Behind-the-scenes

Chapter 4 | huff and puff

“Nati, nakita mo si Jax? Kanina pa siya hinahanap ni Direk! Ugh. NASAAN SI JAX?” Looks like Tory is on her period today.

 I just walked in, everybody seems want something from me, but unfortunately I have what she’s looking for. I pointed my thumb over my shoulder indicating where Jax is and lift my two-fingers to indicate smoking. Tory is Jax’s RM, she hates me. “Tawagin mo!” She screamed at me. Woah dude, trabaho mo yan! Alam ko alas dos na ng umaga, pero hindi lang naman ikaw ang pagod. Instead of that I put on a smile, as usual, and said, “Sure”. I think that annoyed Tory more.

I went out again and found Hotness huffing and puffing the last centimeter of his cigarette. Alam naman neto na tinatawag na siya ni Direk, hay, paimportante. Well, I guess, ganyan talaga. Being famous and all.

“Excuse po, tawag na kayo ni Direk Boy.” I said, very politely.

He was leaning at the door frame with rolled-up sleeves and perfectly fitted-jeans. Goddammit, ang hirap naming tumingin sa lalaking to. Sakit sa mata. “Coming…” He stepped on the cigarette butt and smirked at me. “Baby…” He went inside without another word. Baby? Did he just called me… oh-my-god; he listened to my phone call? The nerve!

I was brisk walking, mad, towards the set and dropped the clipboard right in front of Direk Boy, who has eyes on the monitor who have Zoe and Jax in it. I glared and scowled at Jax at the monitor and Direk took notice. “Hoy, ano ang problema mo?” He said and screamed over at the boom mic operator, “Roland, paki-taas ng mic kita sa frame e.”

I didn’t heard the question, Direk shouldered me right in the ribs, “Aray…”

“Sino ang kaaway mo?” Ulit niya.

“Ang talent mong baliw.” I was irritated.

“Oo nga, narinig ko kay Tory na magkasama kayo sa labas. You, of all people, hindi dapat lumalapit sa smokers.” He said in between orders on camera pannings.

“Hindi, ano ba. Ang layo ko nga sa kanya eh. He eavesdropped to my phone call and called me “baby”. Tumawag kasi si Scott e.” I said in resignation. I actually don’t want to talk about Scott right now.

Direk stopped panicking about angles and cued Jax and Zoe. They started throwing lines at each other, quite impressively I might add, “May problema?” He seems to be forgetting how Jax seems to be losing his manners on set – and his life for that matter.

I turned away feeling a bit defeated but recovered immediately… “Walang hindi ko kaya”.

Direk was about to say something but he hesitated because he understands. We went back to work. Shooting Jax’s and Zoe’s scene in all four angles. I could memorize their lines by now. In the next hour, I nipped and tucked clothes & hair to places and taped & stapled curtains and upholstery. In between the chaos, I can feel Jax Rizo’s melting stare boring holes in my body.

We were almost finished with the scene when Direk noticed my face. “Uy, namamaga pa yang mukha mo. Kuha ka ng ice sa craft service. Pahinga ka muna. Pack-up na tayo in an hour.” He was talking about the slap scene I did in behalf of Sam. Let me tell you about Sam.

Sam, Samantha Estrella, is one of the few people I actually liked which is weird because she’s the kontrabida in this movie – and all the movies she’s ever done. She’s nice, warm and very humble and of course, a really great actress.

According to her, I am her set-bestfriend (I don’t we can have one of those but hey, what do I know about celebrity behavior) which apparently includes saving her ass all the time or cover it when she needs to sneak and see her perfect boyfriend, Toph.

I went to the craft service and did ask for ice when I heard, “Bagay sa’yo ang blush mo girl?” Followed by a jolly laugh and the only person who could be laughing at this hour is Sam.

“Ikaw may kasalanan nito…” Na-good mood ako bigla. Tawag namin dyan The Sam Effect.

“Sorry talaga Nati ha.” Sabi niya sabay kagat sa donuts na nakuha niya sa buffet table. “Pero talaga nga, hanapan kita ng blush na ganyan ang shade. Maraming stocks si Margaret.” Margaret is her make-up artist.

Natawa ako, niloloko na naman ako neto eh. “Ha! Ha!” I laughed sarcastically. Sam stopped munching on her donuts and gave me an accusatory stare, I shifted uncomfortably. “Anong chismis na naman ang narinig natin?” I asked. Because that’s how Sam and I bond – chismis sa showbiz: sino ang bading, sino ang may mabahong hininga at believe it or not, sino ang may tinatagong anak.

“Actually, this one is about you.”

“Ano?” Nagulat naman ako, I am very careful and precise with my actions. I might look carefree but as far as I know, I am very conscious. I have a job to keep.

“Yes, Jax Rizo is banging two production assistants in a row – and as far as I can see, ikaw nalang ang nandito. Typical diba, The star and the PA?” Sam said casually with a scoff. “Don’t worry, I don’t believe it naman but High Heels is really mad because akala niyo ikaw ang reason why Jax dumped her. It is so funny. She’s actually expecting something to happen with Jax, asa pa siya sa manwhore na yun…” Blah blah blah, Samantha goes.

I suddenly felt so tired. “What have I done for this happened?” Nakakapagod!

“Come on, emerging from the parking lot together?”

“Kanina lang nangyari yun ah, nakarating na sa’yo?”

“News travel fast. At syempre, updated yata si Agnes,” Agnes is Sam’s assistant. “At narinig niya na tinawag kang baby ni Jax.” Parang natatawa siya pero tinawag siya bigla ni Agnes. It turns out, we are all done for today. “Uy, sorry ha. Alis na ko. See you next taping day!” And as fast as she arrived, Sam’s gone.

My mind still racing, ugh, I hate that asshole. Just as I put the ice bag on my cheek, I once again felt the melting stare. I turned around and saw a smirking face, longing for my fist. Jax Rizo is smirking at me as he leaned in another wall – what’s up with him and leaning? I scowled at him and his expression turned from sarcastic to playing innocent, or simply dumb – and he shrugged. I took a deep breath to relax and took off. I am heading home. I hate this place and I hate his face.