"SAFAHARA DE LEON RECEIVES ALL THE GRAMMY AWARDS LAST NIGHT..." I turned off the tv and decided to take a shower.
I am contented with my life.
I am famous.
I can buy anything I want.
My life was peaceful....
.... until that text came.
My phone beeped, signalling that someone sent me a message. Akala ko manager ko kasi siya lang naman nakakaalam sa private number ko.
I picked it up before entering the shower. And the seconds after I read it, I was frozen in my spot.
"Congratulations on your fame and glory, my love. You deserve it, but please don't go near any man or let them touch those precious skin of yours, they are not worth it. Only I am worthy for you."
I thought it was just another obsessed fan of mine, but there was a picture attached on the message na nagpatibok ng mabilis ng puso ko.
At first akala ko fake lang or baka photoshopped, but the more I look at it, the more I realized that this is real. I may not be an expert on these kind of things ngunit alam kong tunay ito.
Goosebumps started creeping on my body. Who the hell could this person be? Why does he have this?
This.....
.... picture of me sleeping last night.
— 01—
"Your schedule.." Di na ako nakinig sa pinagsasasabi ng manager ko. Nakasakay kami ngayon sa isang limo, papunta sa isang victory party ng ALT ENTERTAINMENT kung saan ako nagtratrabaho as an artist. Mostly kasi sa nakakuha ng mga awards this year-from TV shows, news broadcasting, to music industry-halos lahat ng mga artist na nanalo ay galing sa kompanya namin kaya napagpasyahang mag victory party as a gratitude for hardworking artist.
"Safahara de leon! Are you even listening?" My manager, Tyrone, snapped me back to reality. I just rolled my eyes, "Come on, pa ulit ulit ka nalang. I already know the schedule, you repeat it every god damn minute." Tumaas ang kilay ng bakla pagkasabi ko, he just sighed after surrendering to my salty attitude.
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate him. In fact, we're friends. But sometimes he's just an annoying workaholic manager. I can't blame him tho, panganay siya ng kaniyang pamilya at siya na ang gumagastos sa tatlong kapatid niyang puro Nursing ang kinuhang kurso.
"Just- just don't do crazy things at the party okay? I heard may mga bisita sa ibang kompanya na dadating."
"Do you really see me as a party freak?" It's my turn to raised an eyebrow but he just shrugged kaya naman I just sighed and silently agreed on this nosy manager at tumingin sa labas.
The New York City at night is so colorful and busy as always.
"Nga pala, may binigyan ka ba ng number ko?" I blurted out when I remembered that creepy text I recieved yesterday. He shook his head and worried was splattered all over his face, "Bakit? May mga nag text ba? Your fans? Did your number got leaked--" I cut him off.
"Tyrone, chill. May isa lang na nagtext sa akin, pero I just blocked it. It was five days ago. Wala namang nangyareng masama." I lied because I don't want him to worry over a stupid text.
Siguro nga ay isa lang iyon sa mga crazy obsessed fans ko, pero still, that number I used was so private and only Tyronne knows it. How would they know?
Deep in thought, namalayan ko nalang na the door of our limousine opened up and one of my bodyguards reached out his hand for me which I accepted. Nung nakalabas na ako ay nakakasilaw ng mga camera ang bumungad.
"Be safe." Tyrone said and naglakad sa kabilang section which is less crowded. Ayaw niya talaga sa mga red carpet or any attention or yung merong maraming tao.
Camera was flashing everywhere as I walked down. Some tried to interview me pero hinaharang sila ng mga bodyguard ko, which is good. I dislike having conversations with some media reporters dahil ang iba ay nakakawalang respeto. Sure, I'm a model and I display most of my skin in the pictures, but that is not a reason for people to look down on me. I am Safahara and my worth is not based on some photoshopped photos from my companies.
Yes, not a surprise right? Most model companies use photoshop to enhance their model's appearance.
"De Leon!" A cheerful voice greeted me, "You look so cool right now!" She pouted. Trixie, the actress and high maintenance model in this company greeted me with her super energetic aura. She's super friendly and very bubbly. Minsan na d-drain ako sa kaniya, I just don't go along well with extroverted people that much.
"Grabe, ang cool talaga ng fashion sense mo. Buti pinapayagan ka na ganyan suot mo no? Ako kasi pinipilit talaga ako ng manager ko na magsuot ng dress." She put her hands on her waist, "That controlling b*tch." She added which surprised me. I never hear her swear before, this is a first. Oh well, hindi naman kami ganun ka close to know each other really well.
Our conversation stopped when the lights went dim at nakatutok na ang spotlight sa stage, "Let's welcome, the new owner of ALT ENTERTAINMENT!" The announcer stated.
The crowd went silent, and seconds after nagkagulo na nga.
"May new owner na?"
"Kailan? Hindi ko nabalitaan!"
"Did Xue Yen left us?"
Nagsimula ang bulung bulungan. I don't blame them, even I am surprised but the announcer continued, "Since the previous owner has some business to do, he assigned a new owner to the company to manage the artist and look after the people and employees. Please welcome, Samuel Elbanueba!"
A Filipino..?
I never knew our Chinese boss knew a Filipino person. He was kinda aloof, an cold towards Filipino. I've experience that since I did talk to him once. He was racist sh*t.
Lumabas ang isang matangkad at moreno na lalake. Ang buhok neto ay medyo kulot, and have very dark colored eyes with a stunning smile plastered on his face, naka tux din eto pero open ang two buttons.
He looks kinda familiar, but I don't remember where I saw him before. Sa kaniyang looks ay masasabi kong gwapo talaga eto at maskulado pa, a hottie if Trixie would describe it.
"Thank you thank you. Hello everyone," His dark brown eyes scanned the crowd and stopped when he saw me, or maybe I'm just imagining things dahil agad naman itong tumingin sa iba.
"Enjoy your night and I hope we get along well." He smirked and raised his wine glass, before going down the stage
"Shet ang gwapo!" Parang kiniliti si Trixie. Sabi ko na nga ba, those kind of person is Trixie's type.
Gwapo nga, pero there's something about him that gives me goosebumps. Hindi ko alam, my intuition is giving me a bad warning about this man and I trust my gut kaya I'm praying to God all mighty na hindi mag krus ang landas namin.
It may sound judgemental, at alam kong first impression doesn't last forever pero wala din namang mawawala kung iiwasan ko siya diba? I don't want to look into those mysterious eyes na para kang lulunurin sa isang iglap. I'd rather stay in my own path than get along with a potential danger I smell from that person.