Not Now But Forever

Chapter 25

I guiltily bit my lower lip. I know that the commotion will cause hot issues, especially because a film is soon to be out.

"We need to cover this up." Amanda said after a long stretched of silence.

Nakita ko ang mariing pagtutol ni Dale. The looks on his face says a loud 'no.' But, I can't bare to see him lose his career. I know he worked hard for this.

Bumukas ang pinto hudyat sa pagpasok ng, hula ko ay manager ni Dale.

They greeted a stiff woman. Siguro ay nasa 50s na siya. She looks sophisticated.

"I heard about what happened. Sorry for being late." She formally said and sat beside Dale.

Inilibot nito ang tingin niya hanggang sa tumigil sa akin. Her eyes lingered on me for awhile before speaking.

"I want Dale to fix this on his own." She said to everyone.

Nakita ko ang bahagyang pagkagulat sa mga mata ni Dale. I don't know what happened to him. Well, noon pa man ay hindi ko na talaga alam kung ano ang mga ganap sa kanya.

The five years we spent with our separate lives just added the fact that I don't know anything about Dale.

"For now, I will be sending a statement to the press that Dale will answer further questions once he's ready. This won't do something bad for the film, I guess, this will make the people curious, thus, when that happens, more likely are going to see the film." She casually said and shrugged her shoulders.

She looked at Dale then smiled. Nakita ko na may kung anong ibinulong ito kay Dale. He nodded.

She left the conference room. Other staffs of the film massaged their foreheads.

"This is just a natural scenario," He trailed off and looked at me, "It's okay, Miss Montes. Ganito talaga sa mundong ginagalawan namin."

Para akong masunuring bata na tumango sa sinabi niya. Nang nagsialisan na sila, nakita kong nagpaiwan si Dale.

"Una na kami." Joy whispered. She pulled Rose out of the room.

Sir Arnel is about to call me when Joy also pulled him out. Malaki ang conference room, but the thought of me and Dale left here makes the place too small.

Napabaling ako ng marinig ang pag buntong-hininga ni Dale. He looked at me while suppressing his tears.

"I'm sorry." Wala sa sarili niyang saad. I nodded at him. I chose not to say anything.

"Before having my statement, I want to tell you everything, Charm. Every fear of mine." Naramdaman ko ang sincerity sa boses niya. I stopped myself from crying as I nodded.

Hindi ko alam kung anong binabalak ni Dale. He asked me file a leave for three days.

Unsure if Sir Arnel would allow me but he accepted the leave I filed. Dale told me to packed few things, enough for three days.

"Handa ka na ba?" Naramdaman ko ang pag-upo ni Rose sa tabi ko.

I sighed and stopped packing my clothes for awhile. I looked at her and smiled a little.

Masyadong mabigat ang nararamdaman ko. I don't know what I am going to embrace but I realized that there are things I should just gladly accept. First because they are done, they already happened. Second, because I can't do anything about it anymore.

"Hindi pa pero ang tagal na nga five years, diba? Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ang hirap para sa akin na kalimutan si Dale. Maybe because he's my first boyfriend. Maybe because he's the first guy who made me feel special kahit na...kung tutuusin bilang lang naman sa daliri yung mga araw na yun." I bitterly laugh.

Kapag iniisip ko yung konting mga araw na pinaramdam sa akin ni Dale kung gaano ako kaganda, gaano ako kamahal-mahal, pakiramdam ko it lasted for how many years. Pakiramdam ko ang dami na naming memories together.

Then I realized, it's not about how long the days are, it's not about the sweet gestures, it's about the feeling of satisfaction a particular person gave you.

"Alam mo naman na nandito lang kami diba?" She slowly asked me.

I nodded at her and smiled, "Sorry ha. Masyadong madrama buhay ko. Outdated na tuloy ako sa ganap sa inyo." I bitterly said and smiled.

"Gaga, okay lang. But do you remember the time when you said that Dale likes me?" Napatingin ako sa kanya saka tumango.

"He actually said that he didn't like me. It's just his thoughts or something. He told me that he likes you but...you're into Liam and...you know...you played with his feelings. Narealize ko na baka may trust issue yung tao." She said while looking at me in the eye.

"Charm, diba his mom told you to understand him?" Napatango ako ng maalala ang sinabi ng Mommy niya sa akin bago ko narinig ang away nina Dale at Liam.

"I think you need to understand him, more, again." She tapped my shoulders.

"Have you heard anything about Liam?" I asked her. Nung graduation kasi ay wala si Liam. He graduated laude.

"Wala eh. But, I think Jerard know something about him." She shrugged her shoulders and leave me to packed my things.

Kaunti lang ang dinala kong mga damit. Dale didn't tell me anything about his plans but I've decided to keep a mum about it.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising. Mamayang gabi ang alis namin. May trabaho pa ako kaya hindi dapat ako magpaapekto na lang sa mga nangyayare.

Medias flocked our office. Mabuti na lang at winarningan kami ni Joy na sa back door dumaan.

Hingal na hingal tuloy kami ni Rose dahil hagdan lang ang mayroon doon. Nakakapagod kayang umakyat papunta sa seventh floor!

"Uhaw na uhaw naman ang mga taga media sa chika!" Inis na bulalas ni Joy.

"Wala pa bang inilabas na press statement ang manager ni Dale?" I heard Rose asked.

Mabuti na lang at hindi nakikitsismis ang iba naming mga katrabaho. They respect privacy.

"Kanina lang, meron na! Kaya nga atat makarinig galing sayo, eh!" Joy said while looking at me. "Naku, kaya ako talaga eh hindi papatol sa mga artistang yan!" She added.

"Syempre, batang models pinapatulan mo eh." Rose butt in.

"Yucky ka, Rose ha!" Joy defensively said.

Sus, tantya ko ay next month kakainin mo lahat ng sinabi mo, Joy.