James stopped just outside the office of the Big Boss to find Nadine seated on the sofa by the door, wringing her hands. He had just come from a photoshoot and didn't have an inkling on why Boss Vic had suddenly called for this meeting.

"Hey."

Nadine looked up and James leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek, noticing the scared look in her eyes.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, a little worried.

"James..." Nadine started.

Just then, the door to Boss Vic's room opened, and his secretary came out and saw them. "Ayan nandito na kayo pareho. Boss Vic is expecting you. Come in."

James took Nadine's hand and pulled her up, opened the door a little wider and led Nadine inside.

Veronique was also there, along with Stephanie, Viva's PR manager. His worry stepped up a notch. The last time he saw Stephanie was during that whole fiasco with Inah Evans. She had berated him for posting that Give me a break, would I really have sex in a public place status on Facebook; he admitted he got a little carried away then--to think someone else actually handles his Facebook account for him and he doesn't normally post there--but he just got a little too annoyed and needed to let it out.

Nadine and James sat on the chair opposite the boss' desk. To his surprise, Nadine reached out and took his hand.

"You probably all know why I called you two here," Boss Vic said.

"Uh, sorry, no, not really. I just came from a photoshoot and haven't had time to do anything else," James said. He always spoke out his mind in meetings like this. Boss Vic had always emphasized to them that they should always tell him what they really feel because, being in showbiz, their careers were intrinsically linked with their lives.

Boss Vic turned to Stephanie. "Go ahead."

"Let's start last week, when you, James, told the press that you two are together. Viva's phones have been off the hook the first few days, getting inquiries for endorsements for the both of you left and right. Not just any brands, too. Big ones. Ayala Land. Techno Marine. H&M. Coke even. Current endorsements also called to say that they'll be renewing."

Stephanie looked at Veronique, who nodded at her, urging her to continue.

"By end of the week, however, the clamor died down, partly because of some of the BTS pictures released by your bashers, wherein you were so obviously not talking to each other. In fact, some of the endorsements have already pulled out."

Veronique interrupted. "Don't know what came over you two, when Boss Vic specifically called you to tell you to keep up the facade. Good thing James has been posting photos on IG. Your loyal fans defended you."

Nadine squeezed his hand and he squeezed back, glancing at her.

Stephanie chimed in. "Alam niyo naman mga tao diba. Pag sinasabi niyong hindi kayo, pilit kayong paaaminin. Pag umamin naman kayo, pilit kayong paghihiwalayin."

Veronique held up her phone. "But this. This one Nadine. I can't believe you would go see your ex when you're supposedly in a relationship with James. Why would you do that?" James removed his hand from Nadine's to grab the phone.

It was her. It was really her and JC. At a coffeeshop somewhere, JC holding up 2 cups of coffee, leaning over to kiss Nadine. He didn't know what to think. Was this why she didn't want to be with him? Was she still hung up on her ex? How come she didn't tell him she met up with JC? So many questions ran through his mind and he needed answers. Now.

"Mommy, that was picture was taken out of context. Nagkakape lang kami ni Yassi, and he saw us, came over and said hi, then left. That's it." It was obvious that she was only putting up a strong front, but that she was on the verge of breaking down.

James looked up at Nadine, to find her eyes on him, and he searched her face, looking for any sign that she was not telling the truth. He didn't find any. He expelled a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "If Nadine says that's all that happened, then that's all that happened."

Veronique sighed. "I guessed as much. But you two, this is bad. Have you seen the comments?"

James scrolled through Veronique's phone. He didn't read much but he got the gist.

The bashers were at it again, but this time, they were going for Nadine's throat.

He glared at the phone, not believing what he was seeing.

In the past, he just smirked whenever they called him a drunk and a womanizer. He laughed when they accused him of being an addict who did drugs in the bars and clubs he frequented. He ignored it when they said he was a party hound, and therefore not a good role model to children.

But this. He didn't think he can take this lying down.

They were saying Nadine was just using him as a front for her real relationship with JC. They were telling him that he had been pussy-whipped, and he should wake up and break it off with Nadz. They were demanding that he make her suffer somehow.

They were calling Nadine--his sweet little Naddie--a liar and a cheat and a whore.

It was enough to make his blood boil.

Stephanie spoke again, addressing Nadine. "Sweetie, I think you should make a statement. Just tell everyone that the pictures were taken out of context and that you love James very much."

James heart sank at the realization that Nadine would then still have to lie and pretend for him. Because he was so careless with his announcement on the status of their relationship, Nadine had to pay. This wouldn't be happening if he had just kept his mouth shut. This was all his freaking fault.

Now the tables have been turned, and Nadine was seen as the bad guy. Or girl. Whatever. How many times had Nadine saved his butt in situations like this? It was time he repaid the favor.

"No, she's not doing anything, Steph," James blurted out.

He could feel everyone's eyes boring into him.

"I'll take this. I'll tell everyone that I..." he cleared his throat. "that Nadine and I never really got together. That I'm the one who loves her, but that she doesn't love me and announcing it to the public was the only way I can make her mine somehow."

"What? James, no..." Nadine whispered.

But he had already made his decision. Nadine didn't deserve any of this. And he didn't deserve someone like her in his life. Goddammit. His heart raced as he met Boss Vic's eyes. "And after that, I want Nadine to be free of this loveteam. She'll be free to do whatever she wants."

He heard Nadine gasp, but he ignored her, his eyes never leaving Boss Vic's.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Boss Vic finally spoke. "We'll think about it. Can you stay outside first so we can discuss this? We'll call you back with our decision."

***

They sat beside each other on the sofa outside Boss Vic's office, not saying a word. James was already starting to regret what he said when he heard sniffling beside him.

He panicked and immediately knelt down in front of Nadine.

"Hey, hey! Don't cry."

She looked up, to keep her tears from falling down, avoiding his eyes. He didn't know if she was crying because she was relieved that he was letting her off the hook or if she was crying because she didn't want him to leave her or their loveteam. What he wouldn't give for it to be the latter.

As for him, of course he didn't want to leave Nadine. If he could, he'd be her loveteam forever. But he felt like Nadine was falling apart at the seams because of him, because of this loveteam, and the last thing he wanted was for Nadine to lose herself.

"It'll be okay, Nadz. You'll be okay. You won't have any trouble finding another partner. Of course, you won't be able to laugh about his undins like we do." He wiggled his eyebrows, trying to make light of the situation.

She made a feeble attempt at a smile.

"Or you could just be a solo artist, Nadz. You could now accept that Darna role they offered you." She looked at him in surprise. "What, you think I didn't know that you turned down Darna for me? Come on, Naddie."

"James, I..."

Once again, they were interrupted by Boss Vic's secretary, who told them they could go in again.

They both got up and sat in the same spot they were sitting at earlier.

"James, if you want to look like the bad guy here, so be it. Pero sigurado akong magmumukha kang tanga." Nadine looked like she was about to protest, but Boss Vic put up his hands. "There's no way around it. It's either James looks like a lovesick fool, or you look like a bitch. I prefer the former, Nadine, because you're a girl and you know how double standards work. You won't be able to get out of this one alive. James will."

Boss Vic stood up and started pacing the room. "I think either way, breaking you two up is inevitable. I just didn't expect it to be this soon."

He went in front of both of them and put his hands on either of their shoulder.

"But you both still have a lot of commitments, you have to finish OTWOL plus you have a number of out of country concerts until July. You'll have to finish them first."

"And then, if ABS decides to renew your contract in August, we'll negotiate to have it renewed with both of you as solo artists and not as a loveteam."

And that was that.

A/N: Kahit ako nasasaktan guys, so please, taking from Nadine's old IG bio, just trust me. Jadine forever.