Chapter 2
The next day, I was uncomfortable during our last subject. Ngayon na kasi ang pagkikita namin ni Gino sa kakilala niya at hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako handa!
I know that I'm interested to join that local theater arts but I think its just too soon! Ni hindi ko pa nasasabihan sina Kuya tungkol dito at ito ako ngayon, gumagawa nang sarili kong desisyon.
"Sis, relax! As if namang kakainin ka ni Gino 'pag nagkita kayo." Sake told me right after the class dismissed.
Ngayon, naghihintay na sa isa sa mga bench ng SHS building para sa pagdating ni Gino.
Maya't-maya ang pagbaling ko sa mga studianteng dumaraan suot ang uniporme para sa Senior High.
I glanced at my uniform and realized that I don't belong here. Nagsisising dinala pa si Sake dahil panay ang turo niya sa mga gwapong naroon.
Ayon at pinagtitinginan tuloy kami!
"Ayon pa siswap! Kilala mo 'yon diba?!" agad na napabaling ang tingin ko sa itinuro ni Sake.
Kumunot ang noo ko dahil hindi ko naman kilala ang itinuturo niya.
The guy is also wearing the Senior High school uniform. Obviously because it's their building! May katangkaran iyon at hindi kaputian ang balat. To sum it all, just not my type.
Dumako ang tingin ko sa medyo may pagka-brown niyang buhok. I wonder how smooth it was even though it was dyed or maybe its all natural, huh.
Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang bumaling siya sa direksyon namin. He's laughing with his friends and he probably realized that someone is looking at him!
Nagulat ako nang hampasin ako ni Sake sa balikat matapos ibalita ang paparating na bulto ni Gino. On his right side is a girl with a long black hair and her skin is white as pearl. She's so damn pretty even from afar! Dumako ang tingin ko sa suot nito at napagtantong college na ito, bukod don tourism pa!
Mukhang nakwento na ata kami ni Gino sa kaniya dahil nang makalapit. Nakangiti na agad ito sa 'kin.
"You're Iris, right?" she lend her hand for a handshake. Tinanggap ko iyon at ngumiti rin sa kaniya.
"Yeah," halos ibulong ko iyon.
Bumaling siya sa kasama ko at nakipagkamay rin kay Sake.
"I've heard a lot about you." she grinned towards me before he glanced at Gino.
"Ah, he told me that you could help me to register in La el Operands. That's why," nahihiya kong sabi sa kaniya.
She nodded like she knew about it already. "Yes, I do workshops from that theater."
"Let's have a sit, first." sabi ni Gino kaya naman umupo kami sa mga bench na naroon.
"So you and Gino worked already for the Les Miserables. I've watched the show! I can tell that you're good!" sambit niya.
"Oh, anyway. I forgot to introduced my name. Sorry!" she chuckled. "Just call me, Cherry."
So she's also one of the fruits.
"Thanks, uh, Cherry." or should I called her Ate? She's older than me, anyway.
We talked there for minutes and I'm worried that my friend might be bored already. She only introduced me the theater's background as well as her experienced there.
"So in Saturday, kung free ka. P'wede kitang samahan sa La el. You have to bring the registration forms and get ready for the talent exposure." paliwanag ni Cherry sa 'kin.
"I haven't talked to my family about it. I'd still ask for their consent." Kahit sigurado na naman akong papayagan ako. They always support me in everything that I do.
Bukod nga lang sa pagbo-boyfriend gawa ni Kuya Gab.
"Sure." bumaling siya sa relos niya at tumingin kay Gino.
"I have to go now. I have a meeting!" paalam niya dito bago tumingin sa 'kin.
We exchanged our contact details first before she go. Nagring ang phone ni Sake at ngumiwi nang makita kung sino ang tumawag.
"My driver," she gave me a peace sign.
Kaya naman kailangan na rin niyang umalis. Samantalang ako, naiwan kasama si Gino.
He cleared his throat before saying anything. "Thanks for wearing it." It's the clip!
Tinawa ko nalang iyon at hinawakan ang clip na tinatago ang bangs ko.
"Hindi ka pa ba susunduin ng driver mo?" tanong niya.
"Susunduin. Kaso wala pa,"
"Okay. I'll picked you up on Saturday, then." he insisted.
Agad namilog ang mga mata ko at sinenyas ang aking kamay sa pag-apila.
"Naku, h'wag na. Pwede namang sa driver nalang namin ako magpahatid." protesta ko.
"It's okay. We're friends, anyway." Pero malalagot ako sa Kuya ko! I can't imagined what he might think if he saw Gino in our gate picking me up!
He probably saw the horrored in my expression so he chuckled. "Just kidding. Sige, hindi na." aniya natatawa pa rin.
Parang nabunutan naman ako ng tinik sa dibdib at nagpasalamat sa lahat ng mga santo dahil hindi na siya nagpumilit.
I told my family about it during our dinner that night. Pumayag kaagad si Mommy pati na rin si Kuya. They both assumed that I can handle it well with my studies. Iyon naman ang mahalaga kaya pinapayagan nila ako.
Kaya naman ng sumapit ang Sabado. Nakatanggap agad ako ng text mula kay Cherry.
She told me that I can go there around ten in the morning. Dahil may practice pa sila ng hapon.
I double checked first the important papers inside my plastic envelope before heading towards the large building. Nagpaalam na ako sa driver namin at magtetext nalang ako kung tapos na.
Ganoon nalang ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko nang isa-isa akong tiningnan ng bawat makasalubong ko sa building na iyon.
Mabuti nalang talaga at sinabihan ako ni Cherry kung saang pinto ako papasok. Good thing, I wasn't that bad in following directions so I entered the right room.
Only that, I was taken aback when I saw a familiar face.
It's the same guy that Sake thought he is someone I knew!
Nakasuot ito ngayon ng itim na t-shirt in his dark faded jeans. He also brushed up his hair with some lose strands on his forehead. Halos umirap ako nang makita ang piercing na suot niya sa kaliwang tainga.
Okay. He's quiet hot for my sight but I still don't like him.
He also throw me a glanced with no expression. Mabuti nalang at tinawag ako ni Cherry kaya nawala ang atensyon ko sa kaniya.
"Everyone," she clapped her hands to get the attention of everyone in that room.
"This is, Iris. She'll be working with us starting today!" she announced excitedly which caught me off guard!
Namimilog ang mga mata kong bumaling sa kaniya. Hindi makapagsalita. I thought I still have to do my audition! Ano bang sinasabi niya?!
Nagpalakpakan ang mga naroon at mabilis na nahanap ng mga mata ko si Gino. He smiled warmly at me when our eyes met. Hilaw akong ngumiti at mabilis na napatingin sa lalaking hindi manlang nabago ang ekspresyon simula nang dumating ako kanina.
"Sorry, I've already announced it. Hundred percent sure kasi ako na makakapasok ka." mahina akong tinampal ni Cherry sa balikat pagkasabi niya noon.
We headed to a different room after that. The lights are dim when we entered the theater room. Nagsisimula na rin ang audition at sa ibaba ay may tatlong judge na nakatalikod sa banda namin.
"Chief! This is, Iris. My friend. Audition din po." she told someone.
Tiningnan ako ng kausap niya at tumango. May hawak itong mga papel at may headphone na suot sa leeg.
"Okay. She's next after her," anito at tinuro ang kasalukuyang nagpe-perform sa stage.
I felt so nervous when I was the one who's next to performed. Binigyan ako ng thumbs up ni Cherry at may kung ano-ano pang sinabi para i-motivate ako.
I set aside my nervousness when I introduced myself in front of the judges. I was so intimidated by them at once. But it changed when someone entered the room. Kasunod ni Gino ay ang lalaking nakita ko kanina sa studio room.
I suddenly felt the urge to impress them so I made my performance astonishing as much as possible.
"Okay. Show us what you've got, Ms. David."
Dahil nga sariwa pa rin ang naging performance ko sa Les Miserables. Iyon nalang rin ang ginawa kong talent para sa araw na iyon. I've sang "On my own" from Les Miserables. I also prepared a declaimed after that because they must see how good I could act.
Pinalis ko ang aking luha matapos ang madramang pagkakabagsak ko sa sahig. The audience applaud and even the judges did a standing ovation from what I did!
I bowed my head to show them my gratitude.
Tuwang-tuwa si Cherry nang salubungin ako sa may ibaba ng stage.
"Oh my gosh! I cried! Ang galing mo!" her eyes is a bit fluffy from crying.
"Salamat, Cherry." I glanced at Gino whom followed neared us. Sa likod niya ay iyong lalaking hindi ko pa rin kilala hanggang ngayon.
"Congrats, Iris!" masayang sambit ni Gino sa 'kin.
Tumango nalang ako at nagpasalamat na rin. Napansin naman ata ni Cherry ang pagkakatitig ko sa kasama ni Gino kaya tinawag niya iyon.
"Hoy Rex! Hindi mo manlang ba babatiin si Iris? Her performance is stunning!"
Rex... What a playboy name...
Tahimik na sumulyap si Gino sa kaniya.
"Nice job," he said at me after nodding once.
Muntik na kong matawa. Buti nalang at napigilan ko!
Nice job naman daw, eh. Ulol.
"Where's Calix and Israel? Akala ko ba may rehearsals kayo?" takang tanong ni Cherry sa kanila dahil nagpabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa dalawa.
"We just finished. We're just waiting for you so we could have our lunch." seryosong sabi ni Rex sa kaniya. Hindi manlang ngumiti kahit isang beses.
Atleast, Gino knows how to smile already unlike him.
Pero teka... Sinong Calix at Israel ba itong sinasabi ni Cherry? Tsaka ano bang nire-rehearse nila? Eh, bakit ba ako curious? Ano naman sa 'kin. Duh.
"What about you, Iris? Sama ka sa 'min? Lunch lang?" Gino asked me.
Cherry glanced at me maliciously. Umiwas ako ng tingin at napaisip.
"My driver is waiting for me." I told him.
Magsasalita na sana siya kaso naunahan siya ni Cherry. "Ayos lang 'yon, Iris. I can talk to your driver. Lunch lang naman, eh. Right, Gino?" kumindat pa siya dito.
Napakurap ako at bumaling kay Rex na ngayon ay mukhang may malalim na iniisip.
"Ano, Rex? Ayos lang ba isasama na natin si Iris mag-lunch?" I almost gasped by her question. Ano namang pake ng Rex na 'yan sa 'kin?!
"It's fine." he shrugged. "Gino will payed for it, anyway." tipid itong ngumiti at tinapik sa balikat si Gino.
"I'll wait you guys outside." aniya pa bago umalis.
"Sorry. He's too serious." mapaklang tumawa si Cherry sa 'kin.
I only shrugged as I straddled the exit.
Ayos lang naman kahit magsuplado siya. Hindi naman siya kagwapuhan. Tsk.