Revanche

Chapter 5: Kontrobersya

Chapter 5: Kontrobersya

Riadne Laurel 

She was everything I expected her to be: immature, stupid, and outright insecure. Nakakatuwa. She didn't even think twice before baring her fangs. She just went straight ahead to the war without gearing up or making a strategic plan. Real pathetic. 

But hey, I'm not complaining. She's making my plans a piece of cake, see. In fact, mukhang wala na akong dapat gawin pa. I'll just plant the seeds and wait for her to reap them out herself; watch her destroy her career herself. How damn amusing. 

Well, hindi ko sya masisisi. Kahit sino mang nagrereyna-reynahan ang maagawan ay hindi din naman magdadalawang-isip na lumaban. 'Yun nga lang, ang malas nya at isang Riadne Laurel ang nakabangga nya. 

I've only been here for days and look at where I am. Such a spectacle. Ako ang laman ng bawat news at magazines. And not only that, puno din ang schedule ko for this month, and the next months to follow. Bukod kasi sa shooting for the film, mayroon din akong TV guestings, interviews, photoshoots, and invitations to host and judge a few competitions. To say that I've successfully conquered her industry, her territory, is an understatement; I fckin' owned it. 

God, she must be crazy right now. 

"Sorry, I'm late. Something came up this morning," sabi ni tita Mia pagkadating nya. Napansin ko ang pagod at stress sa mukha nya habang nag-aayos sya ng gamit sa harap ko. We're here in a caffe to talk about the line-up of my projects for this week. "Kanina ka pa ba dito?"

"No, I just arrived myself. Late na din natapos ang shoot," nakangiti kong sabi. "I ordered for us."

"Cappuccino?" 

"Cappuccino," I added, making her lips tug up into a smile, "no sugar."

"Thank God. Ilang araw na rin akong hindi nakakainom ng kape. It's crazy. Ever since we arrived, I barely have time for myself. Sige ang pasok ng mga proyekto mo," she ranted. "Kakaiba. It wasn't like this when we were in France, or the States for that matter."

Bahagya akong tumawa. "Gusto mo bang bumalik na tayo?" pagbibiro ko. "We can always bail."

She threw me a stern look. Mas lalo akong natawa.

"It was a joke."

"Not a very good one," she retorted in a chiding tone. "Lalo na't kilala kita. I know just how difficult you can be. Himala nga at wala pang kontrobersya tungkol d'yan sa kakulitan mo. And I'm asking you to keep it this way. Maganda ang takbo ng career mo, iha. Wala naman sanang makasira."

I was about to answer when our orders came. Thanking the waitress, I blew on my coffee and sipped first. Hinintay kong makapag-relax muna si tita Mia bago ako muling sumagot. 

"Wala naman masama sa tsismis ah. Good press, bad press. In the end, it's all the same – publicity."

"Still, I don't want you in any issue if I can help it." Bumuntong-hininga sya at muli kong nakita ang bakas ng pagod sa mukha nya habang hinihipan nya ang inumin nya. 

"Nakakatampo. You make it sound as if I'm some big head ache, which I'm not," I answered with a pout. "Makulit lang ako, but you know I'm not gonna do anything that will hurt you –or us. I know how much this means to you."

"Alam ko 'yan, iha. Alam ko naman 'yan. Pasensya na," aniya habang minamasahe ang kanyang ulo. "I guess masyado lang akong nag-aalala sa mga naririnig-rinig ko."

"Narinig?" I straightened up, all signs of playfulness gone. "What do you mean?"

"Nakausap ko ang mga staff kahapon habang shooting nyo. Apparently, may mga usap-usapan tungkol sa on-screen rival mong si Iris. It's just a gossip but I can't help but feel anxious."