CHAPTER 4: His Trap

"CONFIRMED, MADAM! SABI KO NA NGA BA, MAY SOMETHING FISHY D'YAN SA RAIZEN NA 'YAN!”

Kyree tsked as we watch a familiar figure from afar. Naka-park kami ilang hakbang ang layo sa harapan ng isang tagong restaurant. Iyong pinapanood namin? It was Raizen Policarpio—the same "talent" na pinag-uusapan namin kani-kanina lang.

That Raizen Policarpio is definitely a newbie in the entertainment industry. He's probably in his early twenties. May dating ito at hindi maitatangging malakas ang karisma. Pero kung talent at talent lang din ang pag-uusapan ay obvious na waley ito. Kaya nakakapagtaka na sa kabila no'n at kabi-kabila pa rin ang projects na involved ang batang aktor. Maraming nagsasabi na may mas "malalim" na dahilan kung bakit gano'n.

"That man he is with, pamilyar siya sa akin. Isn't he one of the executive directors of the most famous T.V. network?” saad ko.

"Oo nga! Shet, I think I know him! Teka lang, Madam, ha? Aalalahanin ko kung sino… Ahah!” Malakas na napapalakpak si Kyree. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya dahil doon. "Wenchy Corpuz, Madam! Si Wenchy Corpuz 'yan!”

Napatangu-tango ako.

"Wenchy Corpuz,” ulit ko pa sa pangalan ng direktor na kasama ng binatang artista. "This is final. Si Raizen Polocarpio—siya na ang featured sa next monthly issue natin. Ask the research team to further research about him. Gano'n din sa mga taong nakakasalamuha niya; most especially those who have high positions on the media management. Ipa-send mo sa email ko. I'll wait for it until 11 o'clock on the dot. Once the clock hits 11 at wala pa sa'kin ang mga report na kailangan ko, then we have to do a mass hiring for the entire research department.”

I COULDN'T HELP BUT SMILE AS I BROWSE RAIZEN POLICARPIO'S FILE.

Kumpletos rekados. Nakalagay na ro'n lahat ng impormasyon na gusto kong malaman. May bonus pa na juicy chika. Mukhang bumabawi talaga sila. From here I can see na determinado ang mga tao ko na patunayan na hindi ako nagkamali sa pagbibigay ng second chance sa kanila; bagay na dapat lang naman nilang gawin.

"… From an information straight from a valid source, Raizen Policarpio's role in the now-trending series "Love Conquers All", was allegedly stolen as it was originally casted for Royce Tañeda…”

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa nabasa. Royce Tañeda? Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, isa rin s'ya sa mga baguhang starlet na kasabayan lang din ni Raizen. Also, s'ya 'yung rumored best friend ni Raizen.

Napangiti ako.

This is getting exciting. This just means, hindi lang secret life ni Raizen Policarpio ang mauungkat; damay na rin 'yung paraan n'ya ng pakikipagrelasyon sa mga taong nasa paligid n'ya. Especially with his rumored best friend, Royce Tañeda.

Magiging hit malamang ang part na 'yon ng interview. Imagine a headline of what sounds like: "RAIZEN POLICARPIO, THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK OF THE ALLEGED STEALING OF LCA MALE LEAD ROLE; AS ROYCE TAÑEDA CASTED FIRST AND ORIGINALLY” Idagdag pa na habang obvious na walang talent si Raizen, kabaliktaran naman no'n si Royce na talagang namamayagpag sa bawat eksena n'ya. That major difference between the two can make this issue louder than ever.

I once again smiled an evil smile.

I took my phone and was about to dial someone's number when suddenly, I noticed a message from an unknown number. Nasa notification banner lang 'yon. I received it past 10. Ngayon ay mag-aalas onse na kaya ilang minuto na rin palang ipinadala ng kung sino ang mensaheng 'yon. Hindi ko lang siguro napansin dahil aksidente kong na-turn on ang silent mode ng cell phone ko.

Binuksan ko na lang 'yung message na 'yon para basahin bago ko tawagan ang dapat kong tawagan.

"How are you? How's your flight?”

Flight? Iisang tao lang ang alam kong pwedeng mangamusta sa "flight" ko. Si Damon…

Nakaramdam na naman ako ng inis. It's been twenty-four hours since I came back here and he sent me a message just now?! Gusto kong matawa.

Hindi ko s'ya ni-reply-an. I just went to call that someone who I was about to speak earlier.

"Hello—”

"Hi, is this Raizen Policarpio's manager?” sabi ko agad sa sumagot.

"Y-Yes. May I know who's this—”

"It's Winter,” pakilala ko.

"W-Winter? Winter… from the Sparks Magazine?”

I let out a lopsided grin when I noticed her sudden change of tone. Nanginig s'ya bigla at parang kinabahan.

"Yes. I just want an interview with Raizen Policarpio. It's a one-on-one interview—”

"I-I'm sorry, Miss Winter. Pero hectic po ang schedule namin ngayon at sa mga susunod na buwan. Hindi po namin maisisingit ang interview—”

"Are you trying to reject me? It's hurting na hindi pala kasingit-singit ang interview ng Sparks Magazine; knowing that we can give spotlight. Or maybe, blackhole,” I calmly said. But I also made sure to make her feel unease. "I want an interview with Raizen Policarpio anytime tomorrow.”

"Pero, Miss Winter—”

"An interview tomorrow or nothing, Ma'am. Gusto ko lang din kayong i-inform na kahit hindi pumayag ang kampo n'yo na ma-interview namin si Raizen, ilalabas at ilalabas pa rin namin ang article na tungkol sa kanya. And that'll contain things that we only got from our research and sources. I want an interview with Raizen because by that, magkakaroon s'ya ng chance na masabi 'yung side n'ya at masalag ang mga posibleng negative publicity na lumabas against him.”

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Wholesome silence.

"I'll be waiting for your response before twelve midnight. I want time and place. Kapag wala 'kong natanggap na sagot, we'll be publishing raw articles about your talent—” Hindi na 'ko nakatapos magsalita dahil bigla na lang nag-vibrate 'yung cell phone ko. It was a sign that another call was incoming. Napamura ako nang makita na 'yung unknown number na naman 'yon. The same number na ginamit ni Damon para i-contact ako. I put it on hold as I turned to Raizen's manager once again. "I'm putting this down. I want time and place, Ma'am. Got it?”

"W-We'll… see—” Pinatayan ko na s'ya kahit hindi pa s'ya tapos magsalita. 'Tapos sinagot ko naman 'yung isa pang incoming call.

"Thank goodness, you answered—”

"Anong kailangan mo?” I asked him coldly and firm.

I heard him laugh. "Is it the time of the month?”

My forehead creased. "What?”

Tumawa na naman s'ya imbis na sagutin ako. "Why are you still awake?”

Napatingin ako sa laptop ko na nakabukas. Display pa rin do'n 'yung article tungkol kay Raizen Policarpio.

"I… I'm still at work.”

"Work? At this hour?” gulat na tanong n'ya.

My eyebrows arched. Bakit parang gulat na gulat s'ya? And what does he mean by "at this hour"? Aware ba s'ya sa oras ngayon dito sa Pilipinas? Bakit? Nasa bansa ba s'ya na nasa parehong timezone ng Pilipinas? O baka naman…

"Nasa'n ka?” Ako naman 'yung nagtanong imbis na sagutin s'ya.

"Damn. I thought, hindi mo pa rin mahahalata. I'm… somewhere here in Manila. Wanna go with me? Let's have fun.”

Umawang ang bibig ko—literal—after hearing what he just said.

"Y-You're joking, are you?” sabi ko. I even laugh. Alam kong pilit 'yon but so what?

"You bet,” hamon n'ya naman. "Send me your address. I'll be there in a snap.”

Nilayo ko 'yung cell phone ko sa tainga ko. Then I look at the unregistered number that Damon used to call me. +63 ang ang country code no'n. Which states na nasa Pilipinas nga talaga ang caller. Nasa Pilipinas nga si Damon!

"My Soirye…”

I blinked several times. Then I swallowed the lump that seems to form on my throat. His voice… And that endearment he used to call me…

"I want to see you now, My Soirye. I want you now,” he whispered even. His voice filled with intensity and desire.

I bit my lower lip as I suppress the heat that he managed to make me feel just right now.

"I-I can't, Damon. I-I have so much to do—”

"Please, My Temptress.”

I closed my eyes shut. Nararamdaman ko na malapit na 'kong bumigay sa pang aakit ni Damon. But I'm still trying to control my thoughts. I'm trying my best to control my body. Ayokong bumigay na naman dahil alam kong wala naman akong mapapala. Tama na 'yung isang gabing pamumuhunan ko sa kanya. Wala pa 'kong nakukuhang kapalit para ro'n kaya hindi pa 'ko pwedeng mag-invest ng panibago.

"I'm… really sorry, Damon. Pero hindi talaga kaya ngayon. Maybe next time—”

"Fuck. I so fucking miss you, My Soirye. Won't you be nice and let me have you just even while I am still here? Pretty please?”