Not Now But Forever

Chapter 22

I didn't expect that meetings would mean everyday! Napaaga tuloy ako sa opisina dahil buong umaga raw ang script reading.

Pumunta muna ako sa pantry para kumuha ng kape. For God's sake, quarter to seven pa lang!

Halos maibuga ko ang kapeng iniinom ko ng makita si Dale kasama ang assistant nito na naglalakad sa opisina namin.

Ganito ba talaga ang buhay ng mga artista?

"Good morning daw sabi ni Dale." Joy teased me while sipping on her coffee.

"Tigil-tigilan mo nga ako." Singhal ko dito.

"Dapat, 'tigil-tigilan mo na nga ako, Dale' ganon!" She said in a low voice. Buti na lang at may hiya pa ito. Naku!

"Hindi naman ako inaano nung tao. Wag ka nga!" I said defensively.

Dami kasing alam ng mga kaibigan ko rin eh! Nakakapikon din kaya na ako yung lagi nilang pinagtitripan.

I waited until 7:15 bago nagdesisyong pumasok na sa conference room. Siguro naman ay marami nang nandoon. May naka-assign din kasi na  trabaho kina Joy at Rose kaya hindi muna nila ako masasamahan.

Halos pihitin ko ulit ang pinto palabas ng makita na si Dale lang ang naroon. I can't back down! Lalo na dahil nakita ni Dale ang pagpasok ko. Hindi pala affected ha? Gaga ka talaga, Charm!

"Charmylle." Halos matumba ako sa kinakatayuan ko ng marinig ko ang pagtawag niya sa akin.

I composed myself and walked straight near to my chair.

"Good morning, Sir." I formally greeted him and fixed the scripts I printed yesterday.

"Ang formal naman," He let out an awkward laugh.

"We are at work. We should be professional." I casually told him kahit na sa loob ko ay halos magwala na ang puso ko.

"Oh right. Then, can we meet outside? And you know...catch up -" Now, it's my turn to laugh.

"Pinagloloko mo ba ako? Ay wait, niloko mo na nga pala ako." I scoffed.

God! Bakit ba ang tagal nilang dumating? Akala ko ba 7:30 ay start na?

"Look, that was five years ago-" The audacity of this guy!

"Five year ago, yes -" He cut me off.

"And I fucking regret it." He said in a low but serious voice.

Naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko. It felt like a part of me hopes again, a part of me is waiting to be complete again.

Mabuti na lang at nagsidatingan na sila. Nagulat pa sila ng makita kami ni Dale na seryoso. I greeted them and smiled.

"You're too early, Dale." I heard Amanda, his leading lady said.

"I'm always early, Amanda."  He replied.

Iniwas ko na lang ang tingin ko sa kanila. Dahil late silang dumating, agad na nagsimula ang script reading.

Halos sumakit ang ulo ko ng marinig ang walang emosyong sambit ni Amanda. Seriously? How did she won such best actress awards? Ang plain niya!

"I think we need to take a break." I interrupted Amanda in the middle of her delivery.

Napatingin sa akin ang mga tao sa conference room. I shyly smiled at them and take a deep breath.

"Sorry. It's just that, Miss Amanda wasn't able to deliver her lines...well." I honestly told them.

I saw some who nodded with my statement. Amanda, on the other side, looks mad. What? Sinabi ko lang naman ang totoo!

"Really, Miss Montes? Then why won't you do it? Let me see how I should deliver the line." Panghahamon nito sa akin.

I rolled my eyes and grab my script. God! Ito ang highlight nung story tapos sisirain niya lang!

I coughed a little then started reading the lines, the way it should be said.

"Akala mo ba madali lang sa akin 'to? Ano! You think time really heals all wounds? Eh gago ka pala eh! Niloko mo ako!" I frustratedly said.

I smirked at Amanda who seems surprise by my sudden acting. Kala mo ha!

Agad din nawala ang ngisi ko ng basahin ni Dale ang linya niya.

"Ilang beses ko ba dapat sabihin sayo na hindi ko yun sinasadya? Hindi ko 'yun gusto." He said while intently staring at me.

I gulped. The people around us seems to love the intense scene.

"Hindi sinasadya? Ah sorry, nagcheat ako, hindi ko naman sinasadya, bati na tayo. Ganon ba yun?" Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng mga mata ko.

I felt like I said something wrong. Something that's no longer included in the script.

"I fucking regret it everyday, Charm. And I fucking love you more each day." He whispered that made the people inside the room silent.

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa narinig ko galing sa kanya. Agad akong tumayo sa kinauupuan ko.

"I think Mr. Pangilinan is being swayed by my acting. Let's take a break. Excuse me." I stormed out of the room while wiping my tears.

Nagulat ako ng maramdaman ang pamilyar na kamay sa siko ko. It sent shivers down my spine.

"Charm," He said with hope evident in his eyes.

Napansin ko na nakuha namin ang attention ng mga katrabaho ko. Dale is a famous actor! What is he even doing?

"Wala na naman tayong dapat pag-usapan pa." I said while gritting my teeth and removing his hands away from me.

"We need to talk -" He said with frustration.

Oh, frustrated ka Dale? Bakit?

"Talk about what?" I faced him and lowered down my voice.

I tried to smile at him so that these people would try to see that we are having our usual convo when in fact, gustong-gusto ko na tong sapakin!

"Talk about us." He sincerely told me.

I gritted my teeth, "Tapos na tayo, Dale. Five years ago." I mocked him and went on my cubicle.