( N: So I said I love you one more time, in case that would change your mind. 🙂)
(A/N: Long updateeee, damang-dama ko 'tong chapter na 'to. Yung tipong nakikisabay facial expression ko kada type ng line hahahahaha! Just imagine...)
End Game 25
"Somebody else"
Sheliah Santibañez
My world stops when I heard what he just said. Like what the hell? Gusto niya talaga akong makitang masaktan?
"Nanadya ka ba o ano?" Naiinis kong tanong. His face remains serious, I can see the sincerity in his look but not in his eyes. I know him well. Pero I don't care whatever his facial features visualizes.
"Umalis ka na." Mahinahon kong sambit.
"Remind me Sheliah." Pagmamatigas pa nito. My mind forgets to remind me that this guy won't give up easily.
I grinned. "You have the guts to call me in that name?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay and he stood up. I did the same which annoyed him. "I just wanna let you know that no one should dare to call me in that name."
Linagay niya ang dalawa niyang mga kamay sa bulsa ng suot niyang pantalon. "That's your name."
"Not anymore." I replied.
"Why?" Tanong nito. I avoided his gaze and I grabbed the script, tinabi ko ang script sa drawer and his now facing my back. "Diyan ka naman magaling diba? Ang talikuran ako." My entire system felt a rage.
He triggered my anger. "Coming from the guy who called our wedding off without telling me what's wrong?" I faced him. "Ngayon ko lang na-realize kung gaano ka talaga ka-gag*, I mean destiny really tricked me. I fell in love with the devil and I was underneath your spell but now Art, I'm not blind anymore. Thank you for cutting the curse that sets my heart on a tragic relationshit."
Wala siyang nasagot ni isang salita sa mga sinabi ko. Hindi ako nasasaktan sa ginawa ko, maybe the process of moving on is on the way to its success. "I'll remind you what happened when we broke up later but now? Get out of MY TRAILER." Matigas ang pagkakasambit ko sa huling dalawang mga salita. Gusto kong ipamukha sa kaniya na meron na akong awtoridad na saraduhan siya ng pinto.
Naglakad siya papalabas ng pinto and I am following his movements until he suddenly pauses then said. "Kung alam mo lang Liah... Kung alam mo lang." Then he walked through the door.
Nabalot ng katanungan ang isipan ko, what should I know? What does he mean?
Another mindtwisting shit!
"Punyeta."
Good lord, ano na naman 'tong bumabagabag sa dibdib ko. He's trying to confuse me everytime. Every damn time. Antonio.
I stayed for a couple of minutes hanggang sa magpag-desisyunan kong lumabas at tumungo na sa shoot.
Prepare your tears Liah, 'cause it's not just for the act. It's for the confession.
Inayusan ako ng damit at make-up for the shoot, hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses akong umiirap sa salamin habang inaayusan. Yung make-up artist napatanong na din sa'kin kung bakit ako umiirap, kesyo naiirata daw ba ako sa kan'ya or ayaw ko sa ginagawa niya sa mukha ko. I just told him that I was just memorizing which is really not.
Akala ko sa una this project is a comedy pero romantic drama pala talaga 'to. I can't imagine myself crying multiple times with no faking my emotions. I'm just scared that one day, mahalata na ng mga tao na wala na kami.
I'm scared because ayokong...
"Miss Liah be ready at 5 minutes." My assistant reminds me and I just nodded.
Bahala na.
Nasa isa kaming park, walang tao ang dumadaan o napapadpad sa shooting area namin dahil naka-isolate kami. Bawal silang pumasok sa area na binayaran ng mga producers.
Nagkita kami ni Art and people around us are so focused watching us so all I do is to smile at him fakely and he did the same. Staged couple huh?
"Attention Liah and Art. This scene is the highlight of this drama, kelangan niyong matapos at ma-deliver ng maayos ang eksena na 'to bago matapos ang takip-silim. Kung hindi, we are going to re-shoot this tomorrow." Paalala ni Direk Josephine gamit ang isang megaphone and we both nodded. "Cameras?"
"Checked direk!" Sagot ng mga camera man.
Nag-thumbs up si Direk Josephine. "Lights?"
"Okay na direk!" Tumango ang direktor.
"Action!"
Kaya mo 'to Liah. Just act this, be on character... Break down if you want.
Naglakad ako papalapit sa isang fountain. "Ang tagal naman nun, I can't be wrong that this is the exact location he texted." I checked my phone and I flashes a dissapointed look. "I'm 30 minutes early... Kaya naman pala tsk."
Pinagmasdan ko ang mga aktor na nasa paligid ng park na ginagawa ang kani-kanilang role. Iilan lang ang mga ito para sa eksenang 'to.
I felt a cold hand on my wrist at nagulantang ako dahil do'n, I almost lost in my character at nakita ko mula sa peripheral vision ko ang pag-senyas nk Direk Josephine na ituloy ko lang. Art is the one who held my wrist.
"You're too early." He said.
Nginitian ko siya and I hugged him. I felt something strange, it's been a long time since our body touches each other. "Baby I miss you." Bulong ko.
Hindi tinugon ni Art ang yakap ko. I felt a disappointment-- What the hell Liah?!
Dahan-dahan akong kumalas sa yakap. I looked at his eyes. "What's wrong?" Hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya at bahagya siyang umiwas, it broke my heart...
"Tapusin na natin 'to."
Shocked painted all over my face. "Tapusin ang alin? Are you hungry? Baka nahihilo ka lang at kung ano-ano na pinagsasabi mo." I chuckled awkwardly then I stopped. "Baby?"
"L-- Anne... I'm sorry." Did I just heard him almost say my name? Or assuming lang talaga ako?
"Sorry for what? I don't understand this."
"I'm tired Anne, ayoko na." Nanatali kaming dalawa sa kinatatayuan namin. My next line is to beg him...
Confusion flashes. "You're breaking up with me?" I asked and he didn't reply. I licked my lips as I prevent my tears from falling. "That's a clear yes."
Hinawakan niya ang dalawa kong kamay at inilagay niya iyon sa dibdib niya. "I love you Anne but we have to."
"You love me but you're breaking up with me? Baliw ka ba? Kasi kung oo, I could file you an appointment with a psychiatrist." Tinanggal ko ang mga kamay ko sa pagkakahawak niya pero agad niya itong inagaw. This is not in the freaking script! Mali yung line na sinabi ko.
Naramdaman ni Art ang takot sa mga mata ko na masermonan na naman ng direktor, I can see the other staffs wanting this scene to end but hindi sila pinapansin ni Art at si Direk Josephine naman ay nakamasid lang sa amin.
"Hindi mo kasi ako maiintindihan! I'm doing this to make your life easier, our lives."
A single tear fell from his eyes... Damn Art, you're good at acting.
But that line hurts. "Don't set me free..." I pleaded.
"We're over Anne..." Binitawan niya ang mga kamay ko at tumalikod siya. "Don't make yourself run or drool over me... Again."
A smiled appeared from my lips as tears started to fall continuously. "Kahit kailan hindi kita naintindihan Sean. You love but then next day you don't. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katanga para sakyan yung mga ilusyon na 'yon. I always notice the way you smile, it's completely different from the A--Sean I knew 5 years ago." I covered my mouth dahil mapapahagulgol ako. Biglang humarap si Art. "You're not making my life easier, you're a burden in my heart!"
I almost miss the name...
"Anne..."
Pinunasan ko ang luhaan kong mga mata gamit ang kamay ko. "I never planned loosing you kasi umaasa ako na baka may himala at magbago ka bigla at bumalik ka sa Sean na nakikilala ko noon. Kumapit ako sa relasyon natin sa loob ng 2 taon. Hindi ako napagod na maghintay na bumalik ka sa Sean na pinaparamdam sakin na mahal niya ako araw-araw. Hindi ikaw 'to e... Hindi ikaw!" I stomped my foot.
"Anne... Stop crying... Please." He hugged me and I just broke down. I let him.
"Nasaan na yung Sean na pinangakuan ako ng kasal months ago? Nasaan na yung Sean na bibigyan ako ng mga anak na mahihilig kumanta? Nasaan?" Tinulak ko siya palayo. I can see the pain through his eyes. "I waited for so long and tried so hard to fix my mistakes and insecurities just to save this relationship. I thought I'd also have my happy ending like some movies do but I won't... I love you more than I ever loved someone else before. You changed me for better, but now you're changing me for worst."
"Anne... I have to... I'm sorry, patawarin mo 'ko kung gano'n ang naramdaman mo sa'kin. It just means that I'm not the perfect man to fulfill your happiness, I'm not the right man to make you happy and who'll join you through the bad days and make you feel better. I didn-- I fell out of love..." Lumunok siya ng laway.
"The love that I showed to you was pure and real. No one could fake that love especially if it was meant for you. But this is a goodbye, I can't... I can't love you and hurt you anymore."
Tinuyo ko ang mga luha ko. Well this is it. "Thanks for sticking by my side... Sana maging masaya ka. I hope someone could love you in the ways I couldn't."
Naglakad ako at linagpasan ko siya.
"...AND CUT!"