Love In The Spotlight

Chapter Four: Building Chemistry

IT WAS SUNDAY MORNING.

Ethan's coming over to my apartment. I know, it was so sudden but he kept chatting with me last night and I can't afford to ignore him just like that after I made a mistake for liking his photo.

Naisip ko na para hindi niya rin ako tuluyang asarin, I chose to talk to him all night tungkol sa work at parte namin hanggang sa umabot kami sa kasunduan na magkita kami today to rehearse some of our lines.

He offered na sa condo niya kami mag-practice but I knew I couldn't do that, I might feel even more uncomfortable being at his place, so I chose to stay at my apartment.

Thankfully, pumayag naman siya agad kaya wala na rin naging problema. Also, ito rin ang utos sa amin ni Mr. Vance, to build a good relationship with each other so we could play our characters well.

After I cleaned my apartment and got ready, I decided to just wear black pants and a white tank top. I have a somewhat large build and biceps, so it looked okay on me. Since I was just at home, I didn't need to dress up ng sobra. I also didn't care what Ethan would say, knowing I still looked fresh even in this outfit, kaya magpapambahay ako.

Sinilip ko sina Hope at Maggie, masarap pa rin ang tulog nila sa higaan nila after I prepared their food so they could just eat as soon as they woke up.

Nakakahiya rin at baka ma-interrupt pa kami ni Ethan mamaya, nakakahiya naman maabala ang sikat na artista at baka ma-off pa sa'kin.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pagkalubog ko sa panonood ng Netflix, a loud knock on the door brought me back to reality. I didn't even need to look to know it was Ethan. He was the only one I was expecting. Nagmadali akong tumayo dahil sa sunod-sunod niyang pagkatok, parang nai-imbyerno na akala mo ang tagal naghintay sa labas.

"Impatient much?" I greeted him with a grin, but my smile turned into surprise when I saw his appearance. "What happened to you, bakit balot na balot ka?" I asked, laughing. He was wearing a hoodie, a cap, and a mask. Mukha siyang hold-upper pero yung gwapo version pa rin.

"What are you straight at?" he asked shyly, pushing past me and walking straight into my house.

"Wow, welcome home, ah?" pabulong kong bulong sa sarili ko. Parang hindi man lang sumagi sa isip niya na hindi kami ganon ka-close para mag feel at home siya rito ngayon sa harapan ko.

I closed the door and turned to face him. "Are you cold? Do you want me to turn down the AC? Just a sec." still treating him nicely, kahit na nakaka-pressure na nasa bahay ko na siya ngayon.

"No need," pigil niya sa akin. "Kaya ganito ang suot ko kasi this is the consequence of being kilala ng marami. Ayaw kong dumugin sa labas at sundan ako rito hanggang dito sa bahay mo."

That makes sense, tumango ako. "That's good. Dapat lang na mag-adjust ka, tahimik ang lugar ko. Wag mong dalhin ang mga fans-Anak ng bakit kailangang maghubad dito? May restroom ako!" Napaatras ako ng walang pasabi niyang hubarin ang hoodie niya habang nakaharap sa akin. Naaninag ko ang ilang pack niyang abs, pero mabilis akong tumalikod dahil hindi ko kinayang titigan ito ng matagal. I only heard his laughter as he rummaged through the bag he carried.

"Humarap ka na, parang hindi mo naman nakita ang katawan ko sa instagram. Kaka-stalk mo nga lang kagabi, di 'ba?"

Nakagat ko ang labi ko at napapikit sabay agarang humarap sa kaniya. "Huwag kang assuming," palusot ko at dinuro siya kahit na alam kong halata ako. "Huwag mo akong simulan, Ethan baka ipakagat kita sa mga aso ko."

He chuckled, his eyes squinting as he laughed, which made him look even cuter. "Akala ko pa naman 'yung owner ang nangangagat."

Napailing-iling na lang ako at pinatay na lang muna ang TV habang siya naman ay nakangiti lang na parang baliw habang nakatingin sa'kin. "May gusto ka bang kainin? Inumin?" tanong ko habang inaayos 'yung mga unan sa sofa na nagalaw ko kanina. "Magsabi ka na para maipaghanda kita."