THE ACTRESS

CHAPTER 14

Chapter 14

Lalo pang napahigpit ang kapit ko sa braso ni Jarred kaya nagtataka itong napatingin sa akin. Nginitian ko lamang ito saka gumiya patungo sa kinaroonan nina Mrs. Chan...at JP.

"Oh, I know now why.", JP whispered when he realized why I suddenly changed my mood. Nangaasar itong ngumiti sa akin at ako nama'y pilit ding ngumiti sa kanya.

"Just go with it okay? Babatiin ko lang si Mrs. Chan.", I whispered back as we approached closer to Mrs. Chan. Agad naman kaming nakita nito at nakangiting kumaway sa akin na siyang ikinakuha ng atensyon ng mga kasamahan niya.

I just smiled in return and in a couple of seconds ay naroon na kami. I exchanged besos to Mrs. Chan and to all the other ladies in that group, unfortunately including Lorraine. Nakipagkamay lamang naman ako sa mga lalaking naroon, including JP.

I tried to be calm even though my heart was palpitating at the moment. Parang hindi ako makahinga. JP was here. Kasama ang babae niya. And I can't help but get irritable with the thought of them being together.

"I'm glad you came Carisse.", Mrs. Chan smilingly said afterwards.

"I'm even gladder to be here Mrs. Chan.", I responded.

Pinakilala ko sa kanila si JP as my boyfriend at isa-isa namang ipinakilala ni Mrs. Chan ang mga kasama niya sa akin.

"Well, the reason why we wanted to feature her in the magazine was because it's very inspiring. Imagine, she came from an orphanage, studied through a scholarship and now working as one of the rising fashion designers in the country. She's really--"

Hindi ko na inintindi ang sunod na sinabi ni Mrs. Chan dahil ang buong atensyon ko ay nakatuon lamang kay JP at Lorraine. Leshe! Too much public display of affection. Kung makahapit sa beywang itong si JP, kulang na lang sumigaw ako ng 'Get a room!'. Ito namang babaeng ito, makapulupot kay JP, 'kala mo ahas!

"Baka masunog o. Ang init ng tingin mo e.", JP whispered teasingly. I smiled at him saka ito pinaghahampas nang marahan. Tatawa-tawa pa ako habang ginawa iyon.

"What are you doing?", kunot-noo niyang tanong sa akin.

"Just pretend na may nakakatawa kang sinabi. And act a little sweeter please.", nakuha naman namin ang atensyon ng lahat and I saw how crumpled JP's face was.

"You are such a lovely couple. Bagay na bagay kayo.", Michael Lima commented, one of the guests na kasama namin ngayon.

"Oo nga. You perfectly fit with each other. At one glance, aakalain kong bagong kasal kayo.", Ms. Reina Gamos added. Napangiti lamang ako sa mga 'compliments' nila pero nakakaasiwa pala. Hearing those comments give creeps to my spine. Not that JP is unlikeable, pero talagang hanggang kaibigan o kapatid lang talaga ang tingin ko sa kanya. And I don't want to consider an incest relationship if ever.

I faked a laugh and Jarred did too. In all fairness to his acting skills, pwedeng pwede na siyang pang-Oscars.

"I'm sorry. Ito kasing si JP, nagpapatawa.", I said while Jarred's arm was around my waist, pushing my body closer to his. My right hand was resting on his chest while my left was also around his waist.

"Yeah, you too look really sweet.", Lorraine commented. I just smirked at my thought still trying not to erase a fake smile on my face.

"Well, you two are even sweeter. Are you together?", another guest asked, pertaining to JP and Lorraine. I was tensed to hear that question, as if I was the one asked. Halos mabilaukan ako.

"No, no. JP and I are really just close friends. I think he's into someone else." Yeah right. You really are too close, literally. Why don't you try stay a little distant from each other?

"Oh, but you guys really look good together.", the guest teased again. Can this bald faggot shut his mouth and stop giving such ridiculous compliments? Yeah, Lorraine is beautiful. She's single, I assume. But she can never fit for JP. At sino naman? Ako? I immediately shook the thought away. Baliw talaga ako.

"We're really just friends. And besides, she's right. I'm into someone else.", JP finally talked. Buti naman, hindi niya gusto si Lorraine. But wait. He admitted he likes someone else. Sino naman kaya? Psh, why should I care anyway?

Maya-maya pa'y nagkakayaan na kaming kumain. Few seconds passed and we found ourselves near the buffet table.

I scanned the foods and I suddenly starved. Kanina pa pala ako kumain at medyo nagwawala na si Godzilla sa aking tiyan.

"Which one do you want?", I heard JP asked Lorraine. I arched a brow and smirked softly, making sure they won't hear my reaction.

"That one, please. Thanks.", Lorraine pointed an unfamiliar food. Ewan ko kung anong tawag du'n but I'm pretty sure it's some kind of a beef dish.

"Da, I think I like that too. Can you get me some, please?", I sweetly asked Jarred. Sinadya kong tawagin si Jah sa endearment namin ni JP noon.

Bull's eye! Alam kong mapapalingon siya kaya abot tenga ang ngiti ko.

"Sure Da.", natatawang sagot ni Jarred.

We left the table and looked for our seats. Tatawa-tawa si JP habang inilalapag ang pagkain sa lamesa.

"You should've seen his face, Cars. Parang nilamukot na papel.", Jah whispered. I grinned while imagining how affected he was. Natatawa akong hinila palapit sa akin ang plato.

"But as far as I can remember, ayaw na ayaw mo ng baka?", Jarred suddenly said and I put down the piece of meat that I was about to put inside my mouth. Anak ng baka! Oo nga pala, hindi ako kumakain ng baka. I just hate the after-taste. 'Yung tipong kahit nag-toothbrush ka na, nalalasahan mo pa rin?

"Thanks for warning me. O ikaw na umubos niyan. Mamaya na lang ako kakain."

Jarred laughed and I did too but I was stunned when I saw JP and Lorraine heading to our table.

"I think we're going to share our table with them, Da.", JP told laughingly.

Sht. Na naman? Anak ng baka talaga.