CHAPTER 43

Pinoy Dream Academy stood out like a broken space shuttle in the darkness. Ever since ABS-CBN has stopped the franchise of all Endemol shows three years ago, the PBB/PDA studios have fallen into disrepair. The painted façade of the building has chipped, the street lights cast an eerie glow to the building, now used as a props store room.

Outside the Academy, Sen waited patiently inside his BMW. The sound of merrymaking from a nearby bar could be heard. He took a glance at his watch,10:45. Still plenty of time before 1, he thought.

He alighted from his car and looked at the PDA façade. Where it all began, he thought. Instantly, he was brought back to that fateful expulsion night when he and van stood face-to-face. The next words Toni Gonzaga mentioned had been a blur. All he could recall was that he cried himself to sleep that night.

Now, Hansen had to wait, the same way he waited for two weeks for the Grand Dream Night. Van’s instructions to him were clear: They were to meet in front of PDA then proceed to the airport for their flight to Greece.

1:00 came and went, yet not even a shadow of Van arrived. He’ll be here Sen thought to himself.

By 6:00, Sen was speeding through EDSA rushing towards Eastwood City.