1: The Eavesdropper
Sometimes, you just encounter people who would have a great impact in your life. It’s not necessarily positive, but they do change your life forever.
You never know how people will affect your career.
You don’t even know if they will stay.
And if they stay what would be the outcome?
You don’t know that they have something that will change your life.
They say fate is something every people have.
You have no control over it. It just happens. It’s written in the stars.
Unless you’re like me…
Someone whose fate was changed.
Because someone had intervened…
I’m just a normal human being. I go to school. I work. I play. I go home.
But in a weird turn of events, my life went upside down…
All because of…
FATE.
1: The Eavesdropper
Droplets of icy rain quickly drizzled all over the busy streets of Quezon City. It was past 6pm and although the sun was already hiding, it was still bright caused by the hundreds of Christmas lights adorning houses and buildings. People got annoyed as they ran in all directions, shielding themselves from the sudden pour. The honking of stranded cars were nothing against the loud blast of holiday music playing on every corner.
“Gawd, I still have to attend a Christmas party! I hope this stops soon!”
“Traffic would be horrible at this hour. Can’t even see a taxi!”
“Now I have to buy an umbrella!”
People expressed their rants as they crowded every waiting shed.
The rain didn’t dampen my mood though. It only heightened my excitement. Wearing my fit training clothes, I continued doing box jumps on the benches.
“Careful Navi. It’s slippery. We don’t want you injured.”
“Gotcha, coach.”
I stopped my work-out and picked up a towel from my bag to wipe my face.
“What the heck am I even doing?”
Sometimes I can be absent-minded. I’m already wet from the rain and no dry towel can absorb all of this from my body.
“You can’t skip practice next time! Tell your manager he should follow our arrangement!” my coach shouted.
The rest of the team ran to a nearby building in order not to get wet. As for me, I just looked back and waved at him. I jogged on the way back home.
NAVI POV
The said manager was in front of my house the next morning to pick me up to go to our agency. Ren Espina, a round man currently in his late 30s, walked three steps for every one step I made. As we reached the conference room, he was already panting and groaning.
“Freaking tall people.” He complained.
“You’re just too short, boss.” I sniggered and avoided a kick he sent to my direction. Ren barely reached my shoulders.
“Wait inside first, I’ll just go to the restroom.” Ren said, hopping on the spot.
“Hahahaha.” I laughed as I watch him run to the bathroom. He told me earlier that he had drank 2 tumblers of coffee to keep him awake in his meeting last night.
Unfortunately for Ren, he’s lactose intolerant and acidic.
Before I can enter the room, the door opened revealing angry voices. A second later, someone had bumped into me.
“Oh, sorry.” I muttered.
The guy I bumped into spared me a glance, and later on a glare. He walked past me, his expensive perfume lingering on my nose.
“Tsk.” Was all the guy said. He's a popular face here. Almost as tall as I am, but I'm more muscular. I'm almost at the tan side, he's almost vampire white which highlighted his many tattoos. As much as I want to ink my skin, I can't. My parents don't like it, and I'm a bit scared of needles. Got traumatized, long story.
“Sorry.” I said again as the guy’s manager and other staff carrying his clothes followed him.
Wait, why did I even apologize? He was the one who was not looking.
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas…”
Aaaaah. The whole floor is playing music. Christmas is really just around the corner. My favorite season. I like the feel of this holiday. Sparkling lights everywhere, the smell of bibingka on the streets, decorations, gift-giving.
(AN: bibingka – rice cake cooked in clay pots with leaves and is usually sold and eaten during Christmas season in the Philippines. Picture is not mine. CTTO.)
“Freaking annoying song.” The guy groaned, ruining my mood.
What the fuck is his problem?
This guy who bumped into me kicked the Christmas tree and it almost fell if not for his manager who caught it.
“Stop it.” He got reprimanded.
“Whose fault do you think it is?” he growled at his manager.
He caught me looking at him and he glared some more while continuously pressing the elevator button. In a minute, he and his staff entered the lift.
“Navi, you’re here. Where’s boss Ren?” a woman greeted me as I entered the room.
“He’s taking a dump.” I pointed my thumb at the door.
The woman giggled and handed me drinks and two packs of food.
“I’m here, Gia.” Ren reappeared, wiping his sweat. “Are we late?”
“No. You’re actually early.” Gia sighed. She looked apprehensively at another door behind her and shook her head. “We’re moving you to the afternoon slot.”
“What?! But we’re scheduled at 10am!” Ren said.
I looked at my watch. It read 8:30 am.
“I know. There had been a few changes.” She wrote on her clipboard and spoke in a whisper without moving her mouth. “Sohan Ramirez demanded to be first because he has a schedule at noon. Insisted that we should adjust with his schedule because he’s very busy.”
“No wonder I saw Karl earlier.” Ren said.
A few people came out from the door behind Gia and walked past us to the door where we came in. When they left, she spoke again.
“Really horrible. We had to tear down and rearrange the set we did for Bryan so we can set-up Sohan’s. It’s not easy arranging a sea of roses specially when you’ve originally meant to do an actor-pet set-up.”
I can indeed hear random dogs barking inside.
“The dogs. Bryan brought them with him. All his pets. It’s a nightmare making them all behave, then all of a sudden Sohan and his team barged in.”
“I heard he’s really rude to staff.” Ren nodded.
Well, based on what I’ve seen earlier, I couldn’t agree more.
“He’s a rebel.” Gia continued, excited to spread gossip. “Last week, he ditched a commercial shoot just because the weather didn’t match his taste. And yesterday, I heard he poured water on one of his stylists.”
Ren can only gape.
“I know.” Gia shrugged as if she can read Ren’s mind. “Anyway, Boss Ren, really sorry about the changes. Bryan’s currently on set now, if his dogs cooperate. And then you’re on the fifth spot, probably in the afternoon. I’ve already given Navi lunch.” She pointed at the packed food and drinks she handed out earlier.
“Nothing we can do about it.” Ren replied. “Can I watch though?”
“Sure. This way.”
Gia led us to the door behind her. It was packed with a combination of staff, managers, artists and the photographer.
Too crowded. I don’t want this. Just the thought of staying in an enclosed space with plenty of people makes me shudder.
“Boss, can I go sleep in the car first?”
“Ok. But make sure you answer the phone when I call ok?” he said. He knows that I’m tired from last night’s training.
“Got it.” I said.
I don’t want to sleep in the car to be honest. I’d like to enjoy December’s cold wind. So instead of going back to the parking lot, I walked around to search for a sleeping spot.
“It’s Navi! It’s Navi!”
I heard a few women ogle at me as I entered the elevator.
Well don’t be surprised if they do that. It’s not just Sohan and Bryan. I’m a celebrity myself.
Standing 6foot flat, with toned muscles from playing sports, and a good mix of Asian and Hispanic features (alright, mostly Asian), not to brag, but I’m easily recognizable even if you put me in a crowd.
What am I doing at this place you ask? Well, it’s quite a surprise for me too, but I was nominated in the Youth of the Year category for the Platinum Awards.
My fame started quite strange. I’m not like that guy from earlier who is an actor since childhood, nor am I like Bryan who started his career with his dogs online. Who would’ve thought that me doing trick shots with my friends at school will lead into me being on TV?
I’m not originally an actor too. It’s only recently that I got filming offers here and there until I landed a role in a TV series.
I’m more known as the sports guy.
The exact reason why I returned to this country.
Because you see, I grew up in a different country. It’s where my fame started.
In Madrid.
Aaaah, anyway, this energetic and sporty kid is very sleepy. Just let me be.
Watching too many animés, I know exactly where I should be sleeping, and given that this is a huge modern building, I proceeded to the highest floor.
Yep, I can see that there’s little to no activity in this area. Everybody’s busy at the lower floor. The layout’s pretty much the same. Bathrooms at the end of the corridor, rooms in the middle, and at the other end, stairs.
“Kinda creepy.” I told myself as my footsteps echoed along the walls. I have only visited this place for less than 5 times so I don’t know which department is at this floor. It looks like there are almost no tenants on this part so I peeked on every glass door.
1st and 2nd rooms are offices. 3rd is a stockroom. Other rooms are also offices with a few people inside.
“When will you stop seeing him? I thought you were just playing with him?” I heard a woman’s voice say.
“I’ll break up with him soon.”
My hand paused at pushing the 8th room I am checking out. It looks like a mini pantry and there is a couple inside.
“I really don’t get you. You’ve been going out with him for almost 6 months! You hate gays and yet you date them.”
“To teach them a lesson. Freaking disgusting beings. That guy is worse than a woman’s clinginess you know? Every day he gives me food that he cooked, making sure that I receive it when everybody’s watching. What does he think I’ll do? Declare our relationship in public?”
“Woman’s clinginess? Are you saying you find me clingy?” the woman’s voice had a slight edge to it.
“No, babe. That’s not what I meant. It’s just that - ”
I don’t want to listen anymore. I can’t be assed about the guy’s logic of two-timing. What’s more, it looks like he’s dating a man and a woman at the same time? Freaking asshole.
If there’s one thing I hate, it’s people faking everything.
“This won’t do.” I told myself. I don’t want to explore the other rooms anymore. I’ll just go straight to the rooftop like what I had planned earlier. There’s no elevator to go up, and the only way is from the stairs.
But I halted once again upon the sight of a guy sitting on the steps.
I can’t decide if the guy looked young or old? Meh. He looks old. He has long hair which he tied into a messy bun on top of his head, the rest of the strands are covering one side of his face and landing on his shoulders. He was thin and wearing a sleeveless top revealing white scars on his arms which were carrying a transparent plastic clearly containing lunch boxes.
In a split second, I felt my chest constrict, like I was slapped with a heavy thing. The next second it was gone, I didn’t even have time to react.
“Ah-ow.”
The guy rubbed his chest just as I felt my own.
*sounds
The guy buried his head on his arms which were resting on his knees. The plastic he was holding earlier now sat beside him. Having no intention to be seen, I walked past him to go the rooftop.
“Thank goodness there’s a shade.” I slouched on one of the benches that were hidden from view. It was a cool 9am noon. I hid myself on a shaded corner.
Finally, here is a place where I can sleep without noise and without any other people.
“December weather is really nice.” I said softly.
The next second, I was snoozing.
The last peaceful sleep I’ll encounter in a while.
Navi and his brothers are inside their car exploring the streets of Quezon City. He sat quietly on the shotgun seat after being reprimanded when he had complained that he wants to go home.
“Wow! That’s a long line!” Leon exclaimed.
“I wonder where it ends?” Nathan asked, scanning the line of parents and kids.
“Turn around the corner so we’ll see.” Leon said.
Their car veered. It screeched. Navi felt pain.
There was a scream. There were people buzzing…
I’m having difficulty to breathe.
Two faces swam in front of him, speaking stuff he could not understand.
“It is not yet time…”
“Be thankful… forever.”
Screeeeech…
“Huuugh.”
My eyes flew open instantly. It took me a while to move. I’m not sure if I was still dreaming or if I’m really awake. The sound of screeching resounded on my ears like a pirated CD. I was startled when I felt my phone vibrate.
“Hello?” I answered my phone, with my heart palpitating too much.
“Navi? Where are you? You’re next in line for the shoot. Let’s get your make-up done.” Ren said.
“Coming.” I said simply and ended the call. I noticed my voice was almost a tired whisper.
Looking at the time on my phone, I realized I had been sleeping here for 5 straight hours.
It looks like the screeches weren’t just a part of my dreams after all. I can still hear them faintly along with buzzing and honking of cars.
“Just what the heck is going on?”
I’m a curious guy, so I leaned on the railings to check.
I wish I didn’t.
My stomach turned.
There was traffic. Cars came from different directions, and in the middle of the circle of cars, the unmistakable figure of a human lay on the ground, bloodied and lifeless.
A flash. There was a bloodied boy in front of me and with a dark shadow looming behind him.
“No.” I shut my eyes, shook my head and stepped back immediately. I had always been squeamish with accidents and had no desire to have that image etched on my mind. Quickly, I left the rooftop by going down the stairs and taking the elevator to the set.
My greatest fear is the combination of blood and death.
