Her Mischievous Smile [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

IVAN'S POV

Aware naman akong niloloko ko lang ang sarili ko dahil sa rules na napagkasunduan namin ni Tres. Ni hindi ko nga alam na kahit papaano ay magkakaroon kami ng ganoong matinong usapan eh. Pero naman kasi... sanay na siyang umarte. For Pete's sake, she's one hell of an actress.

"From the top, Myers," saway na naman niya sa akin. "I know that it's your first time, but seriously, this is a very easy scenario."

I sighed as I threw myself to the sofa. "Ang hirap kaya. Madali para sa inyo kasi sanay na sanay na kayo."

Tres rolled her eyes before sitting on the single sofa. "Point taken, but you have to learn. Akala ko ba it shouldn't be that hard?" I gave her a glare when she mocked me. She just rolled her eyes and continued talking. "As you said, you don't wanna embarrass your family."

Hindi ko napigilang humikab. "Inaantok pa ako. Bakit naman kasi ganito pa kaaga?"

"Myers, if I am not mistaken, we both agreed to this schedule."

Napahikab na naman ako. "Yeah, I know. And that's the only reason why I'm still here and not on my bed, sleeping."

Napapikit na lamang ako ng mga mata saka isinandal ang likod sa sofa. Gusto ko pang matulog. Napansin ko naman ang pagiging tahimik ni Tres pero hindi ko na lang inintindi at antok na antok pa talaga ako.

Ilang saglit pa ang hinintay ay hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong makatulog sa posisyong iyon. Nagising lang ako nang maka-amoy ako ng pagkain. Nananaginip pa ba ako?

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo saka naglakad papunta sa kusina. There I saw Tres cooking a simple meal. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya malaya ko siyang natititigan.

I have never thought in the past few years that I'll get another chance to watch her cook meals. Napaka-sinungaling ko na kapag sinabi ko pang hindi ko na-miss 'tong ganito. I might keep saying it again and again, but I could never get her off my mind.

But how about her?

Has she completely removed me from her system?

Has she moved on?

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin saka tumikhim para kunin ang atensyon niya. Hindi rin naman siya tumigil sa pagluluto pero halatang naramdaman na niya ang presensiya ko. "Brunch?" I asked her as I made my way to the dining table and took a seat.

She nodded. "A little energizer since I remembered that you are part of my job now," she replied with annoyance in her tone. I couldn't help but chuckle. Agad naman niya akong sinamaan ng tingin habang nilalagay sa mga plato ang mga niluto niya. "What's funny, Myers?"

I was about to answer her when I stopped myself. Not bringing up the past, Ivan. You agreed to that. Napabuga na lamang ako ng hangin at tuluyan nang nawala ang saya sa mukha ko. "Nothing. Thanks for the food."

Wala ring imik na tumango si Tres saka umupo sa upuang katapat ko at nagsimula nang kumain. Pareho lang kaming tahimik at walang kibuan. I knew this wouldn't be easy since the first time her dad told me about this but... this is tougher than I thought.

Mabilis naming natapos ang brunch saka bumalik sa sala. I wanted to clean the dishes but she told me not to. Pareho ata kaming nagpapakiramdaman habang magkaupo sa magkatapat na sofa. I cleared my throat. "So, script reading?"

"Yeah. Know the right emotions, feel the lines, then express them flawlessly."

Napatango naman ako saka inabot ang printed script na nasa coffee table saka nagsimulang magbasa. I was busying myself by silently reading the script when I noticed something.

We're supposed to exchange lines. Tres and I. Our characters.

At habang patagal nang patagal ang pagbabasa ko. Mas lalo kong gustong ayawan ang deal namin ni Mr. Davies. I have never been a playboy nor a cheater. How am I supposed to do this?

Napabalik ako sa diwa nang marinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Tres. Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya para makumpirma ang naririnig ko. She then looked at me while slowly shaking her head. "Parang ngayon pa lang, sukong-suko ka na ah," pang-aasar niya. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin. "Which part are you reading that makes your forehead furrow?"

I let out a deep sigh before giving her my copy of the script that she quickly took. I watched her read the lines and saw how the emotions slowly left her face. It took a minute or two of silence before clearing her throat. "Hmm... Just watch movies related to those. It might help you a bit." I saw her mumble something more but wasn't able to hear it.

Instead of asking her and clearing it out, I just let her be. Besides, I have no right.

Not anymore.

"Usually, gaano katagal ang pagsh-shoot niyo ng isang pelikula?" I asked, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

I saw her take a deep breath before answering without looking at me. "Two to three months. Depends on how long the script is, the availability of everything, and of course, the weather."

Napatango naman ako saka napabulong, "So this will take almost three months. Great." Paano ko 'to ngayon ipapaliwanag kela Ate? Baka mamaya magulat na lang sila at artista na ang gwapo niyang kapatid.

"Very stressful three months," I heard her say before letting out an exasperated sigh. Ilang saglit lang ay tumunog ang cellphone niya. She looked at it and read the message before standing up. "Anyways, I have to go, so you have to leave. Practice and memorize at least a page or two then I'll make Mommy France contact you once I'm available." Para itong nagmamadaling pumasok sa kwarto niya.

I have decided to stand up and leave her once she came out of her room when I heard a knock on the main door. Thinking that it was her Mommy France, I opened it, only to be surprised by the man in front of me.

The worst thing is that I know him. Trecia's previous leading man.

Mukha namang kahit siya eh nagulat nang ako ang sumalubong sa kanya. I cleared my throat and chose to speak first. "Are you here for Trecia?" I nonchalantly asked.

He nodded. Seriousness was written all over his face. "I told her that I'll come to pick her up." Ilang saglit pa kaming natahimik hanggang sa muli siyang magsalita. "Aren't you the main lead on Mr. Davies' newest project?"

Tumango na lang ako saka nagpaliwanag. "Don't think of anything wrong. I'm just here to practice my lines and acting with the director's daughter since he told me so."

Para naman siyang nakahinga ng maluwag saka napangiti. "Don't sweat it. It's the director's orders so it's fine."

Good. At least, iwas gulo. "Are you gonna come inside? I was about to leave anyway." Mas nilakihan ko ang pagkakabukas ng pinto.

The guy's smile widened. "Sure, sure. I'll just inform Tres," he said as he stepped inside.

"Thanks. I'll go now," simple kong sabi saka tuluyan nang lumabas ng unit ni Tres. Isinara na rin naman nung lalake ang pinto kaya mas pinilit ko na lang ang sarili kong makalayo roon.

Weirdly, after how many months, I felt my heart aching. This is not good.

Three months. Not good at all.