#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 31

"And... cut! That's a wrap, everyone! We can go home now!"

I thanked the director, the staffs, and everyone else on the set and they did the same to me. Naglakad ako papunta sa may tent ko at doon ay nakita ko si Juliet, my stylist. She quickly walked towards me and dried my tears using the tissue she's holding.

"Ang intense no'ng scene mo, ha. Tignan mo 'yung make-up mo, oh!" sabi niya sa 'kin habang inaayos ang itsura ko. "Ang galing-galing mo talaga, Khaisia! Grabe, pati ako naiyak sa scene!"

I laughed. "It was indeed heartbreaking."

"Happy ending ba 'yan? Grabe 'yung writer, ha! Sino ba nanakit sa kanya?"

I laughed again. "What time is it?"

"It's already past midnight and we need to go back to Manila now." Maisie, my manager, suddenly entered the tent. "May meeting ka pa mamaya kaya kailangan na nating umuwi para makapagpahinga ka pa." aniya.

"Meeting?" I asked, brows furrowed.

She nodded. "Yes, I told you awhile ago, right? So, let's go? You still need to rest."

I have no choice, but to nod. Sumunod ako sa kanya papunta sa sasakyan. Nang makasakay ako ay kaagad akong sumandal, I can feel my whole body aching. I haven't sleep properly since I got here in Bataan that I quickly fell asleep on the car. Hinayaan naman niya ako na magpahinga dahil alam din niya na pagod ako.

When I woke up we're already in Manila. In front of my condo, to be exact. I stretched my arms and yawned. I fixed myself before looking at Maisie with sleepy eyes. She chuckled upon seeing me, but I ignored it. I was too sleepy to care.

"Susunduin na lang kita mamaya. Get some sleep first, Khaisia." she said. "I know you're tired."

I smiled. "Okay, thank you. I'll see you later, Maisie."

"And oh, your schedule on Saturday is already cleared." she told me.

It was Epione's wedding and she asked me to sing for her wedding. Malayo pa ang kasal niya, kinausap na niya ako. She said I'm too busy kaya dapat masabi niya kaagad sa akin.

"Thank you, Maisie." I smiled, again.

My whole day just went as scheduled. I attended the meeting Maisie was talking about, and had a free time after. Sakto namang tumawag si Epione at nakikipagkita sa isang coffee shop. It was half an hour away to my condo, but I just drove since I have no other things to do and it's been awhile since I saw them.

The traffic was not heavy, sa iba kasi ako dumaan. Nang makarating ako sa coffee shop ay nandoon na si Epione, Jeshua at Ariell. They greeted me, and I did the same. It was like they are having fun because they were laughing when I got here. And Ariell being herself, she immediately told me what they were talking about.

"Where's Salem, by the way? It's been five minutes since I got here." I asked.