After The Credits

Chapter 8 Special Guest Karl's POV

The week following their car ride around the city, Karl and Joan headed to the venue of the ASF event.

"Wala pang announcement kung sino yung special guest 'di ba?" Karl asked, walking next to Joan on the sidewalk.

"Wala. Sue doesn't know either. As an alumni, her reach outside the mentorship program is limited." Joan replied.

"Huh, sino kaya siya..." Karl shrugged and took a sip from the mango shake in his hand.

A few minutes later, they got to the venue and Karl saw a familiar face next to the stage.

Putangina?

The person next to the stage was a woman with brown hair tied in a ponytail, dressed in a dark blue buttoned shirt with flower earrings in a matching color. Black pants and high heels completed the look. Karl's view of her was slowly obscured by the growing number of passersby, but he was already sure of her identity.

Si Ate Judit? Siya ang special guest ng event na 'to?

"Karl?" Joan said with a concerned look on her face.

Karl snapped back into reality and faced Joan.

"Are you ok? You look pale." She asked.

"Ah, okay naman ako. Promise." He reassured her.

Joan raised an eyebrow then shrugged.

"If you say so, I guess. Anyway, we should be seated daw with our mentors. I'm gonna go find Sue. See you!" She smiled and turned around, disappearing into the crowd.

Before Karl could take out his phone to ask Vlad where he was, a hand landed on his shoulder from behind. Karl turned his head to see none other than the person he wanted to find.

"Hey, Karl. I got us seats. Tara!"

He let Vlad lead him through the crowd and sat down not too far from the stage.

"Vlad, ba't 'di mo sinabi sa'kin na ate mo ang guest speaker ngayon?" Karl asked.

"Surprise dapat, eh. Bakit? May problema ka?" Vlad replied.

Baka nakalimutan mo na yung disaster noong huli kaming nagkita, Vlad, pero bukod diyan, wala naman...

"W-wala... Nagulat lang ako."

The conversation was cut short by the sounds of someone tapping on a microphone. Karl turned to the stage to see the host, an orgmate he didn't recognize, getting ready to speak into the mic.

"Good afternoon, ASF! Today's guest is an accomplished film producer, who has been working in the industry for almost 10 years. Please welcome to the stage Ms. Judith Austria!"

Ate Judit walked up the stage and the host handed her a microphone. The host seemed ready to leave and give her the stage, but she tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

"Sorry for the confusion, I meant to say please welcome Ms. Judit Austria. No H." The host said before bowing apologetically to Ate Judit and leaving the stage.

Judit smiled and began speaking into her microphone. She recalled her experiences as a film producer from her days as a beginner to slowly achieving her success. Karl listened attentively, though he couldn't help but notice she didn't use her eccentric accent he had come to associate with her while speaking in front of the crowd.

Seeing her on-stage, Karl couldn't help but think of that night. A surprise short film made just for him followed by Ate Judit, Tito Santi, and Anna walking in on a kiss, and who could forget the words that left Vlad's mouth before he ran away.