Chapter 19
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We're already on our way to my shooting. It has been ten minutes since we left our residence. Nasa maharlika na kami, and as usual, I'm sitting in the passenger's seat while Ate Kisha is driving the car. Two weeks na naming sinimulan ang Threads of Fate.
Masyadong mahangin ang araw na ito, I might not be sure if may bagyo since I don't watch TV or any weather forecast.
The car suddenly stopped at saktong paghinto nito ay ang pagkakita ko sa isang billboard news, a slide. Nangunot ang noo ko sa nabasa.
"So we're slowly revealing it," I murmured.
"Ang ano?" Rinig kong tanong ni Ate Kisha. Nasa kalsada ang paningin niya, naka-go sign kasi and kailangan niyang bantayan na hanggang sa mag-stop sign ang Traffic lights.
"Umm, I'm going viral ulit though my face is blurred out." Sagot ko kay Ate Kisha habang nakangisi. "Listen, Ate Kisha. The famous bachelor of town, Zakchaios Sìth Montergo, is reportedly seen at Cornelia Street with a woman two weeks ago. A passerby claimed that they were seen eating street foods at Cornelia's famous food park." I said with a voice mimicking a reporter's tone.
"Here's the passerby statement..." I trailed off and then changed my voice. "They were holding each other's hand lovingly, parang bang bagong kasal ang cute nga nilang tingnan ehh tapos yung paraan ng tingin ni Zakchaios sa ka-date niya makikitang hulog na hulog siya," I went on, however when I realized what I have read I look at the other photos that was being shown.
Totoo nga na nakatingin sa'kin si Zak while I was trying out other street foods.
"Aha! Ano yung narinig ko? Nakatingin pala sayo ahh." Natatawang pangaasar ni Ate Kisha sa'kin. I just rolled my eyes at her, speechless. Di ko alam kung anong isasagot ko.
Pinaandar na niya na palayo ang kotse nang magstop sign ito para sa mga tatawid. What if Zak purposely posted that and hired someone as the passerby to make it more believable? I mean, we're just pretending, so there's a chance.
"Stop overthinking, Xochi." She said out of the blue.
"Huh? I am not." Matigas na sambit ko.
I saw how a small smile formed from her heart-shaped lips.
"Oo na lang. Pero pwede mo naman kasi siyang puntahan." She suggested in a mapangasar tone.
I immediately swayed my head. "Bakit ko naman siya pupuntahan?"
"Kasi dalawang linggo na kayong di nagkikita?" And once again, she said it teasingly.
Yes, it's already been two weeks since Zak and I last saw each other. Hindi kasi natuloy ang mga dates namin dahil sa busy siya, at busy rin ako.
"Aminin, miss mo siya." Ate Kisha's laughs echoed throughout the car. Tanging tawa niya lang ang umukopa sa buong kotse.
"Tsk! Hindi nga kasi, I don't miss him, okay?" My voice raised a bit.
She just laughed it all out and sighed.
When we arrived at our destination. I blinked twice as my lips parted, I was shocked to see a food truck parked in front of the building. Nakapinta ang mukha ni Trevor sa food truck pati na rin ang pangalan niya at saka may nakalagay na 'We love you so much, Trevor!'
There were also some fans holding a banner with Trevor's face printed on it, buti na lang at konti pa lang ang nakakaalam na dito kami nagsho-shoot or else this will be a hassle.
"Let's go in, Ate Kisha." Tawag pansin ko kay Ate Kisha na nagulat din sa nadatnan namin. She turned her head in my direction at saka naglakad na papasok ng building.
"Nagulat ako doon ahh." She stated and blinked nang makapasok kami sa building.
"Pati rin naman ako." I mumbled.
I can feel Ate Kisha's gaze on me ngunit di ko na binigyan pa ng pansin.
"You're here!" Felicity squealed.
Tumingin ako sa kanya, tumatakbo siyang naglalad patungo sa'min.
"Hurry up! May isiningit akong isang scene and good thing they agreed!" She whispered when she got near me.
"What kind of scene?" I raised my eyebrow at her.
"Chill, simple lang naman." She grinned and looked at Trevor.
She explained to us kung ano ang gagawin namin, at first I was a bit hesitant but I remembered that I am an actress, and things like that happen na dapat din I must act professionally.
"Let's go, I'll just change my clothes and prepare," I said, and they nodded.
"Ok, while Xochi and Trevor's preparing other actresses and actors, please dito po tayo, will shoot the scenes sa inyo." Felicity's co-director said while using a megaphone.
Naglakad na ako patungo sa dressing room, ilang araw na rin kasi kami nagsho-shoot sa building na toh kaya medyo alam ko na ang pasikot-sikot
After changing my clothes and ma-makeupan ng makeup artist ay lumabas na ako ng dressing room ko. Suot-suot ko ay white long-sleeved shirt, and a peach above-the-knee skirt, a typical secretary look.
Saktong pagkalabas ko ay pagdating ni Felicity at Trevor.
Trevor is wearing a black suit and also a black tie, naka clip ito sa white long-sleeved niya. Yung buhok niya ay nakabrush patalikod, he looks clean with his hair like that.
"Here, have this." Felicity passed me a black clipboard.
"You guys know what to do na right? I already gave you the scenario, and all you have to do is act on it and make a dialogue. Are we clear?" She asked with a stern face and voice.
Trevor and I both nodded our heads in response.
"Okay, now get in the elevator. The camera is already installed, and by the time the elevator opens, lalabas kayo." Felicty instructed bago umalis sa harap namin.
Umupo si Felicity sa upuan niya at pinagmasdan ang parang TV.
"Take No.1, Scene No.14, Lights, Camera, Action!" That was the cue, nagsimula na kaming maglakad patungo ng elevator.
"What are my schedules for today?" Trevor asked, I looked at him, deretso ang tingin niya.
I averted my eyes at binaba ang tingin sa clipboard na dala dala. Itinaas ko ang isang papel kumyar may chinecheck.
Lakad takbo ang ginawa ko dahil sa malaki niyang mga hakbang. We went in the elevator, and I pressed the floor and the closed button.
"You have an appointment with Mrs Corazon regarding the partnership at 10 am, the board director's meeting at 1 pm, and lastly strategy meeting at 3 pm," I said, good thing that I have knowledge about these things.
This cram the shit out of me, honestly.
"Is that all?" He asked at madaliang tumingin sa'kin.
"Yes, Sir." Sagot ko sa tanong niya.
Namuo ang katahimikan matapos nun, hanggang sa bigla siyang magtanong.
"Have we met before?" He suddenly asked, which made my eyes widen in shock.
"H-Hah? Hindi pa po." Natatarantang sagot ko.
He squinted his eyes at saka hinarap ako. Lumapit siya nang lumapit sa'kin habang ako ay paatras nang paatras hanggang sa maramdaman ko na lang ang magical na bakal sa likod ko.
"Hindi ka magaling magsinungaling." He stated while looking down at me. Sinubukan kong itago ang mukha ko gamit ang clipboard.
"H-Hindi po talaga, Sir." Nauutal ngunit magalang na pagtanggi ko.
He backed off when the elevator made a sound. Pagtingin ko sa pinto ay nakabukas na ito, buti na lang at walang tao na dumaan.
Nauna siyang lumabas sa'kin, nanghihina man ay sinimulan ko nang maglakad.
"Kala ko ba may amnesia yung gagong yun. Shet, dear lord sana po di po siya nanghihinala." Ipinagdikit ko ang kamay ko habang ang clipboard ay nakaipit sa armpit ko.
"What're you doing?" Biglang sulpot ni Rhett.
"Fishtea!" I screamed dahil sa piglaang pagsulpot niya.
Nangunot ang noo niya ngunit iniling niya na lang iyon. "Brew me a coffee, one tablespoon of sugar." Pakikipagsabay ko.
His lips parted ngunit di niya na 'yon pinansin pa at umalis na.
"Cut!" The co-director said- William.
I sighed, i'm somehow having a hard time portraying this character. This is so not me.
"Good job, so we just need a little bit of emotion na parang you're really praying na hindi siya maghinala, Xochi." William informed me, we practised it for a couple of seconds before filming the scene, again.
We filmed that scene kung nasaan nakalabas na kami sa Elevator. After Rhett ordered Nicole to brew a coffee.
"Bakit ka namumula dyan?" My co-worker suddenly appeared in front of me.
"Ako? N-Namumula ako? Sigurado ka?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko at napahawak sa pisnge ko ng wala sa oras.
"Oo, dhaizz. May nangyari ba sa inyo ni Si-" I cut her off, agad kong tinakpan ang bibig niya at napalingon sa buong paligid.
"Gaga ka! Baka may makarinig sayo, Ash. Ayoko pa magkaissue at ang malala ay mawalan ng trabaho." Bulong ko sa kanya, nang maramdaman kong walang tao ay inalis ko na ang kamay ko sa bibig niya.
After that scene, ay ipinagpatuloy na namin hanggang sa makatapos kami ng dalawang scene. Maaga kaming natapos sa shooting namin, exact 3 pm natapos kami sa shooting. Nandito pa kaming lahat konti pa lang ata ang umaalis sa building, nasa ground floor na kasi kami, naghahanda na paalis.
Nauna kaming magpaalam sa kanilang lahat.
"Ate Kisha..." I trailed off, nahihiya akong sabihin sa kanya.
"Ohh?" Simpleng tanong nito.
"Can you drop me off sa M-" Ate Kisha cut my words, and she was already grinning ear to ear.
"I thought so, pasok ka na agad." She gestured me to get in which I did.
"Ano naman gagawin mong rason kaya ka bumisita?" Tanong ni Ate Kisha sa'kin nang makaalis.
"Do I need to?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya.
"Syempre, may kayo ba?" She asked, and it felt like thousands of daggers were piercing through my heart.
Why do I feel this way? What feeling is this?
"Ohh... you're right." I laughed awkwardly. "But I can use this excuse na tatanongin siya kung kailan namin ipu-public relationship na kuno so that I can prepare myself." Nakangiti kong saad.
"Suit yourself." She said.
I decided to call him so that his secretary can be aware that I'm coming over. However, my forehead creased because it just kept on ringing. Normally, whenever I call, Zak immediately answers it.
"What the..." I trailed off and sighed.
"Bakit ganyan mukha mo?" Ate Kisha asked
"Zak's not answering my calls." Nakasalubong ang kilay na sagot ko habang ang paningin ay nasa screen ng phone.
"Try it again." She suggested.
I tried calling him again, nakailang tawag na lamang ako ay wala pa ring sumasagot, ring lang nang ring.
"Ate, can you speed up a bit?" I asked, napahawak ako sa noo ko dahil sa pag-alala.
"Relax, Xochi. You'll see him sa M Ent, just hang on there for a bit. Don't worry too much." She comforted me, tumango lang ako, but my heart didn't feel at ease.
Pagkarating sa M Entertainment ay agad akong nanakbo patungo sa elevator, I pressed Zak's floor. Kamalas-malasan pang may kasabay ako. They just keep on chatting pero di pa sila nakapindot ng mga buttons kung saan na floor sila.
Apat silang magkakasama, yung isa ay manager ata.
"Will you guys fucking press your floor button!" Madiin at medyo pataas ang boses kong ani.
I didn't care anymore, nagmamadali akong makapunta sa office ni Zak.
Lumingon silang apat sa'kin at napangiwi, agad na rin nila pinindot ang floor button nila. Nakatayo kasi ako sa likod nila, ako amg unamg pumasok kaya nasa likod ako.
While waiting, I tried calling him again.
"Ohh! For pete's sake, why won't you fucking answer my calls, Zak." I gritted my teeth while at it. Pabulong ko lang 'yon sinabi ngunit naradaman ko ang paglingon nila sa'kin.
Nang makalabas sila ay napakagat ako ng labi.
"Where's Zak?" I asked his secretary ng makarating sa floor ng office ni Zak.
"Good morning, Ms Valmorida. Unfortunately, you came at the wrong time. Nakauwi na po Sir Zak kanina pa pong alas dose, lunch time. He said that he wasn't feeling well." She explained habang nakangiti sa'kin.
"Kaya pala ayaw niya sagutin tawag ko." I whispered at saka binaling ang atensyon muli sa kanya. "Give me his address." I demanded.
"I'm sorry but I can't give our acting CEO's private information to anyone." She bowed when she said those words.
She's at it again!
I looked at her with full rage in my eyes. I tried calling him again, and thanks god, he answered it
"Why didn't you answer my calls, Zak? Are you okay na ba? Your secretary told me that you're sick..." I trailed off when I heard a woman's voice from the other line.
"Who's this?"