Symphonic Waves (Ciudad de Escalante #6)

Phase 23

"Uh, yes. This is my assigned classroom. As you can see, I prefer sitting at the back of the class. Noong elementary kasi ako, sa harapan talaga ako, but my classmates told me that my hair is kinda distracting."

"Distracting? Why? Ms. Ceres?" tanong ng babaeng nag-i-interview sa akin. They are influencers, and they requested a collaboration with me so we're in the classroom right now to document my day.

"They tend to appreciate how nice the color is. So, instead of listening to the class, they are looking at my hair," pagkekwento ko at natawa.

"Oo nga, ang ganda ng kulay ng buhok mo, Miss. Natural ba 'yan?" tanong isang lalaking interviewer.

"Yup. It's natural. I got it from my Mom," sagot ko at tumingin sa center camera dahil napag-usapan sa briefing na sa tuwing matatapos ako magsalita kailangan kong tumingin doon at ngumiti.

"Break muna. Retouch lang," ani ng stylist na nag-aayos sa akin. Together with the make-up artist, they did a quick and few retouches on my face. While they were contouring my jaw, I had a glimpse of someone who just entered the classroom.

It was Sylvan. Mabilis lang ang tingin na ginawad niya sa set namin at umupo na sa kanyang pwesto. I sighed in relief when it doesn't seem like he's annoyed on whatever we're doing.

Medyo nakakaabala rin kasi ang paggawa ng content sa mismong classroom at baka magreklamo pa siya sa dean. Well, if he'll do that, may permit naman kami na mag-film dito saka pinakiusapan ko naman na ang mga kaklase ko kagabi tungkol dito.

"Okay, set na ulit. One, two, three!" The producer said and started recording again. Ngumiti muli ako at humarap sa mga nag-i-interview.

"For the next question, it's about your early childhood.

We just heard that you were homeschooled when you were in fourth to sixth grade. That is because you were diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia when you were nine years old, right?"

Humulas ang ngiti ko sa sumunod na narinig. I was caught off guard for a moment. Hindi ko ine-expect na iyon ang itatanong sa akin dahil kapag early childhood naman ang topic, laging tinatanong— kailan ko na-discover ang talent ko sa arts, kanino ko namana, at anong mga naging inspiration ko.

I am used to being asked about my strengths, not my weaknesses and struggles when I was a child.

"Uh, yes. I was," Humina ang boses ko nang sabihin iyon pero dahil nasa kalagitnaan ako ng filming, kailangan maging propesyunal. I accepted this work. I should commit on this.

"What can you say about the experience? What advice can you give if someone who has the same situation as yours is watching right now?" tanong ng interviewer kaya sinagot ko iyon ng buong puso.

"That's so touching and inspiring, Ms. Ceres! We're happy to see you're doing good now. Pero 'di ba, kapag cancer na gano'n, may posibilidad na bumalik pa?" sambit ng interviewer pagkatapos kong magbigay ng maikling inspirational speech.

"Hmm, yes. May chance na bumalik. Actually, I relapsed when I was fourteen," I inhaled and, pressed my lips. "Medyo malala 'yung pangalawa kaysa noong nauna, that's why I undergone in a bone marrow transplant," dagdag ko at napalunok.

Suddenly, my seat became uncomfortable. Na para bang may nauupuan ako. Hindi ko alam bakit hanggang ngayon, di ko makwento kwento sa camera ang mga pinagdaaanan ko. Hindi naman sa gusto kong itago ang naging kalagayan ko.

Sure, I can write about it to give inspiration. I already wrote about it, but whenever I tell it to everyone, on the spot like this, I'm not yet that good at articulating my thoughts. I should've read the script!