#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 36

Awkward— that's how I'm going to describe the atmosphere inside the car. Since awhile ago, Maisie haven't utter a single word. I don't know if I would get nervous or what. I'm sure she already saw the article I saw last night. Geez! A lot of pictures of us are also all over the internet.

"Are you really dating him?" she asked, straightforward so I was shocked.

Napatingin ako sa kanya habang nanlalaki ang mga mata at sunod-sunod na umiling sa kanya. She looked at me like she doesn't want to believe me. Bakit 'yun kaagad ang tanong niya? Akala ko kasi ay tatanungin niya muna kung bakit hindi ko sinabing nagpunta ako ng mall kahapon.

"I'm not dating him, Maisie. You really won't believe me?" I asked, can't believe her.

"There's nothing wrong if you two are dating. A lot of fans support your relationship and they are just all waiting for the confirmation that we won't give for now." she answered. "I mean, we can't blame you if you fell in love. It's not like falling in love is a sin. You two are not robots, you're human for fuck's sake."

I gasped. "What the hell, Maisie?"

"What?!" she asked back, brows furrowed.

"We're not dating! We're not in a relationship, okay?" napahawak pa ako sa noo ko dahil pakiramdam ko ay sumasakit na ang ulo ko.

"Bakit kayo magkasama kahapon? Sa mall pa talaga, ha?! Kung saan maraming tao. I told you to be careful. Alam kong marami ang suportado sa inyong dalawa pero hindi mo pa rin masasabi." sabi niya sa 'kin.

"I just went out to buy something and then... I saw him. Take note, accidentally." I answered, emphasizing every word that came out of my mouth.

"Okay, but... we will keep the silence. Because of the rumors, mas nagiging usap-usapan ang series niyo. This can help the ratings so just continue what you're doing, but please... be extra careful." paalala niya sa 'kin na tinanguan ko lang naman.

Thankfully, the awkward air slowly disappeared and I felt more comfortable the whole ride. When we arrived at the filming site, the sun already set. What a shame that I didn't see it because I took a nap on our way here.

Dumiretso kami ni Maisie sa dressing room na para sa 'kin. Nandoon na si Juliet na kaagad naman akong inasikaso. Habang inaayos ang buhok ko at ang mga damit na susuotin ko, kinuha ko naman ang script book para magbasa at magkabisado ng lines ko. Mabuti na lang at nakapag-memorize ako kahit papaano. Ginugulo kasi ng lintek na article na 'yon ang utak ko!

Nang lumabas na ako ng dressing room ay kaagad akong nakita ni direk kaya naman lumapit ako sa kanya, nginitian ko siya at binati. Ganoon din naman ang ginawa ko nang makita ang writer na papalapit sa amin, ngitian lang ako nito pabalik at binati. Nang matanaw naman nila si Kirk ay kaagad nila itong pinalapit sa amin.

"We will start the rehearsal in three minutes, okay?" sabi niya sa amin. May ngiti pa ito sa labi na hindi ko maipaliwanag, I don't know if it was meant to tease us or what.

Now that Kirk is beside me, I'm wondering what's his reaction to the article. Nakita na ba niya ito? Or maybe he was too busy to even check what's going on internet? But he has a manager, sigurado akong sinabi naman sa kanya ang tungkol sa article.