Montergo Series I: Dancing With Fire

Chapter 19

"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?"