"Ay!" bumalik ako sa aking sarili ng gulat na napasigaw ng staff sa harap ko. When I look at her, my eyes widened dahil na buhos na pala ang laman ng bottle water na dala ko at tumalsik ang tubig nito sa kanya.
I was so busy looking at the screen of her tablet that I forgot to check out the water bottle slipping out of my hands already. "Oh my gosh! I'm really sore—--," hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng biglang sumulpot si Prime, kinuha sa akin ang tablet at ang bottled water na walang laman.
"Better change your clothes now, Loren," he said, tumayo agad ang staff na tinawag niya sa pangalan na si Loren at mabilis umalis, dala-dala ang kanyang tablet.
I was looking at her tablet until she enters the tent nears us, "You shouldn't be spacing out in front of out people, Bunny," hinawakan ni Prime ang aking kamay at ako ay inalalayan papasok sa tent namin.
Wala ako sa aking sarili hanggang sa makaupo ako sa folding chair dito sa loob ng tent, dahil ang tanging tumatakbo sa aking isipan ay si Vlad at Charm.
Did he really invite her, because I wasn't there? Bakit sa lahat ng babae, si Charm pa?
"Bunny, you dress' brim is soaking wet you should change now before you'd catch colds." mabagal at sobrang makirot ang bawat pagpintig ng puso ko, hindi nawala sa aking isipan ang imahe ni Vlad at Charm na magkahalikan.
No, Vlad won't do that to me. He will never do it with Charm. Pinipilit kong magbulagbulagan sa puntong ito pero, kahit anong pilit kong pagtakpan ang aking nakita, sinasampal na ako ng katotohanan na magkasama sila ngayon.
"Bunny, are you listening," a snap of reality brought me back when Prime called my name and touched my hand. Agad ko itong iniwas sa kanya, pati na 'rin ang aking tingin.
He realized my reaction, that's why he awkwardly rubbed his nape and sat properly in front of me. "Nabasa yung dress mo, kailangan mong magpalit bago ka siponin at magkasakit," he said, stood up.
"I'll go outside," nahihiya niyang sambit, pero bago pa siya makapalabas ng tent ay tinawag ko ang kanyang pangalan. "Prime," mabilis siyang humarap sa akin at puno ng kumpyansa ang kanyang mukha.
"Yes?" he asked.
"T-totoo b-bang m-may sakit si Charm? That's why she's not here?" seryoso at nauutal-utal kong tanong sa kanya. Nakita ko kaagad ang biglang pagbabago ng expression sa kanyang mukha. Napalitan ito ang guilt at lungkot.
"The truth is, she's not really sic—---," I cut him off and said, "You know she's going there?" I ask again. Without hesitation and intention to lie Prime nodded and just proved that my guts were right.
I purse my lips and control my emotion, I can't cry now, I'm tired of crying now. Tumango ako bago siya muling hinarap at unti-unting ngumiti. "Thank you for telling the truth, I'm sorry for avoiding you," I said.
Prime urges that charming smile and said, "I understand you, no need to say sorry," he said.
I smile and, "I better go get change," I said. "Yeah sure, the shoot will start for about 5 minutes now, I'll see you outside." tugon niya, ikinaway ang kanyang kamay at tuluyang lumabas.
"Dolce, can I have another dress," Mahina kong sambit, agad akong dinaluhan ni Dolce at inabutan ang panibagong dress na gaya ng suot ko dahil ito ang kailangan sa scene mamaya.
I head straight into the changing room, pagkasara ko ng kurtina mabilis akong napahawak sa aking dibdib, dahil patuloy ang pagsikip at pagkirot nito.
