Chapter 2

Hansen Nichols alighted from the passenger side of his Black Expedition after giving instructions to his driver to park at the 2nd level of the ELJ building basement parking.

"This is it!"

After Pinoy Dream Academy wrapped up, he had received a few projects from the station, and was included in three of the station's soap operas. However, after he had to go back home to California to meet up with his doctors for his routine check up, projects became few and far apart.He didnt mind the downtime though, he had time to get to know Cristina Pastor outside the academy and was her shoulder to cry on at the time of her breakup with her boyfriend. He knew it didnt look right, since he had to admit that his closeness with Cris was one of the reasons why a big strain had come between the former couple.A few months later, they had officially become a couple. He had asked Cris to travel with him to California in time for the Nichols family reunion and his follow up check up. The trip had become their last trip as single people.On a weekend trip to Las Vegas, they had decided to get married.It had come as a big surprise to his family when they got back but they had accepted Sen's decision and gave them their blessing.When they got back to Manila, they had to answer to rumors circulating the moment that they stepped out of the Philippines up to the time they got back.They admitted to the marriage, there was no point in hiding it.ABS-CBN accepted them with open arms, and when they decided to have their church wedding in Manila, they covered the wedding from beginning to end.

Now, a few years later, he was finally given a chance to record an album and Star Records had called him for a meeting with the album producers.

"Mr.Nichols, you can go in now"

Sen nodded at the receptionist and turned off his cellphone before entering the boardroom.
***
"Arghhh!Why Sen!Of all the freaking times!" Van angrily pounded on his cellphone keypad as he redialled Sen's cellphone number.

He had rushed Cristina to the emergency room and had been trying to call Hansen for an hour now.

Miguel Mendoza and Inaki Ting had rushed to the hospital whom he called in desperation when he couldnt get a hold of Hansen right away.

"Give it a break now Van!Apple just messaged that Hansen had been in the Star Records boardroom for an hour and a half now."

"Shit!"Van said as he paced the floor.
"Man, sit down, you're making me dizzy."Inaki complained.

"Typical of Sen to be out of reach at a crucial moment"Van muttered.

"Huh?" Inaki and Migs asked.

"Nothing" he mumbled."Ypu would not understand."

Miguel and Inaki looked at each other.
They knew there was some strain between Van and Hansen for a while now.
But they never knew the reason why.
They had learned to live with the fact that wherever Cris and Sen were, Van was nowhere to be found.

Van's cellphone rang.

"Hello!...Mike...yeah...she is?Alright!I'll be there."

"What?"Inaki asked.

"She's awake!"