Behind-the-scenes

Chapter 8 | extra-large

Weekend today. If ang iba ay nakahiga at nagrerelax ako five in the morning gising na. I need to finish a couple of school stuff and by ten the fun starts. The dreaded revision of schedules for the shooting will be done today.

I was starting with my essay when my phone rang…

Direk Boy calling…

“Ha, five pa lang bakit napatawag na to?” I answered the phone. “Hello?”

Yawning. Wow, bagong gising. “Nati, good morning. Sana hindi kita naisturbo.”

“Good morning din po. Hindi naman Direk, gising na rin naman ako eh. Napatawag ka?”

“Sorry talaga, I know when I asked for your help and when I hired you hindi naman ito kasama sa job description mo. Pero since ikaw lang ang on-call today…” Nagpapaligoy pa to si Direk eh.

“Direk, whatever it is, sabihin mo na.”

“Rizo needs you to buy all of the things na nasa rider* niya. I emailed you the list. Ang pera, alam mo naman ang charging code natin for the film, dun mo nalang kunin. He said it is imperative that you get it to him at the office before our meeting kung hindi he won’t push through with the movie.” Tinapos yung sentence as if nakokonsensya.

Ha? Ano ba tong naririnig ko? PA girl na talaga akong tunay, at hindi prod assistant ha. PA as is personal alalay. Ano ba naman tong industriyang gusto kong pasukan? Papatayin yata ako sa stress. Of course, I really don’t have a choice don’t I? Trabaho ko to. Importante. At si Direk Boy to eh, I would do anything for him.

“Nati, are you still there?”

Natauhan ako bigla. “Yes, sorry po. Uhm. Gagawin ko po, don’t worry. May oras pa naman.”

Direk Boy said thank you and ended the call. I immediately opened my email. I click the Direk’s email with the subject FWD: Mr. Rizo’s rider.

“Sus, Mr. Rizo.” I scoffed and downloaded the PDF file attached to the email.

Oh my gosh. “Ano to? Buong grocery list na yata to ng buong bansa ah!” I scanned. “Tissue paper… 10 bags of Doritos… 5 bottles red wine (pinot noir)… 10 Coke (1.5L)…” As I continue scanning, mukhang okay naman ang chore na to. I don’t really know kung bakit para ako kinakabahan. Well, that was the case until I reached the last item on Jax Rizo’s rider.

The heat coming from my entire body seems to have concentrated on my face. The last item is… “Condoms. 2 boxes. Extra-large.”

Okay. I am ignoring the weirdness but let me get this straight. Technically, I am buying this guy’s equipment for manwhoring. All the color seems to drain away from my face. Gininaw yata ako sa kaba, inis at lahat na.

Kung eto ang umpisa ng araw ko, kailangan ko ng kape.

I finished my requirements just before the clock strikes eight. I showered and got dress. May bukas na rin namang supermarket malapit sa bahay. Kaya ko to. I mean, I’m a 21 years old. I can buy condoms.

Challenge accepted!

In just an hour, I got everything that was listed in that tadpole’s rider – well, almost. Kailangan ko pang pumunta sa botika para mabili ang co… con… cond… ah basta, rubbers! Yun! At teka, grabe naman. Dalawang box talaga.

I was standing at the drugstore fronting the supermarket. I am sweating like a pig. Bakit ba ako kinakabahan? Eh, bente uno naman ako. Hindi na ako bata. Kung bibili ako ng condom, eh di mas okay. Ayaw pa nila niyan, safe ako?

“Uy, iha.” My mind quit racing and stare at the old woman who was now standing beside me. Kinana pa ba siya nandito? “Kung napipilitan ka lang dahil sa pressure ng boyfriend mo, wag mong gawin.”

“Po?”

“Tsk! Mga kabataan talaga ngayon puro sex ang nasa isip.” Biglang umalis. Gusto ko sana siyang habulin para mag-explain. Ano ba, kanina pa tong delaying tactics ko ah.

Okay. Sige na. Game na. I stood by the counter and scanned the display. I am not that innocent, I know that there’s an entire space reserve for your, err, sex needs. I stopped when I finally spotted the display area. Nako naman, nasa tabi pa talaga ng counter. NAKAKAHIYA!

I’m having second thoughts; I want to run away from the drugstore at sabihin kay Jax na, sorry out of stock ang condoms sa buong Manila area!!! Okay, deal. Aalis na sana ako when my phone rang. I balanced all the plastic bags on my arm and answered my phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, just checking if nabili mo na ang nasa rider ni Rizo?” Si Direk Boy pala.

“Yes, Direk… uhm.” I said. “Isa nalang po and then pupunta na ko sa office.”

“Okay good. Actually Nat, sabi ni Tory, kailangan daw ni Rizo ang isa sa mga supplies na pinabili niya. Pwede daw bang i-drop sa condo niya?” I actually heard Tory instructing Direk what to say. So, magkasama na sila ngayon sa office ni Direk.

“Ha?” Nag-panic ako. Dyosko naman, sana hindi ang condoms ang kailangan niya. Ayokong makakita ng live show.

“Okay, Tory and I are now drafting the shooting schedule here. I got to go. Punta ka nalang dito after mo okay? We have some updating to do.”

I didn’t have the chance to say no, binaba na ni Direk ang phone. Fudge, meaning I really need to do this. Pikit mata nalang.

Go! I passed by the display, grabbed 2 boxes I’ve been eyeing earlier and dropped it immediately at the counter. My heartbeat is racing. Ahhhh. Buti nalang walang ibang tao sa counter. The cashier didn’t say anything; she didn’t even look at me. Pokerface naman si ate! She scanned the boxes, took my money and punched it in. After she gave me my change, I grabbed my stuff and go.

I was a good meter away from the counter when I heard, “Miss, nakalimutan mo yung condoms mo.”

Wow! Dinig yata sa buong drugstore at katapat na tindahan. Gusto ko ng matunaw sa mundo. Bumalik ako ng nakayuko at kinuha ang paper bag. Kung gaano naman kagaling mag-pokerface si ate, ganun naman ka-eskandalosa siya kung sumigaw.

Ugh. Nakakahiya. I officially hate Jax Rizo.

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*rider -- means a set of requests and demands by entertainers and celebrities