So Far

41

Sinundan ko si Monica papasok sa isang bakanteng conference room. Pumasok ako sa loob at siya ang nagsara ng pinto. Hinintay ko siyang isara ito at lingunin ako.

Wala siyang sinabi habang naglalakad kami papunta dito, pero may ideya na ako, ngayon palang.

"We're good here." she declared.

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya habang hinihintay siyang magsalita. There's no way I'll start the conversation.

"I'm guessing you've heard enough." she began.

Nakatingin pa rin ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko alam ang isasagot. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong isipin, o ang dapat kong maramdaman.

"By the look on your face, I guess I'm right." she sighed. "And you heard it correct, they want us to admit that we are in a relationship as a PR stunt. To lure people in."

Napakunot ang noo ko doon dahil hindi ko talaga alam kung anong dapat kong isipin. I keep on having this feeling that this is big.

"At ayos lang sa'yo 'yun?" I finally spoke.

She tilted her head while looking at me. She slightly shook her head before answering. "I have been in this industry for over a decade, Klea. I have been to various teleseryes and movies, a combination of small and big roles. I have some brand endorsements that are kind enough to renew my contracts so I can continue working for them."

She paused to inhale air. "But in all those years, I have never experienced this kind of fame."

Natigilan ako at napakurap-kurap dahil sa gulat. She looked up before exhaling the air she inhaled earlier.

"The fame we are experiencing right now, is more than the fame I have over the course of my career. I'm just getting started, Klea. I have worked so hard for this, and if being in a relationship with Adam will help me get to where I worked hard for, I am up for it."

Nangapa ako ng isasagot, pero sa sobrang gulat ko sa sinabi niya ay wala akong nasabi. She took that as a sign to continue talking.

"I know you know that I know about you. You and Adam."

Napalunok ako dahil tama siya, pero hindi ko magawang sagutin 'yun.

"I'm not trying to get in the middle of the two of you, but I want you to understand that we're dealing with something big for the both of us. I intend on finishing what I started, and I am hoping he is, as well. Because if he backs out, he's risking his career and mine, and I am not going to accept that."

Napabuga ako ng hangin. "Anong gusto mong gawin ko?" tanong ko dahil may pakiramdam ako na 'yun ang hinihintay niyang sabihin ko.

"Don't make it sound like I am the villain here. You two are not even in a relationship, but I know he listens to you. And I know you know what to do."

"Hindi ko siya pipilitin kung ayaw niya, Monica." giit ko.

"Alam ko. I know you'll take his side because you like him, and he will not push through because he likes you, but if he doesn't follow the management, he will get in serious trouble, and he'll drag me down with him."

Somehow, that statement made me scared. Not just for Adam, but for her as well. Wala naman siyang ginagawang masama, pero dahil hindi susunod si Adam, madadamay pa siya. Gusto niya lang naman mag-trabaho, pero dahil magka-pares sila ni Adam, damay siya sa pwedeng mangyari kapag hindi ito sumunod.

"Look, I don't want to do this, but I can't just watch everything I worked hard for to crush down the pit. I finally got somewhere after years of working here, I can't lose this momentum now." she sounded frustrated.