SHEN and Charlie stopped running to breathe air. They’re both catching their breaths when Roha approached them beside a food chain stall.

“Gosh, I should run more often to enhance my breathing,” Shen said in between gasps. “It’s a good thing that they didn’t chase us, right? Because I might kick them each by each just to leave us alone.”

“You’re really going to do that?” Charlie asked, giving her an amused look.

“I hate zombies. And, fans that chased their idols were like zombies for me,” she answered, rolling her eyes heavenwards. “Aren’t you going to do the same?”

“We’re not allowed to hurt our fans physically even if they’re the ones that hurt us first.”

“Hey, don’t you have plans on letting go at each other? You’re not running anymore,” Roha said and pointed at their intertwined fingers. “You looked like a runaway couple.”

Shen quickly pulled her hand free from him. “Runaway my ass,” she said and looked around to check if people are looking at them. Then, she shot Charlie a glare. “You’re aware that you’re a celebrity, why you didn’t put on your face mask?”

Charlie scratched the corner of his brow. “I forgot it in the car.”

Shen gave him a scrutinizing look. “Why? Because you’re too excited to meddle in my business?”

“Shen, why don’t you let him explain why he followed us?” Roha asked. “And, why are you scolding him after you saved him? I was so impressed by what you did, but I think I regret it now.”

“Saving him from the crowd is against my will,” she said, tapping her chest. “You just begged for me to do it, Roha.”

“I still thank you for it, Shen,” Charlie told her sincerely. “I really don’t know what to do if you didn’t come back for me.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. Oddly, he’s now talking to him calmly. And, it doesn’t suit his arrogant personality. “Now that it seems you’re okay, we’ll leave you for real.”

“Aren’t we going to let him go with us? What if somebody recognized him again?” Roha asked, stopping her arm.

“That is not my problem anymore!” she said, glaring at the both of them. “Roha, if you wanted to accompany him, then go. I can go home alone.”

“You can go with me,” Charlie told her. “I brought a car. I parked it behind this food chain.”

Roha shook her arm. “Let’s go, Shen—”

“No, thanks,” Shen refused. “Like I said, I can go home alone. I’ll just a book cab—” She paused when she can’t find her phone on her bag. “Oh, my gosh! Where’s my phone?”

Roha gasped. “I told you to hold your things close to you,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ll book a cab for you.” She took out her phone and opened the rent-a-taxi app. “Oops, no more data load.”

Shen caught her head. “This is crazy! I can’t lose my phone. All Yohan’s pictures that I collected in the past three years are stored in my internal storage.”

“Charlie, can you please book her a cab?” Roha asked the man nicely. “I’m quite sure that she won’t ride with you. That’s her personality.”

Shen scowled at her friend. “How could you blatantly spread gossips about me?”

“Okay, I’ll book a cab for you,” he said, getting his phone. “But if there’s no available cab, you’ll ride with—” Charlie paused and started to search all his pockets. “Shit.”

Shen’s brows furrowed. “Don’t tell me that you lost your phone too?”

Charlie scratched the back of his head. “It looks like it,” he said, looking around. “I didn’t expect it. There’s a man that bumped with me a while ago—”

“You’re a certified victim.” Roha shook her head. “I guess we don’t have any choices, Shen, but to have a ride with him.”

Shen crossed her arms on her chest. “Why does it have to happen to me?”

Roha chose to sit on the front to give Charlie the directions to her house because they don’t have a phone to use as navigator. Roha’s place was just a kilometer away from the Quiapo, so after only an hour, she got off and left her alone in the car with Charlie.

“Would you mind transferring here so you could tell me the directions to your house?” Charlie asked Shen after Roha bid goodbye to them.

Shen pursed her lips. But she still got off the car and transferred to the front seat. “Drive straight, I live in Golden Village.”

“Really? That’s where I live too?” Charlie asked. Shen doesn’t like what she sees in his face. It was as if his face suddenly brightened in her eyes. “My manager has a townhouse in there, and he let me used it while I’m studying here in Manila.”

“What a suite life,” Shen commented. “A celebrity life is the dream life of every human being.”

“Except me,” Charlie said, not taking his eyes off the road. “I don’t want to be a celebrity. But I was forced to enter the Entertainment Industry because I wanted to prove my independence to my mom.”

Shen knotted her forehead. Why is he telling this to her? She looked at him in furrowed brows. “You know what? I don’t give a damn in your suite life.”

Charlie chuckled. “That’s good to hear. I’m so tired of people talking about my life and dictating me on what to do.” A sad smile formed in his lips. “Meeting someone that doesn’t care about my celebrity status and don’t give a damn about my life is quite a fresher.”

“Whatever,” Shen said, ignoring him. “Don’t talk and keep on driving.”

Charlie looked at her in a knotted forehead. “I am not your driver,” he said, scowling at her. “Don’t give me orders as if you’re paying my service.”

Now he’s back. Shen met his gaze with furrowed brows. “Hey, let me remind you, Charlie Yun. I lost my phone because of you!”

“I lost my phone too because of you,” he countered back.

“It wasn’t my fault. Did I tell you to follow us?” she asked and smirked. “It’s just serves you right for power-tripping me. Karma is a bitch.”

Charlie looked at her. His thick brows were drawn together while staring at her. “I’m still not gonna let you do your evil plans, witch.”

***