"Kuya Sebastian, work is finished. Let's go."

He seriously nodded at me and tailed me behind. He is my longtime bodyguard only for special occasions and since we have been under tight security since yesterday, he'll be with me for my daytime schedule.

My driver was substituted for a moment by Kuya Marlo who is also one of my longtime special securities. It is only for the meantime and this is only our first day but I've felt suffocated already. 

It is hard being watched all the damn time. 

Kuya Sebastian sat in the passenger seat at umupo naman ako sa may likod.

"Sir, nasa lobby na daw po ng building niyo si Ms. Liberty at Sir. Ronald, mga security niyo po ngayong gabi."

Right. But who is Ronald? I thought it would only be Liberty?

"Who's Ronald?" Agaran kong tanong.

"Kasamahan rin po namin na magbabantay sa inyo sa gabi."

Humawak ako sa likod ng upuan niya. "And he is staying where?" Liberty will be staying in one of the units in my own building just like what Matilda said.

"Magkasama po sila ni Ms.Liberty." He casually answered. 

My brows furrowed. "Male and female can join one room?"

"Yes, Sir. Wala naman pong malisya na sa amin kung sino makakasama namin sa kwarto. Trabaho lang po." 

So that's how they do their work. Okay, then I bet Ronald is an old man or probably his uncle or something. I went back to my seat and looked outside. 

We were stuck in traffic for a moment and when our car finally moved, naging tuloy-tuloy naman na ang takbo ng sasakyan namin.

Kuya Sebastian quickly followed me as we entered the building while he was talking over his mic for my security. We entered the elevator and since I am on the top floor, I have my own private elevator too. 

Palabas palang kami at nadatnan ko ng nakatayo ang dalawa na nag uusap ng seryoso sa visitors lounge. 

But when they saw us, they immediately stood up straight and saluted their hands. Kaagad naman kaming lumapit.

"Reporting for duty, Sir. We're the designated official securities until the case is solved, Sir." 

She spoke so fluently and too seriously. They are both wearing jeans, tucked in white shirts and jackets, and her hair was in a clean bun.

But I was wrong, Ronald is probably her age too. Quite decent overall but I am way more good looking than him. He is just an average looking guy.

"Sir, ako na po bahala sa kanila." Kuya Sebastian interrupted. 

Tumaas ang kilay ko habang nakatitig pa rin sa sobrang seryoso niyang mukha. Now that I think about it, I don't really like serious women and she is turning me off big time with her too serious aura. 

Well, I guess it is better for me. Lalo na at walang tiwala sa akin si Matilda. 

Umalis na ako at tuluyang pumasok sa loob. Kaagad akong napasalampak ng higa sa higaan ko at pumikit. Having more bodyguards is more exhausting even though I had the same amount of work.

I wanna solve the case already. 

I felt sleepy upon hitting my bed at hindi ko namalayan na tuluyan na akong nakatulog. I was only awaken when I felt how hungry I was. I groaned and reached for my phone that was on the bed to see the time but I was surprised to see that it's almost six in the morning.

Kaagad akong napabangon at naligo. I have a fan meeting today, and I'm gonna be late if I don't move fast. 

Nawala ang gutom na nararamdaman ko habang naghahanda. I wore my white shirt and maong pants and paired it with my black leather jacket hurriedly. Palabas palang ako ng kwarto ay tumatawag na si Matilda.

Pinatay ko rin ito kaagad dahil alam kung papagalitan niya lang ulit ako. I heard my phone buzzing and I am sure she is cursing me now.

I opened my door and Kuya Sebastian was already waiting for me outside, wala na ang dalawa. I looked at my phone and it was almost seven, their duty ends at seven in the morning.

"Kuya, let's go." I was in a hurry, almost running and Kuya Sebastian tailed me right away.

Naghihintay na sa baba si Kuya Marlo at kaagad akong sumakay. I heard my phone buzzing again and saw Matilda calling. I didn’t have a choice but to answer it this time.

"We are near." I lied of course and motioned Kuya Marlo to get faster. 

"Siguraduhin mo." Then she ended the call.

Napalunok naman ako ng malalim at muling pinabilis ang pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan. Well, I don't really care if she scolds me or what, but this is a fan meeting and I can't let it slip. I am a dedicated artist to my fans.

We stopped in front of the building and I almost ran towards the elevator. Pero kabubukas palang nito ay bumungad na sa akin si Matilda kasama ang team.

I gave her a smile while she looked at me the same, a piece of disgusting shit.

"On time. Let's go. Nandiyan na sasakyan natin." Her eyes, almost rolling at me again. 

Kaagad akong sumunod, maging si Kuya Sebastian. Matilda won't allow me anymore to have my own car service for these kinds of events anymore because she doesn't trust me, so the staff and I are in the same van. I had detours before and she doesn't like those detours so. 

We are going to a mall show and I'm gonna have a private fan meeting right after. Maghapon na iyon na schedule ko at sa mall lahat gaganapin. 

"How was your security last night?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya, she is busy labelling my schedules on her planner. 

"Fine." I simply answered and looked outside again.

"How was Liberty?" She asked next.

She is fishing information isn't she? She's really thinking that I will screw my own security.

"Fine too." And I am telling the truth.

"You didn't do anything weird to her?" 

I raised my brows at her even though she's not looking at me. 

"Nothing. She's not even my type, she is too serious." 

Napatingin at naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin at nagkibit balikat sa huli. Our ride was smooth and we arrived at the mall around 8:30. The event will start in one hour and so I still have the time to  prepare.

We are situated in a vacant room and I’m gonna be styled for only a few minutes. I am too good looking already.

My hairstylist let my hair stay the same and made me wear some accessories like my small diamond earring. I also opted to wear black boots instead of my converse and I am good to go.

I stayed in the room and practice with my guitar for the remaining time.

“Sir Pierce, get ready na daw po.” Greta came in looking so tired and sweaty. Isa rin siya sa mga matagal na nagtatrabaho sa akin, she is basically Matilda’s assistant.

I’ve got my final touches at naghanda ng lumabas, pagkalabas ko ay rinig ko ang sigawan ng mga tao sa first floor. The stage was situated in their and even though this is a public and free mini show, the number of attendees are limited. 

Kuya Marlo and Kuya Sebastian walked by my side and I still have a few more securities around me. And when we reached the unrestricted area of the mall, the screams got louder at kaagad na umalerto ang security ko.

“Pierce! Pierce!” The people chanted and I just gave them my practiced celebrity smile.

Their phone were all out, taking pictures of me at sumunod sa akin hanggang sa makarating ako sa backstage. It has a barricade of course and a security so when upon reaching the backstage, hindi na rin sila nakasunod sa akin.

I breathed in deeply as I sat on my chair backstage. The staff were busy and I was the only one seated while my stylist checked me one more time.

I heard the emcee started introducing me and the live band as well.

“Sir Pierce, get ready. I’ll give you the cue and get on stage.” Greta instructed me one more time. 

Tumayo na ako at naghanda. I am not nervous or pressured anymore with this kind of event ‘cause I had a bigger audience before, and I have been in this industry for more than five years already.

This would be easy for me.

“And here is the artist that we are all waiting for, Pierce!”

That was my cue. I confidently took my step on the stairs on the way to the stage and heard the fans screaming on the top of their lungs.

“Pierce Psyche! Pierce Psyche!” Altogether they screamed.

I gave them my smile and waved at the crowd. The audience became wilder as I stood on the center of the stage in front of the mic stand. 

A staff member handed me my guitar, it’s my personal guitar that I have been using all throughout since I started in this industry.

The live band started while I roamed my eyes around the crowd. I waited for my cue to start singing, but I was quite taken upon recognizing someone familiar in the crowd. 

Out of all the people, she is probably the least that I expected to be here. Or am I just hallucinating things?

She is near the stage and she is even holding a banner, she is smiling and she is with a little girl. 

I was astonished. Impossible, she might be her twin or something! She is also dressing differently, a sleeveless floral dress and her hair that was always in a clean bun is now freely flowing.

She lifted her eyes and looked at me and the fans started singing the first verse. Upon hearing them singing, I realized that I missed my cue.

I nervously laughed and followed them right away, and started strumming my guitar. I started singing while playing the guitar but my eyes went back to her like a magnet.

I thought I won’t be shocked anymore but she is singing along with the crowd. What the hell?!

I started stuttering with my own lyrics and started messing with my chords and I knew I needed to get my grip harder. 

Fuck! I never had a mistake with my performance even with my rookie years, I always make sure that I am perfect with it no matter how small my audience is.

I concentrated on performing and didn't look at her direction anymore. She is a fucking distraction!

But even though I am not looking at her anymore, I started feeling nervous and anxious. 

Was my voice fine? She is singing my song so I assumed she is a fan? Is she my fan? And the fact that she is here too. Heck! Kagagaling niya lang ng trabaho, stayed up all night and came here early in the morning. She is a fan!

I started feeling more anxious. I swear, I never felt this anxious before, not even when I was just starting, I should have styled myself more.

The song is finally finished but I still have to perform more songs. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko naitawid and tatlo ko pang kanta, I just found myself in the backstage again, having a mini break while I looked out of nowhere, still shocked that she is really here.

“Why did you mess up the first song?”

But why is she acting so different though?

“Pierce!”

I was taken aback when I heard Matilda scream beside me. 

“What?” I asked innocently and cleared my throat. I should not overthink things.  

“Sabi ko bakit sumablay ka sa una mong kanta?” Gigil nitong tanong.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. She isn't really strict with it, and it's just me being strict with myself. She is just curious ‘cause I am a perfectionist with my performances.

“Nothing. Something just came to my mind and I just zoned out for a moment.” It is quite true though. 

Muling nabalik ang tingin ko sa kanya. Maybe I could ask her about it? Well, I could try. Umayos ako ng upo habang nanatili siya sa harapan ko, looking at me weirdly. 

“Ummm…have you seen Liberty in the crowd?” I carefully asked.

Kaagad na naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin. “Yes, she is with her sister.”

Napasinghap ako sa agaran niyang sagot. “Is she a fan?” I asked, almost excitedly standing up from my chair.

Mas lalo niya akong pinanliitan ng mata kaya kaagad rin akong sumeryoso at umupo ng maayos. Muli akong tumikhim. 

“No…” She said it so disgustingly as if being a fan of mine is a sin.

“Her little sister is the fan.”