RAINBOWS AND REALITY

CHAPTER 4: RAINBOWS AND REALITY*

“Care to tell me what the ‘sneaking’ was all about?”

Tori froze mid-bite of the sliced mango.

She set it down, wiped both hands on her shorts, and let out a long breath. So here it is. The part where "love isn’t all rainbows and butterflies."

She stood up from where she was sitting on the hard ground. Taj had spread a blanket out under the big mango tree. They were in the middle of his grandfather’s wide field in Guimaras — nothing but mango trees as far as the eye could see.

Well, it wouldn’t be Guimaras if she didn’t see mangoes everywhere. Mostly, anyway.

“So?” Taj pressed, playing with a piece of dry grass in his hand.

It had been almost a week since they officially became a couple. No dating, no courtship. It didn’t matter.

What mattered was they both knew they loved each other, even if they’d only known each other for a short time.

Taj's grandfather already knew Tori. So did his sister, Georgia. He brought Tori home a few times. And Tori had taken him to the Herrera ancestral house too. Her uncle received Taj politely, but the latter could feel the cold underneath.

“Love, I’m asking you,” Taj said, worry and impatience creeping into his voice. Tori sighed again, the second time — and that only made him more worried. “Is something wrong?”

Tori turned to him and smiled. But Taj noticed right away — it didn’t reach her eyes. That only confirmed his suspicion. Something was wrong.

“Babe, c’mon,” he said seriously, standing up too. “Spill it.”

Tori wrapped one arm around his neck and used her other hand to smooth out the frown between his brows.

“It’s Mom,” she said, forcing brightness into her voice.

She didn’t want Taj to worry or overthink. “But it’s nothing. I can handle it.” She rose on her toes and pressed a loud kiss to the tip of his nose.

Taj raised an eyebrow. He didn’t look convinced.

“Are you sure? If there’s anything I can do, just—”

Tori put a finger to his lips to stop him.

This time she made sure her smile looked real.

She was Tori Herrera, the Infinite Star. Famous for her chameleon moods, if nothing else.

“Shhh,” she whispered. She stood on her toes again and pressed her forehead to his. He was 5’11. She was only 5’4, so she was always on her toes around him. “There’s really nothing to worry about, love,” she promised softly.

Taj sighed deeply and pulled her into a hug. He kissed the top of her head. “Are you sure?” he asked again, still not convinced.

Tori laughed at how stubborn he was.

“But of course, love. I promise.”

Taj sighed again and nodded.

“Okay. If you say so.”

Truthfully, he still didn’t believe her. He could see it in her eyes. But if she didn’t want to talk yet, he wouldn’t push.

Maybe he was just overthinking.

“I love you,” he whispered, tilting his head down so their eyes met.

Tori’s eyes sparkled and a sweet smile curved her lips.

“I love you too, Taj Sebastian!”

She met his kiss halfway the moment his lips touched hers.

Tori closed her eyes and let herself be swept away by the feeling only Taj could give her.

---

*SAN LORENZO FIRE STATION*

“So it’s true, huh,” Oxygen grinned as he walked in.

The San Lorenzo fire station had two floors.

Downstairs was for the fire trucks and equipment.

Upstairs was the office.

“What’s true?” Taj asked, confused.

Oxygen’s grin widened as he nodded toward Taj’s phone on the desk.

“From country songs to pop, huh.” He set down the lunch box his girlfriend, Lorie, had dropped off.

Taj rolled his eyes. Yes, he’d been listening to Tori’s songs for almost a week now. He’d even started to love her music. Oxygen knew Taj only listened to country and western. So of course he was teasing him now.

“And?” Taj said flatly.

He wasn’t going to bite. If he did, Oxygen would never let it go.

Oxygen was about to answer when a familiar, nasal voice came from the door. Both of them looked up, along with a few other firefighters.

“So how does it feel to be linked to the one and only Infinite Star?”

“Karla,” Oxygen greeted, then immediately went back to his desk when the mayor’s daughter walked all the way in.

Everyone at the station knew Karla had a thing for Taj.

And the jealousy in her voice was impossible to miss when she asked about him and Tori.

“Bro, Tori’s coming soon, remember,” Oxygen whispered to Taj before sitting down.

Taj rubbed a hand down his face. They were about to have lunch. He and Tori had plans to eat together. And he knew Karla. She wouldn’t leave, especially not with that paper bag of food in her hand.

[“And to our Star Chika,” said Royie Alvarado, a well-known showbiz reporter on TV. “Is it true that the Duke of R&B, Everett Lozares, is releasing a new song? And according to the chika, the Infinite Star, Tori Herrera, will be featured on it. Wow, this is going to be big!”]

Taj’s eyes snapped to the TV when he heard Tori’s name.

He frowned at the photo on screen — Tori with a guy.

Both of them were smiling. They looked like they were in their own little world, staring at each other while holding hands. Under the photo were the words: Everett and Tori.

“Ouch,” Karla said mockingly, eyes glued to the TV just like Taj’s were.

The news segment ended, but Taj kept staring.

“Karla, drop it,” Oxygen snapped when he saw Taj’s face.

He got it. This was the first time Taj had seen Tori with another guy. He couldn’t blame him for being jealous — especially since the picture made it look like Everett was more than just a friend. And things would only get worse if Karla kept poking.

Karla rolled her eyes at Oxygen, then turned back to Taj.

“I bet you didn’t even know who Everett Lozares was, just like you didn’t know who Tori was when you first met her, right?” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger and smirked. “Well, he’s just one of the guys linked to Tori Herrera. But of course, her biggest ‘rival’ is still Sid Rodriguez of Crystal Music.”

Taj looked at her. Jealousy and barely-contained anger flashed in his eyes.

“Get out of my sight, Karla.” His voice was low and sharp.

He didn’t care if she was the mayor’s daughter. He was in a bad mood and had zero patience.

He knew Tori had people in her life before him. But apparently, he wasn’t ready to see it. He wasn’t ready to see her smiling at someone else. Holding someone else’s hand.

“Ops!” Karla said dramatically, clutching her chest. “Sorry, did I—”

“I said OUT!” Taj barked.

Karla stopped.

“Ouch,” she said, still clutching her chest. “I was just concerned, but fine. I’m leaving.”

The moment Karla was gone, Taj exhaled, over and over, trying to calm himself. Tori’s worried face from yesterday flashed in his mind. She’d wanted to tell him something, but changed her mind.

Was it about Everett Lozares?

And who was this Sid Rodriguez guy in her life?

Damn it!

The jealousy gnawed at his chest, especially with that picture of Tori and Everett burned into his head.