7

“La?” Miguel said as he opened the door of the dressing room. Laarni turned around. Miguel was about to ask something, when he noticed another figure in the room. The man was about 6 feet, fair and had mestizo features. He was wearing a black shirt and jeans.

“Miguel.” Laarni greeted. “This is Adrian Tolosa. Adrian, Miguel Mendoza”

“Mike Mendoza’s son.” Adrian extended his hand. Miguel smiled as he shook the hand.

“I finally met the man.” Miguel replied. Adrian smiled sheepishly. “Laarni has told me so much about you.”

“Hopefully, it was good.” The three shared a laugh.

“Bakit ka nga pala nandito?” Laarni asked Miguel.

“May gagawin ka pala after ng taping mamaya?” He asked. It was just after ASAP, and Laarni had to rush to another taping. “Labas tayo.”

“Um…” Laarni hesitated. “May dinner kasi kami ni Adrian.”
“Oh.” Miguel said, the disappointment in his voice evident. “O, sige next time na lang.”

6

“Hansen!” Adrian raised his hand to call attention. Hansen Nichols looked towards his direction and waved. The two met in the United States, when Adrian was a student in Wharton. One of his frat buddies was Sen’s cousin. One summer, Adrian went with Sen’s cousin to San Francisco, where he met the latter.

“Adrian!” Hansen said as he extended his hand. The two high fived and sat down.

“Want a beer?” Adrian asked offering Sen a bottle. Sen nodded, accepting the bottle.

“So how’d it go?” Sen asked a he took a swig. Adrian gave him the thumbs up sign. Sen laughed.

“She’s so beautiful.” He replied. “and so down-to-earth.” Hansen smiled.

“I know, that’s why I matched her up with you.” Sen replied. “Laarni has this child-like qualities you would adore. She’s playful, jolly and very optimistic.”

“Seems like you two had something in the past.” Adrian chuckled.

“Gago!” Sen said, throwing peanuts at Adrian. “We’ve been locked up for almost three months. I’ve known her inside and out.”

“Inside and out?” Adrian flashed a mischievous grin. Sen threw more peanuts at Adrian.
“But seriously, I like her.”

“She’s nice. Better take care of her.”

“I will. You know me, I’m a changed man.”
“Easier said the done.” Sen retorted. Adrian laughed as he took a sip of beer.

5

“Alam mo, mabait siya.” Laarni said as she walked two paces ahead of Miguel. The two were spending some time at Harbour Square in Manila. Miguel silently followed Laarni. “Kahapon nga, nagbigay siya ng flowers. Ang ganda-ganda!”

“May anak na siya diba?” Miguel asked.

“Paano mo nalaman?”

“Alam na yan sa business community. May anak si Adrian Tolosa sa pagkabinata.” Miguel explained.

“Oo nga. Nasa Rarotonga yung anak niya, kasama yung mom nung bata. Pero every summer, kapag bakasyon sa school, nagpupunta dito yung bata.”

“Ang habang paglalakbay nun, ah.” Laarni laughed and hit Miguel in the arm. Miguel continued walking, uttering not a single word.

“Kamusta na pala yung composition mo?” Laarni asked.

“Ok lang.” Miguel replied. “May naumpisahan na.”

“Yes naman!” Laarni said, patting Miguel at the back. Miguel put on a weak smile.

“La?” Miguel asked, looking at Laarni. “Seryoso ka na ba sa kanya?”

“Kanino?”

“Kay Adrian.” Laarni hesitated. She looked at Miguel, unsure of what to say. She wanted to say something, but held it back.

“Hindi ko pa alam. Puwede ba iba na lang pag-usapan natin.” She said, trying to shift the topic. “Basta ha, kapag nabuo mo na, sa akin mo unang iparinig.”

Miguel smiled at nodded. He finally found a reason to keep working.

4

“Hello?’ Laarni said as she answered her phone.

“Laarni.” The voice on the other end greeted.

“Adrian?” Laarni asked. Adrian Tolosa was introduced to Laarni by Hansen Nichols, who set them up on a blind date. The voice on the end laughed.

“You still remember my voice, eh.” Adrian said.

“Of course, we just went out the other night.” Laarni replied. “Napatawag ka?”

“Na-miss lang kita.”

“We only had dinner once.” Laarni smiled.

“You got the flowers?” Adrian asked.

Laarni eyed the bouquet of red roses she placed on a vase. “So sa iyo pala galing iyin! Maganda sila. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome” Adrian replied. “I’m glad you liked them. Anyway I just called to check if you received them.”

“ I did. Thanks.” Laarni said as she put down the phone.

3

“Punyeta!” Miguel banged his hands on the piano. He grabbed the music sheet on top, crumpled it and threw it on the wastebasket.

He was working on a song that he wished to be part of his album, yet he could not find the right words to fit his mood. I am not inspired, he thought. It had been almost a month since he called off his relationship with Bea Munoz. They had been together for three years. After PDA, they decided they were better off as friends. Bea is now with Van Pojas, also a contestant of PDA.

He thought about his lunch with Laarni, earlier in the day. Laarni, he thought. He played some keys on the piano again. This time, it sounded much better than the first.time. He then sang the lyrics playing in his head…
“Paano na kaya? Di sinasadya… Di kayang magtapat ang puso ko. Bakit sa dinami-rami ng kaibigan ko, Ikaw pa?”

2

Adrian Tolosa was to the manor born. His family belonged to the landed hacienderos of Isabela. His great grandfather Cirilo Tolosa served as an assemblyman during the first Philippine Assembly in Intramuros, while his grandfather, Senor Rodolfo Tolosa, was the governor of Isabela post war.

Adrian went to Ateneo de Manila for grade school and high school. His parents then sent him to Wharton School, where he graduated with honors. Upon graduation, he returned to the Philippines and took up a job in the family-owned Rodolfo’s, a chain of restaurant started by his grandmother Isadora before the war.

He used to be a playboy during his college days, having sired a child with his former girlfriend- a schoolmate from the Cook Islands. However, upon returning to the Philippines, he turned over a new leaf, dating women only once in a while until he finds someone that he fancies.
That someone turned out to be the upcoming singer Laarni Losala.

1

“Huy!” Laarni Losala screamed placing her hand in front of Miguel Mendoza’s eyes. Miguel seemed to snap out of a trance and shook his head.

“Huh?” He asked.

“Kanina ka pa nakatulala diyan. Ano ba iniisip mo?” she asked. Miguel looked at her, his eyes smiling.

“Iniisip ko yung performance ko kanina sa ASAP.” Miguel replied. Two months out of the reality show, Pinoy Dream Academy, they were now part of the musical variety show.

“Ok naman performance mo kanina.” Laarni bit into a forkful of spaghetti. The two were having a late lunch at an Italian restaurant outside the ABS-CBN compound. Miguel smiled, then took a bite of his panini.

“La, may hypothetical question ako.” Miguel asked. Laarni looked at him as she sipped her iced tea. “Assuming mamroblema ako, let’s say maaksidente or mamatay.”

“You’re so morbid!” Laarni butted in.

“Kunyari nga lang.” Miguel rebutted. “Let’s say mamatay ako or maaksidente, mag-aalala ka?”

“Oo naman.”

“Talaga?”

“Siyempre. Kaibigan kita eh.” Laarni replied. There was a hint of sadness in Miguel’s eyes.

“Kaibigan?” Laarni nodded. Miguel let out a sigh.

“I love you.” He muttered.

“Ano?” Laarni asked.

“Wala. Kumain ka na.” Miguel replied.