Via drank the shot glass. It was her third. But she's still ok. Napangiwi pa siya sa pait ng alak. The bar was full pack that night. It was exclusively book to celebrate another successful film na gawa ng kaibigan ni Via. She's just there as guest.
"Girl, I gotta say," turan ng american friend ni Via na si Ausie, na siyang isa sa mga cast ng film. "You did look good. You're blooming."
Ngumiti lang siya.
"So, was it true? You've officially broke up with SJ?" tanong ng isa pang amerikanang kaibigan din niya.
"Oh please!" ani Ausie. "She have broken up with SJ ages ago. That dickhead was just so persistent. And the audicity to keep using you for his career. If it was me, I'll cut his dick!"
Ausie was one of her closest friend in London. She have known from the very start how it's going with her and SJ. Ito din ang number one critic niya when it comes to SJ.
"But what happened to SJ? That was a big blow in his career and who's that girl who claim to be related to you running around with him?"
"Comm'on girls," awat na ni Via sa umuusbong na tsimisan."We're too being nosy. I'm not here to explain all those bad lucks. I wanna move forward."
3months ago, pagkatapos niyang magpaalam kay Matt and returned to London, tinapos niya lahat ng ugnayan niya kay SJ. She showed everyone how bitchy she was. She no longer the nicest celebrity in town. She told everyone the truth. Tinanggap niya lahat ng interviews, and presscon and told everyone the same thing. She no longer cared kung may matatapakan siyang iba. She didn't even thought kung makakaapekto ba yun sa career niya. She accepted the fact that in this life, hindi forever ang career niya. But if she's retiring, she wanted to retire right. Hindi apektado ang personal life niya. Thus, she showed everyone how mad she was with SJ and exposed his made up lies. It killed his career. It was brutal but oddly satisfying for Via.
"Well, now everybody knows how evil you can get, Vi. And I think no one would dare to fight you off again," komento ng babaeng kaibigan niya.
"Let's drink to that!" Ausie raised her glass to a cheers. Via and their friend oblige.
She was drinking when a bar staff came up to her at may binulong ito sa kaniya na ikinasalubong ng kilay niya saka nanlaki.
"Girls, excuse me for a moment," mabilis na turan ni Via saka tumayo at sumunod sa bar staff na tumawag sa kaniya. Nakatingin lang ang mga kaibigan niya sa kaniya.
Mabilis ang hakbang na lumabas si Via sa VIP lounge and headed out sa parking lot kasama ang bar staff. Malayo pa lang ramdam na ni Via ang tensyon between four good looking men and some huge built guards. Nakaharang sa harap ng apat na lalaki ang dalawang malalaking katawang bouncers.
"What the he--? What's going on?!" bulalas ni Via. She was surprised but it was more pleasant rather than negative. Pinipigil niya ang ngiti but she can't help it. She was happy seeing Matt's friends. But Matt is nowhere to be seen.
Thor winked at her. Buboy gave a slight wave. Red nodded at her and JV just looked at her habang nakasandal ito sa van looking tired.
"You know these people, Via?" tanong ng manager ng bar.
"These are my friends. Why? What's wrong?" ani Via. Tila may maliit na komosyong nagaganap kani-kanina lang.
Napayuko ang mga guards and slightly loose up the guard muscles. Napakamot naman sa batok ang manager. When Via looked at the four boys, tila naging maangas ang tingin ng apat.
"Well then, my apologies for misunderstanding. Please know that it is our job to reject anyone who wishes to get in private lounge without invitations," turan ng manager.
"You're making it sound like we wanted to break in. We are just simply asking if you can inform Via that we're here," ani JV in somewhat totally irritated tone. Tila napipikon na ito sa manager ng bar.
"You could've just called her if you're really her friends!" mainit na sabat naman ng manager ng bar.
"Ok! Break it up," awat ni Via sa tila nag-uumpisa na namang pag tatalo. "You can all go back inside," ani Via sa mga empleyado ng bar. Mabilis namang tumalikod ang bar manager kasunod ang dalawang bouncer.
"I told you to call the owner of the bar, eh di sana hindi na tayo nagkagulo dito," ani Red na nahihilot ang batok as the employees of the bar left.
"You know the owner of this bar?" ani Via.
"Philip Steinbeck is our friend," simpleng sagot ni JV weakly.
Humarap si Via sa apat. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin. Each one looks handsomely tired. They have this aura na para bang may masama ang pakiramdam.
"What happened? Mukha kayong mga pagod," turan ni Via.
"15hours. We flew for 15hours," sagot ni Thor. Stretching. Tila sumakit ang likod nito. "In Buboy's private jet. It was not a pleasant flight."
"We have to do it in a rush and in secret since Matt shouldn't know," turan ni Red. "We have to take Buboy's jet since its the easiest to slip out and the one available."
Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Via. Hindi niya maintindihan kung ano ang nagaganap at bakit hindi kasama ng mga ito si Matt. She was so clueless na hindi niya malaman kung ano pa ang itatanong.
"You're wondering why were here?" tanong ni JV. He looked like as the most tired of all. Nakasandal pa rin ito sa van and nakapamulsa.
"Y-yeah..." alanganing sagot niya.
Nagtinginan ang apat as if nagtuturuan kung sino mag-eexplain. They all too tired to talk. Si Thor ang unang nagreact. He took a deep breath and started explaining...
"We'll go straight to the point since we are all tired to explain. We want you to go back."
Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Via. Her lips twitched in a sarcastic smile. Thor sounded more like nag-uutos rather than asking her to go back.
"I know that it sounded bossy but please don't be offended," biglang bawi rin nito. "It's just that we're desperate."
"It's about Matt," singit ni Buboy.
"Honestly, we really don't know what happened to you and Matt after that night when Matt called us para sunduin ka sa yate and ihatid ka dito. But Matt have never been the same after that night," tuloy ni JV.
Natigilan si Via. She was drifted back on the night 3months ago...
***
Matt hugged her tight as she was preparing to step out sa yate nito and lumipat sa yate ni Red. The plan was susunduin siya ni Red at Thor, ihahatid sa airport para makalabas siya ng bansa without too much attention. She'll be flying in Red's private jet. Everything was ready and the only thing that is left to do is pakawalan siya ni Matt. He couldn't come with her since it will create more attention.
"I'm not ready to let you go," Matt whispered in her ear.
"I promise to come back no matter what Matt," aniya. Naiiyak na naman siya. She had this frustration na gusto niyang manatili kasama si Matt but she has to fix her life.
"I'll wait for you then..." Matt said. They shared one last kiss as he hug her tight.
***
She didn't realize it has been three months ago. She was too occupied of getting revenge sa nanakit sa kaniya that she didn't thought she'd been away with Matt long enough.
"Matt said he'll wait for you, but he's been a mess," ani pa ni JV. "He'll be mad at us if he knew we're doing this. But we have to do something. We're loosing a friend."
Via couldn't say a word. Tila napahiya siya. She had no intention to stay sa London ng matagal. She will come back as she promised. And Matt said he'll wait. Pero ganun na ba siya katagal nawawala? Wala naman siyang balak kalimutan si Matt.
"I'm sorry. But I'm kind of confuse," aniya. "I never meant to forget about Matt. I mean, I will definitely come back. It's just that I want to come back ready. Because coming back means coming home to me and if I come home, I intend to stay."
Natigilan ang apat. Tila lumalabas pang minamadali nila si Via. Was Matt just overthinking?
"What do you mean Matt's a mess? It's clear to me that he'll wait," patuloy na litanya ni Via.
"But how long do you intend him to wait?" rebat ni Red. Trying to reason out na hindi naman worthless ang effort nila.
"Actually, I am planning to go back soon. Pero teka, is this some kind of just dramatic skit?" No one answered. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Via sa apat. She got the picture. "Oh my gee! Are you trying to blackmail me?" Via realized now. That Matt must've missed him so much para mag-effort ang mga kaibigan nito na puntahan siya at sapilitang isama pabalik sa Pinas.
Napangiti na lang ang apat at nagpalitan ng tingin. Napagtanto nilang wala naman pala silang dapat na ipag-alala. But they we're so worried for Matt. Masyado lang siguro overthinker ang kaibigan nila.
"Bro, we need to strengthen our pride. Masyado na tayong nao-over power ng mga lovelife natin," turan ni Buboy.
"You can't blame us, we just love our wives so much," sagot ni Red.
Tumawa si Via. "I'm so honored to be one of the warriors five's wife. I understand now how you make the effort to win your wives' hearts. But if Matt missed me that much, why won't he make the effort himself?"
"Among us Matt's the good boy," ani JV.
"If you told him to stay, he'll stay," sagot naman ni Buboy.
"And you're Alvianna Alustre. Let's admit it. Our wives maybe the most beautiful in our eyes, pero iba pa rin ang isang Alvianna Alustre. Even our wives admires you so much," turan ni Red.
Ngumiwi si Via. "It sounded cheesy coming from you," aniya sa komento ni Red. "Nevertheless, please tell you're friend, eventough I told him to wait, it won't hurt him if he makes the effort."
Napailang na lng ang apat.
"I'm sorry if I wasn't in contact. I'm just too busy cleaning up the mess in my life. Honestly, I don't intend him to wait for nothing. Look, I have to admit now, and this is honestly true, kahit ano pa ang isipin niyo ---" she stop for a moment, lumunok. "I love Aguimatt!" she confirmed smiling. "I may not be that showy and clingy but I see him as my forever. I thought that its clear to him that's why naging kampante ako he'll wait for me. Like I said, I want to be ready."
Nagkatinginan ang apat. What Via said made them realize how lucky Matt could be. Masyado lang ata nitong namimiss si Via.
"You sounded like retiring from public life," turan ni Thor in curiosity. "Are you?"
"Call it whatever you want, Arthuro. But, yeah, I intend to leave the public life just to be with Aguimatt," deklara ni Via. "Also, I realize na maling-mali that I casted him in my project. Nagkaron pa ko ng maraming kaagaw. But thankfully, hindi niya tinuloy ang showbiz. You see, nakabantay ako sa showbiz life niya sa Pinas."
Napangiti ang apat. Umalis sa pagkakasandal si JV at nag-unat. "I guess we need to fly back to Manila. Otherwise, Matt will know that we've come here."
"As in now?!" turan ni Via.
Sunod-sunod ang tango ni Buboy, "Thor's wedding next month. We hope to see you by then."
Lumapad ang ngiti ni Via. "I wouldn't miss it for anything."