Chapter 11
Friends
When he told me that he knows how I work hard for my name makes me feel like kahit hindi ko na ipakilala ang sarili ko mukhang kilala niya na ako but while staring at him I confirm that he is a guy who are good at understanding every situation and he is good at looking to the other sode of the story until he understand you.
Siya yung klase ng tao na kikilalanin ka talaga bago ka lapitan at kausapin for him to treat you the right way for you to be treated.
"How can you say that when you didn't even know me that much?" I ask him and he chuckled and look at me.
"I didn't know much, you are right. But talking to you for a short period of time and you ask me those things and after knowing you as a famous model and actress I realize that you ask me all of that because you needed it for you to do better... And that proves how you try so hard to be what you are now." he said and that makes me stop and stare at him.
All of those times na kausap ko siya and asking him about certain things na nakikita kong napakaimpossible naman about love sa script ko noon I will ask him and he will answer me in the way that I will understand it quickly.
"Why you questions are all like that? For what?" he asked me one time.
"Let's just say that I have a role play and lahat ng tinatanong ko sa'yo it's the character's point of view her point of view that I can't relate." I said and I hear him laugh.
"What kind of role play then? About love and you can't understand that because you can't relate?" he ask.
"It's not that I can't relate! I just want to get her emotions!" I said and that make him laugh more. I look at my phone like I am gonna see his laugh there.
Remembering on how he got curious sa lahat ng tinatanong ko sa kanya make me smile because he is really a big help to me that time kaya nga nasabi ko noon na isa din siya sa dahilan why my first movie become successful that time and I also want to thank him pero hindi niya naman na ako kinausap and hearing his reasons for not talking to me parang mas lalo ko pang gustong magpasalamat sa kanya.
He really deserve my thanks hindi lang dapat siya ang dapat na nagpapasalamat sa'kin. He said that I am his savior that night but for me he is also my savior that is why that movie become successful at kung bakit talagang nakuha ko yung emotions ng character sa movie and I played her character well.
And even until now lahat ng paliwanag niya sa'kin about love alam ko pa that is why every time that I will read a script na sobrang lalim ng paniniwala tungkol sa pag-ibig naiintindihan ko na agad. People love in different way and he said what I need to do is understand that every people not have a same story even in love that is why kailangan ko daw maintindihan kung bakit ganun ang paniniwala ng isang tao about love.
Meron din daw kasing mga taong handang gawin ang lahat para lang sa love and I should not find them toxic dahil hindi ko naman daw malalaman ang pakiramdam kung hindi ako ang nasa posisyon ng taong yun. Everyone can be stupid and dumb for love but some people know how to deal with it but some didn't know.
"Thank you." I said while looking at him and I saw confusion in his face.
"For what? Ako ang nagthank you di ba? You should answer your welcome." he said kaya ako naman ang natawa ngayon.
"Why would I say that when you also save me?" I ask him. "The time I talk to you is the time that I am working for my first movie and I want to play the role well but I didn't know much about love and her personality and beliefs are too far from me, that is why I am scared na baka hindi ko maibigay yung right emotions na dapat kong maibigay and talking to you is a really big help to me... That's why, thank you for saving me that time." I gave him my genuine smile kahit na alam kong hindi babagay yun sa ayos ko ngayon.
They all said na mas nakakatakot na ako pag ngumiti pag naka dark make up ako dahil nagmumukha daw akong may gagawing hindi tama. I am hiding my angelic face with a heavy make up para hindi nila makita yung mabait na Chantal na sobrang daling apihin. I don't want to look vulnerable in the eyes of people that loves me and supported me I want to stay as a brave Chantal they knew.
"You know what, you look more beautiful without make up on. Just like years ago when we first met. I can see through you that no make-up suits you better." he said at hindi na ako nakapagsalita because my phone ring.
I answer it and it's Mia that is already looking for me para daw makauwi na kami. I look at the man in front of me at tumingin na din ako sa paligid kung nasaan kami.
"Ikaw ba may-ari ng bar?" tanong ko sa kanya at tumawa naman siya at umiling.
"It's my friend well technically parang amin na din. The name of the bar is us." he said at hindi ko naman agad nakuha yun pero tumango na lang ako sa kanya.
"My manager is already looking for me and I really need to go." I said at tumango naman siya.
"Okay, just give me your number. I told you babawi ako habang nandito pa ako sa pinas." he said and what he said stop me.
"Hanggang kailan ka lang ba dito?" I asked.
"Next week, I have work." Tumango naman ako sa kanya and gave him my number.
Nang makalabas ako ng office na yun buti na lang walang masyadong tao and while walking back to where the VIP rooms are iniisip ko kung ano ang schedule ko sa buong linggo at next week. Hindi ko alam kung bakit iniisip ko yun!
Am I willing to give half of my time with him? Really, Chantal?
"Hello!" Nawala ako sa iniisip ko ng makita ko si Mia at Oliver na kasama na si Rosalie.
"Yeah, tara na? Paalam lang ako sa kanila." I said to them at mabilis pumasok sa isang VIP room kung nasaan sila Jayce.
When I enter the room nakita kong lasing na si Jayce kaya napailing na lang ako bago lumapit sa iba para magpaalam at huli kong nilapitan ay si Jayce.
"Hey, umayos ka! Don't do anything stupid. I will call your PA for you wag ka magdrive ng ganyan ka." I said to him. I know him ayaw niya din talaga na may lumalabas na issue about him pero sa lagay niya ngayon ewan ko na lang kung wala siyang magawa.
"Opo, Ma'am. You can go." he said kaya umiling na lang ako before kissing his cheeks at umalis na para pumasok sa isang VIP room kung nasaan yung mga staff and I also said my goodbye to them.
Ayoko pa sanang umuwi dahil wala naman akong gagawin bukas pero naalala ko kasama nga pala namin si Oliver siguro kung hindi siya kasama hindi pa ako uuwi sa mga oras na 'to but it's the strict Oliver we are talking about and alam ko din naman bakit gusto niya na din akong umuwi. He knows I don't have enough rest dahil puno ang schedules ko kaya siya ganyan. He is like that to me and I know to Irene also.
He may be strict and it's because he cares for you dinadaan niya lang talaga sa pagiging strict niya. If people don't know him they might really find him scary but to the people who knows him hindi naman talaga siya ganun nakakatakot as long as you know his personality. I am lucky that he saw me in front of Rivera's dahil kung hindi niya siguro ako nakita nun I will not have courage to enter that building.
"Get rest and I cleared your schedule for the whole week so get some rest." Oliver said kaya natigil naman ako sa pagbaba ng kotse dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Why? I don't have shooting?" I ask him.
"Rest Chantal, next week yung shooting mo and it's out of town. But you have photo shoots with Jayce." he said kaya tumango na lang ako doon at bumaba na ng kotse at umakyat na ng unit ko.
When I go home and when I was about to sleep ng maalala ko yung napanood ko kanina and I forget to ask about it to him. He knows how to play keyboard at mukhang kaibigan niya din yung mga kasama niya.
Nawala ako sa iniisip ko ng biglang tumunog yung phone ko and it's unknown number and I am hesitant to answer but later on naisip ko na baka important din kaya sinagot ko na din agad.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Chandria." I felt how my heart pound because of the voice I hear. I forgot na binigay ko pala sa kanya yung number ko.
"Hey... Napatawag ka?"
"Are you free tomorrow? It's okay if not I understand you of course. You are a busy woman." he said and laugh kaya natawa na lang din ako sa kanya.
"Wait, let me check something." I said at mabilis kong tiningnan yung schedule na sinend sa'kin ni Mia for the whole week at nakita ko na may photoshoot lang naman ako sa isang product bukas then sa hapon free na yung schedule ko.
"I have a schedule tomorrow." I said after putting my phone in my ears again.
"Oh, okay. Maybe next time." Natawa naman ako sa kanya.
"But I didn't say that it's a whole day. I am free on afternoon it's just a photoshoot." I said.
"Then, see you tomorrow."
Nagising ako dahil sa doorbell ng unit ko at nakita ko na si Rosalie yun na pinagreready na ako kaya wala na din akong nagawa and I get ready para makapunta ng studio para sa photo shoot ko at natapos kami ng lunch at sinabi naman ni Rosalie na dumaan daw muna kami ng Rivera dahil may meeting daw ako para sa bagong commercial ko.
"Mabilis lang ba?" I ask her.
"Depende, bakit? May lakad ka?" she asked at umiling naman ako doon at tumingin sa oras at 12pm na sana naman mabilis lang yun.
When I enter the meeting room nandoon na si Oliver kausap yung isang babae at isang lalaki and I just shake their hands and they start briefing me about the shoot dahil isasabay pala yung shoot ng commercial na yun sa shooting namin sa Batanes dahil kasama ko din sa commercial si Jayce.
"Are you in a hurry?" Oliver said ng tumayo ako agad ng makalabas na yung kausap namin kanina.
"No, I want to sleep." I said and smile at him bago magpaalam na aalis na.
Nagpahatid na agad ako sa condo ko to get ready because he told me that he will pick me up that is why he ask for my address. I don't know kung saan ba kami pupunta pero bahala na. Hindi ko alam bakit ang dali sa'kin na sumama sa kanya when the truth is I am not really that type of person dahil mass gugustuhin ko ang magpahinga during my rest days but here I am getting ready to go out.
"I'm here sa parking." he said on the other line kaya tumango naman ako doon even though he can't see it. I just wear a black cap and a face mask just in case and I am thankful na wala naman masyadong tao dahil hapon pa lang naman and everyone is still at work.
Nang makalabas ako ng parking tatawagan ko na sana siya when a car stop in front of me and the window roll down and I saw him smiling at me.
"Get in," he said kaya tumango naman ako at pumasok ng sasakyan.
"You look like celebrity who is fleeing, Chandria." he said and laugh kaya napairap na lang ako sa kanya and remove my cap and face mask.
"Where are we going?" I ask
"Can we go somewhere first? May ibibigay lang talaga ako." Tumango na lang ako sa sinabi niya kahit na hindi ko naman alam kung saan yung sinasabi niyang somewhere.
We are just quiet the whole ride hanggang sa pumasok kami sa parking ng isang building na hindi ko alam kung ano but it's big and it looks like a company. I am not interested to business or anything kaya wala akong alam sa mga companies.
"Ano bang ibibigay mo?" I asked and he get something on the back and show me an black folder.
"I just borrow a car dahil wala naman akong kotse and the owner left this here." he said kaya napatango naman ako doon.
I saw him calling someone on his phone na sinabing nandito na siya at kunin na yung folder sa kanya. Hindi ba dapat siya na ang mag-abot dahil siya ang nanghinaram ng kotse? Yung may-ari pa ng kotse ang mag-aadjust. Hindi din naman nagtagal may narinig na akong kumatok sa side ko and Michael open it and I saw a man wearing an office suit and he's handsome because of his perfectly shape face. His nose is pointed and his jaw is so define and his hair is undercut.
He look shock when he saw me kaya ngumiti na lang din ako sa kanya. Why does it feel like sobrang taas niya?
"Here, why did you even left it, Gray." Michael said matapos iabot sa lalaking nakasilip sa may bintana yung folder.
"Because it's my car, bakit ba kasi hindi kay Casper ang hiniram mong kotse? Wala namang ginagawa yun, why my car?" The man named Grat said.
"Si Casper magpapahiram? Napakadamot nun sa'tin kay Raffy lang naman mapagbigay yun." Michael said at tumango naman yung Gray and he look at me.
"You're familiar." he said to me.
"I'm a model and actress maybe you see me somewhere. I'm Chantal." I said and smile.
"Graycer Cartercliff." he said at tumango naman ako.
"Owned by a Rheinford, sige na alis na kami." Michael said at nagtaka naman ako doon. Rheinford? Oh wait, is he Zaira Rheinfords's boyfriend? Yun kasi ang naririnig ko ngayon e. Cartercliff and Rheinford both famous in business world.
"Ibalik mo sa bahay yung kotse ko ah, buti na lang pupunta si Zairene mamaya may magagamit akong kotse." he said at tumango na lang si Michael doon and I just smile.
Bakit nga ba hindi ko naisip yun. I know the Cartercliff dahil naririnig kong boyfriend daw ng isang Rheinford ang nag-iisang lalaking anak ng Cartercliff and Cartercliff is also known in business world kaya siguro hindi ko din siya nakilala dahil hindi naman ganun kadami ang alam ko.
"I can't bring you in public, that is why let's just do roadtrips." he said and look at me kaya napangiti na lang ako doon at tumango.
"Sure, but we need food mas masaya yun." I said at tumango naman siya sa sinabi ko. "You know how to play a keyboard? I saw you last night." What I said make me look at me.
"Yeah, we are a band and I'm the one assign in the keyboard and the guy earlier he is the vocalist." he said at napanganga na lang ako dahil nakita ko na pala si Gray kagabi pero hindi ko maalala. Is it because my attention is only on Michael last night? Oh come on!
"What's the name?" I asked.
"What's the name of the bar?" he asked at nagtaka naman ako pero sinagot ko pa din.
"The Typicals."
"That's our name." he said and smirk at me.
Natahimik na lang ulit kami matapos kong tanungin sa kanya yun. Hindi halata sa kanya na he is also into music.
"Chantal, why did you choose to be in your place right now? Are you happy kung nasaan ka ngayon?" he asked all of a sudden.
I am happy. Yun ang alam ko and I know deep inside me I am doing what I want to do in my life at kung saan ako magaling and I love where I am now pero parang meron sa loob ko na pakiramdam na hindi ko maipaliwanag yung pakiramdam na kahit na nakukuha ko na ang lahat pero parang may malaking bato ang nagpapabigat ng pakiramdam ko. I don't know why.
"Because I know I belong here. This is my place, Michael not anywhere else. My spotlight is my place." I said and when I look at him and he gave me his warm smile again.
"Then let me be your friend supporting you on your place." he said.
"You will leave." I said with a smile on my lips.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I will not support you. You have my support Chantal... From a far. Just enjoy the time I am still here."
"Why? After this hindi na naman kita makakausap?" I ask him at umiling naman siya sa'kin.
"Of course not! But I know you have your priorities and also me." he said and because of what he said parang may kumirot sa dibdib ko.
"Then, after spending time with me, don't talk to me again but just promise me we are still friends." I said at natigil niya naman ang sasakyan sa isang tabi dahil sa sinabi ko but I gave him a smile.
"Why? Ang iniexpect ko you will say that we should communicate often pero iba ang narinig ko."
"Mabilis kasi maging malapit ang loob ko sa isang tao, I feel comfortable with you and I know that when we talk again after spending time together mahirap sa'kin. I don't want that. Because when everything is hard for me it will also become painful mas lalo kong hindi gusto yun." I said and nakatitig lang siya sa'kin at ako naman nakangiti lang habang sinasabi ang mga yun sa kanya.
"I promise, we are still friends even though we are not talking." he said and that make me smile.
He is indeed a man who is good at understanding and a man who will gave comfort to others because of his personality.
"But don't worry, I am sure we will see each other again after that. It might be too long or not but I am sure we will see each other again." I smiled at him and nod.
And when we see each other again I will make sure na mas matibay na ako para kayanin ko na kausapin ka kahit na alam kong malayo ka at kahit na alam kong pwede kitang mahatak sa ilaw na meron ako gugustuhin ko pa din na makasama ka because I am comfortable with you and I felt free at pag ikaw ang kasama ko I am being me.
....