The Stars Trilogy (16 page)

She sat on a chair facing him. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Nah. Cruz just arrived.”

“Where is he? Won’t he join us?”

“He’ll eat somewhere.”

“Okay.” She picked up her burger, peeled the wrapper and took a big bite. She was really famished now. She spent three hours cleaning Ben’s place.

He ripped the side of a mustard packet with his teeth. “Here, let me.”

She held out her burger as he squeezed mustard on it. She smiled, appreciating the sweet gesture. “Thanks.” She was seeing a part of her old Dare now.

She bit into her burger. The tasty flavor exploded in her mouth and she groaned in pleasure.

He grinned. “Good?”

She nodded, her mouth full. “Uh-hmmm!” She slurped from the straw of her vanilla shake. “Hmmmm.”

He bit a big chunk of his burger, too and groaned.

They both chuckled.

They finished eating the burgers almost at the same time. They nibbled on the French fries while sipping coke. She was relaxing around him, simply enjoying his company.

“Which part of Asia are you from?”

Okay…he is interested now.
She hoped.

“Philippines.”

“Oh yeah. Lea Salonga?”

Her eyes widened. “You know her?”

“I saw Miss Saigon way back. She’s quite…unforgettable. You Filipinos can really sing.”

“Yes, she’s quite special. Our national treasure,” she said, her voice croaking a bit with emotion. For Dare to appreciate a great Filipina talent felt like he was appreciating her, too.

“You like theater?” he asked.

“Yes. I love LA Theater.”

He smiled, studying her face. “What’s your favorite show so far?”

“Musicals. I love the old stuff, Les, Jersey Boys, Cats, Phantom, I’ve seen most of them. But I just saw We Will Rock You last month. Awesome!”

His brows arched, amused. “Really?”

“Yes. I love Queen. Don’t you?”

“Who doesn’t?”

She grinned. “Have you seen the show?”

“Yeah. Saw it with Robert and Brian a few years back when I went to London.”

Her eyes bulged. “Wow. I reckon Robert was THE Robert De Niro who produced the London show and Brian, THE Brian “Too much Love Will Kill You” May?”

He chuckled. “I remember Brian was not happy with the critics still panning the show after years since it first opened but if you’re a Queen fan, who cares about the crazy storyline?”

“I loved it! The story’s not so bad but the music, boy, nothing compares. It rocked the house from beginning to end. Took me a few days to get over.” She sang a few lines of We Will Rock You.

He chuckled again. “I know. I’d sure like to see it again.”

God, it felt so good to hear him laugh. With her. Her heart swelled with joy. She was sharing a laugh with Dare! It was special, a milestone in her book considering they were not off to a good start.

“What time are you supposed to go back to the hospital?” he asked.

“After we eat.”

“Okay, I’ll take you there and help you transport Ben back here.”

She was surprised. “You don’t have to do that. I can...”

He touched her hand. “I insist.”

She swallowed. The feel of his hand on hers was electric, just like the first time. “O...kay...Th-thanks,” she stuttered.

“It’s the least I can do.”

“Uh-huh...” Could he feel what she was feeling? Her throat constricted and she was starting to perspire when she just took a bath.

“Celine...I’m sorry.”

“You already apologized last time...I have accepted.”

“No. I mean, I’m really sorry for saying those things. I have no excuse. I was an asshole.”

They stared at each other. She could see and feel his sincerity this time. She wasn’t sure if he still thought of her as Ben’s girlfriend or whatever. But it was okay. She would show him what kind of a woman she was in the coming days.

She smiled at him. “I’m sorry, too, for being a bitch.”

He squeezed her hand and grinned. “You surely take it to the next level.”

She laughed. “Only when you’re being a bad boy.”

“I’ll try to behave.”

He let go of her hand. “You look really nice in that dress.”

Finally! “Thanks.”

Thank you, God!

Dare was torn between envy and admiration as he watched Celine fuss over Ben from the hospital all the way back to Sommerset. She tucked the old man in bed like a baby after feeding him with a Filipino dish called
pochero
, a kind of tomato-based beef stew mixed with potatoes, cabbages and carrots.

He and Ben finished her entire casserole. Damn but Celine can cook! He was afraid that he was rapidly developing a fondness for her. Something he couldn’t help. Despite his initial disapproval, whatever Ben and Celine’s relationship was, he could see that it was something sincere and good. Not many women will be as caring as Celine to their sugar daddies. The usual man-eater type was more accustomed to taking than giving. But he didn’t see selfishness in Celine the past days. All he saw were love, care and respect. For Ben.

And God, he was envious as shit. Nobody had to know, but he was.

Celine was a mother hen and Ben was reveling in her attention like a pampered baby. He couldn’t remember ever being dependent on anybody, not even when he was sick as a dog from too much work. He couldn’t show any weakness to anybody, especially a woman. It was tantamount to relinquishing control of his self-contained universe that he had painstakingly built through the years.

But he couldn’t help it now. He was envious of Ben’s weakness. How would it feel to be so helpless? To let somebody take charge? He inwardly cringed at the very idea. What the hell was he thinking?

She was causing all kinds of doubts to resurface in his system. He had gotten rid of all of that when he had to grow up fast from being a boy to a man in order to take care of his family. But nothing could ever beat transforming from a young man into a very ancient soul even before his time. Prison could do that to even the strongest man.

He shook his head violently. “Dammit!”

Celine and Ben both looked in his direction.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

“I...It’s late. I’d better get going.”

“Thank you for the lift, Dare. I really appreciate all your help. I promise, you’ll have your script soon.”

“Alright, Ben. Have some rest now,” he murmured and left the room. He headed straight for the main door of Ben’s flat.

Celine was behind him. “Wait! Dare!”

He paused, but he didn’t look at her.

“Uhm...thank you so much...for all the help.”

“Don’t mention it. Good night.”

He walked out of there, angry at himself. He had no room for those boyhood fears, uncertainties and paid-for guilt to come a-knocking in his system after all these years.

The woman was awakening all his past demons.

Chapter Seven 

“I watched Dead or Alive with Shavonne again on DVD last week. I saw it like a dozen times

already. I still can’t get enough how gorgeous you are in that movie. I also bought the latest Empire magazine where you’re the cover. I so love your new hairstyle. The fringes on your forehead make your eyes seem bluer and more intense. I sooo love your eyes. They make me melt!:))) I’ve read rumors that you’re going to marry Alana Christensen soon. Alana?! But she’s old! And I’ve never read anything about you two dating. It’s so shocking! I hope you don’t get married yet. I mean...I don’t know anything about marriages but aren’t you too young for that? You’re only 23, right? Don’t marry yet, please! Wait for me:)))”

CELINE WAS SITTING BESIDE BEN aboard Dare’s Hummer stretch limo. Rocky’s Porsche was tailing them.

Dare called for a meeting today to discuss the concept of his movie script that Ben and Rocky had been working on for a week. They were fetched by Dare’s chauffeur at the Sommerset and now they were on their way to Dare’s house. It was almost six in the evening.

She could hardly breathe in her nervous excitement. She would finally see Dare’s house! She had clippings of the four-storey mansion located in Hollywood Hills when it was featured in the Architectural Digest. The house was designed by the famous American architect Richard Meier.

At last, she would set foot in her future residence! Her ultimate dream was fast becoming a reality. The odds were definitely in her favor now.

She couldn’t wait to tell this new development to Shavonne.

Ben touched her hand gently. She had been anxiously playing with the strap of her shoulder bag non-stop.

“Are you alright, kid?”

“Oh Ben, I’m so nervous!”

“How come? This is your dream, right?”

“You have no idea.”

“I think I pretty much get the picture.”

“What if he doesn’t like me?”

“Why won’t he like you?”

“I mean he has millions of women admiring him, wanting him and he must have been with dozens of beautiful, interesting, smart and talented women. What can I possibly do to make him like me? I’m a nobody.”

“Hey, hey, where is this coming from?”

“Shavonne always laughs at me.”

“Who’s Shavonne ”

“Shavonne is my best friend and also my first cousin. She’s really cool but when it comes to the subject of Dare, she’s always making fun of me. She’s called me many names through the years. OF, CS, TR. And she was right on all counts.”

“What do those acronyms stand for?”

She sighed and explained.

Ben was looking at her strangely afterward.

“See, you agree with Shavonne!”

“Well...Who in their right mind would believe that you and Dare would ever end up together? Not me who had seen the ugliest dirt in Hollywood. But you know...There’s something about you that just makes me want to believe despite all that. I am not that cynical, after all.”

She smiled, grateful for his faith in her dreams. “Thank you, Ben.”

“Now, quit fidgeting, my dear. We’re going to lasso that boy for you, if it’s the last thing we would do.”

She laughed. Who would have thought that she would find a partner in crime in her Operation:Get Dare mission? And someone who actually knew Dare, too! The stars may have crossed her out before but it seemed like they were having a change of heart now. “Did I ever tell you about how I first met Dare?”

“You saw one of his romantic movies?”

“No. I met him when I was only nine or ten years old. At Coney Island!”

“Really? How?”

She recounted that memorable episode to Ben. It was still so vivid in her memory. After all these years she still knew every second of that unforgettable moment that changed her life forever. She took out a small jewelry box from her bag. She opened it and showed Ben the phoenix pendant.

“This is a remarkable story, Celine.”

“Yes. This pendant has connected me to him all these years, our bond. He said this was his amulet. I want to give it back to him when the right time comes.”

“My dear, more than ever, I want to be a part in the realization of your happy ending. You got me dead center this time.”

Ben’s eyes were misty. “Oh Ben, I didn’t mean to upset you...”

“Nah. I just remember my wife...”

It was her turn to squeeze Ben’s hand comfortingly. They lapsed into silence.

Ben patted her hand. “Cheer up, little one. Let’s write your happy ending. Have faith in your dreams.”

Dare heaved a sigh of relief when he saw his limo enter the gate. He had been waiting impatiently at the front steps of his house for minutes now.

The limo stopped at the driveway. Carlos came out to open the passenger door.

She came out first, dressed like a teenager in tight jeans and baby-Tee, her long hair tied in a ponytail.

Tempting as the seven deadly sins combined.

He had a huge problem in his pants within seconds.

He sighed. What else was new?

Ben came out of the limo.

A black Carrera came into the driveway and stopped behind the limo. This must be the director. They guy knew cars, alright.

The driver came out of the car.

Dare normally didn’t pay attention to a fellow guy’s looks but he did this time.
Fuck, he isn’t fat, short, bald and ugly.