Tease Me, Bella Beatrice

37:

Even though my head was telling me to follow Gigi on walking towards Bella's direction, maybe to confront her, hindi ko ginawa. Nanatili na lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko at mas minabuting huwag mangialam. Hindi ko na rin tinangka pang bumalik sa kubo. Somehow, I need to be here. I need to somehow monitor things and Gigi.

"Hindi kita tatanungin kung kaya mo ba o hindi dahil dapat mong kayanin. I'm tired. I didn't have enough sleep. Kakaunti pa lamang ang shots na nagagawa natin at puwede pa kitang palitan and let Shea do this." Dinig kong sambit ni Gigi.

Nanonood lang ako sa kanila. Si Gigi na kalmado lamang na nakaharap sa medyo halata nga ang pagkakalasing na si Bella. Nakaupo ito sa buhangin at halos nakangiwi pa. Mukhang dinadama ang hangover at tama ng alak. She is a mess as always.

"I don't have any choice but to do it, direk. Kailangan ko talagang kayanin." Bella replied.

It seems like a normal answer but for me, it's a statement that means more than just a plain answer to a statement, too. Iba iyong naririnig ko lalong-lalo na at alam ko at nararamdaman ko kung bakit naglasing si Bella. Lalo na at may ideya ako kung bakit nga ba siya lunod sa alak ngayon. Even before, she would resort to alcohol when things are not going her way. That's her typical way of coping with things.

"Sorry direk ah. Medyo natatauhan naman na ako. I'm also sorry that you have to overthink about me and Pierce's past." Bella continued honestly. Mukhang hindi iyon ang nasa isip niyang dapat sabihin ngunit dahil sa tama ng alak ay hindi na niya makontrol ang sarili niyang bibig. "He told me na bawal ka raw mastress kaya magtitino na ako. So, please be patient with me. Sayang naman ang effort nating lahat. Saka isa pa, it's maybe my last project here in the Philippines. Babalik na siguro ako sa ibang bansa after this."

"How much did you drink?"

"Kaunti lang naman."

"Then why are you so drunk?"

"Hindi naman sa alak ako nalasing." Bella said and smiled. "Inaantok kasi ako kaya siguro ganito ang tama nito sa akin. By the way, go on, magpahinga ka na before our shot, direk. I'll behave na. Promise. Magtitino na talaga ako."

"Don't make a promise with me. Just do it."

Iyon lamang at nakita ko nang bumalik si Gigi sa puwesto niya kani-kanina lamang. Her face and her expression did not change at all. May lumapit din sa kaniyang staff saka may ibinulong. Hindi naman ako tsismoso kaya naman wala na akong balak alamin. I just heaved a deep sigh and let them work. Nandito lang ako sa tabi at nagmamasid-masid. I don't have any business here at all, but I want to watch the whole process. Most importantly, I need to watch over Gigi.

"Hmm that's suspicious." Mayamaya ay may mahinang boses ang narinig ko kasabay ang marahang paglapit sa akin ng may-ari noon. Alam na alam ko kaagad kung sino iyon at hindi na nag-aksaya pa ng oras na siguraduhin nga na siya ang nasa isip ko. "Direk and Ate Bella had a peaceful conversation. Nagsorry si Ate Bella and si Direk e medyo kalmado. That's suspicious. That's out of the ordinary."

"Stop being nosy, kiddo." I told her as I look at her. Naniningkit pa nga ang mata nito.