" So, shall we start?" The mighty Felip Jhon Suson asked. He roamed his eyes around and stopped at the guy at the far end who was busy preparing for his pitch. He was intently looking at Justin, from his soft hair, to his prominent nose down to his lips. God! He missed him. He can still clearly remember that fateful night. Their night.

He was not supposedly the one to attend this meeting but after a long fight with his Dad, he said yes. Nothing has changed. He didn't want to be part of the corporate world. He wanted to sing. He wanted to be free and make music for the people to listen. But his Dad hated it and he hated him more for that. His mom understood and supported him but can't do anything to defy his father.

If not for his mother, he wouldn't be here but it seemed like a good decision as he was still staring at the man in front of him. He smirked when Justin looked at him and gave him a cold stare.

" Pabebe, huh baby?" He thought.

Justin stood and started his presentation. He was nervous as Ken was giving him an intent stare. He tried to be professional para matapos na at makawala na siya sa presensya ni Ken. Hindi niya na nagugustuhan ang nararamdaman niya. Tapos na siya dito.

The meeting went well. Ken immediately said yes to everything that Justin was saying.

" Thank you, Mr. Suson for doing buisness with us. My secretary will send you the full contract in your office first thing in the morning tomorrow." Jutin said as he prepared to leave and offered his hand to Ken.

" No need to be formal, Justin. Tapos na ang meeting natin. Call me Ken, instead."

" No, Sir. It's very unnecessary to call you by your first name when in fact we're doing business here." Justin answered stressing the word "business".

Ken smirked and raised his hands as a sign of surrender. He didn't want to provoke him or else he will be hiding from him again and didn't want that to happen,

He accepted his hand and suddenly gave Justin a kiss on lingering his cheek that made Justin speechless.

" Ang sungit mo naman, baby ko. Sige na nga. Bye bye na. See you!" And left the room.

" Ken, bwisit ka. Wala ng next time. Manigas ka! " Nanggigigil na sabi ni Justin sa kawalan.

 

Justin was drying his hair when he received a text from an unknown sender.

You make me smile effortlessly.

" Sino 'to? " Justin asked himself.

His phone beeped again.

I can never stop thinking of you.

" Who's dis pls?" He replied back.

But he didn't get any answer. Then, few minutes later, he received another message. Naiinis na siya. Gusto na niyang matulog dahil sa sobrang pagod sa trabaho at sa bwisit na Ken na yun. Nakailang nakaw pa ng halik sa kanya at wala man lang siyang nagawa at bakit parang nagugustuhan niya?

" Aaarrrgghhh! Ayoko na makita pagmumukha mo Ken Suson! Nakakainis ka!!!" He shouted.

Suddenly, his phone beeped again.

I wish I could ignore you the way you ignore me.

Then his phone rang. Sa sobrang inis niya sa mga nangyayari at sa pag-aakala niya na yung nagtext ang tumawag,

" Pwede ba?!!!! Kung wala kang magawa sa buhay mo, kumuha ka ng isang dram ng sili at yun ang nguyain mo. Tseeee!" He shouted at the top of his lung and dropped the call.

The another beep.

" Justin de Dios, I need to see your face in the goddamn house first thing in the morning!" - Dad

His eyes grew wide when he read the message. He check the call log and saw it was his Dad he shouted at earlier. Kapag tinawag na siya ng Daddy niya sa buong panagalan niya, alam niyang galit na to. Natatakot pa naman siya. Huhu help!

" Wag na wag kang magpapakita sakin Felip Jhon Suson kundi hahalikan kita este kakalbuhin kita!!!"

 

The next morning..............

" Hahahahaah baliw ka talaga Bunso, bakit mo naman sinigawan si Tito?"

" Yan kasi kung ano anong iniisip, yan tuloy ipapadala ka sa sa isang linggong convention seminar imbes na si Kuya Yani hahaha."

Sinimangutan ni Jah ang mga Kuya niya dahil imbes na damayan siya sa nagyayari sa kanya abat tinatawanan lang.

" Alam niyo, sana di na lang kayo nagpunta kung aasarin niyo lang ako."

" Sorry na Jah pero seryoso, nakapag empake ka na ba?" Tanong ng Kuya Josh niya. Bukas ng umaga ang flight niya papuntang Luxembourg.

" Tapos na Kuya. Handa na pero ako hindi. Kainis naman tong si Dad eh. Ngayon pa talaga." Pagmamaktol ni Jah.

" Aysus, ayaw mo lang umalis dahil kay Ken." Pang aasar ni Josh.

" Ano ulit,Smolbean?!"

" Ah Smolbean pala ha, teka tawagan ko nga si Ken, papahatid kita sa kanya bukas."

" Kuyaaaaaa Josh! Alam mo bang ang gwapo gwapo mo ha tsaka ang tangkad mo mo bagay kayo ni Kendall Jenner."

" Lolo mo bagay, Jah tigilan mo nga ako. Takot ka lang malaman ni Ken address mo eh."

Nagulat si Justin sa sinabi ni Josh. Hala! Panu niya nalaman yun? Lagot!

" Wag ka nang mag maang maangan Bunso tsaka tanggap ka namin ng mga Kuya mo okay? Tska halata na din naman sa company party pa lang noon pero di na lang kami nagsalita. Hinintay lang namin ni mag share ka samin Jah." Stell admitted.

Naiyak si Jah sa mga narinig niya. Sa wakas may mapagsasabihan na rin siya at may iintindi na rin.

" Salamat mga Kuya, mahal na mahal ko kayong dalawa." And they hugged. Suddenly, Stell's phone beeped.

"Ah guys, gusto niyo labas muna tayo? Ininvite ako ni Sejun sa SB Hotel."

" Luh! Di kaya makaistorbo kami sa inyong dalawa Kuya Stell? Tanong ni Jah.

" H-ha? Di ah. Ano ka ba, Jah. Friends lang kami noh." Stell blushed.

" Sus, tunog defensive. Lolo mo friends!" Josh butted in while eating fries.

Binato ni Stell si Josh habang tumatawa. Jah smiled looking at his Kuyas. He felt so blessed to have them around.

" Tara na nga. Wala kayong kwentang kausap." Stell rant and went out. Nag apir naman si Jah at si Josh habang tumatawa.

 

When they arrived at the bar, halos puno na ang mga upuan. When the waiter recognized them, they immediately led them to the VIP seat.

" Grabe talaga ang charisma ni Masked Man noh, blockbuster talaga kapag siya ang kakanta." Stell said in amazement.

Jah's heart skipped a beat upon hearing the name. The last time they where here, he received a letter from him. Balak niya sanang bumalik at makita ulit itong kumanta pero dahil sa dami ng trabaho kaya di na siya nakabalik.

" Oyyy may naalala at may kinikilig." Asar ni Josh kay Jah.

Jah blushed at hinampas si Josh na tawang-tawa.

" Hi, Stell. Buti nakarating kayo. " Sejun approached them on their table and sat beside Stell.

" Ay hello Sejun. Oo ng eh, salamat sa pag invite." Stell smiled. The two were looking for few secs when Jah decided to break the staring game between the two.

" Ehem, ehem, Kuya Josh andaming langgam dito noh?"

"Oo nga. Sakit sa mga single ah este sakit sa balat ah."

Pinandilatan sila ng mata ni Stell habang tumawa na lang si Sejun.

" Ay Sej, si Josh at Justin pala mga kaibigan ko." Pakilala ni Stell sa kanila.

Sejun offered his hands to them and smiled.

" Hi Josh. Nice meeting you,"

" And hello Justin, The Justin de Dios." Sejun said that left Jah confused by his words.

" What do you mean?" Justin asked, confused but Sejun just gave him a smile. A meaningful smile.

" Enjoy lang kayo guys ha. Sagot ko na lahat tutal ako naman ang nag invite. Don't hesitate to call my staff if you need anything and even me if wala akong ginagawa lalo na ikaw Stell. Sa likod muna ako. See yah later." He winked at Stell and left.

" Iba din naman talaga ang kamandag ng isang Stellvester Ajero,mismong may-ari ng SB Hotel ang suitor. Uwian na Jah." Josh teased.

" Hoy tumigil ka nga. Kakahiya sa mga makarinig." Reklamo ni Stell.

Tumawa lang si Jah at ininom ang hawak na wine. He scanned the room and saw different people from the upper class. He knew some of them. Big time talaga tong admirer ng Kuya Stell niya, sobrang sikat ng hotel. He was about to turn his attention cak to his kuyas when he saw a familiar figure walking towards the office of Sejun.

" Ken?" He whispered. He was about to follow him but Josh stopped him.

" Hoy Jah, saan ka pupunta? Malapit na magsimula si Masked Man oh."

" Josh, parang nakita ko si Ken dun." He pointed at the direction where he saw him.

" Ken as in Ken Suson as in Felip Jhon Suson na crush mo?" Stell butted in.

Jah's eyes grew wide and looked around. Tinakpan niya bibig ni Stell at baka may makarinig. Ken is one of the most followed person by the paparazzis dahil sa mysterious and dark aura niya na gustung gusto ng mga babae sa kanya.

"Kuya! Wag ka nga, baka may makarinig. Babalatan ako ng buhay ni Daddy kapag nalaman niya yan."

"Hahaha joke lang Bunso, tsaka baka namamalikmata ka lang. Upo kana at andyan na si Masked Man."

The people screamed at the sight of the Masked Man. He scanned the room trying to find the guy who caught his attention. He smiled when he saw him together with his friends. 

" Jah, baby." He whispered. Ken was more inspired to sing as he saw him at the audience. Wala lang. Kahit siya di niya maintindihan ang sarili bakit ganun ang epekto ni Jah sa kanya. He knew he was being rude way back when he kissed him suddenly at their company party. He maybe a bit tipsy but he remebered very well how those sweet lips that haunted him all these years.

Yes, years. He wanted to reconnect with him after that night but he was so messed up that every night he would bed different girls to provoke his Dad for ruining his dreams. He realized that it would be very unfair for Justin who was too pure to be hurt if he'll pursue him. Di naman siya ganun ka heartless. He thought it was just a plain infatuation but seeing him again brings back that weird feeling.

He breathed sharply and ready himself. He strummed the guitar. Everyone kept quiet. 

Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Oh, shall I stay, would it be a sin
Oh, if I can't help falling in love with you?

Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be

Take my hand, take my whole life too
Oh, for I can't help falling in love with you

Oh, like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be

Jah felt home as the Masked Man started singing. He held his chest to calm his heart. The entire time he was singing, he was just staring at him.

Oh, take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
Oh, for I can't help falling in love with you

Nagulat ang lahat when the Masked Man went off the stage. Kabang-kaba na si Justin when he went on their table and sat beside him. 

Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes, some things are meant to be

Take my hand, take my whole life too
Oh, for I can't help falling in love with you

He can hear the oohs and aahhh around but what did the Masked Man next did left everyone speechless. 

For I can't help falling in love with you
Oh, for I can't help falling in love with you

The Masked Man knelt in front of Justin and kissed his hand before he went on stage. 

Justin was not able to talk. He felt he was under his spell as he saw him disappeared behind the curtains.

Tiningnan ni Josh at Stell si Justin na nakatulala lang sa kawalan. 

" Jah? Jaaaah? Hoy Justin de Dios?!!" Niyugyog ni Stell ang balikat ni Jah.

" Naloko na Stell, may nahulog na." Josh uttered.

" Nahulog saan? Sa bangin?" Stell replied.

" Tange! Nahulog sa bangin ng pag-ibig." 

" Yun nga sabi ko diba? Bingi ka ba?"

" Wow, ako pa talag----" Di na natuloy ni Josh ang sasabihin niya ng biglang umalis si Jah.

" Hoy Jah?! San ka pupunta?" Sigaw ni Stell pero di na siya narinig.

 

Hinihingal si Jah habang papunta sa backstage. Di siya matatahimik hanggat di niya nakikilala kung sino si Masked Man. Malakas ang kutob niya na iisang tao lang sila. Pagdating niya dun, ang mga taga linis na lang ang natira. Nilapitan niya ang isa sa kanila.

" Ate, nasaan po si Masked Man?" 

" Nakaalis na po Sir, ngayon-----"

Hindi na hinintay na matapos ni Jah ang sasabihin ng babae at agad na tumakbo palabas. Hindi na niya alintana kung sino ang nababangga niya. Ang mahalaga sa kanya makita si Masked Man.

" Nasaan ka ba? Magpakita ka sakin please." Piping usal niya.

Hindi pa rin siya tumitigil hanggang sa mabunggo siya sa isang matigas na bagay.

"Hey, watch out. Are you, okay?" Tanong ng lalaki kay Jah at inalalayan siyang makatayo. Nang iangat niya ang kanyang ulo, nasorpresa siya sa kanyang nakita. 

It was Sejun and at the back of him was the only person who occupied his mind for the last 24 hours was looking at him intently.

" A-ah yes, ano kasi..ano..may hinahanap ako." Justin fidgeted. Ken was still not talking.

Sejun looked at Ken as if telling something.

" Sinong hinahanap mo, Justin?" Ken finally talked while coming near at him and cornered him on the wall.

" Umalis ka diyan.Feeling mo naman ikaw hinahanap ko. Tse! " Angal niya dito at mabilis na tumakbo paalis.

 

Sinundan ng tingin ni Ken si Jah habang nakangiti. Nilapitan siya ni Sejun at tinapik sa balikat.

" So, that was Justin de Dios. He's cute. And you're whipped."  At iniiwan siya habang tumatawa.

 

" Yes. And doomed. See you at the convention, baby." He chuckled and followed Sejun outside.