Chapter 27

TESSA left with the doctor to talk to her publicist after Tyler was examined. His condition had improved, but he needed to stay longer to fully recover.

“Why did you do that?” Chaya asked.

A sad smile curved his lips. “I just wanted to sleep. I could not fall asleep. I thought these pills weren’t working anymore, s-so…” His voice broke. “What’s the point of all of these, anyway?”

“Don’t ever do that again, please. You scared me,” she implored.

Tyler looked down as tears streamed down his face. “I am not as strong as the roles I play, Chaya.”

Chaya sat on the bed. “That’s not true, Tyler. You can be strong and weak. You’re human.” She cupped his face and wiped his tears even though she began to cry, too. “Promise me you’ll never do that again, okay?”

“I’m sorry I made you worry.” Tyler reached out for her face and wiped her tears with his hand. “I thought you stopped caring about me.”

“That’s not true. We may not be together anymore, but that doesn’t mean I stopped caring about you.”

“When I lost you, I got lost, too. I don’t know how to get back on my feet. I’m so tired of pretending I’d be fine without you.” Tyler pulled her into his chest. “What am I going to do, Chaya?”

That was Chaya’s question, too. What was she going to do? But instead, she found herself saying, “Stop thinking about those things for now, okay? The most important thing right now is your recovery. I’ll be here for you.”

***

Chaya woke up with her phone ringing from the pocket of her jacket. She'd fallen asleep once again with Tyler’s arms around her. He was not the only one who was exhausted. Now Tyler had become her responsibility.

Slowly, she got up and fished the phone from her pocket. Her swollen eyes widened. Kyrie was calling her!

She quietly got down from the bed and went into the bathroom. He finally got in touch with her, but she was already away.

“H-hey,” she said in a weak tone.

“Where are you, Chaya?” he asked in a desperate tone. “I need to see you before I leave. Why are you not here?”

Her lips trembled. “I-I’m sorry. Something happened. Tyler needs me. I could not leave him. Not in this situation.”

“Y-you’re with him right now?” He was in disbelief. “Why, Chaya?”

Chaya took a deep breath to fight back the tears in her eyes. “I-I can’t… I can’t tell you right now.”

“I thought… I thought… Chaya, you promised,” he said in a firm tone.

“I-I know.” Chaya put a hand in her mouth to stifle her cries. But it only hurt more.

Kyrie needed her, and she wasn’t there.

“I’m sorry. I’m so confused. I can’t tell you everything right now.”

“I see you made your choice,” he said coldly.

“No!” she protested. “Kyrie, please understand. It’s hard for me, too. But we can’t be selfish right now.” Chaya slumped to the cold tiled floor. “P-please don’t hate me.”

She heard him heave a sigh as if trying to contain his own emotions.

“I didn’t want to burden you, Chaya. I’ll try to understand. I’m not going to bother you anymore.”

“K-Kyrie?” But he had already ended the call. “No!”

She tried calling him again, but he was not picking up.

***

Best Actor Tyler Garcia was reportedly rushed to the hospital for exhaustion. According to his mother and manager, he was supposed to have an appearance at a private event last night but canceled at the last minute because the actor suddenly collapsed. He was brought to an undisclosed hospital. He was accompanied by his writer-girlfriend Chaya Rosales, sparking rumors that the two had gotten back together.

“The doctors reassured us that Tyler was already on the road to recovery. I am so thankful to the fans and our friends who were praying for Tyler’s fast recovery. He promises to prioritize his health from now on,” Tessa Garcia told our source.

“What is the meaning of this, Mrs. Garcia? You lied about Tyler’s condition, and you even took a photo of us without our consent?” Chaya said in disbelief as she confronted Tessa outside Tyler’s room.

Tessa didn’t inform her that she was going to release an article about Tyler.

“Chaya, you’ve been together with Tyler for so long. You’re supposed to know how this industry works,” Tessa said defensively. “If I tell the media that my son tried to end his life, it will affect him in a negative way. It would alarm his fans. I don’t want to put him in a bad light. What’s going to happen to his career? I just wanted him to recover quickly and peacefully. I know what I did was selfish, but please, Chaya.” Tessa’s voice broke. “I-I’m not acting as Tyler’s manager right now. This is me trying to be a good mom to him.”

“But you should understand that I have a life of my own. I won’t make a big fuss about it for Tyler’s sake, but know I am not tolerating this.” Chaya turned her back, but she stopped when she remembered something and faced Tessa again. “Have you apologized to Tyler yet?”

***

Chaya snatched Tyler’s phone when she returned to his room.

“What?” he protested.

“What ‘what?’ The doctor said no social media for a while,” she reminded.

Tyler frowned. “I haven’t read anything yet.”

“Then, good. Let your haters have more reasons to hate their lives because you’re still here.”

Tyler also had his fair share of bashers, but Chaya always told him to focus only on his supporters. She knew how susceptible the likes of him were to hate comments. And it wasn’t his fault that these people always found a reason to hate him despite all his achievements.

“I just wanted to correct this information. We aren’t back together, and you’re here as a good friend.”

“So, you have read something,” she said, arching an eyebrow.

Tyler smiled sheepishly. “I just know Mom would do something like this.”

“You can do that some other time. Focus on your recovery.”

“Chaya,” Tyler said in a serious tone. “What happened?”

She stared. “What do you mean?”

“I heard you crying in the bathroom this morning. What happened?”

“Oh, that.” She thought he would not notice. “It’s a long story, but…” She faked a smile. “It looks like Kyrie and I are…” She cleared her throat. “I think we’re over.”

The color drained from his face. “W-what? Is it… is it because of me? I can talk to him.”

She shook her head at once. “N-no, of course not. Besides, he must be on the plane now.”