Chapter Eleven
Third person's P.O.V
The clock strikes at 7:00am. Race and Darryl is already at the meeting room waiting for the production team. Minutes passed, Race's secretary entered the room.
"Sir nandyan napo sila!" tumango lamang si Race.
At napabaling kay Darryl na hilot-hilot ang noo. Hangover.
"Yan kase inom pa!" Race teased.
"Psh! Shut up!" Darryl answered.
"Tss! Nasan na ba si Myka?"
"Ewan, kami ba magkasama kagabi?" -darryl.
"Sungit mo ah! Meron ka? Just text her to be here ASAP!" -race. Darryl just rolled his eyes and nod.
The door opened an a man and a woman entered. Tumayo naman ang dalawa upang salubungin ito.
"Race!" the girl excitedly exclaimed and hugged Race. Tinugunan naman ito nang bintata. Darryl just rolled his eyes again.
"Race it's nice to see you again!"
"Same here Karen, at mas lalo ka pang gumanda ah!" -race.
"Sus, nambola pa! Ow hey there Darryl!" Pansin ni Karen sa kay Darryl, who just answer her with a nod and a weak smile. Wala talaga siya sa mood ngayon. All he want is to sleep! Yet, Race didn't give him that. This day is important daw! 'neknek niya, gusto lang niyang makita yang babaeng yan!' Darryl said to himself.
"Ok! Before i forgot, guys this is Andrew Mortello. Our executive producer."
"Hi!"
"Hello!" Race answered.
"Let's take a seat first!" race said.
The table is rectangular shaped. Nasa dulo si Race while Karen is on his left side with Andrew, kaharap naman nila si Darryl na may bakanteng silya na para kay Myka.
"Is it okay to wait for just a couple of minutes? We're just waiting for the writer. Baka na traffic lang yun." Race started.
"It's okay dude, di rin kasi hectic tong schedule namin today ni Louise!" Andrew said.
"Thank you for that... Ow! You let him call you Louise, Karen?" race asked karen.
"Hahaha! Yes, Race, well what's wrong with that? We've been peers since highschool days. Kami nung fiance ko. I just let those close friends to call me Louise."
Magsasalita na sana si Race nang sumingit si Darryl.
"Karen, so what can you say about the story that we passed? Can it trigger more viewers?"
"Ow! About the story, it was perfectly written Darryl. The twist was so fascinating, yung talagang di mo expect ang ending! Napaiyak ako nun though kahit hindi siya tragic.And we don't also allow tragic ending in the movie industry,but it just like 'the beginning doesn't justify the ending' That's why i can't wait to meet this writer. I hear that she's newbie right?" -karen.
"Yeah! A professional newbie rather!" -race.
"What do you mean?" -andrew.
"Well,darryl proofread it nung first pang pass neto, but he found nothing wrong." -race.
"Really?" -karen.
"Exactly!" -darryl.
Suddenly the door opened and Myka entered. Tumayo naman sina Race at Darryl as well as Karen and Andrew. Napatungo naman si Myka dahil sa kahihiyan na na late siya.
"Sorry sir, i'm late!" -myka.
"It's okay Myka!".
Sa sinabi ni Race, nabunutan siya nang tinik at nang itaas niya ang kanyang paningin, the two person caught her attention. 'Masyadong maliit ang mundo, kaya dahil dun minamalas ako ngayong araw.' she said to herself.
"Come here so we can start." -race.
Habang lumalakad, di niya parin maalis ang tingin sa dalawa. Kung saan titig na titig ang mga ito sa kanya. Sa lahat ba naman kasi nang tao sa mundo, sila pa yung im-meet niya. Nang malapit na siya, iniwas na niya ang tingin sa mga ito.
"Are you okay? You look like you just fainted!" bulong ni Darryl.
She just nodded. Sa tabi siya ni Darryl naupo, kaharap si Andrew.
Nakatayo parin silang lahat at nakadungo parin si Myka nang magsalita si Race.
"So before anything else, Myka i want you to me---"
"I'll do the honor Race!" Karen inserted.
Sabay balik nang matalim na tingin kay Myka. Itinago nito ang isang kamay sa likod, kung saan kanina pa nangangating sumampal. Dahil sa sinabi ni Karen, napatingin sa kanya si Myka. An eye to eye!
"Im Karen Louise Monteroyo and this is my bestfriend Andrew Dale Mortello." -karen.
Napatingin naman saglit si Myka kay Andrew ngunit binawi rin niya kaagad.
"It's a privilage that i meet the both of you, i'm Myka Ramon!" -myka.
Nagsiupuan naman silang lahat, then Race started the meeting.
"Well Myka, napag usapan na namin kanina yung about sa story mo and since Karen liked it so---"
Naputol ang sasabihin ni Race nang magsalita si Karen na ikinagulat nang lahat.
"On second thought, i don't like it!" -karen.
"Louise." -andrew.
"What? You also agreed with me Dale right? What i said earlier is an insight of a typical teenager. Actually, the story is boring, not wort watching and unfair. Know why? Because you didn't give justice to those main characters first love partner. This story focuses on Agatha, which it shouldn't be, because this story should focus on those 2 love team whose in the same time belongs in the same circle of friends. The four of them. Agatha and Erwarld, Ashanti and Zeus. Both of them, are first love. But, since Agatha has this nonsense personal problem, dinamay niya pa ang mga kaibigan niya. She seduce Zeus and she put some set-up scandal on Erwarld and Ashanti. What's worst? Is that Agatha is a well known singer and her friends are just commoners kaya't ganun nalang yung paglookdown niya dito. Then boom! It all ended up in chaos! Nag away silang lahat, and it's all Agatha's fault. Iniwan nila si Agatha and karma strike her nawala sa kanya pati ang pagiging singer niya dahil siniraan din siya ni Ashanti sa music industry who hold her. Now, everyone move-on but not Agatha. To make the long story short, Agatha say sorry, and Ashanti forgave her. But what's more irritating here is the twisted cheap ending. They exchange partners. Agatha and Zeus, Ashanti and Erwarld. Just what? Just to justify the title 'Take two, will last too!' ? Thats immaturity." -karen.
Silence coped them after that. Hindi parin maalis ni Andrew ang tingin kay Myka na nakadungo lang.Sa loob-loob ni Myka, she wants to slap this woman infront of her, who insult the plot of her story.
She wants to explode.
It takes her a lot of courage to go back into industry of writing yet ito lang ang makukuha niya?
An insult?
Criticism?
She's hurt!
Yes, after all it was her story! A story na pinagpuyatan at pinaglaanan nang effort para lang mabuo ito, yet ito lang ang makukuha niya?
That's unfair!
Porke't sila yung magt-turn that into movie, pwede na nilang malitin ang buong kwento? Anyone who has a higher position haven't the right to insult an output of a writer. Once you insult a story you're also insulting the author.
Gustuhin man ni Myka na sumagot nang pabalang, ngunit naisip niyang maging propesyunal, at inisip na para kay Tyson narin din ang kikitain na pera mula rito.
"I don't know what's your point Karen, but it was a nice story after all." Race said.
"Nice? Look on the other side Race, she didn't detailed the part of Ashanti, palaging kay Agatha. If you're a writer you should be fair to your characters. If you put your shoes into Ashanti's character, hindi madali sayo ang nangyari. Ashanti and Agatha are best of friend, at masisira lang pala lahat nang yun for Agatha's selfish desire? Na porke't sira yung buhay niya, sisirain niya rin yung buhay ni Ashanti? Pati narin an buhay nila Erwarld at Zeus? The three of them suffer a lot dahil sa ginawa niya. And now, nakita niyang maayos na yung ex-bff at bf niya, she will say sorry? That was stupid!" -karen.
"It wasn't stupid Karen, siguro naman lahat tayo nagsisisi and we're all given second chances!" Darryl inserted.
"But not all are deserving." Karen added then look at Myka who's still listening.
Myka don't want to talk, once she open her mouth hindi niya mac-control ang sasabihin niya. She better shut up and receive all the insult on her story.
"I think we can do some adding on the part of Ashanti, Louise." Andrew said. Karen glare at him.
"Andrew is right. Okay lang ba yun Karen?" -race.
"I-it's okay, but ..... I want an another ending." -karen.
With that it caught, Myka's attention.
"And why is that?" myka asked to karen intensely.
"It will end to where it started. Agatha and Erwarld, Ashanti and Zeus." -karen.
"But that coudn't make sense to the title!" -myka.
"Your a writer right? Find a way to make it sense!" -karen.
"It's not easy!" -myka.
"Its easy! You can't do it? Why? Is it hard?" -karen.
Napansin naman ni Andrew na iba na ang pinatutunguhan nang usapan kaya hinawakan niya sa kamay si Karen. Hindi naman alam nina Race at Darryl ang point nang pinag-uusapan.
"Myka, Karen's right, why don't you change the ending or else the title?" Race added.
Napaiwas nalang nang tingin si Myka at napadungo ulit. 'Hindi niyo kasi alam ang pakiramdam na pilit pina-iiba ang masterpiece na ikaw mismo maygawa, especially if you want that to happen in your real life.'
"Well, i think she don't want it Race, so we better find ano---" -karen.
"I'll pass another story!" Myka said na nagpatigil sa kanya.
"What? No Myka, pinaghirapan mo yun..... Karen the ending is unique, what's wrong with that? I thought you want some fresh?" -Darryl.
"Unique? That's already rotten. This is business Darryl. Mga sikat na magkalove team ang kukunin para dito. Do you think na papayag ang management lalo na yung mga fans kung magsa-swap sila nang partner at the end?" -karen.
Natahimik naman sila. Karen's right. Pero kahit pilit na iniintindi ni Myka na tama si Karen. She can't stop to doubt her motive. She's getting on her nerves already! Karen look at Myka na nakatungo lang.
"So, Ms.Ramon d---" -karen.
"Myka, we're giving you an option. Change it or we will find another company." andrew said.
Dahil sa sinabi ni Andrew, her anger meets the highest point. Hindi na niya mapigilang ipaglaban ang manuscript niya. Tinignan niya nang matalim ang dalawa.
"Talaga ba'ng story ko ang may mali o may ibang rason?" -myka.
Karen was caught off-guard.
"What are you trying to say Myka? This is all just pure business a---" -karen.
"But it doesn't look like a business to me!" -myka.
"So do you think that we take it personally? Why we will do that? Do we know you?" Andrew said.
Myka was taken aback. Masakit para sa kanya ang sinabi ni Andrew. Hindi nakasagot si Myka.
"Okay, peace my friends. So we prefer to end this one. Karen you get what you want. We will change the ending and we will stick to what we talked. So as what karen said, the contract'll be tomorrow. So thank you for the time, meeting adjourn." -race.
Pagkatapos sabihin ni Race yun, nagmadaling umalis si Myka. Sinundan naman siya ni Darryl na kanina pa may napapansing mali sa kanya. A few seconds later, Andrew also went after her.
Nang makalabas na sila sa company, hinigit ni Darry ang braso ni Myka to stop her from walking away. He's calling her but damn, hindi siya pinakikingan ni Myka.
"Will you stop!" Darryl said.
Napaharap naman sa kanya si Myka.
"Ano ba Darryl, may trabaho pakong papasukan!" -myka.
"Work? Myka its still 8:15am, mamayang 10:00am pa trabaho mo!" -darryl.
Natigilan naman si Myka. All she want is to get away from that damn building at umiyak. Pero lintik na singkit na manyak, hinabol pa siya.
"Darryl, may bago akong sideline. So please, bitawan mo ko!" Darryl brows narrowed.
"Sideline? Really? O baka naman may iniiwasan ka lang? Myka, tell me, did yo---"
"Myka!" a voice interrupted them.
Its Andrew who came.
Napatingin naman sa kanya si Myka. Bumalik naman lahat nang galit na nararamdaman niya kanina. Lumihis naman siya nang tingin.
"Myka, can we talk?" -andrew.
"There's nothing we can talk!"
"C'mon don't be so hard!"
"Sabihin mo na lahat nang gusto mong sabihin!" -myka.
"Yung tayo lang sanang dalawa." -andrew.
Napatingin naman si Myka kay Darryl at balik ulit kay Andrew.
"Don't mind him, he's just nothing!" -myka.
Nasaktan naman si Darryl sa narinig kaya nabitawan nito ang kamay ni Myka na ikinagulat ng huli, pero hindi parin siya aalis. He wants to know!
"Tungkol kanina, i'm sorry!" -andrew.
"Hindi okay lang, sanay naman ako minamaliit ang ginagawa ko." -myka.
"Myka, i didn't mean what i said." -andrew.
Napakunot noo naman si Darryl. 'did they know each other?'
"You didn't mean it? Well Andrew don't lie to me anymore. I know you mean it. May karapatan ka naman eh! Karapatan mong isumbat sakin that you move-on already from what I've caused to all of you 4 years ago. Kasalanan ko, oo! Pero taningina, nakakapersonal ang ginawa ni Karen, you knew us, walang magpapatalo sa huli, pero andrew, you all knew how much i fond writing, yet all i got is criticism!" -myka.
"Sorry okay? I think, Louise just doing her job, she's not been called the director of the year for nothing!"
"Fuck! That job! Alam ko naman kung anong ipinuputok nang butsi niya, she taught that she was Ashanti on that story and she want to end up on Zeus that she also think was Bryan, her fiance! Pinagseselosan parin niya ako. I can't believe it. For just a story? Masyado siyang paranoid, as also you! You want us also to go back as what we are before. Ganyan na ba kayo ka desperada?" Mataas na litanya ni Myka.
"We aren't desperate Vanessa!" -andrew.
That shuts Myka up. This was the first time after 4 years na may tumawag sa kanyang muli sa kanyang second name.
Myka Vanessa Ramon.
"Shut.Up!" -myka.
"You can't blame us Nessa, in the first place you're the reason o---" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Andrew nang magring ang phone ni Myka. Myka answered it immediately.
"H-hello, a-ate!" When she hear it, biglang kinaban si Myka.
"Reneese." myka said.
"A-ate myka! S-si T-tyson, inaatake na naman!"
With that, out of nowhere, nahila nalang niya bigla si Darryl and left Andrew behind. Nang makapasok nasa sasakyan, di mapigilan ni Darryl ang magtanong.
"Where to?"
"St. Josephs medical center." -myka.
"Huh? B-bakit? Sinong naroon?"
"Fucking pervert, just drive will you?"
Walang magawa si Darryl kundi sundin si Myka na ngayo'y kinakabahan na.
"Lord, please. Save Tyson for me. Wag naman siya oh! Please."
She silently prayed habang may butil nang luha ang tumulo sa mga mata neto.
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-edited-
Bashi's note: I'm Grateful for my dedication.