Chapter 4

Caspien was still trying to shake off his hangover as he sat in front of the table. He was at Arkin's condo, where he had spent the night, and now his friend was chatting away while they ate breakfast.

"Dude, that girl from last night is crazy about you!" Arkin exclaimed, referring to the girl who had slapped Caspien at the club. 

Caspien raised an eyebrow. "I don't know her, and I'm not interested," he replied, trying to brush off the topic.

What bothered Caspien wasn't the girl's behavior – not even the slap – but the way she resembled Shaun's attitude. The scene reminded him of how he and Shaun first met. Shaun used to be the only girl he admired from afar, and even though he had gained popularity back then, she was still someone who seemed out of his league. 

She wouldn't even notice him before, but one day, Caspien and his friends were performing at a gig, and they finally interacted. 

Caspien was the vocalist of a band before. They were just young teens trying to make a name for themselves, and they were slowly gaining recognition, especially Caspien – before everything took a drastic turn, and he vanished from the public eye.

He inwardly shook his head, remembering his first interaction with Shaun. It was similar to what had happened at the bar the previous night. Shaun had also slapped him, but for a different reason. That was because her friend was crying after Caspien rejected her confession. 'What drama queen,' he chuckled.

He returned to reality when Arkin spoke again. "She's cute, though. Maybe she's from a rich family?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him. 

Caspien preferred not to talk about the girl. "Whatever, let's just drop it," he said, trying to change the subject.

"Later, I'll find my own condo, but for now, I'll stay here with you," Caspien said.

He actually didn't want to stay at Arkin's condo, but he didn't have a choice. His family's old house had been demolished, and he had nowhere else to go. The memories of his old home still lingered, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

As they ate, Caspien asked Arkin if there were any available condos in the hotel. Arkin replied that the seventh floor had condo rooms, but they were all occupied. 

'What a bummer,' Caspien thought.

Caspien didn't want to rent, so he decided to look for a condo in another hotel. Arkin teased him, saying he should just stay at his condo.

 "No thanks, I'd rather have my own privacy than to see you banging your girls here all around"

Arkin burst out laughing and told Caspien a story about a girl he had met at a bar. According to Arkin, the girl was beautiful and wealthy, but when he brought her to his condo, she suddenly asked to call her father to ask for permission because she was willing to get pregnant and have a child with Arkin. Arkin was shocked and quickly made up a story that he was gay.

Caspien was amused by Arkin's ridiculous excuse. "You expect me to believe that she fell for that?" he asked, chuckling. 

Arkin grinned. "She believed me, and she even cried because she thought it was a waste that I was gay," he said, laughing at the memory.

Caspien shook his head, laughing. "You're something else, Arkin," he said, teasing his friend.

After finishing their meal, Arkin received a message, probably from his manager or handler. He told Caspien that he had to leave for a shooting. Caspien just nodded as he watched Arkin hurrying to get ready. 

He quickly bathed and changed his clothes, doing everything within fifteen minutes, which made Caspien laugh. He never thought Arkin would be really dedicated to a job.

"I'll call you later," Arkin told him, grabbing his bag. Caspien watched him until he reached the door and left the room.

Now that he was alone, Caspien was back to thinking again. Without the distractions of liquor and women, he was back to being in a hellhole. He grabbed his phone to check if there were any messages from Max or any of his friends, but there were none. 

"Those guys didn't even bother to look for me?" he sighed in annoyance.

He was referring to his friends in the States. He shook his head, remembering how his friends back there genuinely cared for him. He even recalled how his friend Ethan had been shocked and panicked as he rushed to get to him before he blacked out.

Caspien thought that maybe his father had something to do with his friends not contacting him, so he decided to call Ethan. 

Ethan was his best friend in the States, and Arkin also knew him because they ran in the same circle. Arkin had grown up traveling back and forth between the Philippines and the States when they were young. Since Caspien had stayed in the States for six years, Arkin would also visit him there once or twice a year.

After a couple of rings, Ethan finally answered. "Eth," Caspien greeted.

"Hey, Cas, how are you doing?" Ethan asked, sounding unusually calm and collected, which made Caspien raise an eyebrow. "Your dad told me you've already landed in the Philippines yesterday."

"You don't sound very concerned," Caspien said, his tone dripping with skepticism.

Ethan laughed on the other line, and Caspien's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?" Ethan asked. "Your dad told us it's a surprise for you, that your friends in the Philippines missed you, and that's why he sent you back. He said it's his gift to you."

Caspien was beyond shocked. So, his father had really planned this and lied to his friends? He blew a loud breath, which didn't escape Ethan's ears.

"Why? You didn't enjoy it? Is there something wrong?" Ethan asked.

Caspien composed himself to talk but Ethan continued. "Come on, man, it's been six years, and I know you miss your friends back there, even if you don't tell us," Ethan said.

"How about the girl you mentioned to me before – what was her name again?" He stopped, trying to remember. "Oh, Shaun! How is she? Did you guys meet?"

Ethan was a good friend of Caspien's, and he always paid attention to his dear friend, even if Caspien was a bit of a playboy and he's just a plain jackass. They were always together, and Ethan knew all the tricks Caspien could pull out of his sleeve. But behind all that, Ethan also knew his friend's sufferings so he always pampered him and treated him like a younger brother. 

Hearing the eagerness in Ethan's voice, Caspien calmed himself down before responding. "I'm with Arkin yesterday, but he left for his shooting today," he informed Ethan.

Their conversation continued, and Caspien reasoned that his only problem was finding a place to stay. He said he would search for an apartment or condo unit. Ethan bought it, and they continued talking, but Ethan noticed that Caspien was avoiding all his questions about Shaun and his other friends.

Caspien was just telling him about Arkin, his career, and the bar they went to yesterday, as well as his experience there. Ethan had enough of it. He could feel how Caspien is holding back, and he kept rambling on about random stuff. That didn't sit well with Ethan.

"Caspien, stop it, will you?" Ethan said, his patience wearing thin. "Spill it. Where are your friends? Where's Shaun? The last thing I heard from your dad was that you were out partying, so we didn't call you because we wanted you to enjoy the moment. Sabrina really wanted to Facetime with you since yesterday to greet you, but I didn't allow her."

Caspien smiled, hearing that. Sabrina was Ethan's younger sister, and Caspien also treated her like a younger sister, although she had a crush on him.

"Say hi to her for me," Caspien said. "I'm doing fine, Eth. I was really out partying yesterday, but I'm only with Arkin. Maybe I'll meet up with my other friends later," Caspien said, trying his best to sound natural, as if he wasn't lying. He didn't have any plans to meet up with his friends. He actually wanted to hide from all of them.

"And Shaun?" Ethan trailed.

"I met her yesterday," Caspien replied.

"How is she?" Caspien paused to think of an answer, and when he got one, Ethan gasped on the other line.

"She's still as beautiful as ever," Caspien said, smiling.

"But I don't have any plans of getting back with her. She has eyes for someone else now, and I'm happy for her." Of course, that was a lie. But Caspien couldn't help but feel genuinely defeated. One way or another, Shaun would definitely have someone who could stay by her side for a very long time. 

That someone was never going to be him.