Spotlight

CHAPTER 3

Rebecca

"Becky, guess what?!" Masayang bungad agad sakin ni Harry habang papalapit sakin.

"What?!" I asked. Not too much interested sa gusto nyang sabihin dahil ilang minuto na akong nawawala sa sarili mula ng bumalik ako sa dressing room.

Bigla na lamang inilapit sa mukha ko ni Harry ang cellphone nya. "Look, I got a photo with Miss Freen Sarocha!" Masayang masayang sabi nito.

There, I saw his photo with an angel... I mean with the reigning Miss World.

"Ayaw mo na kasing lumabas ng dressing room kaya hindi ka tuloy nakasama sakin. Sana nakapagpa- selfie ka rin kay Miss Freen. She is so nice, humble, and beautiful." Sabi pa ni Harry na halata ang pagkakilig.

"Alright, alright. Good for you para naging successful ang pagiging fanboy mo today. I'll go ahead, kanina pa dapat ako umuwi but I'm just waiting for you to get back para makapagpaalam." Sabi ko sa kanya at dinala ko na ang shoulder bag at maliit kong maleta.

Bigla na lang akong niyakap ni Harry at hinalikan sa pisngi. "Oww, you are really sweet. Thanks for waiting and ingat ka sa pag-uwi,"

"See you tomorrow morning for the rehearsal." Sigaw ko habang naglalakad palayo na sa kanya.

So, I guess, I have to carry all my stuffs till I reach my car dahil wala naman akong personal assistant today dahil pinauna ko na syang umuwi dahil wala na naman akong commitment after ng show. My dad told me that he will be picking me up today dahil sya rin naman ang naghatid sakin kanina. But on some usual days, I am driving my own car. Pero dahil nga naglalambing si daddy at wala naman akong ibang schedule, sya na raw ang susundo sakin sa studio. Papunta na ako ng parking ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.

"Hi Dad, where are you?"

"Sorry Becky, can't pick you up today. I am on my way when my secretary called me, I need to go back to the office for an emergency. Can you call your mom to pick you up?"

"It's ok dad. Magpapahatid na lang po ako kay Harry."

"I am sorry sweetie. Babawi ako sayo next time. Ok bye. Ingat ka pag- uwi".
"Bye, Dad."

Tinawagan ko si Harry to tell him na sasabay ako sa kanya. Marami na rin namang pagkakataon na naihatid na niya ako sa bahay lalo sa mga sitwasyong ganito. Pero mukhang busy pa sya sa loob ng studio. Kakausapin nga pala sya ng choreographer for his presentation tomorrow.

Kaylangan ko na lang mag-taxi, pero siguradong may mga fans pa sa labas ng studio. Kung maghihintay naman ako sa iba kong co-hosts mamaya pa ang karamihan sa kanila dahil ako lang yata ang uuwi ng mas maaga. Babalik muna ako sa loob ng studio at hihintayin na umunti ang mga tao sa labas para makapagtaxi ako.

I gathered all my things at mabilis na lumakad pabalik sa loob ng studio.

Thud!

I bumped into someone which caused me and my things to fall on the floor.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry." A very soft and apologetic voice said.

I feel dazed for a second before I realized who the person is. It's the reigning Miss World, Freen Sarocha.

Natataranta nya akong tinulungang itayo at pinulot ang mga gamit ko na nagkalat sa sahig. Napatigil na lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko habang nakatingin sa ginagawa ng taong nakabangga sakin.

"Here is your bag. I'm sorry Rebecca. I'm in a hurry and didn't notice you". Paghingi nya uli ng paumanhin.

I was stunned by her presence that I didn't even bother to respond to what she was saying. We are now face to face while she is holding my shoulders, giving me support. I intently look at every part of her angelic face. God, I didn't even know that there is a loving goddess here on Earth. And I didn't even know na pwede pala akong humanga ng sobra sa beauty ng isang babae.

"Hey, are you ok? Rebecca... Rebecca...". I heard her calling my attention with panic in her voice.

"Yes...I'm sorry. Medyo nahilo lang ako. I am also sorry for not noticing you coming. Anyways, thanks for helping to get up and for getting all my stuffs."

Pagpapaliwanag ko para isalba ang sarili ko sa pagkapahiya. I smile to her for assurance that I am totally fine. Saka lang nya ako binitiwan at ibinalik ang beauty queen poise nya.

"We were not formally introduced a while ago... So, I'm Freen, and you are the phenomenal girl who invaded the tv and print ads I guess." She said chuckling a little. She offers her hand and I didn't hesitate to hold and shake it slowly. When her delicate hand touched mine, I could feel my nerves trembling in an unexplainable way. Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko at nginitian na lamang sya.

"You know me?!" Takang tanong ko dahil hindi ako makapaniwala na ang isang tulad nya na halos kababalik lang ng bansa from other country ay kilala na agad ako.

"Sino bang hindi makakakilala sayo. Hindi lang tv and print ads ka sikat pati na rin sa social media. Even in other countries kilala ka." Masayang sabi ni Freen.

Alright. Kaylangan ko na talagang maniwala na sikat na ako.

"Are you coming back to the studio or planning to go home na?" Tanong ni Freen.

"I'm about to go home actually. My dad should pick me up at this time but he got something to work out in the office. So, I'm planning to ask some of my co-hosts to give me a lift or I'll just take a cab." Sagot ko sa kanya.

"Tamang tama, I'll be going home na rin. Would you mind if I just give you a lift para na rin makabawi ako sa pagbangga ko sayo."

"Are you sure? Baka may pupuntahan ka pang commitment o kay--". I was cut off by Freen dragging me toward the exit to the parking lot.

"You know what, I don't like too much talking...." Natatawang sabi nya at mabilis akong hinila towards a black car.

She opened the door in haste and ask me to get in immediately. Pumunta naman sya in the opposite side para magdrive.

"Sorry, nabigla yata kita. Baka kasi may mga reporters o fans na makakita pa sa atin." Sabi ni Freen ng nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan nya.

"It's ok...I found it cool, knowing that we just met minutes ago... heto at nakikisabay na ako sa sasakyan mo. Nakakahiya sayo." Masaya pero nahihiyang sabi ko.

"No worries... so give me the direction going to your home superstar." She said and gave me a cute wink.