Tease Me, Bella Beatrice

34:

Wala akong ibang choice kung hindi ang maging saling-pusa lamang sa ginagawa ng lahat. They are all busy preparing for the filming later and here I am feeling out of the place. Nasa isang sulok lang ako habang pinapanood sila. Idagdag mo pang grounded ako kay Gigi. It's much better now though. Hindi na siya ganoon kagalit sa akin dahil medyo nakakalimutan na niya ang nangyari nang dahil sa trabaho pero hindi ako dapat na makampante. Women do not just forget things easily.

"Mr. Zurita, here po." Napalingon ako nang may nag-abot sa akin ng cellphone ni Gigi and it is Shea. Ngingiti-ngiti habang nakatingin sa akin. "I did what you instructed me to do na po."

I looked at her weirdly. Nakuha niya pa talaga kasing maupo sa tabi ko at nakangiti. I was about to ask her why when I remembered na dalawa pala kaming saling-pusa sa project na ito. She's here to do a minor role but is also here to experience how the major role is done on firsthand while I am here technically just as the director's plus one.

"I deleted the pictures na po tapos ang mga itinira ko na lang ay lahat ng pictures ninyo."

"Okay. Thank you."

Sandali akong tumipa sa cellphone to find out our pictures. Of course, they look good as usual. Iyon nga lang at sandali akong napatigil nang makita si Gigi at Bella sa iisang litrato kasama si Chibi. They all look happy in one frame.

"You're not thinking of breaking direk's heart, don't you?" Si Shea muli na seryoso sa ngayon. "I maybe young but I already got my first heartbreak years ago. Masakit. Nakakapanghina. Nakakaquestion ng worth, Mr. Zurita. Please don't do it."

"Do what?"

"Breaking a woman's heart just by the fact that you aren't healed yet when you said you love her."

Napalingon ako nang seryoso kay Shea. She really is serious now which I find disturbing. She always has that kid and light aura with her but now, she scares me.

"What do you mean, kid?"

"Isipin mo 'yong mga thoughts ni direk habang nakikita ka niyang nasasaktan pa rin habang nakatingin kay Ate Bella. The regrets and what ifs in your eyes, it shows, and it pains her."

"Stop-"

"Everyone can see it. Ako lang yata ang may lakas ng loob na sabihin at i-open up ang case na ito because honestly, direk is so brave putting the two of you in the same place. Kasi ako, hindi ko kakayanin iyon." She continued. "Mahal mo pa rin po ba, Mr. Zurita?"

"Kid, don't be funny around me."

"You had to let go of Ate Bella because of some personal reasons. Direk knows how much part of you Ate Bella holds inside your heart. Direk found you when you were broken and lost. She tried her best to fix you, mend you, make you happy, and know how much you worth. Priceless. Patience and pain all at the same time. You have been dating for a year and a couple of months now and imagine her what ifs and 'I thought' right now. I thought naaayos ko na siya. I thought ako na iyong mahal niya. I thought hindi na siya nasasaktan. I thought ako na. Imagine her looking at you while looking at Ate Bella with the same adoration you always do to her. That shit hurts."