Chapter 4. Misunderstanding.

Hugo Folster's POV

So she came to my room... Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat maging reaksyon ko kaya agad ko nalang siya pinalabas. It was not rude, right?

She came to my room. She saw everything. Should I be happy that she saw everything? Will it change what she feels towards me even just a slight change?

Buntong-hininga kong ininom ang isang baso ng red wine habang tinitignan ko ang work area ko. Hindi naman sya talagang "work" kumbaga'y hobby. I like taking pictures and filming. Kung hindi lang ako pinilit na pumalit kay dad sa kumpanya ay matagal na siguro akong photographer o director.

I am hooked to photography. I like the thought of capturing moments and enclosing them in photos where time is frozen. Hearts are never broken and the smiles are taken as a very valuable and irreplaceable treasure.

Random lang ako kumuha ng mga litrato, sa mga bagay na magaganda at sa mga bagay na hindi mo araw-araw nakikita, it may be called "weird" but it's beautiful.

Photography is art.

And the best art that I have ever photographed is her.

Ilang taon nadin akong tumatakas sa kumpanya para dumalo sa mga event ni Ellie. Kinukuhanan ko siya ng mga litrato, karamihan ay mga nakaw o tinatawag na "stolen". Pero may isang litrato na nakatingin sya dito habang suot-suot ang ngiting abot tenga. It looked so genuine and she looked as beautiful as ever.

Kinuha ko ang litrato na nasa sa espesyal na seashore themed frame na nakalagay sa bedside table ko katabi ang alarm clock. Ang ganda ganda niya. I remember taking this picture when she made her debut in the acting industry. She deserves it. She deserves the world and more. I just hope she sees how much I adore her.

I am adoring her just as hard as much as I did when I first fell for her years ago. Back then, when I was at my lowest she was there though she may not remember me and now, she's the reason why now I am at my highest.

Pagkatapos kong ubusin ang kalahati ng wine na iniinom ko, tumambay muna ako sa balcony para magpahangin. Lumipas ang ilang segundo ay tinamaan nadin ako ng antok at napagpasyahan ko nading matulog. I'm planning to cook breakfast for her. And of course, I'll prepare her favorites.

.....

Tumunog ang alarm ko sa eksaktong 7:30 am. Pahikab akong bumangon at agad na naghilamos at nagsipilyo. I wouldn't want to greet her with a bad breath.

I looked at myself in the mirror after washing my face and brushing my teeth. May naramdaman akong iba kaya napatingin ako sa baba. It turns out my wood is awake.

"I guess you're the first to greet me in the morning."

I chuckled and spent a little time in the bathroom and took a bath. After taking a bath, I got changed into a grey shirt and black shorts. I kinda like how I look then I finally made my way downstairs and into the kitchen.

Habang nasa kusina ako, pinatugtog ko ang kantang "Fancy Shoes" by The Walters. The song gets me into the mood. And if reminds me of her.

Mga sampung minuto ang inabot bago ako matapos sa pagluluto. Nagluto ako ng pancakes, waffles kung wala sya sa mood para sa pancakes, bacon, ham kung wala rin syang gana para sa bacon. Pagkatapos ay umalis muna ako ng bahay at pumunta sa starbucks gamit ang kotse ko para bilhin ang paborito niyang kape. Hindi pa nakakapag-grocery at plano ko 'yun gawin mamaya. And hopefully, kasama sya. I've always wanted to go out and do grocery with her. Domestic sweetness, simple dream and a simple happiness tapos 'yung titignan kami ng mga tao at magbubulungan of how we look good as a couple.

I am satisfied with what I did. I had a proud look on my face as I gazed on the table setting and preparation. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ay pinuntahan ko agad ang kwarto niya para kumatok at gisingin sya kung hindi pa sya gising.

I knocked five times. I got no response so I decided to let myself in.

"Hey beautiful! Rise and shine!" Bungad ko sakanya pero wala akong nakitang Ellie kahit anino nya.

I peeked at her personal bathroom at the east side of her room. There was no sound of water gushing from the shower. or even droplets.

Where is she?

I started to get worried but I tried to calm myself down and told myself that she's just around the house or probably by the shore.

Hinanap at hinanap ko sya sa bawat sulok at cranny ng bahay pero wala sya. Sinuyod ko naman ang labas ng bahay, frontyard, backyard, at pati narin sa dalampasigan. Katulong ko sa paghahanap ang lahat ng tao sa bahay, mapakatulong, bodyguards, pati narin iilang search agents.

"Hugo, it's still 10 in the morning. Baka may nilakad lang 'yun. Babalik din 'yun, h'wag ka masyadong mag-alala." Pagpapakalma sakin ni dad.

They all came when they heard that I rung on a few people especially dad. I somehow started a commotion sa aming magpapamilya. I can't help it. She's a well-known actress. Ibig sabihin nun prone sya sa mga delikadong bagay. Maraming obsessed sakanya, and you could say na isa na ako dun.

Umirap lang naman si mama sa direksyon namin. "Anong h'wag masyadong mag-alala? Isn't it too late to say that? Eh kulang nalang lahat ng tao sa kumpanya ipatawag niya at ipatigil ang trabaho para lang hanapin yang babae nayan."

I couldn't help but glare at my mom. I knew that her opinion and thought on my decision to marry Ellie was absurd. And that soon and somehow she'll make a way to get in between us.

Siguro napansin ni Jia, my older sister ang tension sa pagitan namin ni mom kaya agad syang pumagitan at kinuha ang atensyon ko.

"Hugo, she's safe. Trust her at pag hindi sya umuwi mamaya we'll go all out, okay?" Jia assured me.

She told me to take deep breaths and try to calm down. I sat at the porch of the house and watched the waves hitting the shore. The waves, it somehow managed to calm me down.

Masaya nalang ako at hindi tumututol si dad at si Jia. I know myself na hindi rin naman ako papatinag pero it'll be much less of a pain kung hindi sila tutol. I just have to watch out for mom. And hoping na hahayaan nya nalang ako sa gusto ko since I granted her wish and gave up my dream to be a photographer and a film director.

"Hugh," tawag sakin ni Jia.

She nicknamed me Hugh from Hugo. She finds it cool. Sabi nya maganda daw pakinggan.

"Yeah?"

"Kumain kana ba? It's 10 in the morning. Nagtanong ako kasi nakita ko 'yung mga pagkain sa dinning area nyo na walang bawas. There were also two plates. By any chance, ikaw ba ang nagluto no'n?"

I nodded.

Nahalata nya siguro na wala ako sa mood makipag-usap kaya hindi nalang sya naghintay ng sagot ko at tuloy-tuloy lang syang nagsasalita.

"Ayaw mo ba kainin 'yun?"

I nodded once more.

"Let's eat then. Out, of course. Hinga ka muna. Get a new environment change even for just an hour. Samahan mo narin ako sa Sephora."

I eyed her. Alam niya na hindi ko kinagustuhan kahit dati pa ang pagsama sakanya sa mga lakad niya. On some days I'm just forced by dad.

She started to make puppy eyes. Ugh, annoying and disgusting.

"Stop." Imik ko.

"Stop what?" She tried to be clueless habang mas lalo syang nagpuppy eyes sa harap ko. The fuck?

"That puppy eye thingy. Para kang angler fish." I commented.

"Edi kung gusto mo'ko tumigil, samahan mo'ko. Please?"

I grunted in annoyance. Pero siguro maganda ring makapagpahangin-hangin ako. And baka makita ko rin sya. Who knows?

"Fine. But I'll drive."

Agad ko namang kinuha ang susi ko at pinaandar ang Tesla ko habang sakay si Jia katabi ko sa harapan. She said she first wanted us, especially me to eat so I decided to drop us at Starbucks.

My eyes were just focused on the road and on the cafe's logo. All was okay, medyo gutom lang siguro ako and I badly wanted coffee. There was this tiny vintage coffee shop a few blocks away from Starbucks. I saw a familiar figure. I told myself that I'm just hungry or I'm just worrying way too much.

But I wanted to make sure.

Agad kong inikot ang kotse ko at bumalik ako sa nadaanan kong coffe shop. Guess what I saw there?

Ellie was there. She was smiling sweetly while holding a mug of coffee. The view was almost picture perfect. I was relieved but I also felt uneasy. May kasama syang lalaki, she was actually talking happily with the guy while the guy was holding her left hand.

Mabigat sa pakiramdam yet I also feel like I don't have the rights to get angry.

As always, she's always near. Just within my grasp. But she feels so far. No matter how hard I try to get close to her, the steps I take don't get me anywhere closer to her.