"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER."
(A/N) : Please play It's you by Sezairi when Jane and Zoe starts to dance. (Credits for prxttylili27 for suggesting this song.)
HINILA NI JEA PALAYO si Zoe from me. Nagulat kami pareho ni Zoe sa ginawa nya kaya napa-frown ako kay Jea tapos hinila ko sya papunta sa random tent na empty. "What is wrong with you?!" Galit kong tanong kay Jea pagka-pasok namin sa tent.
"I should be the one who's asking you that." She then crossed her arms.
Parang younger sister tuloy nya ako na tinatanong nya kung anong ginawa kong mali.
Anyways, let's go back to the topic.
Dang, but she looks hot.
Focus Jane, focus.
"Why did you pull Zoe away from me?" Tanong ko sakanya habang nakatingin ako sa arms nya na naka-cross sa chest nya infront of me.
"She's hugging you for so long. Isn't a quick hug enough?"
"Still, pinsan mo 'yun at kaibigan ko."
"And she have a crush on you."
"Do you think that i don't remember what we did that night?" She added.
What night? Is she talking about that night--
Oh gosh, oh gosh, kailangan na naming makalabas ng tent.
Tinanggal nya ang pagkaka-cross nya ng arms nya sa chest nya tapos unti-unti syang lumapit sa'kin.
Until i reached the corner of the tent.
"Stop right there!" I said. She then suddenly stopped, but i only made her like our situation right now.
Her lips formed a little smirk, kaya mas lalong bumilis 'yung heartbeat ko.
Oh gosh, mukhang ngayon na ako aatakihin.
I closed my eyes habang papalapit sya nang papalapit sa'kin.
Akala ko...
Akala ko...
Akala ko hahalikan nya ako but then...
"Ms. Jane and Janella, ready na po ba kayo for re-touching?" Biglang pumasok 'yung make-up artist nang hindi kumakatok.
She punched the corner of the wall at sinabing, "Yes, we'll be there in twenty minutes." Twenty minutes? Ano namang gagawin namin sa twenty minutes na 'yun?
Sinarado nung make-up artist 'yung pintuan ng tent tapos si Jea naman ni-lock nya tapos bumalik sa'kin.
Nasa corner pa rin ako ng tent, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko at saan ako pupunta.
Hindi rin naman ako makakalabas.
Nakita kami nung make-up artist, what if akalain nya na may ginagawa kaming something because of that? Tapos baka mamaya i-post nya sa social media na nakita nya kaming ganon ang pwesto.
Aasa nanaman 'yung shippers namin nyan.
Well, sabagay. Ako rin naman umaasa na magkakabalikan kami ni Jea eh.
I closed my eyes again tapos naramdaman ko na nasa harapan ko na sya.
I can feel her hot breath, ang fresh rin nung amoy nya. Amoy vanilla lace.
"We kissed that night, didn't we?" I opened my eyes tapos nakita ko kung gaano sya kalapit sa'kin.
'yung natural face nya, wala kasi syang make-up ngayon.
Her pinkish and soft lips, tinitignan ko.
"My eyes are up here." She touched my chin tapos she made me look in her eyes.
Shit, hiyang-hiya na ako ngayon at feeling ko... "Why is your face turning red?" I covered my face with my two hands.
Tapos i heard her chuckle bago nya tanggalin 'yung dalawang kamay ko na nakaharang ngayon sa mukha ko.
"Do you know that you look cute with your face like that?" Feeling ko, mas lalo lang akong namula sa sinabi nya.
Gosh, i don't want this time of ours to end.
"You're aware that i'm jealous of my own cousin, right?" Her voice is soft now, unlike kanina, mararamdaman mo 'yung galit nya.
I nodded.
"Then stop being like that with her, huh? I only allow you being like that to Alex only. And... Me." What is she saying? I'm not even hers, pero bakit hindi ako maka-angal at makapag-salita?
It feels great na nad-discuss namin 'to ng ganito, kalmado.
Puso ko lang naman ang hindi kalmado ngayon.
"W-what are you saying?" Kinakabahan ako at nanlalamig habang tinatanong ko sya nito.
"Ms. Jane and Ms. Janella? Kailangan na po talaga kayo sa re-touch tent, nagagalit na po si direk Zoe." Jea face palmed.
Buti nalang at hindi nila mabubuksan 'yung pintuan ng tent dahil naka-lock.
"We'll be there!" Sigaw ni Jea.
Hindi tuloy nasagot ni Jea 'yung tanong ko, tapos iniwan akong mag-isa dito sa loob ng tent.
See, ambastos grabe.
Inayos ko lang 'yung sarili ko tapos huminga ako ng malalim.
You can do this Jane.
Sabi ko pa sa sarili ko, bago ako lumabas ng tent.
Ginuide naman ako nung isang make-up artist kung nasan 'yung re-touch tent namin.
I saw Jea na inaayusan na dun, tapos pagka-upo ko naman at inaayos na nung make-up artist 'yung mga gagamitin nya sa'kin, saktong pumasok si Zoe ng tent.
"Wow! You look so good Jane!" Wala pa ngang nauumpisahan 'yung make-up artist sa'kin eh.
I felt Jea's death stare into me, kaya i just smiled at Zoe softly kahit gusto ko pa syang sagutin at barahin at asarin.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit ba ako sumusunod kay Jea sa ganito.
"Anyways, i'll see you both outside. Nasa byahe pa raw other characters but it's fine, kayo naman ang first at may pinaka maraming scene. We can make adjustments." Pag e-explain pa ni Zoe.
Jea keeps a straight face pa rin during and after Zoe's explanation. Alam kong nakikiramdam sya kung makikipag-usap ba ako kay Zoe o hindi.
Gosh, bakit ba ako naiipit sa mag-pinsan na 'to?
After Zoe's announcement, lumabas na sya. Kaya nakahinga na ako ng maluwag.
Napa-lakas pa nga 'yung paghinga ko, parng tuloy nagpipigil ako ng hininga kanina habang nandito sa loob ng tent si Zoe.
I heard Jea giggled pero pagtingin ko sakanya, seryoso pa rin ang mukha nya.
Ano 'to, hide and seek? Taguan ng feelings?
After naming ayusan dalawa, lumabas na kami ng tent tapos pumunta kami dun sa may building na pags-shootingan.
Dapat kasi ang first scene namin is 'yung kasal thingy, kaso wala pa 'yung ibang characters.
Na-stuck raw sa traffic, kaya ito muna inuna namin.
Grabeng adjusment 'tong ginagawa namin for them, but it's fine.
Tsaka lilipat rin naman kami ng hotel, inaayos lang raw 'yung rooms namin.
So technically, temporary lang 'yung tent namin dito sa labas.
'yung ayos ko ngayon is nakasalamin ako tapos wearing a white polo shirt and a black skirt, while si Jea naman naka blazer na white, crop top and a skirt rin. She's wearing a high white heels habang ako, naka black shoes na heels lang.
"Okay guys, first scene natin alam nyo na ah?" I nodded tapos si Jea tinignan ako at tinarayan.
Ano na naman? Tumango lang eh. Sensitive naman nitong taong 'to.
"Okay rolling in 3, 2, action!"
It's my first day in this office, i totally admire the boss here, Regina Vanguardia. She's pretty, sexy, and kind.
She's been my crush ever since we were both in highschool. We became friends but then...
All of it changed when i confessed to her.
She said that she was straight and couldn't imagine to have a relationship with me.
I said, it's fine 'cause i don't want to pursue my feelings towards her.
After so many years, we've become an office workmates, which is now.
I'm so excited to meet her again... And kinda nervous.
What if she just hired me because she wants to bully me?
Narda, stop thinking about that. Regina's not like that.
Hindi ko alam, but i keep on getting this feeling na hindi maganda na nag-apply ako dito, o dahil sa kinakabahan lang ako?
Gosh, it's been what, almost 10 years? Since we last saw each other.
Papasok na sana ako ng elevator but then someone pushed me para hindi makapasok sa loob.
"What the?!" Reaction ko pa, and then i saw the person who pushed me away from the elevator's door to prohibited be from entering the elevator.
She's wearing a white blazer, a white croptop and a white skirt.
Tinitignan ko palang sya, mukhang mataray at masungit na.
Who is she anyways?
Anyways, nung papasarado na 'yung pintuan ng elevator, tsaka ako pumasok.
She was shocked by my action.
"What the hell?!" She yelled at me. I looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Sa'yo ba 'tong elevator, ha?" Before she could answer my question, the elevator's doors opened up.
The office workers didn't entered the elevator, but when the elevator's doors are closing, they spoke loudly then bowed.
"Good morning, Ma'am Regina!" The ma'am Regina that they called didn't answered to them.
She didn't greeted them back.
Natulala nalang ako kay Regina, tapos tumingin rin sya sa'kin.
"What?" She asked while raising an eyebrow to me.
"R-regina?" I asked. Nakataas pa rin ang isang kilay nya sa'kin.
"A-ako 'to, si Narda!" The elevator's door suddenly opened.
"Cut!" Zoe shouted tapos they all clapped.
Dumiretso si Jea sa may kuhaan ng tubig, to drink water ofcourse.
"Sobrang natural mo talaga umacting Jane, i'm really impressed!" Zoe said while she's smiling at me. Ngumiti rin ako sakanya pabalik pero awkward smile.
Baka magkaroon nanaman kami ng away ni Jea eh.
"Direk Zoe, ayos na raw po 'yung hotel rooms." Saad nung staff. "Jane, do you want to check your room? Para kung ayaw mo nung room mo, we can change it." I nodded.
"Count me in." Agad na sambit ni Jea nang makalapit na sya samin habang hawak-hawak nya ang plastic cup.
Zoe then awkwardly smiled at us.
"So ano, let's go?" We both nodded tapos pumunta na kami sa hotel.
Ten minutes drive lang naman 'yung hotel from here, kaya mabilis lang kami nakarating dun tatlo.
Si Zoe 'yung nagd-drive tapos katabi ako ni Zoe, while si Jea nasa likod.
Whole ten-minute trip namin, tahimik lang sa loob ng sasakyan. As usual pag kasama talaga si Jea or kapag kasama ko si Jea, tahimik talaga. Matic.
Nasanay na rin ako sa tahimik na environment, lalo na kapag kasama sya eh.
I remember noon, hindi sya ganito.
I mean, noon kasi halos hindi sya maubusan ng kinu-kwento sa'kin, tapos araw-araw pa 'yun ha.
Tapos listener lang nya ako madalas. Natutuwa kasi ako sa ganon nya, kaya pinapakinggan ko lang sya.
Ngayon, parang nag switch kami ng personality.
Sya 'yung listener, ako naman ang madaldal at makulit.
I guess someone had learned their lesson huh?
"And we're here!" Nasa parking lot kami ngayon. Nauna akong bumaba ng kotse tapos sumunod 'yung dalawa.
Hinintay ko sila sa entrance. Sabay silang naglalakad pero si Jea straight face na parang model, while si Zoe, nakangiti habang naglalakad sya along with Jea.
Pag-akyat namin sa may 8th floor, maayos naman 'yung hotel room ko and hotel room ni Jea. Harap ng room ko 'yung room ni Zoe tapos katabi nya 'yung room ni Jea.
Other staffs or characters na ata 'yung katabi ng room ko since ang 8th floor, puro kami lang nandon.
Ten minutes later, nakabalik na kami sa pinags-shootingan namin.
Nasa tent na raw 'yung other characters at nagp-prepare na.
Habang nir-review ko 'yung script ko para sa second scene ko with the other character, bigla namang nagsalita si Zoe at may sinabi.
"Bar tayo mamaya?" Aya ni Zoe. "Iinom? What if di tayo makapag-shooting bukas?" Tanong ko.
"Ano pa ba ginagawa sa bar? Diba umiinom? Anyways, pwede naman tayong hindi mag shoot bukas kung di kaya ng staffs ko. I'm the boss here, remember?" Biro nya pa.
"Zoe, Jane's right. Let's be prof---"
"Then i'm in!" Pag-singit ko pa sa sinasabi ni Jea.
"What are you saying again Janella?" May tonong pang-aasar 'yung boses ni Zoe. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako kasi mukhang nang-aasar sya or ewan eh.
I think hindi naman sasama si Jea since she doesn't like to party. She doesn't like loud noises.
Mahiyain talaga sya dati, pero ewan ko nalang ngayon since music artist na sya at nagw-world tour na.
People change pero sana 'wag naman muna sya sumama at maki-join ngayon. Nang-aasar lang naman kasi ako.
"I said that i'm also in." Napa-tingin ako kay Jea sa gulat. I didn't thought na sasama sya sa ganto, dahil for what? Para mabantayan ba ako?
"Then great! I'll knock on your doors at 8." So meaning maaga kami matatapos?
Buti naman.
Nagdagdag pa sya na isasama nya rin 'yung other staffs and characters namin mamaya sa party sa bar daw. It's fine by me, pero kay Jea kaya?
Anyways, naghintay lang kami ng mga 20 minutes siguro bago natapos ayusan 'yung mga other characters na ngayon ko lang rin mam-meet dahil kami lang dalawa ni Jea 'yung nasa first presscon namin.
Isa pa, sabi rin ni Zoe 'yun para raw may thrill. Ewan ko kung ano 'yung thrill dun.
"This is Joshua Garcia and Kim Rodriguez. I'm sure kilala mo na character ni Joshua and Kim because you already read the script, 'noh?" I smiled at Zoe and nodded.
"Teka, sino pala 'yung---"
"Okay guys get ready! We're rolling in 3, 2, 1, and... Action!" She cutted my words off, and that really made me confuse and ask myself, why?
Why the hell would she do that?
--
AFTER SO MANY SCENES namin together na marami ring takes dahil nagkakailangan pa, natapos rin kami. Actually, scam si Zoe. 7pm na kami natapos at pabalik palang kami ngayon sa hotel. Nakisabay ako kay Zoe since inaya nya ako and Jea and Jea's car is nowhere to be found. Gusto ko rin muna kasi mag-pahinga kahit ilang minuto lang bago ako mag-bihis ng pang-party dress ko.
Sabay kaming pumasok ni Zoe sa kanya-kanya naming mga room.
Humiga muna ako sa malambot na kama bago ako magbihis, just like as i planned earlier.
Grabe, nakakapagod pa rin talaga kahit may inspiration ka eh 'noh?
Tapos pati ba naman sa GL series namin mataray pa rin role nya.
As usual, i checked the social media and my video kami nung sa presscon namin.
I checked the comments and bina-bash nila 'yung mga nagtatanong samin ng super private questions.
"Grabe, can't you see that they're so uncomfortable? My poor baby Janella."
Anong poor baby Janella?
Ayos-ayusin mo lang.
"Good job on protecting Janella, Jane. Please be careful with the questions next time."
Actually, napag-isipan ko na hindi naman sya ganon ka-private, pero still, private pa rin.
Maybe hindi lang talaga sanay si Jea sa ganon.
Buti nalang at ako ang kasama nya sa first presscon nya. Kung hindi, baka mamaya kung ano pang mangyari sakanya dun if ever.
I'm still scrolling sa comment section pero biglang may nag-doorbell sa hotel room ko.
Ah, si Zoe na siguro 'to.
Sinilip ko sa peephole and confirmed, si Zoe nga.
Pinagbuksan ko sya ng pinto tapos sabi ko magbibihis lang ako.
Sya, ayun nalang raw ang susuotin nya di na raw sya magbibihis.
Babalikan nya raw ako, kakatukin nya lang raw 'yung iba.
Sa lahat ng direktor na nakilala ko, sya lang 'yung ganito. 'Yung tipong ayaw nyang may missing sa party or event na gagawin namin as a team without proper reason.
Gusto nya, kumpleto. Sya 'yung may care talaga sa mga staffs and artists nya.
Akala ko pa naman 8pm nya kami kakatukin, just like as she said earlier.
Pero turns out, mas excited pa pala sya kasi ten minutes palang nakakalipas oh.
After kong magbihis, nauna na ulit sina Jea sa bar taposngayon, magkasabay nanaman kaming dalawa ni Zoe.
Nasa 5th floor 'yung bar.
Gusto ko lang talaga magbihis para komportable ako at hindi makati sa katawan.
Pinang-work ko kasi 'to kaya better to change na rin.
Pagka-pasok namin sa loob ng hotel bar, grabe. Na-surprise nalang ako bigla dahil puro mga casts and crew lang ang mga nandoon.
Maingay, kaya the first thing i did was to cover up my both ears.
"Surprise!" Zoe yelled while smiling, habang ako naman, naka half open ang bibig ko sa gulat.
"Come on, let's go!" Hinatak nya ako sa may rectangular long table tapos may bartender sa kabilang side.
"Two Espresso Martini please." Zoe said, ordering the bartender.
The bartender smiled and made it for us.
While the bartender's making that espresso martini for us, i asked Zoe.
"Espresso Martini, huh? Coffee lang 'yun eh." She then laughed at me. "Basta, you'll see." She winked at me.
Maya-maya pa, natikman ko na 'yung Espresso Martini.
It looks like a coffee and it tastes like coffee.
After naming inumin 'yun, nagdagdag pa sya ng pink gin.
Habang inuumpisahan na naming inumin 'yung gin, dumating si Joshua.
"Jane, right?" I chuckled. "The one and only!" He chuckled back. "I didn't introduced myself properly earlier. By the way, I'm Joshua Garcia, your co-actor and co-worker." He smiled tapos nakikipag-kamay sya sa'kin.
Kaya i took his hand at nakipag-kamay ako sakanya.
He has a strong hands to be honest, and mukha naman syang mabait.
Unlike the other co-actor and actresses na naka-trabaho ko for the past 9 years.
"I'm so glad to finally meet you." He added. "Upo ka! Join with us!" Aya pa ni Zoe sakanya, kaya he did sat beside Zoe.
Kaya siguro naging close si Zoe at Jea dahil rin sa mabait si Zoe.
"Have you seen Jea?" I said, asking Joshua.
"Jea?" Shocks, hindi nga pala nila kilala si Jea. I mean, hindi nila alam na tawag ko kay Janella is Jea.
"I meant Janella." Sagot ko. "I haven't. Akala ko nga magkasama kayo eh." He answered back.
Asan kaya 'yun?
Akala ko pa naman nandito sya.
Baka sinabi nya lang kanina na pupunta sya kasi baka magbago isip ko kung sinabi nya 'yun, kasi mat-threaten ako sakanya?
Anyways, that doesn't matter to me now. Ngayon, magpapakasaya kami ng mga co-workers ko!
Joshua then joined us for a drink. Grabe, anlala rin pala nito uminom.
And also, nagk-kwento rin sya about how lucky he was na naka-trabaho nya ako. Na naka-trabaho nya kami ni Jea.
After a few moments, we found ourselves drunk.
Hindi na rin namin namalayan ang oras and we don't freaking care! Lahat kami dito, gising pa! Kumpleto pa kami at nanlalaban pa sa alcohol!
"Jane? Let's dance?" Aya sa'kin ni Zoe. "Maiiwan mag-isa si Joshua---"
"Hey Josh!" Agad namang sumulpot si Kim out of nowhere, and saktong-sakto pa ha.
"Ano, let's go? Wala ka nang ibang mar-reason sa'kin." I smiled at her a bit.
Hinila nya ako.
"Tara na hangga't hindi pa tayo masyadong lasing." Hindi raw sya masyadong lasing pero 'yung pagsasalita at paglalakad nya eh, halatang 50/50 na sya.
Ako, 50/50 na talaga eh. Nahihilo na talaga ako, to be honest.
I began to feel the loud music at pati na rin 'yung beat na akala mo magigiba na 'yung buong floor sa sobrang beat.
Habang nagsasayaw kami ni Zoe at ine-enjoy namin 'yung music, bigla nalang may nanghatak sa'kin.
Hindi naman na kami napigilan ni Zoe sa paglabas sa hotel bar, at lalo na ako. Hindi ko na napigilan 'yung humatak sa'kin dahil lasing na rin ako.
As i said kanina, 50/50 na ako. At mukhang mas lasing pa nga ako ngayon kesa kanina eh.
Nang makalayo kami sa lahat ng tao, dun lang ako nagpumiglas sa humila sa'kin, na obviously, lasing rin.
Teka...
"Kakulay mo buhok nung friend ko." Saad ko pa sa lasing kong boses, habang ngumingiti.
"Y-you know what, let's go to your hotel room. Dun tayo mag-usap." Humarap sya sa'kin at inilagay anya ang braso ko sa balikat nya.
Mukha syang galit, katulad ng paghila nya sa'kin kay Zoe kanina.
Did i do something wrong?
Matangkad, kakulay ang buhok, kaboses pa. Ah yes!
Hanggang sa makarating na kami sa 8th floor kung nasaan ang hotel room ko, buti nalang at dala-dala ko ang keys at nakapasok kami ng maayos sa loob.
Pagewang-gewang nga kami parehas maglakad nitong taong 'to.
Galit nyang isinarado ang pintuan.
"Why the hell are you with her?!" Tanong ni Jea sa'kin. Parehas kaming hindi makatayo ng tuwid, at umiikot pa ang paningin ko.
"Can we just talk about this tomorrow? I'm so drunk--"
"So am i, Jane!" She quickly answered.
"Just fucking ask my question! Ganon na ba kahirap sagutin 'yun?!" I kept quiet.
"Why?! Are you falling for her?! Do you have feelings for her?!" I still kept myself quiet, pero hinawakan ko na sya sa magkabilang balikat nya.
Para na rin alalay sa'kin at hindi kami parehas matumba.
"Do you want her?!" Dagdag pa nya.
This time, i answered.
"No, i don't."
"Then why are you with her?!" Tinanggal nya ang pagkaka-hawak ko sa balikat nya.
"Because she's also my friend! Like you!" Kahit lasing ako, alam ko ang ginagawa ko. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin basta-basta na mahal ko pa rin sya.
Baka mamaya pag binalikan ako nito, mangyari lang rin ulit 'yung dati. Kaya rin siguro pinigilan ako ng universe na sabihin sakanya 'yun nung presscon day namin.
"I already told you that i don't want to see you being with her!"
"Why are you controlling me?!" Hindi na ako makapag-pigil. Alam ko ginagawa ko, pero alam ko rin na magiging prisoner nya nalang ako habang-buhay kung hindi ko 'to ilalabas sakanya ngayon.
Ayoko maging sunod-sunuran nalang sakanya.
I'm not her pet.
"I'm not controlling you--"
"Feeling mo lang 'yun Janella! Akala mo lang hindi mo ako kino-control, but you actually do!"
"You know, i'm sick and tired of you telling me what to do! Lagi ko namang sinusunod gusto mo ah! Kulang pa ba?"
"Bakit ba ayaw mong maging close kami ni Zoe?!" This time, sya naman ang speechless. Sya naman ang hindi sumasagot sa'kin.
"Tell me why, Janella!"
"Tell me! Fuck!"
"Damn it! Are you really fucking blind?! Manhid ka ba talaga?!" Akala ko, hindi na sya sasagot dahil nakonsensya sya. Pero nagulat ako sakanya.
"What do you m---" she cutted my words off, as usual.
Kahit lasing sya, o kami parehas, hindi nya pa rin talaga ako pinapatapos.
"Goddamnit Jane! Don't you get it?! I'm jealous! I'm irritated! I'm--- ugh! I still love you!"
--