Bygone Memories of Yesterday (Affliction Series #2) ✔

Chapter 8

Almost immediately, my body responded when I heard the doorbell ringing. Handa na akong tumakbo at buksan ang pinto nang maunahan ako ni Mommy.

“Angelique, your classmates are here!” imporma sa ‘kin ni Mommy. Nilapitan ko siya at hinarap ang mga kaklase ko. My eyes met Neus’. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa paper bag na bitbit niya. He cleared his throat.

“Pinapabigay po ni Mommy,” aniya sabay abot ng paper bag sa mommy ko. Bigla akong nataranta sa ginawa niya.

I haven’t told Mommy yet!

I looked at Neus kaya agad siyang nagpaliwanag.

“My mom found out that I’m going to my classmate’s house at sabi niya, dapat magdala ako ng pagkain. So she prepared snacks for everyone.” Pasimple niya akong binalingan, his eyes telling me not to worry.

“Oh, how thoughtful! Thank you ... What’s your name, hijo?” magiliw na wika ni Mom.

“Neus po. Neus Hadrian Alfeo.”

“Your surname sounds familiar. Are you perhaps, related to Richard Alfeo? The owner of Alfeo Shipping Lines?” I was stunned to hear that from my mother.

Kilala niya ang daddy ni Neus? I have a bad feeling about this.

Neus nodded. “I’m his son,” he answered politely.

“Oh, wow!” Mom glanced at me while raising both her eyebrows. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

“Uhm, pasok kayo.” Nilakihan ko ang bukas ng pinto at isa-isang pinapasok ang mga kaklase. Huling pumasok si Neus na nagkibit-balikat sa akin.

I was thankful when Mom let all of us be and do our thing. Laking pasasalamat ko na rin na mayroon akong responsableng mga kagrupo. It didn’t take us long to start shooting and everything went smoothly.

Reviewing the next scene to be shot, narito kami sa dining table habang nagmemerienda.

“Hindi ba’t masyadong dramatic itong scene na ito?” Mica suddenly spoke. “I mean, puwede namang sa kama na lang ako umiyak. Crying on the floor may be uncomfortable.”

“Ang pinakapakay natin sa scene na ‘to ay ang drama. I think it’s just right to cry on the floor. That way, viewers can feel the emotions more,” katuwiran ni Neus.

Lahat ng mata ay tumuon sa ‘kin dahilan para mapatuwid ako ng upo.

“Well, Anj? What do you think?” Mica asked. I looked at her, glanced at Neus, and returned my gaze on her again.

“Uhm ... I think Neus has a point. Iyan din ang purpose kung bakit ganoon ang pagkakasulat namin ni Shania. We need to emphasize the pain and struggles your character is experiencing.”

Mica dropped the paper she was holding and raised her hands.

“Okay, wala na akong sinabi.”

Wala ng nagsalita. Ako naman ay inabot ang pitsel ng juice para sana magsalin ulit nang maunahan ako ni Neus.

“Let me,” he said.

Wala na akong nagawa kundi hayaan siya. Nakita ko sa gilid ng aking mata ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Mica at pasimpleng pagngiti ng iba naming mga kasama.

It took us a whole school week to make and finalize the script. We pointed out even the smallest details to make sure that everything will go smoothly as planned. Siyempre, ginamit rin namin ang mga araw na iyon para bigyan ng oras na makapaghanda ang mga aarte.

And in that one week, Neus had become extra caring, extra attentive, and extra sweet.

“Additional merienda!” Mom’s voice echoed in the whole dining room as she placed the muffins on the table. Nagliwanag ang mukha ng mga kaklase ko.