FALLING SLOWLY

BEGINNING

BEGINNING

RAPHAEL

Pagod akong humikab at inalog ang ulo.

I'm on my way papunta sa bagong variety show na 'We Got Married'. I honestly didn't want to be part of the show but I had no choice. Ang daming issues about me, and I am on my fall down already. I need to get back on my feet and somehow get myself back into the business. Lately, I was getting bad publicity about me living a sinful life and most of them aren't true. It was just a big mistake. I get drunk on one event and then, lumabas na ang sari-saring issues about me being so alcoholic, womanizer, etc. My manager said that one way to redeem myself is to join this variety show so that people will have the chance to know the real me, which I find complete bullshit! But hell I love my craft! I have to do this.

This was giving me a terrible headache. Kagagaling ko lang from a concert tapos dumiretso na agad sa airport para sunduin ang 'Wife' ko. The concept of the variety show was for us to pretend like husband and wife. It's more like a virtual marriage. We'll live in one house with cameras installed on every angle recording our daily activities.

One thing that I hated so much was losing my privacy. And we fucking need to stay that way for six months!

Six freaking months!

Pero wala akong balak tapusin ang six months na 'yon! Magalit na ang magalit! Puro kalokohan lang 'to!

I still don't have any idea kung sino ang 'Wife' ko. Part daw 'yon ng surprise. But damn it. It felt awkward to be with a person I didn't even know personally.

Pinahaba ko ang aking leeg at agad na natanawan ang babaeng nakatayo hindi kalayuan at may nakatutok na camera

Hmm... Is she a little old for me? Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, singer din siya.

"Hey..." She smiled sweetly.

I didn't expect that she's so pretty in person. Kung titingnan ay parang hindi naman naglalayo ang edad namin.

"Hi..." I smiled but it does felt awkward.

Malayo ako sa inaakala ng ibang tao na babaero dahil ang totoo ay mahiyain ako. I am definitely not an extrovert. Kung sumikat man ako, iyon marahil ay dahil sa taglay kong charm sa stage and I think I got the looks most women were dying to.

"I am your wife, Estella Hwang..." She stretched out her hand and we shake hands.

"I am Raphael Kim."

I couldn't believe this! Tama bang i-partner ako sa babaeng ilang taon ang tanda sa akin?! Great! Really fucking great!

"So, papunta na raw tayo sa house natin. Ikaw na mag-drive?" aniya sabay abot ng susi.

Nagkamot ako ng ulo at ngumiwi. "Ako? Kagagaling ko lang sa concert. I still didn't get enough sleep and I am really tired," matapat kong sabi na mukhang nagpagulat sa kanya.

I couldn't help but be blunt. Iyon talaga ang personalidad ko kahit na noon pa. Some find it rude, actually.

"A, gano'n ba?" Nagkamot siya ng ulo.

"But I'll drive, come on," agad ko ring bawi.

I had no choice but to act as gentlemanly as I can.

"Okay..." Alanganin niyang inabot ulit ang susi.

At ako na nga ang nagmaneho papunta sa kung saan mang destination namin.

***

ESTELLA