Stephanie's...
Tatlong taon ang nakalipas,
...
"Celine, what did you do to my son?" isang pulubi ang humawak sa aking mga kamay na ginampanan ni Myra, classmate ko. Gumagawa kami ng dula dito sa Theatre room ng UP Diliman.
"Ewww! Ang dumi dumi ng kamay mo. Stop!" I raised my hands and glare at her. I look for the disinfectant to my bag and spray it all over her. I could hear the laugh of my classmates. Pati ako nagpipigil din ng tawa. Habang yung instructor naman namin ay nakataas ang kilay at alam kong may mapupuna naman siya after the play.
"Celine, I'm so hungry." She said again. She tries to look up and down, like a crazy beggar who didn't eat for how many years. "I need that...sandwich." turo niya sa hawak ko.
"You want this?" iniharap ko sa kanya yung sandwich, at binuksan ang wrapper. "Tignan mo," sabi ko kay Myra ng kumagat ako sa tinapay, may natapon pang palaman kaya narinig kong tumawa yung isa kung kaklase, inipit ko ang mga labi ko dahil nagpipigil na talaga ako ng tawa.
"Please..." hawak niya sa kanyang tiyan. "Even you give, just a pinch, Celine." She tries to reach my hands.
I tried to ignore her and starts to walk again but she keeps on following me. I stop from walking and looks at her with the annoying sight. "Can you stop following me?" I irritably said.
"Celine, just give—"
"Stop calling me Celine, I'm not Celine. Can't you see my name? My name is Stephanie. I'm not Celine and I would never be Celine!" sigaw ko sa kanya, pati ang mga tao ay napapatingin na sa amin. Kita ko rin sa peripheral vision ko ang mahinang palakpak at hagikhik ng mga kaklase ko.
"I'm so sorry, Celine..I mean Stephanie. I just remember my daughter. Celine din ang pangalan."
"I know, but can you stop searching them from me?" I hissed. "Do I know where are they?"
"Maybe you could help me. But I need some food, para makapag-isip mabuti," she sat on the ground.
"I will never give this food. Tingin mo ba uto-uto ako?" Pag-iingles kong muli.
She never responded on what I said. Instead I was looking through the road where taxi's passes by. I would be late with my appointment. I gaze quickly to the beggar and noticed that she's gone. My brows crumpled and searching for her until I turn around again and saw her transformation. Binalot lang siya ng kumot ng mga nasa backdrop.
"Where did you get that clean clothes?" I said while judging her looks. Nagbago siya ng itsura.
"I'm just trying to test your bearing, Ms. Stephanie Grossman." She laughed evilly. Isa pala siyang maligno
"What? Did you know my name?" sabi ko habang kinakabahan.. Yung background music ay nag-iba na din, parang may mga drums.
YOU ARE READING
Beyond The Lenses (Asia Series #1)
RomanceAsia #1. Living in the ordinary crosses the Filipina Stephanie's life from UP Film. Not such time when she met Carlo Zedrick Hy, the Vietnamese UA & P Dragons movie director that could change her life perspective.
