The Path That Leads To You

Napabalikwas ng bangon si Jester nang marinig niya ang tunog ng cellphone niya.

"F**k! Who the hell called me this early?" he said while his eyes were still closed, he looked at the screen, it shows that mommy Anna is the caller.

"Yes Mom, napatawag ka?" He asked crookedly on the other line.

"Good morning son, Are you alright? Did you know how worried I was last night? I called Almera because I couldn't reached you, she said you got into trouble in the parking lot at the bar yesterday?"

He heaved a deep sigh. Almera is such a pain in the ass! She really can't keep a secret! he hissed in his mind.

"Mom, don't worry okay? hindi na po ako bata, Isa pa hindi naman ako ang nag-umpisa ng away, you know that right?" he replied.

Even though he has a background in taekwondo, he never used his physical strength to fight anyone unless the opponent start it first, he might be forced to defend himself, because he knew that self - control should always comes before power and speed.

"Okay son, Just make sure to spend the night here in the mansion, because your grandma and dad is gonna be home later from Canada, We're going to fetch them in the airport," his mom said briskly.

"Alright mom!" He nodded and hang up the phone.

It's past eleven in the morning when Jester got out of the bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. He had just finished changing clothes when he heard a small knocks coming through his door. When he open it, Mera's smiling face exposed to him which irritates him.

"Hey J! here, I brought your favorite bulalo." she said while handing the food wrapped in a plastic container to him . He didn't respond and just gave her a deadly stare.

The nerve of this girl! After she reported me to my mom! May gana pang magpakita rito! His mind is raging mad but first he needs to listen to her explainations.

"Now tell me, what the hell did you tell to my mom last night?!" he yelled at her and he noticed Mera's mouth pouting.

"Come on J, Tita called me last night because you turned off your phone and she couldn't reached you, then,she heard the loud screams while talking to me kaya 'yon! napaamin ako na nakipag-away ka sa parking lot," she explained in a soft tone.

"Okay, Let's go inside, let's eat this food, I'm already hungry! he said and grab the food in Almera's hands.

Kasalukuyan silang kumakain nang pananghalian nang muling nagtanong si Almera sa kanya.

"Hmm.. J, Did you like Flor?" she asked while staring at his eyes intently, he just shook his head in response.

"But why? She's a good catch, she's rich and beautiful, I think-"

"She's not my type Mera," he cut her off. "Even if she buys all the tickets for our band concert, I won't still hit on her! You know I don't believe in love and dating is just a waste of time!" he said blandly.

They were celebrating the success of the launching of their album sa paborito nilang bar kahapon. Mahigit dalawang taon na silang kumakanta yet ngayon lang sila nabigyan ng big break. Then, a familiar woman walked straight to their table and offered them a drink. It was Flor - their avid fan at school mate niya sa Brent International School.

Agad namang narinig nang mga oportunista niyang mga kagrupo sa banda na si Glenn, Mark, Arnel at Saint. Kaya nang inalok siya nitong makipag sayawan sa dancefloor ay wala siyang magawa kundi ang pumayag, It would be embarrassing if he refused, as she already paid for their drinks. But Flor wants something more, she wanted to have s*x with him but he refused, he already taste her once on bed so he didn't want to touch her again. She was as so drunk last night that she shamelessly grabbed his nape and kissed him thoroughly in the parking lot. But he turned her down! He probably hurt the woman's ego and she started to shout for help as he allegedly assaulted her, which he didn't!

Tiyempong naroon ang manliligaw nito at narinig ang sigaw ni Flor so rushed on to him and punched him straight to his face and he immediately reacted to it. Mera on the other hand was already in the parking lot to pick Jester up as she knew that he could no longer drive when he's drunk, so when Jester's mom called her, she heard the commotion on the other line. Almera has no choice but to spill it to his mom.

Almera is like a younger sister to him, they grew up together, so when Jester found out that his friend, Saint liked Almera, he's not in favor of it, that notorious f*ckboy might just hurt ruined her bestfriend. She is studying a business course in Ateneo de Manila, as an heiress of Hidalgo group of companies she has to learn and study how to run their petroleum company. While Jester on the other hand, had stop studying as he was too busy building up his career in music industry.

"Mera, would you like to join us in fetching grandma and dad in the airport later?" he asked.

She gasped in surprise, "Really? I'll go with you?"

"Of course! You're like a family to us!" he chuckled and pat his hands to her hair.

"Hey! you stop patting my head, I'm not a dog!" Mera said in protest.

"Yes you are, you always follow me around like a loyal dog!" he teased her and he saw Mera roll her eyes that makes him laugh.

They went straight to the parking lot and quickly got into his red BMW Sedan, it was a gift from his Lola Rosalina on his 21st birthday, and it was his favorite among all his cars.

He greeted his Dad and grandma with a warm hug, her grandma had gone to Canada for almost two months for her cornea transplant and he missed her so much as he grew up really close to her. After some chit- chat, her mom decided to eat their dinner in a fancy restaurant.

They entered in a high- end Italian restaurant, it has a nice ambience and the crews were polite . They greeted them and handed the menu which was laid out on the placemat of the table. While ordering the food Jester noticed the female crew intently gazing at him, he is inevitably distracted by it. The girl suddenly face him and said, "Uhh.. Sir, are you the vocalist of the boy band Cool Front?" she blinked her eyes in excitement.

"Y-yeah," he replied while looking at his dad. Halata ang pagka disgusto ng Daddy niya sa narinig. He doesn't like him singing!

"Can I get some autograph and a selfie later sir?" she pleaded.

"Sure," he sparingly smiled.

"What's your order Mera?" he asked her to change the topic.

"Caprese salad with Presto sauce and Mushroom risotto for me miss,"

"Yun nalang din ang akin miss." he grinned in response.

When the food they order arrived, they were all quietly eating, he felt the tension in the air, he knew his father didn't like the encounter earlier,he can feel his father's gazed towards him, his mom broke the silence..

"By the way son, How's school?" she ask him directly.

"It's fine mom,"

His dad shooked his head in disbelief, "Kailan ka ba titigil sa walang kwentang pagbabanda? Instead of learning our business 'yang pagkanta - kanta ang inaatupag mo!" he growled in anger..

"Dad naman! It's my passion, hindi ko kayang hindi kumanta, mamamatay ako." Dire-diretsong sagot niya.

"Okay I made up my mind, sa probinsya kana sa Bukidnon magtatapos ng high school. Doon ka sa hacienda para may kasama ang Lola mo." seryosong sabi nito. Agad naman na nag - angat nang mukha ang Lola, si Almera at ang mommy niya,shocked was written on their faces.

"Hon, wag mo namang ilayo sa atin anak natin, Give him another chance to redeem himself and - "

"No Ana! My decision is final, kailangan maturuan nang leksyon ang anak mo, puro pagbabarkada at pagbabanda lang ang inaatupag.

His mom could no longer speak, he knew his father is dominant in decision making, even his grandmother chose to remain silent. He clenched his fist in anger, he wants to cry and shout but he couldn't do it since they were inside the restaurant.

Oh God! How could this happened to me? I don't want to live in a goddamn province. I can't sing anymore and I'm afraid we'll be disband.

"Dad please, I'm begging you, I'll start learning our business tomorrow, just don't send me there. Mahihirapan akong mag - adjust doon, isa pa nag - aaral po ak -"

"I don't take no for an answer Jester, alam mo 'yan!" seryosong saad nito.

"Then, I left no choice." mahinang tugon niya.

Hindi na niya naubos ang pagkain sa plato niya, nawalan na siya nang gana. Pansin rin niya ang pagtigil ni Almera sa pagkain. Panay rin ang sulyap nito sa kanya. Pagkatapos kumain ay umuwi na sila sa mansyon.

Hindi na pinayagan pa nang mommy niya na umuwi pa si Almera sa sarili nitong condo, dahil gabi na at pansamatalang nagleave ang driver nilang si Manong Fred dahil kapanganak lang nang asawa nito.

Wala rin siya sa mood ipagdrive ito. He wants to cry in frustration. Walang nakakaintindi sa gusto niya. Music isn't just a hobby for him, it's something that lift him from drowning in loneliness. Though he has everything, wealth, fame and women pero lagi paring may kulang. His parents didn't pay much attention to him as he grew up since they were always busy running their business.

Nagtungo siya sa minibar na katabi lang sa kusina nila. Kumuha siya nang dalawang bote alak at pumunta sa veranda. Gusto niyang magpakalasing para maibsan ang paninikip ng dibdib niya. Nagsalin siya ng sour whiskey sa shot glass at sinipsipiyon when he noticed someone watching him from his back, bahagya siyang umikot at napagtanto niyang nandoon at nagmamasid sa kaniya si Almera.

"H- hey! Napapadalas na yata ang inom mo ha? you might get sick?!" concern nitong tanong.

"Yeah, wala namang nakakapansin eh, ikaw lang naman." he respond in a crack voice.

"J, don't worry, I'll always visit you there often if I'm not busy. Kaya cheer - up! nandito lang ako para saiyo," she said and smile sparingly.

"Thanks Mera, ikaw lang naman ang kakampi ko. Tawagan mo ako palagi ha? mami - miss kita at ang kakulitan mo." he replied.

"Yes J, I will call you frequently, I promised." she said as she hugged him .