para kaming
nasa lamay, wala man lang kabuhay-buhay kayong dalawa."

"Pasensya na po." Kathryn bowed her head. "Pagod lang po kasi kami."

"Pagod?" Diggy moved closer to her. "Bakit, anong ginawa nyo kagabi?"

"Po?"

"Bakit kayo pagod. Magkwento ka dali! Hindi ko ikukwento sa iba."

"Wala naman po akong ikukwento-"

"Sige na, wag ka nang mahiya! Ikaw naman! Kahit naman ako kung tinabihan ako ng
isang Daniel Padilla ay hindi lang Bataan ang isusuko ko kundi buong mapa ng
Pilipinas kasama ang mga isla sa Spratlys."

"Bataan? Ano ho?"

"Sige na, my lips are sealed-"

"Kath!" DJ called her and she looked up to find him walking towards them. "Halika."
He said pulling her to her feet.

"Pasensya na po. Bye!" She said as Daniel pulled her with him.

"Anong tinanong nya sayo? May binubulong sya sayo kitang-kita ko. Ano yun?"

"Tinanong nya kung bakit ka daw matamlay. Sabi nya sa akin kung may nangyari daw ba
sa atin-"

"Ano? Anong sabi mo?"

"Hindi na ako nakasagot kasi nabanggit na nya ang Bataan at Spratlys." She replied
and he stopped walking before he turned to face her.

"Wag kang magsabi ng kahit ano dun. May kaibigan yun na nagsusulat sa isang
tabloid. Sigurado ka na wala kang na-mention sa kanya?"

"Sabi ko lang na pagod tayo kaya medyo wala kang gana sa practice mo." She
answered. "Pinahamak ba kita? May nasabi ba akong hindi maganda? Baka maapektuhan
na naman itong concert mo, ayoko nang ganun."

"Wala, wala kang kasalanan." Daniel replied. "Uy, wag ka nang malungkot."

"Sabi ko na eh, imbes na makatulong ay lalo ko yatang pinalala yung problema mo sa

career mo."

"Wag ka ngang mag-isip ng ganyan." Dj said. "Pagod ka na ba? Gusto mo na bang

umuwi?"

"Hindi ba may practice ka pa?"

"Wala ring nararating itong practice at wala akong gana."

"Tara, uwi na tayo." Kath smiled with relief. "Actually inaantok ako sa performance
mo."

"Ms. Bernardo, dahan-dahan naman sa pagsabing nakakaantok ang performance ko. Baka
sa concert ko mismo ay magwala ka kapag nakita mo akong kumanta."

"Patunayan mo muna. Puro ka salita." Kathryn replied.

"Oo ba, pag ikaw kinilig sa concert ko may gagawin ka para sa akin."

"Okay, call." Kathryn gamely replied.

"Sinabi mo yan ha."

"Oo nga."

"Teka, magpapaalam na muna ako." He told her before he left to talk to his concert
director. "Tara na." Anyaya nya kay Kath.

"Yung crew ng reality show at handlers natin?"

"Okay na, nakapagpaalam na ako para sa ating dalawa. Sabi ko bukas na kasi masama
ang pakiramdam ko. Pinagbigyan naman nila ako." He answered as he draped his arm
around her shoulders and led her to the exit.

Kathryn immediately went inside her unit when they arrived. Hindi nya alam kung
bakit parang pagod na pagod sya when in fact ay nakaupo lang naman sya buong
rehearsal ni DJ. She took a quick shower and dried her hair before she turned off
the lights inside her bedroom and crawled into her bed.

"Hay, salamat." She murmured closing her eyes. Something woke her up in the middle
of the night and she sleepily looked around the darkened room. "DJ?"

"I'm here." Daniel replied pulling her towards him and she sighed contentedly
before she went back to sleep.
####################################
Chapter 18
####################################

"Nandito ka na naman?!" Pambungad na sigaw ni Kath habang naghihikab si Daniel sa

tabi nya. It was his face she saw when she opened her eyes.

"Alam mo bang isang linggo mo nang tinatanong sa akin yan? Mag-iba ka naman ng
linya." Sagot ng binata na lalong kinaasar ni Kath.

"Bakit ka ba kasi dito sa bahay ko natutulog?! Ano bang meron sa kama mo at ayaw
mong dun matulog, ha?!"

"Mas malambot yung kama mo eh." DJ grinned. "At tsaka mas masarap kang kayakap
kesa unan." He added before he got up and ran out of her bedroom. Kathryn's jaw
dropped as her bedroom door closed.

"Ang praning nito ni Padilla." She murmured to herself. "Magpalit na lang kaya
kaming kama para hindi na ako gambalain nung isang yun." She told herself as she
yawned and stretched on her bed. "Hay ang hirap bumangon." She closed her eyes
again and heard her bedroom door open. "Padilla, ang aga-aga, ha, utang na loob
naman wag kang mangbwisit."

"Ikaw na nga itong ginigising para hindi ma-late sa meeting natin with Mr. M ay
ikaw pa daw talaga ang may ganang magalit." DJ said and Kath opened her eyes before
she sat up and scrambled off her bed.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi kaagad?!" She snapped at him. Kinuha nya ang robe na
nakasampay sa upuan na katapat ng vanity bureau nya at dali-dali nya itong sinuot.

"Hindi ko talaga makita ang sense kung bakit kailangan mo pang mag-robe. Di ba
pupunta ka lang namang banyo?" DJ queried and Kath glared at him.

"Alangang maglakad ako papuntang banyo na nakapantulog sa harapan mo?"

"Bakit? Ngayon lang ba kita nakitang nakapantulog? Aba, nagtatanggal ka nga ng bra
eh kahit nasa iisang kama tayo-"

"Umalis ka nga dito!" Kath exclaimed throwing a hairbrush at DJ who laughingly

ducked her attack.

"Bilisan mo." He said. "Maligo ka na kundi papaliguan kita. Joke lang." He ran out
of her bedroom again and she huffed angrily.
"Kainis talaga itong Daniel na to! Nakakaasar!" Padabog na lumabas sya sa kanyang
kwarto at tumungo sa banyo nya. She pushed the door open but it was locked. "Ano
bang nangyari dito? Bakit ayaw mabuksan?" She loudly asked herself.

"May tao." She heard Daniel's voice from inside her bathroom.

"What the-SERYOSO?!" She screamed. "Hoy, Padilla! Pati ba naman banyo ko ay ini-
invade mo na rin ngayon?! Aba, abuso na ang tawag dyan, ah! Lumabas ka dyan!" She
banged at the door using her fist. "DJ!" She shouted and the door opened slightly.

Sumilip si DJ mula sa loob at mukhang hindi pa nya nabanlawan ang buhok nya dahil
mukhang may shampoo pa ito. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Kath bago sya nagmadaling
tumalikod sa binata.

"Ano yun?" DJ asked as Kathryn felt heat envelop her whole face.

"Bakit ka dito naliligo?! Sira ba ang banyo mo?!"

"Mas masarap ang tubig na lumalabas sa shower mo eh." Daniel answered.

"Alam kong nang-aasar ka na lang at sa totoo lang naaasar na ako!"

"Anong klaseng pang-aasar naman yung naliligo lang ako? Bakit? Anong iniisip mo at
naasar ka? Naasar ka bang I'm so near yet so far? Kung gusto mo ay sumabay ka na sa
akin na maligo-" He laughed because she had mumbled angrily under her breath before
she ran. "Kath! Let's save the environment! Halika, sumabay ka na sa aking maligo!"
Kantyaw ni DJ na tawa nang tawa.

"Bwisit ka! Anong password sa bahay mo?!" Kath angrily yelled from inside her
bedroom. She left her door open para magkarinigan pa rin sila.

"Bakit? Gawin na ba nating conjugal property ang unit ko?"

"Bilisan mo! Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sayo! Baka ma-late ako kaya dun ako sa banyo
mo maliligo!" Kathryn replied and DJ laughed again.

"Dito ka na, matatapos na ako!" DJ answered. "Give me five minutes." He said before
he closed the door. Binuksan nya ulit ang pinto. "Kath! Hindi sa ayokong malaman mo
ang password ng unit ko! Birthday ng babaeng mahal ko! Six Digits!" He shouted
before closing the door again.

"Birthday ng babaeng mahal nya?" She thought arching her brow. "Birthday ni Tita
Karla?" She thought. "Well, pakialam ko ba! Manigas ka dyan! Nakakapikon! Mali-late
na ako nito eh!" She glanced at her wall clock as she sat down on her bed. "Ito
talagang si Padilla ang sarap pagulungin sa hagdanan. Nai-stress ako sa kanya!" She
murmured as she fanned herself with her right hand.

"Ikaw na, Kath!" DJ yelled a few minutes later and she got up. She opened her door
and came face-to-face with his bare chest.

"Your turn." He said and she opened her mouth to scream.

"Ano ba! Bakit nandito ka pa rin! Napaka-iskandaloso mo! Diyos ko! Ang mga mata ko!
My thoughts! My God!"

"Alangan namang naka-jacket ako eh galing nga akong banyo?" DJ asked. "At tsaka
bakit ba sobra kang mag-react, ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng ganito ka-macho?" He
added and she stared in disbelief at him.
"Macho? Saan banda? Ituro mo nga sa akin yang macho na yan at nang magkakilala
kami." She said and he grinned. "Okay lang sana kung macho ka nga eh, hindi sayang
sa kasalanan pero ang masaklap, nagkasala na ako kasi nakita kitang nakaganyan
tapos wala man lang kalatoy-latoy yang katawan mo."

"Ang sakit mo namang magsalita, Miss Bernardo. Hindi ba macho ang tawag mo dito?"
He asked flexing his arms. "Kita mo yung biceps at triceps ko?"

"Hoy, ang kapal mo. Saan yung biceps dyan? Tsaka nangarap ka pa talaga ng triceps?
Oh my God, ha, as in oh my God talaga!"

"Oo na, gwapo ako. Macho. Kaakit-akit. Pero, Kath wag mo namang idamay ang Diyos sa
pagkatukso mo sa akin." DJ said and Kathryn frowned at him.

"Padilla, pwede?"

"Oo, pwedeng-pwede-"

"Bwisit! Umayos ka nga!" She said and he laughed. "Bumalik ka na dun sa unit mo.
Wag kang mag-alala kasi tuluyan mo nang sinira ang umaga ko. Tsupi!"

"Anong akala mo ba sa akin, aso? Wag ganun, Kath. Alam ko din namang nasasaktan ka
kasi ipinagtatabuyan mo ang taong mahal mo. Alam kong-"

"Umalis ka na, DJ! I'm not kidding!"

"Sige na nga. Kahit alam kong mabigat sa loob mo. Bye, Kath." He grinned before he
turned to leave. "Pag na-miss mo ako, isipin mo na lang na ginamit ko ang sabon
mo." He laughingly said.

"My God, ano ba naman itong taong ito! Nakakatuyo ng dugo!" She walked towards her
bathroom. "Mabuti na lang at madami akong sabon. Maitapon nga yung sabong ginamit
nya." She mumbled to herself. She opened one of the drawers and stared at the
empty space where her bath soaps were supposed to be. "Nasaan?" She asked no one in
particular. Binuksan nya rin ang ibang drawer pero wala syang makitang sabon.
"Nasaan na ang mga sabon dito?" She straightened and looked around her bathroom.
"Bwisit! Late na ako eh."

Ini-lock nya ang pintuan ng banyo bago nagtanggal ng mga damit para maligo. Hindi
nya maisip kung nasaan ang mga sabon nya at tuloy ay mapilitan syang gamitin ang
sabon na ginamit ni DJ. She thoroughly washed the soap he used before using it.

"Yun ang badtrip dito sa condo na to! Parang hindi ikaw yung may-ari kasi yung
kapitbahay mo ay wala nang ginawa kundi mambwisit!" She continued to grumble. Alam
nyang gahol sya sa oras kaya mabilis lang na pagligo ang ginawa nya. Nagmadali
syang lumabas sa banyo nang nakatapis.

"Kath-"

"Ay! Sus! Diyos ko! Ano ba?!"

"Sorry kung nagulat kita. Bilisan mo at kakain pa tayo ng breakfast." Daniel said
as Kathryn ran to her bedroom. She locked the door behind her and she leaned
heavily against it.

"Kaunting-kaunti na lang talaga ang natitirang pasensya sa akin, DJ! Kaunting-

kaunti na lang! Ang sarap mong kalbuhin! Ang sarap mong sampalin! Ang sarap mong
tadyakan!" She hissed.
"Kath, bilisan mo para makapag-breakfat tayo nang maayos." DJ knocked on her
bedroom door.

"Maghintay ka!" She snapped and heard him laugh.

"Aga naman ng paglilihi mo, Kath. May ginawa ka ba sa akin habang natutulog ako?"
He asked and she kicked her door in irritation.

"Aray!" She winced in pain.

"Kath? Okay ka lang ba?" DJ sounded very concerned and she rolled her eyes.

"Cute ka sana eh, ungentlemanly ka lang at para kang trainee ng akyat-bahay gang!"
She griped. She ignored his knocks and quickly changed into a pair of white capri
pants, a simple pink blouse and a pair of white strappy sandals. Hindi na sya nag-
blow dry ng buhok kasi ayaw nyang ma-late sa meeting.

"Basa pa ang buhok mo." DJ observed as Kath opened her bedroom door. She hastily
put her shades on. "Ako na ang magdadala nyang bag mo." He offered but she ignored
him. Derecho syang naglakad papunta sa pintuan nya at nagbuntong-hininga si DJ bago
sumunod. "Galit ka ba sa akin?" He asked but she didn't reply.

They took the elevator to the basement parking and she wondered for the nth time
kung nasaan ang driver at bodyguards ni DJ. Tinanggal nya kaya ang mga yun sa
trabaho? She asked herself as she got off the lift and walked towards one of his
parking spaces.

Hinintay nyang dumating si DJ and as soon as his keyless entry remote sounded, she
pulled the door of his car open to get in.

"Saan mo gustong mag-breakfast?" Tanong ni DJ before as she was putting her

seatbelt on. "Kath?" He asked as the car roared to life.

"Kahit saan." Kathryn murmured.

"Ano na naman ba? Ano na namang ginawa ko sayo? Bakit ba may mga ganyan kang moods?
Yung tipong hindi ka na lang namamansin?"

"DJ, alam mo ba yung word na privacy? Alam mo kung anong pakiramdam ko na kakalabas
ko lang ng banyo nang naka-towel tapos may lalaking naghihintay sa akin dun? Hindi
pa ba enough na tumatabi ka sa akin sa pagtulog na para bang ako ang Mommy mo at
takot ka sa mumu sa ilalim ng kama mo kaya hindi ka makatulog mag-isa? Kailangan
bang doon ka maligo, manuod ng TV, maghilamos, makipag-usap sa mga kaibigan mo na
para bang wala kang sariling bahay?!" She angrily uttered. "Nakaka-insulto na!
Bakit ka ba dikit nang dikit sa akin? Bakit ba hindi mo ako mabigyan ng breathing
space? Nakakasakal yung presence mo!" She added. Hindi kumibo si DJ at patuloy lang
na nagmaneho.

"Sorry." He muttered a few minutes later. "Gusto lang kitang makasama." He sighed.
"Pero, sige hindi na mauulit. Humihingi ako nang paumanhin kasi hindi ko inisip na
nasasakal ka na pala sa akin. Akala ko pareho tayo ng nararamdaman."

"We're friends, Deej. We're great friends. But even the best of friends need
space."

"We're friends?" He smiled shaking his head. "Friends." He laughed dryly. "Okay,
kung yan ang gusto mo."
Hindi na sila nag-usap ulit. They ate at a resto near the television station at
wala silang kibuan. When they reached Mr. M's office ay si DJ na mismo ang nag-open
na kailangang papalitan ang password ng unit ni Kath para ma-maintain ng dalaga ang
privacy. If Mr. M found the request odd ay hindi na sya nag-comment and just nodded
his head as he made phone calls to allow Kath to change her unit's password.

"Malapit na ang concert mo, DJ at sa concert na yun ay dun natin ipo-formally

introduce ang love team ninyo ni Kath. Ang first episode ng reality show ninyong
KathNiel ay ipapalabas the Monday after the concert. Pang-hapon ang show na ito
kasi ang target audience natin ay mga teenagers at estudyante."

"Okay po." Daniel replied. They both listened as Mr. M discussed about their show.
He told them that they will have mall tours and TV guestings at lahat ng schedule
nila ay dadaan sa handlers nila.

"So, you don't have to worry, okay? Gusto ko lang idagdag that as a neophyte love
team ay marami kaagad intriga kayong pagdadaanan. Hindi rin naman natin
maipagkakaila na medyo interesting yung mga news na lumabas tungkol sa inyong
dalawa bago pa man ang KathNiel. Gusto ko lang sabihin that you do not have to
reply to all questions thrown at you. Pwede kayong tumanggi. If there are difficult
issues, pag-uusapan natin at ng handlers ninyo at ang Star Magic na ang maglalabas
ng statement tungkol dito. Hindi sa tinatanggal namin sa inyo ang karapatang
magsalita but this is show business, may silent rules at protocols itong
industriyang ito. Okay, Kath? DJ?"

"Naiintindihan ko po." Kathryn replied. Alam nyang ang mga sinabi ni Mr. M ay
directed sa kanya since DJ has been in the industry for a long time at alam na nito
ang mga pasikot-sikot.

"I saw the episodes and congratulations sa inyong dalawa. I liked what I saw at
paniguradong kakagatin ng masa itong show ninyo."

"Sana nga po." Kathryn replied smiling but Daniel remained quiet.

Pero hindi yun napansin ni Kath kasi bigla syang ninerbyos. Natatakot sya kung ano
ang sasabihin ng mga manunuod. Natatakot sya sa magiging reaction ng mga fans ni DJ
at higit sa lahat ay natatakot ka sa magiging reaction ng Daddy nya. It has been
more than week since she left home pero patuloy na nagmatigas ang direktor at hindi
man lang sya nito nakuhang tawagan.

"Don't worry, DJ and Kath maganda ang kahihitnan nitong show ninyo." Mr. M assured
the teenagers. "May iba pa ba kayong concern?" Mr. M asked and the teenagers shook
their heads. Alam nila na yun na ang hudyat na tapos na ang meeting at sabay silang
tumayo.

Hanggang makarating sila sa condo nila ay hindi sila nag-usap o nag-imikan and DJ
immediately went inside his unit leaving Kath confused.

"So, sya pa talaga ang may ganang magalit?" She asked herself as she typed in her
unit's password and stepped inside. "Bahala ka sa buhay mo." She said.

She took a quick shower and blow dried her hair. "Salamat naman!" She plopped into
her bed and rolled around it. "Salamat talaga at sa akin lang itong kamang ito
ngayon. Hay, siguro ang himbing ng magiging tulog ko." She declared as she hugged
her pillow to her chest.

Three hours later, she was still wide awake.

"Ano ba naman ito!" She grumbled. Uminom na sya ng gatas kanina, kumain na at
nanuod na ng TV pero pagdating nya sa kama nya ay mulat na mulat at hindi sya
makatulog. "Ano ba!" She got up and started pacing around her bedroom. "Badtrip!
Ito talaga si Padilla!" She groaned before she sat on her bed.

Birthday ng babaeng mahal ko... six digits.

She heard DJ's voice in her head and her curiosity got the better of her. Lumabas
sya ng unit nya at palinga-lingang naglakad papunta sa unit ni DJ.

"Ano kayang password nito? Dapat ni-research ko sa internet kung kelan yung
birthday ni Tita Karla." She whispered to herself. Alam nyang tatlong beses lang
pwedeng mag-input ng maling password and the fourth try would trigger an alarm. She
stared at DJ's door's LED panel in indecision. "Wag na, Kath! Para kang ewan!" She
told herself and turned to leave. "Isang try lang." She said bago sya humarap ulit
sa pintuan ni DJ. "032696." She mumbled as she typed and was surprised when the
door unlocked. "Oh my God!" She was about to pull it close when someone pulled it
open.

She stared at DJ in embarrassment before she averted her gaze. "Sorry." She
murmured and he opened the door wider for her.

"Pumasok ka na kasi antok na antok na ako at ang tagal mo." He said and she scowled
at him. "Halika ka na." He offered his hand. "Kath." He muttered. She continued to
stare at the hand he offered. "Kath, please." He murmured and she expelled a heavy
breath before she took his hand. He smiled then and pulled her inside.