Chapter 2

The Lies Between Us

(Jacey Sommers - Jungkook)

2 - I Thought I Did The Right Thing But...

"You sure you just met Lisie Moore tonight?"

Tait shrugged at his friend's statement.

"Man, you two sure got chemistry." Jeremy Cross blabbered inside the car still not over what he saw that night.

"Just think about it man, if you'll accept the role, your career'll rise from the dead. You'll get your rep back and maybe even score a chic."

Tait just got back from New Zealand after almost 2 years of hiatus. He was off social media for a while and just checked his accounts earlier this morning.

And upon checking, he's sure about three things. First is that he's gone to rehab for drug addiction, second is that his ex girlfriend was suing him for physical abuse and last, he's getting the role of Joker in the next blockbuster film, Batman and Joker.

Which was all bullshit by the way.

How the hell did the media come up with all those stories when all he knew for the last 22 months was to tend sheep.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea to be back."

"Dude, you were born to play this role. I just know it!"

Tait knew he was being used by the PR of Batman and Joker to bring attention to the film but he did not receive any offers from the producers themselves. Which was unlike the situation of another upcoming film whom his best friend was recently casted to play. Tait came back not to act again. He was back for her. To confront what happened and end it for good.

"You sure? You're not just convincing me to do it because you don't want to feel inferior to your other co-stars?" He raised a brow to his best friend.

"Wow, how could you look down on me like that? Why would I feel inferior though, I won last year's best supporting actor-"

"And worst dressed."

"Shut up!"

When they got home to his old penthouse, Jeremy was still talking about the film.

Jeremy, or Jim was what he usually calls him, was the only friend he has in showbiz.

After they both got casted in High School Cassanova when they were 14, they were inseparable. From then on, they both treated each other like brothers.

"I missed you man. And you know I don't say this a lot but I love you. And I got really worried when you took off like that."

Tay's lips curved in a smirk. What he did was a shock to everyone. After his last film flopped, his career started going downhill. He lost a lot of sponsors and he found out his manager sold him off to a syndicate.

But it didn't really start there.

"Are you outing yourself on me now, Jim?" He teased.

"Fuck you man." Jim hissed hitting his shoulder playfully.

"You and Lil Ms. Korea still together?"

"I'll tell you my love life if you tell me yours" Jim retorted cleverly trying to get something out of him.

"It's over."

"No way? You and Yana?"

"Mhmm." Tait got himself a bottle of water before slumping on to the couch.

"Be honest with me, man. You don't really like her, don't you?"

"I'm surprised you're asking me about this as if what I'll say will matter." Jim scoffed indifferently.

"No, I just want to know what you think. I'm serious."

"Well..." Jim hesitated at first. His best friend has been through a lot because of that girl. Jim knew to himself that he's a nice guy but god knows how much patience he has to exert in front of that girl. She's one of the few people in his life who's difficult to be around with.

"She's a great actress obviously," Jim commented joining his friend on the couch.

"But you hate her?"

"It's not that, bro. I just don't think she's good for you."

Jim waited for Tay's reaction but got nothing. He's careful about the things he'll say because he knew how much his best friend love the girl. Though Tay was telling him it's over between them, there might still be some roots there.

He was happy when he learned about their relationship but as the years pass, it was painful to watch his closest friend rise up to success only to get dragged back to the mud by a love that's toxic.

At some point he blamed himself because he couldn't save Tait from his own downfall.

"Since you said 'be honest' here's some pill that's hard to swallow. You and her are too different. Besides the 10-year age gap, she's extremely conceited. You're too good for her and I know you know it."

"Different is great. You and Lil Ms. Korea's too similar like you have a boring relationship."

"Hey this isn't about me. And before you bring up my perfect girl friend, aren't you going to agree with me that your "ex" is kinda like a psycho?"

"You're over-exaggerating."

"Uh hello? Who's the heroin addict who left her white junk on your hotel suite one night and didn't clear your name right after cops showed up?" Jim was slowly getting fired up about this topic that Tait turned on the TV to calm the tension down. An anime show's intro song came to play.

"In case you had amnesia while you're frolicking with your flock, let me remind you how your lovely muse set you up and used you for clout after that." Jim cleared his throat to prepare his speech.

"You and I have been in the industry for a long time. We grew up on TV and we know the ins and outs of show business that we can easily identify who's the good from the bad. Sometimes I wonder what you see in her." Jim calm down a bit but he continues...

"She comes in your life after a stable and successful career and then acted like it's your own fault shit happened."

Tait rolled his eyes but he couldn't deny that every word that Jim said was true. He couldn't even say anything to his best friend because he felt embarrassed about it. He fell hard and he let his emotions rule him. He thought it was only right to give everything to the woman he loves but she just took everything. She didn't love him like he did.

"She truly deserved the Oscar." Jim ended his speech with sarcasm but before he walked out his final words were, "It better be over."

Days went by and Tait kept himself busy studying about art. He's always been interested about art since he was a kid and for the last two years it was where he found peace.

It was a bad idea to turn on TV for the news was either about his ex or his rumored acting comeback.

He finally decided that he was never coming back and if he was it's because he's doing it for himself and not because he was forced to.

So now he's main focus is to just chill and make good use of his other talents. His plans were as simple as that.

It was until 13 days later that his peace was disturbed by a phone call.

At first he thought the unknown number was from his sister because she emailed him when he got back that she's going to change her number. But when he answered it, his chest felt heavy.

"Hey...it's me..."

It was the first time in two years that she's called. After everything that he's done for her, the things he sacrificed for, now she's decided to call? Why only now?

He stayed silent and put the phone on speaker while he paints. He can still be a gentleman even after what happened.

The red watercolor dripped like a blood in the glass as he listened to her talk.

"Can we talk in person? I heard your back?" She sobbed. "I'm really sorry Tait. Will you ever give me another chance?"

Then her next words haunted him like a spell.

"I still love you."

He scrunched his nose and ended the call. When he saw that she's calling again he turned off his phone for good.

When he turned on the TV, his eyebrow raised seeing what's on the news. It was enough to keep his frustrations off his ex for a while.

Lisie Moore was giving a statement about the issue revolving around her, Veronica Park and Jacey Sommers.

Last week, model turned actress Lisie Moore was photographed in tears coming out an exclusive restaurant where singer song-writer, Veronica Park and boyfriend, soccer athlete Jacey Sommers were also seen together. Just a few days ago, the couple called it quits and fans of the couple are blaming Lisie for being the third party of the relationship.

With a movie in her bag it seems like Lisie Moore will be the talk of the town for the rest of the year. And with that, here's what her latest instagram post say...

(The image of her post was a picture of her drinking tea.)

"People should stop directing my life like they don't have theirs to worry about. Ronnie and I have been best friends for half our lives and hearing bad things about her and her boyfriend affects me nonetheless. Also calling me names won't validate your feelings. It won't definitely affect me, Ronnie or Jacey. Stop trying to make stories just to feed your fantasies. If you don't have any idea what's the truth then go spend your time doin something else."

"This girl has attitude." Tait commented impressed by Lis' guts.

While reading her actual post on social media, he moved on to read the comments but it was cut short because the post was now deleted.

He laughed at that and decided to push the follow button.

To Be Continued...