THREE YEARS AGO…
“YOU HAVE a contract signing at three in the afternoon for an endorsement deal. I’ll pick you up by one, okay?” Marceline said over the phone.
“Okay.” He reread his script.
Sage had been practicing his script since he woke up. He was excited for his first major role as the second male lead in a new drama. He made it to the top just like what he promised on his mother’s grave.
“Is that it? No complaints?”
“None.”
“This is a miracle,” Marceline said, laughing. “Are you sick or what?”
“Nah! I’m just busy practicing my lines.”
“Oh, I see. I’m hanging up now. `Bye!”
Sage put down his phone on the bedside table. After a few seconds, it rang again. He answered it without looking at the caller ID.
“What now?” He thought it was Marceline again.
“I-it’s me, Reina,” said the gentle voice on the other line.
“O-oh. I’m sorry, Reina. I thought it was Marceline again.” Sage threw his script on the bed and sauntered towards the window. He looked at the house across the street. “What made you call?”
“Are you busy right now?”
“Why?”
“Can you spare me some time?”
“Yeah, of course. Should I come over?”
“No need. I’m already here in front of your door.”
“Oh.”
The call ended.
Sage went downstairs. The moment he opened the door, Reina threw herself at him, crying.
“Whoa! What happened?” He patted her back.
“Sage, you love me, don’t you?” Reina raised her head and looked at him.
He smiled and caressed her cheek, brushing away her tears.
“Of course, I love you. I will always love you, Reina.” He gently kissed her lips.
“Then, tell your agency that I’m your girl, and let’s get married.”
Sage heaved a sigh. It has been tough for both of them to hide their relationship to the public and to his agency.
“Reina… we already talked about this a lot of times. I told you that I signed a contract and it states that I can’t engage myself in a relationship for the first five years of my contract.”
“But your boss is your uncle, Sage. You’re family. Maybe he can make an exemption.”
“What’s the matter with you, Reina?” She grasped her arms. “I thought you already understand the situation. You even told me before that you’re willing to wait.”
Her tears welled up again. With Reina biting her lip, Sage knew that there was something she was not telling him.
“Reina… tell me what’s the matter!” His voice raised a little.
“I’m… I’m pregnant, Sage!”
“What?” His eyes widened.
He slowly let go of her.
“I’m pregnant with your child, for Pete’s sake.”
Sage ran his fingers through his hair and paced back and forth in the living room.
“How… how did that happen, Reina? We just… made out. We never had intercourse. How come I got you pregnant—is the child really mine, Reina?” Sage pursed his lips.
“Wait. What? Are you accusing me that I-I cheated on you?” She scoffed. “Well, fuck you, Sage.” She pushed him away.
SAGE brought Reina to the hospital to get tested. She was indeed pregnant and still a virgin. That proved that Reina did not cheat on him. The doctor explained that there were cases that the woman gets pregnant after making out, but those were rare cases. He also told them what could have happened during making out that leads Reina to pregnancy. Sage found it ridiculous, but what could he do when it was backed up with Science?
And getting her pregnant through making out was not the problem. It was the fact that she was pregnant when he was just at the peak of his career.
“What have you done, Sage?” Uncle Emerson’s voice roared inside the conference room.
He already told him and Marceline that she got Reina pregnant.
“You’re at the peak of your career and you’re telling me that you got a girl pregnant by just making out with her? Goddamn it, Sage! This is ridiculous. Is this some kind of prank?” His uncle drew an exasperated breath and stood up.
“I also thought it was ridiculous but—”
“You should have been more careful! What about your career now? Do you really think that we can hide this for a long time?”
“You already earned the public’s interest now, Sage. You have a lot of fangirls now who stick their noses on your everyday life. It only takes a few taps and your career could be ruined,” Marceline said in a low tone.
“Yes! Exactly!” his uncle agreed.
“Let’s just send Reina abroad and compensate her. It will be better to take her away from the spotlight before it points on her,” Marceline suggested.
“A-are you telling me that you’re taking them away from me?” His fists clenched.
“That’s the only way we could save your career, Sage,” his uncle said firmly.
“I love Reina, and I love her more now that she is pregnant with my child,” he told them. “I can’t afford to lose them—”
“You’re not losing them for good, Sage,” said Marceline. “She’s pregnant and stress is bad for her. Your fangirls wouldn’t let you and Reina live a normal life.”
Uncle Emerson sat again and clasped his hands above the table. “You choose, Sage. Your career or Reina and your baby.”
Marceline cupped his hand.
“We do understand that both are important to you, Sage. But if you choose to sacrifice your career now, we all know that there is no guarantee that you could have it back… However, if we send Reina abroad, she and your baby could come back whenever you’re ready.”
Sage tilted his head to prevent his tears from falling. His chest was feeling heavy now, but he had to make the decision. He had to choose the better option.
“Let’s send Reina and give her the support she needs,” he said with a hoarse voice.
The door swung open, and Reina went inside the conference room.
“You’re choosing your career over me and your baby?”
Sage stood up and strode towards her.
“Reina, this is for our—” Her palm landed on his cheek.
“Don’t you ever show your face to me ever again! We’re done, Sage!” Reina stormed out of the room.
He followed her.
“Reina!”
“Don’t follow me!” Reina shouted when she got out of the building.
But Sage did not listen to her. He followed her still. He knew he was acting like that because she was furious. He was sure that once her emotions subside, she would understand why he chose that option.
“Reina! Stop and listen to me,” he said when she ran across the street.
But Reina did not listen. And the next thing that happens shocked the hell out of him. She was hit by a bus.
“Reina!”
She was rushed to the hospital, but Reina did not make it. She was declared dead on arrival.
“I GUESS I was the human version of bad luck. Everyone dear to me died…” Sage said somberly.
Sage opened up about his past. If truth be told, Selen was torn. Now that she knew Reina and Sage’s story, she understood where her friend was coming from. But then, if she was to put herself in his shoes, Selen understood why he resorted to that kind of decision. Indeed, love makes like look hard.
“You’re not bad luck, Sage. Things happen for a reason…” She patted his knuckles. “Remember your line in your drama where you played as the second lead?”
He looked at her with furrowed brows. “I can’t recall.”
Selen cleared her throat.
“If your first love was the one who broke your heart, he’s not your last,” she said in a deep voice and smiled. “Reina was your first love, but she departed this world. That only means that she’s not your last. God has someone reserved for you, and she’s just somewhere out there.” And that’s me.
“Have you ever loved someone so much, Selen?”
She heaved a deep sigh. “Not as much as you do, but I’m not dumb not to know how it feels. I have watched a lot of dramas, you know.”
“Life is far different. If this was a drama, I already found redemption.”
Selen gaped at him for a while.
“Well… you’re right. But have you made a move so that you can earn that redemption?”
“How could I ask for forgiveness from someone who’s already dead?”
“Reina has a family. Maybe apologizing to them could lead you to your redemption, Sage.”
Sage raised a brow. “You know it, don’t you? Your boyfriend told you even before I open up about it.”
She shook her head. “Rei didn’t tell me anything. I was asking him about it, but he wouldn’t tell me. He just said that I should hear it from you. Oh, he’s not my boyfriend. We’re best of friends.”