Chapter 04
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I was left stunned while looking at them from afar. I am hiding myself using the wall as a cover, I wiped the tears that were streaming down to my rosy cheeks as I look at them full of sadness in my eyes. Their smiles reached their eyes as they happily held each others hands while they were looking at the sunset.
"You look the happiest when you're with her, Ron." I bitterly smiled as I stared at them more. I can't help but to envy Nera, she got all the things she wanted... I wanted, she have it all pati siya nakuha niya.
Itinaas ko ang kamay ko na parang iniabot siya.. but I can't lie to myself, I know that I can never reach him, kahit ano pang gawin ko ay hinding hindi ko siya maabot, dahil meron ng nakakuha sa atensyon at pagmamahal niya. I look down and started at my heels after that I look up, determined to interrupt their moment, I know I was acting like a bitch but for once I want to be selfish. I was about to walk towards them when suddenly I heard a wood cracking from behind.
I almost screamed but a pair of hands covered my mouth, preventing me from making a noise. I was leaning over him while standing, nakatago muli sa pader ng gazebo na ito.
"L-Let them be, Pisrie" Gumaralgal ang boses nito habang sinabi ang mga salitang 'yon sa tenga ko. Hindi ko na kinakailangan pang lumingon para makilala siya dahil sa boses pa lang alam kong si Shun ito.
I let my tears fall habang nakatakip ang kanyang kamay sa aking bibig. Then I realized, pareho lang kami, we both love someone that can never return our feelings, we both fall in love with the right person at the wrong time.
"Let's wrap it up for now!" Anunsyon ni Direct palmor gamit ang megaphone.
Inalis niya ang kamay na nakatakip sa aking bunganga ko. I wipe the tears from my eyes then I look back, I saw him walking towards his manager.
"Xochi, you did well!" Narinig kong puri sa akin ni Direct palmor, ibinaling ko sa kanya ang aking atensyon at ginawaran siya ng ngiti, binigyan pa ako ng thumbs up ni Direct palmor.
"Thank you po." Pagpapasalamat ko at yumuko.
Ngumiti lamang ito at naglakad na patungo kila Shirley at Iohan. I walked towards my table kung saan nakalagay mga gamit ko. Nakaupo si ate kisha ng makabalik ako, she was typing something in her laptop kaya hindi ko na siya ginulo at umupo na sa upuan.
It's been three days since that contract thing happened, ngayon ang pangalawang araw na pagfi-film namin ng Red Roses. Umaga pa and it's our break time now. Malapit na rin matapos ang pagfi-film ko sa Red Roses since I'm just a supporting role. Umupo ako at nagpahinga na muna dahil sa parte ng movie na fini-film namin ngayon ay medyo marami ang aking scenes.
We filmed the scene on a park, madaming tao sa park na ito hindi lang dahil nandito ang mga sikat na aktor kundi na rin sa isa itong sikat na parke. Makikita ang pagsikat at paglubog ng araw, kahit na ang buwan, you can also see the city lights since this park is build in a high place.
Yesterday was chaotic, unang araw ng pagbalik ko sa set ay dinagsa kami ng mga reporters, paparazzis and fans sa pasay, lugar kung saan kami nag-film ng mga scenes ng Red Roses, t's a famous place and it has a breathtaking view. Others were waiting just to have a glimpse of their favourite actress or actor but some where there to interview me about the photos that were circulating in the internet.
Nabalik ako sa reyalidad ng makaramdam ng kalabit sa aking balikat. I look back and saw ate kisha, lumapit niya ang kanyang mukha sa aking tenga at may binulong sa akin.
She whispered. "Your sister wants to talk to you."
My face changed nagsalubong kilay ko at inilibot ang aking paningin sa filming set. I saw her standing near the entrance of where she changed her clothes, tiningnan niya ako gamit ang blanko niyang mata at mukha she signaled me using her eyes na sumunod sa akin at tumalikod rin naman agad matapos nito akong tingnan.
I mouthed thank you kay ate kisha at naglakad na rin patungo sa changing room niya. I was wondering why she called me for nevertheless I have an idea and I'm sure it's a family thing.
"What?" Bungad kong tanong at tinaasan agad siya ng kilay ng nakapasok sa changing room niya. I cautiously closed the door and after that I crossed my arms while looking seriously at her. She was seating on her sofa while her legs was crossed and both of her hands was resting on the side of the sofa.
"Gusto ni Dad na umuwi ka sa atin." Walang paligoy-ligoy nitong sagot sa tanong ko, she leaned over the rest of the chair.
"And why is that?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya, I guess malala problema na kinakailangan pa akong pauwiin ni Dad sa amin.
Katahimikan ang nanaig sa pagitan namin and awkwardness filled the atmosphere between us. I don't get it, why would dad wants me to go home?
"I think... I...." she trailed off and was hesitant at first, "dad wants your approval and your presence in his upcoming wedding day." She finally said after hesitating.
Lumaki mata ko, my heart skipped a beat and my hands turned into fist. I was about to to talk when she interrupted.
"Our family dinner will be held two or three weeks from now, it's up to you if you'll go but take this in mind that dad will bother you if you don't come." Saad nito at tumingin sa akin. I can't explain it, her eyes is now filled with emotions I can't fathom.
Parang wala rin naman akong magagawa, she wants me to decide if I want to come pero parang wala rin naman akong magahawa kundi ang pumunta dahil nga dad will contact me or even meet me in person.
Umalis ako ng walang sinsabi tungkol sa family dinner na sinabi nila. I left her room with misty eyes, I walked towards the restroom, pumasok ako sa loob nito, I look around to see if there was someone inside the restroom I also checked the cubicles kahit na malabo na ang paningin ko, nang makasiguradong walang tao sa paligid ay sumandal ako sa pader ng restroom malapit sa salamin at inilabas ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan, inilabas ko lahat ng luhang mailalabas ko.
Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganoon siya kadali magpakasal sa ibang babae. Pinunasan ko ang aking mata at tiningan ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin. I placed both of my hands on the sink and stared at my reflection... I took a deep breath before washing both my hands and face, hinayaan ko 'tong matuyo bago lumabas ng restroom.
"Are you okay?" Tanong ni ate kisha ng makabalik sa kinauupuan ko kanina. I nodded as if and smiled as if I didn't cried earlier.
"Bakit namumula mata mo? Nag-away ba kayo?" She asked at kinuha ang panyo na nakalagay sa bag namin, "inaway ka ba ng ate mo?" Tanong niya ngunit hindi ko siya sinagot bagkos ay ngumiti ako na umabot sa mata ko ay hinawakan ang pareho niyang kamay.
"I'm fine, remembered that I cried when we were filming the scene earlier." I gave her an assuring smile, she frowned but didn't dared to ask again.
She raised her hands then she pinched my cheeks. "Ikaw talaga, Xochi."
Parang pinanggigigilan niya pisngi ko sa paraan ng pagkakakurot niya nito. Sakto lang naman ang pagkatambok ng pisngi ko,
She sighed at pinaupo ako. I should not act fragile infront of other people, it might be used against me at saka nasa public place kami, maraming tao rito sa parke ayoko namang mag viral ako dahil sa nakita akong biglang umiyak.
We rested for a bit since hapon na at wala naman na akong ibang scenes na panggabi kaya nagpaalam na kami kay Direct Palmor na mauuna na kami. Hindi na rin ako nagpalit ng damit dahil hindi naman na kinakailangan.
"Direct, mauna na po kami." Magalamg na paalam ko, tumamgo naman ito at simabihan kaming magingat pauwi.
Bago tuluyang makaalis ay nahagip ko sa aking paningin ang nakatingin na si Scarlett sa akin gamit ang seryoso nitong mukha. Her makeup artist and hair stylistv is retouching her makeup and her hair since she is one of the main characters ay marami itong scene kompara sa akin na supporting role lang. She was eyeing me, my eyebrows meet as I return my gaze back to the pathway but before I could totally leave the park, I saw from my peripheral vision the breathtaking view.
I look at the view, I didn't get to mesmerize the sunset earlier dahil nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa finifilm namin. My lips parted and my eyes slightly widen in awe napakaganda ng paglubog ng araw. Color pink and orange scattered everywhere in the sky and in the clouds creating a great masterpiece.
"Ang ganda." Nakangiti kong saad habang nakatutok pa rin ang paningin sa paglubog ng araw.
"I agree." A baritone voice agreed that made my eyes widen.
Nagugulat kong tiningnan ang katabi ko and to my surprise it was Trevor. He was also looking at the sunset. Nakapasok ang magkabila niyang kamay sa jeans nito, he was also still wearing the same clothes we were wearing earlier.
"I think I haven't introduced myself properly, I'm Trevor Beckett." He extended his hands, I smiled at him at nakipagkamayan.
"I'm Xochiquetzal Valmorida." Pakilala ko, he's a senior in this entertainment industry.
"Xochi- what? Sorry I didn't get it." Nahihiyang pagamin niya at napakamot pa siya sa balikat niya.
I chuckled. "I get that a lot. You can just call me, Xochi.
He smiled. "Okay, Xochi then."
Binitawan ko ang aking kamay na ginawa niya rin. I played with my fingers hindi ko alam kung ano sasabihin namin and he should be with Scar to film the next scene together.
"Would-" He was cut off when ate kisha interrupted.
"Xochi, tara na napasok ko yung mga gamit mo sa kotse and I have an emergency meeting." Nagmamadaling paliwanag ni ate kisha habang tiningnan ang relo niya sa pulsuhan.
"O-Okay." Natatarantan kong sagot at tumingin kay Trevor, "mauna na ako, goodbye." Iyon lang ang tangi kong nasabi dahil sa biglaang paghila sa akin ni ate kisha palayo.
"Where are we heading to?" Tanong ko ng makasakay sa kotse, I fasten my seat belt and look at her. Nasa driver's seat siya while I was at the passenger's seat.
"Company, biglang nagpatawag ng meeting ang CEO." She explained while her eyes was focused on the road.
"It's an hour ride to get there-" hindi ko natuloy sasabihin ko ng magsalita si ate.
"We still have time, seven naman magsisimula ang meeting and it's still five thirty pm." She explained, tumango ako lahit hindi nakatingin sa akin si ate kisha.
Buong byahe at tahimik lang kami, swerte at hindi gaano traffic kundi ay baka malate si ate sa meeting o hindi kaya ay hindi na makapunta pa.
We arrived at the company around six pm, ate kisha parked the car inside the parking lot. We got off at nang makalabas ay agad siyang tumakbo papasok ng company kaya naiwan ako sa parking lot ng mag-isa. I started walking towards the door, hindi ko na tanaw si ate kisha kaya na pagdesisyona ko na lamang na tumambay na muna sa kwarto ko sa company.
When suddenly I felt a vibrating sound and a movement from my bag. I stopped walking and took my phone from my bag 'yon lang naman ang magva-vibrate. I frowned when I saw the caller's name.
Ayoko mang sagutin ay wala akong choice kundi ang sagutin ito.
"Hello." Sagot ko sa tawag.
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kryaith