The Boyfriend Project

Project #5 - The Glass

Agad ko naman pinaalam dun sa assistant ni Franco na hindi ko sila mami-meet sa schedule na napag-usapan namin. Kaya na-move 'yon ng ilang araw at nagkita na lang kami sa isang cafe.

"Oh my god! Bianca? Is that you?" Halos 'di makapaniwala si Franco na ako 'tong nasa harap niya.

Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat at nag-beso kami. Typical na mala producer ang dating niya dahil sa checkered stole at black shades na kanyang suot.

"It's been a while. I'm so sorry. Dapat nung isang araw pa."

"It's okay. I heard na kalalabas mo lang ng hospital. What happened? Are you feeling well now?"

"I'm fine. Just a minor accident." I can see how he's managing a face not to look at me pathetically. "How are you? Ang tagal nang huli tayong nagkita." I ask him.

"Yeah. It's been a long time.Sorry for the short notice ngayon lang kasi free time ko. Eto medyo busy na. Excited din ako dito sa next project ko. Ikaw ba?"

"Eto, kakauwi lang kaya nagaadjust pa rin." Pero sa dami ng pwedeng sabihin yun na lang nasabi ko dahil ayoko ng ipaliwanag na di naman talaga ako okay. Kagagaling ko lang ng ospital. At wala ako sa mood ikwento ang mga pangyayari. Kaya mas minabuti ko na lang na yun na lang ang sabihin. "And you? I heard of the new show and by now I think nasa production stage na kayo."

"Eto bongga na rin gaya mo. Tama ka. Akalain mo 'yun. Nabigyan agad ako ng project. Thanks to Helena. Pero have you heard rin na maraming excited dito dahil bihira ang ganitong tema ng show."

"I also watched Helena's interview. Hindi ko din akalain na after nun maraming nagrequest na magkaroon siya ng sariling show. Ano nga ulit yun?"

"The Boyfriend Project."

"Ahh. I see."

"Oh di ba? Pangalan pa lang, marami ng maglalaro sa utak mo. We seek for the winner who will be everybody's ultimate ideal guy. A dashing debonaire, sizzling hot, sexy yet intellectual and talented with an awesome personality. Kumabaga, full package. Pero ang mga nakuhang candidates ay hindi pa ganito. Dadaan sila sa isang masusing proseso."

"Ang ibig mo bang sabihin, it's like a competition of dorks?"

"Not technically. Hahaha! Maybe at first. Kaya naman we are in need of your help. We ask for stylists to make the boys' dream come true. Each of the boys has a stylist that will also serve as their coach and mentor. In short, these stylists will be like fairy godmothers. And Bianca, please be a part of this project."

"That idea. Of course. I'm in." Tanging nasabi ko. Hopeful din ako sa project na 'to dahil at least makakasama ko na si Helena. Maybe this will be the right time na makabawi ako sa kanya.

"It's a pleasure to have you." He proudly grins at me. "You know what we already held an audition and over 50,000 ang auditionees. But, dumaan sila sa butas ng karayom. Very tight ang competition rate. We only chose the best of the best."

"So ilan ang chosen candidates?"

"They are only eight."

"Eight?"

"Yes."

"Because eight lang din ang kinuha naming stylist."

"So sino-sino pa kaming mga stylists na kasali?"

"So far ang sure pa lang namin ay sina Kristie Perreira, Monica Samson, Sanjay Aguirre, and Jon Ibarra. Have you heard of them? And si Ross."

"Ross?" I repeat what he just said. It sound familiar. Parang may nameet na kong may name na Ross but I'm having a hard time to recall.