Taste of Hell

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"Good job, Nevaeh. Ang ganda. Natural na natural ang dating mo sa camera." The director commented.

May ginagawa kami ngayong commercial. I still have lots of pending works to do pagkatapos kong bumalik sa trabaho. Commercial muna ang tinanggap ng manager ko at hindi kumuha ng mabigat na trabaho para sa akin.

Nasabi ko na ang plano ko sa manager ko na mag-resign but she told me to still think about it and give it more time. I suddenly remembered Eve. Naalala ko na ito ang number 1 fan ko noong nagsisimula pa lang ako.

If she's still alive does she still want me to continue my career?

Eve...

The commercial is for a beauty product.  May isang artista na lalaki na kasama ko sa commercial. He's quite popular at madalas kong makitang laman ng balita at pinag-uusapan ng mga kababaihan these past few months.

"Hi."

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita.

"Hi."

"I was really looking forward for this. Ito ang unang beses na makakatrabaho kasi kita." He have this friendly look on his face.

Sa pagkakaalam ko noong nakaraang taon lang ito nagdebut sa pagiging isang artista pero agad na nakilala at sumikat.

"Ganoon ba."

"Sorry. Hindi pa pala ako nagpapakilala. I'm Anthony." At inilahad niya ang kamay sa harap ko.

"Nevaeh." Tinanggap ko iyon at tipid na ngumiti.

"S-Sige. Galingan natin dito. Sana magkaroon pa tayo ng projects in the near future ng magkasama." He smiled.

Napatango na lang ako bilang sagot at pinanuod ang rebulto niya na naglalakad papalayo.

Natapos ang commercial shoot at nagpack-up na ang lahat. Then again, Anthony came to talk to me.

"Thank you for working with me, Nevaeh." He said and bow his head.

"A-ah, ganoon din ako." I said, nodding my head.

He is too formal and surprisingly he was easy to work with in this commercial shoot. Hindi halata dito na noong isang taon lang ito nagdebut sa industriya he seems like he's a veteran in this field.

Napangiti na lang ako.

"Nevaeh, halika na aalis na tayo." My manager told me.

"Okay." Pagkatapos ay sumunod na ako sa kaniya.

Nasa parking lot na kami ng huminto kami at hindi tuluyang sumakay sa sasakyan.

"We left something. Teka, babalikan ko lang." Ani manager pagkatapos ay sumulyap siya sa akin."Get in the car first, Nevaeh and just wait for me."

"Sige." Sagot ko at sumakay na sa sasakyan. Wala ngayon si Nikov dahil kailangan siya sa ISPS after all he's the boss there. At dahil alam ko na iyon hindi ko na tuloy maiwasan mailang kapag binabantayan niya ako. Speaking of that, sinabi niya na may hahalili sa kaniya habang wala siya. I wonder where is my temporary bodyguard for today?

Sa paghihintay ko sa manager ko hindi ko napansin na nakaidlip pala ako sa loob ng sasakyan nagising lang ako ng may kumatok sa bintana. It's a guy wearing a black shirt and there's a badge on his left chest. He's from the ISPS.

He is staring intently at the side window or was it me? Ilang sandali pa ay bumalik na si Manager at umalis naman na ang lalaki.

"Sorry, medyo natagalan."

"Ayos lang." Bumaling ako sa manager ko na nasa driver seat at tinanguan pagkatapos ay muli kong nilingon ang lalaki, he's still standing there near the black car as if waiting for us to leave the building. Ilang saglit pa ay narinig ko na ang ugong ng sasakyan at ang mabagal at safe na pagdadadrive ng manager ko.

"Maaga tayong natapos sa commercial thanks to the chemistry of the two of you. I'm sorry I know you're dating Mr. Gustaf but we can't deny the chemistry of you and Anthony have. Hindi pa nga pinapalabas ang commercial niyo ay agad na nag-ingay na iyon sa social media." She took a quick glanced at me."That boy...mukhang mabait at humble. Kaya hindi nakakapagtaka na sumikat agad. He actually blends with people well. And I feel like he's interested in you, Nevaeh." May kung anong tono ang manager ko ang nahimigan ko pero ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lang iyon.

Ibinaling ko sa bintana ang atensyon ko at tsaka sumagot." I don't know. Let's just not put malice on it. Maybe he's just too nice and kind." I said.

"Siguro nga..."then she chuckled.

"You have to start your tour next week...na-on hold ang tour mo dahil sa..."she stops and then fake a cough." But if you're still not up for the tour I'll tell the bos---"

"It's fine. Let's do it on next week." I nodded." After all I can continue being like this, right? Hindi naman ako habang buhay na bibigyan ng special treatment ng agency. I also feel bad about the whole crew and those people who works extra because I have to take a break from my career."

"Should I reserve you one VIP ticket for..."natigilan siya. Pati ako ay natigilan din. It was when I remembered that Eve usually sit in the VIP and she always ask for the ticket that everyone get used to that.

"Can I get two VIP tickets, manager?" I asked.

"S-Sure." Sunod-sunod itong napatango bago ngumiti.

Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko sa bag ng marinig kong tumunog iyon.

From: Nikka

Hi, ate Nevaeh! Uwian na po namin. Tapos na po ba ang commercial shoot niyo today? Can we go home together?

"Saan kita ihahatid? Didiretso ka ba sa bahay ni Mr. Gustaf?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin ng magtanong ang manager ko.

"Ah, can you drove me off to Nikka's school?"

"Okay." She nodded.

A minutes later we finally arrived outside the school of Nikka. Agad kong natanaw si Nikka sa gilid ng gate.

"Thank you." I said to my manager and is about to go out when she speak.

"Would it be okay for you to just leave you here? Wala si Mr. Gustaf dito ah? Paano ka uuwi?" She asked worriedly.

"I think we'll be fine. Baka mamaya-maya lang ay darating na ang sundo ni Nikka, doon na kami sasabay." I answered.

Parang doon lang siya napanatag at hindi na nagsalita pa kaya bumaba na ako.

Mabilis akong nakaagaw ng atensyon kaya napalingon agad sa gawi ko si Nikka, nang makita ako ay agad siyang tumakbo palapit sa akin.

"Ate Nevaeh!" Nakangiting salubong niya sa akin.

"Hey, Nikka." I smiled at her.