End Game 21
"How this is gonna go"
Sheliah Santibañez
Nagdaan ang dalawang linggo and my schedule went really tight. Since naghahanda na rin ako sa role na gagampanan ko sa isang drama serye.
From singer to actress real quick.
"Felicia kelan ulit ang meeting ko with Director Josephine?"
Liningon ako nito sabay tingin sa kanyang phone. "2 hours from now."
"Thanks, you may now leave. Next month ka na lang bumalik, you should rest. Madami ka nang naitulong sa akin since the day I came back to work." Binigyan ko siya ng isang makahulugang ngiti.
Kitang kita ko ang pagkagulat sa mukha nito. "Miss Sheliah-- I mean Liah. As your assistant, I should never rest. My job is to fix everything before you handle it."
I nod "Yeah that's your job but as of now, I need to work alone. I want you to have some time with your family, and after that pwede ka nang bumalik."
May bahid ng pag-aalinlangan niya akong tinignan. Bumuga ito ng hangin. "Thank you."
Nag-ayos na ito ng kanyang mga gamit bago umuwi. Binagsak ko ang buo kong katawan sa sofa.
May meeting pa ako, dapat na akong maghanda.
"Will you take this role Miss Liah Sants?" The director asked.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "That's the leading role, diba I should audition first para makita po talaga na fit ako sa role na 'yan? I mean not to disgrace you or parang hindi ko 'to tinatanggap, it's just I think it's unfair to others dahil first I am not an actress and second thing this is a highly anticipated drama series and may mga artista diyan na gustong gusto na makuha ang role na 'to but I am just getting this without any experiences at all?"
Umayos siya ng upo and her lips started to stretch. "That's what I needed in the role."
Lalong kumunot ang noo ko. What does she mean? Ang unfair lang talaga tignan if I were in the situation of others. "Pardon?"
Isang malawak na ngiti ang inihandog sa akin ng direktor. "This character is soft and at the same time tough. She always put herself in the shoes of others despite of being nobody to her surroundings. Madami na ngang nag-audition sa role na ito but hindi nila na-meet ang expectation ko, lahat sila iisang character lang ang pinopotray while you? You can do both. Napanood ko na ang concerts mo and I must say that I am impressed by your stage pressence and you sing with your heart. An actress acts not to be the star but to be a someone's shadow. And it's you."
Naubusan ako nang sasabihin. Kung ganun, this is really a big matter to me. I am overwhelmed. I could cry.
"I need you in this project." She said with a determined tone. "I know you're new to this, I can see your potentials. Gusto kong i-enhance ang mga potensyal na iyon para gumawa ng bagong karekter sa pagkatao mo. Mag-woworkshop ka para matuto ka and some actors will help you while on set."
Dahan-dahan akong tumango. There's a part of me na gustong pasukin ang panibagong mundo na ito and there's the other one na natatakot. But, there's nothing holding me back.
"Let's do this." She immedietly handed me a contract. Binasa ko ito mula una hanggang kahuli-hulihan. I signed it after.
"Welcome to the world of acting Miss Liah Sants." Kinamayan niya ako.
"Thank you Director Josephine."
"Josie will do."
Matapos ang ilan pang proseso dumaretso agad ako sa restaurant ni Divina.
Kailangan ko ng source of energy habang dumadaldal.
Humanap ako ng mauupuan and when I found one, agad akong pumili sa menu.
"Fish fillet with rice and Ice tea lang."
"Is that all Miss Liah?" Tanong ng waiter.
"Yep and please call the owner, ipapasara ko kamo 'tong restaurant niya kapag hindi siya agad nagpakita." Natawa ito sa sinabi ko at agad na umalis.
I mean it.
Agad kong natanaw si Divina na kakalabas lang ng kusina. She's still wearing her Chef uniform.
Lumapit ito sa akin at agad na naupo. "What's the tea?" She gave me a detective like look.
"I'm giving up my singing career--"
"WHAT?!" Dahil sa sigaw niya, nag-tinginan lahat ng tao sa amin. Damn this lady.
Unti-unti na kaming dinagsa ng tao matapos akong makilala ng ilan. "Thank you." I sarcastically said.
Isa-isa akong nakipag-picture sa mga taong nakapalibot sa amin and it took us for about 10 minutes since hindi open restaurant ito. Nang nagsi-walaan na ang mga nakapaligid sa amin I left a heavy sigh.
"EXPLAIN YOURSELF SHELIAH!" Divina yelled again. Naku konti na lang i-uuntog ko na 'to sa lamesa.
I'm about to talk kaso biglang dumating ang order ko. "Here you go ma'am."
I took a sip from my ice tea. "First things first, what I told you about that name?" She slowly started to realize things.
Napatakip siya ng bibig. "Ohh, I'm sorry." Biglang nagbago ang facial expression niya, it turns out being furious. "But that's not the problem. Why would you give up your singing career?! After all these years, I saw you struggle para lang makabalik ulit tapos you will end it right away! What the hell Liah?"
I chuckled. "Gaga biro lang."
A sign of relief is vivid in her face. "Don't you ever make a stupid joke again. Gaga ka din."
"Actually, I'm here to tell you that I'm going to have a big project."
"What type of project? Research? Defense? Experiment?" I fake a laugh.
"Nice try but try harder next time." I took a bite from my fish fillet and rice. "I'll be on a drama series."
I am currently expecting Divina to give me a surprised reaction but my expectations are really far from the actual reality.
She yawns. "Oh? Congrats then."
I gave her an unnusual look. "Seryoso ka?"
Tinawanan niya lang ako. "What do you expect from me? Duh Liah, I'm really happy for you imma let you finish but beyonc--" I cut her off. Seriously?
"Stop joking around Divina! And not that piece of shit please." Sa dinami-rami ng pwedeng isingit e ayan pang kay Kanye West when he freaking interrupted Taylor Swift on her ACCEPTANCE SPEECH! How rude to steal someone's moment.
"Sorry na, I mean I'm not surprises at all. Every singers that I used to know nagiging artista. Kahit extra but still... Ugh, cut the crap." Tumayo siya sa pagkaka-upo.
"OH MY GOOD LORD! CONGRATUALATIONS LIAH SANTS! LET'S PARTY!!!"
And with that, she mean every word she said. She invited all of our friends and relatives well except sa kapatid niyang demonyo to the party she's throwing tomorrow.
"Lucas and his brother is coming too! Omg excited na ako." Masiyang wika nito.
Hold on a second... Lucas and his brother are coming? E diba kapatid niya si...
"Art is coming?" I murmured