Chapter 10 — Consequences

Two years later…

“AND NOW, for tonight’s guest, please let us all welcome our country’s pride, Natasha Rivera who just got back from a very successful concert in London with the international singer, Joshua Santillan! Let’s give her a big round of applause!”

I almost couldn’t hear the host because the people in the studio went wild after I showed up. They were as lively as usual. The studio wasn’t enough to accommodate the fans that’s why many of them were outside. They all cheered for me after I stepped out of the van. They all have banners in their hands while screaming my name. I waved at them while walking closer to the host of the talk show. A faint smile curved on my lips when they screamed again.

Kylie, the host, stood up and shook hands with me. This was my first guesting here. I had showed up in other talk shows except hers. Kylie had tried contacting me many times. She and her staff would send me expensive gifts from time to time but I still rejected them because her show was the same show where Joaquin and Eunice announced their engagement. It wasn’t just the show and the ex-couple who made an impression on me, but the host, too.

Whether I liked it or not, I kept remembering things I wasn’t supposed to, including what Kylie had said about me before. That time, Kylie was too busy sucking up to the Ricafortes that even if she had no right, she would stomp on the Ricafortes’ enemies, too. That was how badly the woman wanted to get on Eunice’s good side.

But that wasn’t surprising anymore since Eunice used to have it all.

“I knew it. It was really impossible for someone like you to have a romantic relationship with Naomi or Natalie or whoever she is. I’m sure that the pictures of the both of you on the internet were just photoshopped. I mean, no offense meant, but there’s no way that you’d have crossed paths with her. There is no reason for you, two, to meet. And clearly, you deserve a woman with the same background as yours, Mr. San Diego,” Kylie said while laughing.

Her face would get distorted whenever she would talk about me. She intentionally didn’t get my name right as if I wasn’t worth mentioning.

“Kylie, it’s Natasha, not Naomi or Natalie,” Eunice replied back then as she shyly smiled. “Besides, Joaquin and I know Natasha from way back. In fact, she used to be our friend until she began demanding for too many things from us. I’ve always known that she had a crush on Joaquin. Obviously, it was an unrequited love on her side. Natasha has been going through a lot lately, with her father being convicted and all that. Spreading groundless rumors like this must be her only way of escaping from reality. So, let’s just try to understand her.” She sighed. “I pity her so much. Let’s stop this conversation now. Even if Natasha is no longer my friend, her situation is so miserable that it’s making me want to cry.”

“You are being too nice, Eunice. You and your family are too nice that’s why people like her take advantage of you. But I do admire you for being so understanding,” Kylie said in a voice filled with sympathy. “You still help the Riveras despite what they did. They should be repenting by now. Did they ask for forgiveness already?”

“Not yet. But we’ve sincerely forgiven the Rivera family. My family and I will continue praying for them. We decided to just leave this matter to God.”

The audience clapped for Eunice after what she said that day. She was a terrific actress. She should have made acting her career from the get-go. Maybe then she’d have a higher chance of staying longer in the industry.

“This is our first meeting, Natasha. My gosh, your pictures didn’t do you justice! You look more stunning up close and personal,” Kylie commented. She was as enthusiastic as I remembered.

“Thank you.” I smiled. I’m aware that Kylie’s show was only hanging by the thread now. According to the Director that I chatted with some time ago, the management was planning to pull out her show because of its low ratings. The staff even said that this was the first time that this studio had been filled with people again. It seemed that my appearance here was Kylie’s only hope, as the Director put it.

“Thank you very much for gracing this studio with your presence tonight, Natasha. You have no idea how much you made us all happy by simply being here,” Kylie added.

“The pleasure is mine, Kylie. I’m actually glad that you remember my name now. In the past, you used to get my name wrong all the time.” Her smile faded. I laughed when she turned pale. “But of course, like I said, it’s all in the past now, so cheer up, Kylie. There is no need to look so shaken up over a trivial matter.”

“I-I’m really sorry about what happened before, Natasha. I didn’t mean to offend you back then.”

Of course, you did and you would have continued to do so if only the tables didn’t turn. I feigned innocence. “Oh, no. That doesn’t matter to me now. I shouldn’t have brought that up. Look at you, you’ve turned so pale. Do you need water or something?” I glanced at the crew. “Can somebody give her water please?”

“No. I… I’m okay, but thank you for the concern,” Kylie replied and shook her head when someone was about to bring her a bottled water. She seemed anxious when the crowd suddenly became quiet. The audience were now busy glaring at Kylie. It was cold inside the studio but I could see her sweating so much.

In my heart, I had been praying. I prayed every day for healing. I didn’t want to keep getting angry about something that took place almost two years ago. That was what my mother would have wanted me to do. But dealing with people from my past while I was still in the process of healing was not helping. If only Kylie didn’t personally approach my father and asked him a favor while I was in Europe for a series of concert, I wouldn’t have agreed to be here tonight. Papa rarely asks me for a favor that’s why it was hard to say ‘no’ to him.

Kylie asked for this. If I was being a little sarcastic tonight, that was no longer my fault.

“Let’s proceed with the interview now, shall we?”

I shrugged. “Anytime you’re ready.”

“Thank you, Natasha. The questions came straight from your fans. We asked them to send their questions on our website and we compiled some of them. The first thing they want to know about you is…” She glanced at the questionnaire. “Of course, about your love life. People are curious about your relationship with Joshua Santillan. They said that the two of you have an amazing chemistry on and off screen that’s why many fans really looked forward to your collaboration concert with him. What’s the real score between you and the international balladeer, Natasha? And are you still seeing the business magnate Cain Del Roman? What do you guys, think?” Kylie asked the audience. “Who do you ship Natasha with? And whose ship do you think will sail?”

The crowd went wild again. “Joshua is a dear friend of mine. I knew him long before we had a concert together. Cain, on the other hand is my… business partner so we get to see each other often,” I answered, not trying to elaborate any further.

I smiled when I heard the audience sighed. Disappointment was written all over their faces. Cain said he would be watching this interview so I could imagine his amused face while seeing the audience’s reaction about the two of us.

Kylie pressed on, “But between the two, who are you really close to?”

“Well, I’d say it’s Cain. It’s impossible not to be close to him. We see each other regularly,” As regular as eating, actually.

I shook my head when the women screamed. I knew they had been waiting for me to confirm it especially because there were many Cain and Natasha shippers in the audience. I could see it on their banners. I’m often seen dining with Cain so there was no use denying it now. But if only these people knew the truth…

“Wow! It looks like one of our ships will sail, after all!” Kylie said. “But to those team Joshua out there, don’t get out of the ship just yet. Nothing has been confirmed yet. Who knows?” She winked. “There might be a chance.”

I doubt that.

“Here’s a follow-up question, Natasha. Do you mind if I ask about the status of your heart right now? Is there anyone making it happy? How do you feel about Joaquin San Diego?” Kylie smiled as she feigned innocence. “I mean ever since Eunice Ricaforte and Joaquin San Diego’s wedding got cancelled, your name had been mentioned a couple of times as the reason for their break up. Joaquin even had a separate interview last week on a magazine saying that he plans to pursue you. What can you say about that? Can you tell us who Joaquin is in your life?”

So much for “follow-up questions”. I had been informed about the questionnaires beforehand that’s why I know that those questions were not included on the list. Kylie hadn’t changed. She didn’t seem uncomfortable anymore. In fact, Kylie looked like she just hit the jackpot, believing that this would lead her show to rise again. I’d been interviewed before but none of them asked me this.

The public, especially the aristocrats, had been very careful around me ever since discovering my connection with Adam Montealvo, my long-lost grandfather. Now, the socialites and the businessmen all over the country including Joaquin’s family had been trying to get close to my family. Even my old friends were trying to come back to me.

But I wouldn’t be fooled twice.

Kylie, on the other hand, was fearless. It was better this way. When Eunice’s family fell into ruins, Kylie was among the people who castigated them. I suddenly wondered what Kylie would feel if she would find out that the management talked to me and offered me to take over the sinking show since Kylie had lost her sponsors a long time ago.

I tried to maintain a straight face before answering, “Whatever the reason for their break-up is between the two of them. I have nothing to do with it. I haven’t seen Mr. San Diego for a very long time.”

I cleared my throat and refused to comment regarding Joaquin’s interview. Thankfully, my bodyguards would stop him every time he would try to approach me. Avoiding people like him was a form of self-care, too. “As for the status of my heart, I’m… I’m happy now.” I will get there… maybe not today but hopefully one day.

Kylie clacked her tongue. “Does this mean you’re still single?” I nodded. “Is it okay to ask why? I’m sure many people are curious about this. Have you fallen in love before, Natasha?”

“Love?” That word left a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m no longer the owner of my body. Besides, even without Cain in the picture, I don’t think I could do either love or relationships anymore. After the people I trusted and loved abandoned me before, I refused to be emotionally involved with anyone else again. Except for one person.

“Of course, I did fall in love. I was young then. What he and I had was like a fairytale. It didn’t have a happy ending, though. The fairytale ended when the clock ticked at twelve because he changed. From the Prince Charming that I thought he was, he turned into someone I couldn’t recognize and left me not with the glass shoe but with lessons, lots of them.”

“Are you saying you were traumatized?” Kylie asked, trying to squeeze more info out of me.

I shook my head. Two years ago, I never would have imagined that one day, I’d be able to talk about this calmly. “Not exactly. Like I said, that fairytale taught me a lot of lessons. So, all in all, I think it was still good. I mean it served its purpose. But as of the moment, I’m committed only to my family. They’re my priority.”

“Oh. Speaking of family, how are your father and brother these days? Do you, guys, still find time to talk to each other despite your busy schedule?”

Whether it was Kylie’s intention or not, she kept hitting where it hurts. “Of course. They are… fine. We’re… good.” I think.

For the next few minutes, the questions continued from Grandpa’s condition, his businesses, down to where my father and brother lived. They were all personal questions not included on the questionnaire. Just when I planned not to mess with Kylie, this happened. I admired the woman’s tenacity, though. She’d do everything for the ratings, including playing dirty.

But no matter how tenacious Kylie was, she should still quit working as a host. This job didn’t suit her. She didn’t care about her guests at all.

When I thought the questions were over, Kylie handed me a bouquet of white roses. “I heard that your new single is entitled, ‘Cross the Line’. Did you have any particular person that you thought of while composing the song?”

“Yes.”

“May we ask who that person is?”

“I’m sorry but I’d like to keep that part to myself. I want the story of the song to be our little secret since it’s about the two of us.” A sad smile formed on my lips. “I believe that once that person hears the song, he’d know it’s for him. He’d know that I’m just here, still waiting for him to cross the line and fulfill his promise.”

“Great. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to hearing you sing that for us tonight, Natasha. Ladies and gentlemen, let us all give a round of applause to the one and only… Natasha Rivera!”

My team asked for two conditions last week before I get to appear on ‘Tonight with Kylie”. First was to skip the personal questions and second was to not let me sing yet. That was the reason why my manager had to review and approve the questions first.

It had only been four days since I came back to the Philippines after my sold-out concerts in different parts of Europe. I hadn’t been in the country for two months. My last concert took place in London; it was just six days ago. My voice was still recuperating from several weeks of rehearsals down to the concert itself. And the crew agreed to all the conditions.

Now, I was forced to stand up when I heard the intro of my latest single when I saw the anticipation on the faces of the audience. But before that, I turned off the microphone and whispered to Kylie. “I want you to know that I’m only letting you off the hook tonight for the sake of the fans. I’m no longer the same woman from before, Kylie. I know now how to carry a grudge for an exceptionally long time. Since you messed with me first, I hope you are prepared for the consequences.”