Beguiled Supremacy

PROLOGUE

"DOWN TO two more shots then we're done!" Rinig kong sigaw ng director na nasa gilid ng photographer.

I am at the photoshoot and tomorrow ay may shoot pa ako ng pelikula ko. I posed in front of the camera immediately so we can pack up early. I am tired kahit na palagi kong ginagawa ito ay hindi pa rin ako sanay sa pagod kapag sunod sunod na shooting ang gingawa ko katulad na lang ngayon.

Nang matapos sa shoot ko kanina ay nagpunta agad ako sa studio para sa photoshoot na siyang ginagawa ko ngayon. Nang makalabas ng building ay madmaing nakakapansin na tao sakin kaya kahit pagod ay ngumiti pa rin ako.

For years that I've been an actress, I always act in front of people even behind the camera. I have to be a good role model in front of people who admire me. I have to act like I am the most mahinhin person and the most mabait person in showbiz. I always get the bida role and it's always a kind and paapi person. Iyon palagi ang ibinibigay na project sakin and I have no choice but to take it because that's what they offer to me, they didn't bother to offer me a kontrabida role or any matured roles. I am in favor of it.

Napasandal na lang ako sa sandalan ng car seat ko at tumingin sa labas ng bintana. Acting is my second nature. When I am doing my work I act, when I am doing my personal activities I act, and when I am with my closest friends I act. Everything I do is an act that people never really notice. Not even once.

I will accordingly do what they wanted to see but I never show the real me to other people. I never tried to show because I know that when I disclose my real identity to people, they will judge me. That's what people are good at. They judge someone who they wanted to judge without knowing that 'that' person has something else to explain.

"Ive, stay at your home. There are many reporters and paparazzi that are tailing you because of the near ending of your teleserye." Napatingin naman ako sa manager ko.

"I'm tired. So why would I go out?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

Nagkibit balikat naman ito. "The last time that you go out, you almost got caught by the paparazzi and reporters." She said.

"Ree, I won't do that again. Masyado na akong pagod para lumabas pa." Nakangusong sabi ko rito. She is Reegan my manager but I call her Ree.

Nakangusong nagkalikot ito sa iPad niya. "If that's what you wanted to say, Ms. Ivelisse Lopez."

Natawa naman ako at sumandal na lang saka ipinagpahinga ang mga mata. Every time that I go home I always felt tired not because of my work but because of acting in front of everyone and not being true to myself.

"Ive, bukas ay magha- hire ako ng mga bagong bodyguards because your other bodyguards are old and cannot protect you that well." Napamulat ako at napatingin sa kanya.

Tumango tango ako. "Sasama ako bukas. Wala naman siguro akong gagawin sa oras na magha hire ka diba?" Tanong ko rito.

"Hmm. Wala kang schedule tat time pero mas maganda siguro kung magpahing ka na lang sa free time mo. Minsan ka lang magkaroon ng ganito kaluwag na schedule diba? Sulitin mo na." Payo sakin nito.

"Hmm. I want to rest but I want to see who's going to be my bodyguard." I told her.

"Just, don't do anything stupid tomorrow." Natawa naman ako. This is what I like with my manager because she doesn't treat me like a celebrity instead she's only treating me like a normal person who works hard for their job every day.

Nang makarating kami sa building ng condominium ko, I wear my mask and my cap, my manager did the same because we are both known in public. We got out of the van and went to the elevator.

Hinatid lang ako ng manager ko at isang bodyguard ko sa unit ko pagkatapos nun ay umalis na sila.

It's already 6 in the evening and I am not surprised when my tummy growled because of hungriness. I bathed first before I started to cook. Inaamin ko hindi ako magaling magluto but at least I always try. Nakakapagprito ako ng maayos yung edible pa pero pag may sabaw or saucy tsambahan lang dahil minsan nasosobrahan sa alat or tamis.

"Hmm. What should I cook?" I whispered to myself while looking at my fridge.

"Ah! Eto na lang!" Sabi ko saka kinuha ang tocino at itlog. Hindi ko alam kung magiging edible ang pagluluto ko ng tocino kase baka masunod ko lang to eh.

Hindi naman kasi ako pwedeng magpa deliver kasi wala naman akong kasama na pwedeng kumuha ng order ko. Hindi pwedeng ako ang magpapakita sa tao kasi malalaman nilang dito ako nakatira and I don't want them to know my privacy.

I cooked the tocino and egg and when I am done with that I cook fried rice. Parang almusal lang ang dinner ko ah but I have no choice but to eat these foods.

After ko kumain ay kinuha ko ang spare laptop ko and I opened my emails kasi baka may importante eh. Napangisi naman ako nang makita ang hinihintay hintay kong mail and that's exactly where I don't have any schedules! Yey!

I slept after I read the emails and the next morning ay hindi na ako nag breakfast dahil Ree texted me na nasa baba na sila sa parking lot. Naligo at nagbihis na lang ako ng usual na outfit ko kapag pupunta ako sa shooting like sweatpants and crop top oversized long sleeves and I pair it with black heels.

I didn't bother to put any make-up kasi lalagyan naman ako nun pagdating sa set. I just put on a lip balm and I am ready to go na.

Pagdating namin sa set ay inayusan lang ako at nginitian ko lahat at binati ang mga nasa set. At nang matapos ayusan ang lahat ng artist ay hindi na nagpatumpik tumpik ang director at nagsimula kaagad dahil mukhang uulan pa ngayon kaya kailangan naming magmadali.

We only have one scene to take then tapos na kaso yun scene na yun medyo mahirap at medyo mahaba din kaya medyo natagalan kami at inabot ng hapon. At dahil sanay naman na ako ay nakipagsabayan pa akong makipag kulitan sa director habang ang PA at manager ko ay inaayos ang gamit at nireready ang sasakyan.

"Sayang kayo ni Collins. Hindi ka ba talaga niya pinopormahan? Anlakas pa naman ng chemistry niyo." Sabi ni Director

"No po. Tsaka kakatapos ko lang po sa isa kong karelasyon last 3 months and it's not good naman po na makipagrelasyon agad ako. And I want to focus din sa career ko. You know?" Kibit balikat na sabi ko rito.

"Well, that's a good mindset but what if manligaw siya diba or magpakita ng motibo sayo?" Usisa pa nito. Gusto ng kumunot ng noo ko pero hindi ko magawa kasi kailangan ko pa rin maging approachable sa harap niya.

"I'm not up for a relationship right now, Sir Jonas." I don't know kung paanong napunta sa ganito ang usapan namin.

"But hija, we're in show business and without a partner, it can bring you down. Malalaos ka kapag wala kang kalove team tsaka i-"

"Ive! Tara na!" Rinig kong tawag ni Ree.

"Susunod na!" Sigaw ko pabalik.

Binalingan ko ang direktor at malamig na tinignan at mukhang nagulat pa ito sa tinging ibinigay sakin.

"Sir Jonas, I don't depend on someone for my career. This fame that all I have is because I work hard for it, not because of someone that I am partnered with. I may be young and just 3 years in this business but I know how to handle things on my own and I don't need someone to make me higher than my place now. So if you'll excuse me." Sabi ko saka tinalikuran siya.

Ngunit nang may maalala ako ay hinarap ko ulit siya.

"And Oh! I remember something about a director who is not really a good director but he just used all his money to pay someone to direct his movies. I think that director is someone I knew and his movie will be launched this June. I don't know pero baka nagkamali lang ako. Anyway, goodbye, Sir Jonas! Good work!" And I gave him a fighting sign. I winked at his horror face bago tumalikod para magpunta sa van.

I gave myself a tap on my back mentally because I am so proud of myself now.

-End of Chapter-