Love The Way You Act

3: Getting To Know Each Other

Carmine Lamonte

It was already 10 AM in the morning at paalis na ako ng bahay para sa next taping namin. I was about to exit our door.

"Sweetie!" my mom called me.

I faced her at natuwa ako nang makita siyang may hawak na plastic bag na may lamang tupperware.

"Is that for me?" tanong ko.

"Yes, sweetie. Ipinag-bake kita ng paborito mong vanilla cake," masaya niyang saad.

Nilapitan ko siya at kinuha ang plastic bag sabay yakap sakanya.

"Thank you, Mom," pagpapasalamat ko.

"Masyado ka kasing nagmamadali kaya napagdesisyunan ko nalang na ipabaon sa'yo 'yan," paliwanag niya.

Hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi at muling nagpaalam. Paglabas ko ay agad akong sumakay sa kotse namin. Ilang sandali lang ay nakarating na kami sa set.

Agad akong inayusan ng makeup artist, kasabay ng script briefing ng writer. Pagkatapos akong ayusan ay agad kong kinain ang vanilla cake na gawa ni Mom.

Pero ilang sandali lang ay nilapitan akong ni Llyan.

"Don't forget about tonight," he said while smiling.

"Di mo namang kailangan ipaalala palagi," pagbibiro ko saka inilapag muna sa mesa ang kinakain.

"Yes, I do. Baka kasi malimutan mo," he answered.

"You're funny," saad ko.

"Am I?" takang tanong niya.

"I'm not a forgetful person, you know. Kahit isang beses mo lang—"

I suddenly stopped talking when he wiped my lips using his hands. I felt my heart skipped a bit.

"May icing ka sa bibig," sambit niya saka agad na umalis.

Di ako nakagalaw ng ilang segundo. At kinailangan pa akong tawagin ni Kenny ng ilang beses para lang mapansin ko siya.

'This guy is driving me crazy!!'

The taping started again at nakailang take din kami. I just can't focus and tend to forget most of the lines.

"What's wrong, Carmine? Bakit wala ka sa focus?" nagtatakang tanong ng director.

"Nothing, direk. I'll do better na, I promise," sagot ko the give him an assuring smile.

I fixed myself and I did well again. Medyo late na din natapos ang taping dahil nga maparami ang take.

I'm at our house and picking something to wear for my FRIENDLY date with Llyan.

'Di dapat ako nag-a-assume dahil ako lang naman din ang masasaktan sa huli'

I ended up choosing the dress my Mom gave to me on my last birthday. Nakabox pa ito dahil nga di ko pa siya nasuot, it was an above the knee, fitted, off-shoulder, dress. As soon as I get the box out of my closet, I saw something fell on the floor. I grabbed it quickly at laking gulat ko nang makita ang isang letter. It was a letter. And because of it, memories of someone flashes on my mind.

Ang anak ng kapitbahay namin noon ay kaibigan ko. He's name was Yanyan. Malaki ang salamin niya, medyo baduy din manamit at merong braces. Pero sa kabila no'n ay naging matalik kaming magkaibigan. Palagi kaming maglalaro kapag walang pasok. At halos di na kami mapaghiwalay. Nagselos na nga si Ate Carina noon dahil mas nakakasama ko daw si Yanyan kesa sakanya. But unfortunately, when I came back from school one day, I found out that their family moved out. Kaya pala di siya pumasok ng ilang araw. When I asked my parents if they know anything about it, they we're also clueless. I was just 13 years old back then.