***
IT’S been a week since that encounter happened. Ernaline also temporarily stopped in the eyes of showbiz due to the number of events in her life. She’s currently lying on her bed writing a song to entertain herself, even though she is lost in the spotlight she can’t let go of the band because they are part of her life now.
But she did not talk to any of them, her reason? She just needs a little rest to be able to adjust if she can be a part of the band. Calvin understood that so he gave her what she wanted to happen. But the truth is, she has learned a lot since she left HuPoFEL.
A faint knock on the door woke her up, her Kuya’s worried face hung there but she ignored him, she’s at home right now because she can’t bear to see them if she stays in their condo especially Saviel. The bed sagged as her Kuya sat next to her.
"Tell me what happens?" he said but she did not utter a word. It's because he's too busy because of business but he doesn't have time to talk. This is his problem, he doesn't want to involve his brother anymore.
"Nothing important Kuya, don't mind me. I just need a little break" Ernaline said. Her Kuya let a sigh before he got up from her bed and did not speak again until he got out of her room. She just stared at the emptiness, how can she deal with people full of secrets?
The next day she entered the CDC, it’s also embarrassing for Calvin if she’s still absent from their practice. She has also had many rejected projects so she has to recoup.
Annika greeted her immediately when she saw her after she got out of the elevator and Annika already discuss what she needs to do. They have also resolved his issue with Renal and the man has also apologized to him which is not a big deal at all.
A frowning Saviel greeted him in the recording studio with Kyle, Jasper, Kaizen, and Senri doing their thing. Saviel immediately pulled him to their previous position.
"Why are you ignoring me?" Saviel muttered.
Who would be happy to see her on HuPoFEL? Ernaline didn't expect to see Saviel there. Saviel saw her waiting for Perth in that room.
"I'm ready to explain but you ran away. Do you have a horse race? " Saviel only received her smirk but the woman did not stop her.
Ernaline didn’t have time to listen to her explanation and what she was doing in that place that was mostly male-dominated especially that rugged Rent.
She ignored Saviel but Ernaline focused more on their practice. They will have mall shows in Davao, Cebu, Zamboanga, Pampanga, and other parts of the world. The band's priority here in the Philippines is so that she can adjust to her new environment here in showbiz as a singer.
She also couldn’t get out of her mind who those ‘men’ were and what they needed from her. Ernaline will admit that she is also greedy; especially since the Montenegro family is known all over the country, it is not clear if she suddenly disappears. After that incident, she also had no news of Perth.
"Nice performance guys. As always you still don't fade even though you replaced your vocalist" the organizer greeted them after they performed here in SM Davao, their next stop was in Cebu. Ernaline just smiled at the organizer before she bid goodbye to it and let the four say goodbye. She was too tired to associate with them.
Saviel was greeted by water when she entered the dressing room, she slumped down on a high chair very tired.
"When will you notice me?" She whimpered but she stared at Saviel. She’s not angry about it, she's just confused. Annoyed, Saviel shook her shoulder so Ernaline shook her hand which made Saviel nod even more.
"I'm not angry" she began. "I'm just confused and scared because of what's happening to me. I don't know how to deal with my problem" she said softly while staring at the bottled water she was holding.
"Perth did it the way the man he caught didn't really sing," Saviel said.
There was a hint in her voice of doubt whether to tell her or not. That's why she stared at it, straightened up, Ernaline and faced it carefully.
"Admit it to me, is our friendship just a coincidence or is there some other reason?" Saviel's eyes rolled and it couldn't look at her properly.
Ernaline sighed, she knew something was hiding it but she was afraid to find out. "If you don't want to say, it's okay with me" she added. She was about to get up to leave it but Saviel quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back to sit in the chair.
"Yes. I will speak" Saviel said. "It wasn't a coincidence that we knew each other, I knew you from the beginning because of Sinji, he was telling me about you then and then Reiden I already knew before, the meeting with the CDC coincidence like Perth was a mission. The model who was auditioning for the driver's seat at that time changed the mission."
Ernaline could not speak; she still remembered the times she had been introduced to her brother. And that's why her brother was overspeeding because someone was chasing them? There is no such thing as an incident.
"That's why I was there at HuPoFEL because what ... how can I say this ... what because ..." Saviel was still scratching her cheek as if she was hesitant to tell her.
"You can trust me Sav" Ernaline pleaded. Saviel is her friend, she needs to trust her whatever it takes.
The woman let out a sigh before speaking again. Saviel explained to her what was really behind that building and the role of the people working there.
"Perth didn't just bring you an ordinary building; I didn't know you would know each other. It's a dangerous and private place. The people you see wandering in the hallway are not normal. They are dangerous people; you wouldn't think that despite their gentle faces they could kill thousands of people in an instant. It's no joke the job we have, an assassin is a person who murders an important person for political or religious reasons. But in our case, we have a mission to assassinate such as drug lords, and another bigot who work illegally,"
"I know this kind of work is dangerous but Perth still entered because of his reasons. Everything you saw there had different reasons why we entered this kind of work. I also know that murder is bad but if the innocent ones are affected we won't hesitate to get our hands dirty. I can't tell you everything, it's better that D just took you there for protection because that's his job. And one more thing It's safe to say, HuPoFEL, you're smart and you're just in the area, so it's easy for Perth to be distracted by your pursuers."
"What happens to the man?" She asks. It's about the man Perth brought. Saviel stared at her before answering her question.
"He’s dead. Perth Dezrail Fynrell is the former vocalist and leader of the band, one of the members of HuPoFEl, and works for us as an assassin… .."
To this day, Saviel's words have not been erased from Ernaline’s mind. She already researched assassins and she got very little information.
She doesn’t know why she became interested in their work. Her relationship with Saviel returned to normal, even Perth came back on his duty as nothing happened. She also asked why it left the band but she only received a cold stare from Perth.
She only now realizes that Perth is a very mysterious person. Kyle was still paying attention but she was more focused on their work. She never saw or even talked to Renal because of their hectic schedule.
"Next week will be your concert" Ernalines turned to Calvin's place, they are currently having a conference for their upcoming concert and his debut as a vocalist. At least no one spoke to them and just listened to the Boss’s instruction. Calvin also saw Perth and just let it go, he didn't even look into the past.
"I will tell Annika not to receive press conferences and mall shows so that you can rest, your international schedule is already full too" next month they will attend international music awards, it's not impossible because the band has a name but this is the first time she will receive an award.
"After your concert, you will have a vacation rest or can we continue with your international guests?"
"There's no case against me, Calvin," said Ernaline.
"Are you sure about it?" Senri asked the girl seriously. "International is not easy even though you can keep up for us but the problem is .... Nothing, just don't mind me," Ernaline sighed because of Senri's words. While Jasper and Kaizen are already holding back a laugh.
"Just don't speak Senri if you don't have anything to say, you're scaring her," Kyle appealed. Ernaline just smiled at the man. During the time they have been together, she has also acquired the habit of this, ‘that’s just hanging out sometimes, just like Senri who has nothing to say sensibly. Why doesn't it just keep quiet for life?
"It's okay; it's like a challenge to me as a performer"
Until they get home to the condo, that’s what Saviel and Ernaline are still talking about. It's not possible not to be with her because her dream is to travel around the world. With this woman's wealth, she no longer needed to be a P.A., she still insisted, so she just let it go.
*****