#BTSEp35
I requested Czearine, Carlise and Ezra to leave for an hour. Para mabigyan nila kami ni Mother Lizly ng pribadong pag-uusap. Sa itsura niya kasi ngayon, it was so evident that she is up for an important news.
"Kamusta ka na, hija?" Mother Lizly told me after she sat the cup of her tea on the center table infront of us. Usually, she always has this elegant and proud look. Pero ngayon, may iba. Hesitations are obviously pestering her usual mood.
"I am fine, Mother," I gave her a genuine smile, "I am really fine." Which is true. Sa nagdaang mga araw, wala naman akong choice kung hindi ang maging masaya na lang sa kagaguhang nangyayari.
That is how love works. When you are brokenhearted, you are mandatorily demanded to be okay because shit happens. And you are there to just accept it.
"I am glad that you are." She told me. Ramdam kong hindi siya makatitig sa mga mata ko nang ayos. Alam kong nahihiya siya sa akin dahil sa ginawa sa akin ni Ysabelle. Pero nag-sorry na siya sa akin last week, eh. It can never be that way. Gustong-gusto ko na talagang malaman ang dahilan ng pagpunta niya dito ngayon.
"May sasabihin ka ba sa akin, Mother?"
She looked away. Seems to be not proud of what she is about to say next. "The thing is . . ." She heaved a deep painful sigh, "nabalitaan mo ba iyong curruption issue ni Senator Madrigal?"
I nod. Yes, that was quite a massive issue right now. Lahat ng mga mata ng tao ay nakatuon sa kanya. Ang gago lang kasi ng ginawa niya. Inangkin niya ang portion ng pera na dapat ay mapupunta sa free tuition fee ng mga students sa State Universities.
"He is close with the head of our Management. At para patahimikin iyong malakas na ingay ng issue niya, napagdesisyunan ng Management na ipatigil ang on-screen relationship niyo ni Liv. But LivAce loveteam will still stay, don't worry."
That made me blink. But I didn't say anything. I let Mother to finish what she's about to say.
"Wala na kayo 'di ba, hija? It wouldn't hurt if I demand for it, right?" Mother reached for my head. She combed my hair first before she situated her hands on caressing my cheeks with her thumb.
I bit my lower lips. I am caressing my arms as I forced my self to agree. Kasi parang tanga lang? Tapos na naman talaga kami ni Liv. It was obvious na pinagpalit niya ako. I owe it to myself to hold on with the iota of pride that I currently have right now. I should agree.
"Wala pong problema, Mother." I finally said and I hope that it convinced her to believe na wala lang talaga ito sa akin. Kasi deep inside, masakit. Sobrang sakit tapusin iyong bagay na ayoko namang tapusin. Iyong bagay na pinanghawakan ko nang matatag pero sa isang iglap, bigla na lang mawawala. Ang sakit lang.
"Thank you, hija." Mother Lizly pulled me for a hug. And I responded with a tight one.
"Always welcome, Mother." I say while running my hands on her back. That moment, I am smiling but the emotions on my eyes are telling nothing but sadness.
***

AsyaGrasya shit happens, smile.
This IG post of mine fueled the speculations of everyone regarding to the break up of Liv and I. Massive quantity of showbiz journalist are coming for me these past few days. Lahat sila ay curious sa IG post ko.
Well, katulad ng kung papaano nagsimula ang on-screen relationship namin ni Liv, ganoon din ito matatapos. Everything started with a manipulated plot. And it will end to that manner too.
Mother Lizly has plotted everything. Siya iyong nakaisip na simulan ko sa mga IG posts ko ang lahat. She told me to give hints about our break up. Para nga naman in a way, unti-unting malilihis ang mga mata ng publiko sa amin-- papalayo sa issue ni Senator Madrigal.
And right now, I am about to drop more hints.

AsyaGrasya A painful should've been, that's us.
That IG post roared like crazy after a second. Dinumog iyon ng mga fans namin ni Liv. Most of them are commenting broken heart emojies. Some are giving their theories on what is really happening. I chose to just quiet as I turn my gaze outside of this car.
Napahikab ako.
"Inaantok ka na naman?" Asked by Ezra na abala sa pag-da-drive. We are going somewhere to eat. Bigla kasi akong nag-crave sa blueberry cheesecake at vanilla frappe.
I nod. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napaka-antukin ko lately.
"Langya, Asia. Iyan ba ang dulot ng pinagpalit? Nagiging antukin? Sana pala ginawa ko 'yan noong may insomnia ako!"
I was the quickest to turn my gaze at him. Right now, he is laughing. With the diamond earring on his right ear and his curly hair, hindi ko alam kung bakit mas nainis ako sa itsura niya kaysa sa sinabi niya!
"Ang panget mo!" I rolled my eyes at him.
"Luh, amputcha. Na-me-mersonal? Sampigahin kita diyan, eh."
I turn my gaze at him again. This time, with my poker face on. When he glanced at me, napakasiraulo talaga! Mas lalong tumawa! Mukha ba akong clown?!
A few minutes after, nakarating na rin kami sa pinakamalapit na Starbucks sa condo namin. We entered the shop with our cap on. Good thing, walang nakakilala sa amin hanggang sa makaupo kami sa isa sa mga vacant table. We chose the one with a few people around.
That's the point where I started to dig into the blueberry cheesecake. I was eating as if may aagaw nito sa akin. As if makikipagpatayan ako kung may aagaw nito sa akin! At hindi ko alam kung bakit ako naging ganito ka-patay gutom ngayon!
"Asia, to be frank with you, mayroon din ako niyan. Kaya 'wag mo akong angasan na para bang aagawin ko 'yan sa 'yo." Ezra told me as he sip on his cappucino.
Hindi ko siya pinansin, basta ako, mag-eenjoy ako dito! Hindi ko talaga inakalang ganito ito ka-sarap. Iyong tipong kahit ilang beses ko na itong natikman, parang mas masarap ngayon? Binago ba ng Starbucks ang recipe nila for this?
"Anyway," Ezra started again.
"Hmm?" I only responded to him. Hindi ko siya tinignan. Masiyado akong naiirita sa mukha niya. Pinili ko na lang na pagtuunan ng pansin ang masarap na cake sa harap ko.
"Handa ka na bang ulanin ng mga reporters after tomorrow's revelation?"
Nahinto ako sa pag-nguya. Matapos ay nagbaling ako sa kanya ng tingin. I sigh as I look away, tinantanan ko iyong cake. "Nope."
To be honest, ayoko talaga ng inuulan ng issue. Ayoko ng kinukwestyon ako. Ayoko ng may nanghihimasok sa pribado kong buhay. The feeling is a plain bullshit kapag may reporter na ginigisa ka just for you to spill the truth.
But, wala namang kaso sa akin iyon ngayon. Ang ayoko lang talaga ay ang magmukhang kawawa sa lahat ng tao. Kasi maghihiwalay na kami ni Liv sa mga mata nila, eh. That will pave a way for Liv and Ysabelle's truth. Sooner or later, aaminin na rin nila sa publiko na sila na. At ako? Magmumukha akong pinagpalit. I will be the one who will look like the defeated bitch and it will really hurt my pride.
Kung ang mang-aagaw at ahas na si Ysabelle lang naman ang tatalo sa akin, mas gusto ko na lang mabuhay sa kasinungalingan.
Pero alam kong hindi pwede. Kasi kahit ano namang mangyari, wala na kami ni Liv. Kung papatagalin pa namin ang pag-papanggap, ako lang ang talo. Ako lang ang kawawa. Ako lang ang masasaktan. Kaya siguro, okay na 'to. Okay nang tapusin ang dapat matapos.
Siguro, iyong nangyari kay Senator Madrigal ay isang daan lang ng tadhana para matapos na ang paghihirap ko. Para maging masaya naman ako. Kasi ang sakit na, eh. Kasi sobra na talaga akong nasasaktan. Kaya siguro, okay na 'to.
Siguro, ganoon na nga lang 'yon.
Siguro, kailangan ko lang talagang pilitin ang sarili kong mag-move on kahit mahal ko pa. Kahit mahal na mahal ko pa.