White Lies

Coffeemate

Lea was fixing her things, checking her bag for the third time. The taping ended earlier, its just 6 pm and the traffic is bad at this hour so she decided have dinner with Dawn to kill time.

"Knock. Knock. Madam!"

"Come in Vice!" says Lea chuckling at Vice.

"Andayaaa! So ano kayo-kayo lang ganun?" Vice whined while seating on the couch.

"Eh may taping ka pa di ba? Lea chuckled. "Which reminds me. Care to explain?

Vice was alarmed with Lea's sudden change of tone.

"Ay, alin yun Madam?"

"Aga? Driving me home? Last night?" Lea said not taking her eyes at Vice.

"Ah-eh.. baka ma-late ka na, di ba may dinner kayo ni Dawn ngayon?"

"Its okay, wala pa naman siya dito oh. I am all ears. Now talk." Lea said crossing her arms as she leaned back on the wall.

Vice knowing that kind of tone wont do him any good if he wont oblige, he decided to spill his stupidity.

"Kasi nga di ba, tinatawagan ko talaga PA mo. Kaso hindi siya sumasagot sa tawag ko, eh humingi ka ng tubig, so kinuha kita sa ref ng tubig, sakto naman nag-ring yung phone ko, buong akala ko si Rona na yun nag call back. Eh hindi pala."

Lea was massaging her temples, absorbing every bit of Vice's explanation. "Vice, its a must to look at the caller ID before answering calls and wait- wa- why is Aga calling you at the first place?"

"Ay bakit nangangamoy inggit? Try mo rin kaya bigay number mo sa kanya para tawagan ka rin niya. Pakipot pa to."

Lea glared at Vice and he continued "Ito naman! Ang seryoso mo kasi masyado, hindi kasi ano, tinawagan ko siya that day about sa GGV guesting nya sa akin, siguro kaya nag call back for confirmation, eh wrong timing. Sorry na Madam." Vice asked pleadingly.

A knock from the door interrupted them and Dawn emerged smiling. "Oh? Ang seryoso nyo. What did I missed?"

Vice jumped up from the couch and ran to Dawn hiding at her back like a child. "Dawn! Buti naman andito ka na." and he looked at Lea "Ano Madam, pwede na ba ako magbanlaw? May taping pa ko eh." he said jokingly.

"Gusto mo ako magbanlaw sayo? Ibabad kita sa fab con eh!" Lea said as she took her bag on the dresser.

"Lei, hayaan mo na to si Vice, siya na lang topic natin sa dinner later." Dawn teased.

"Alam nyo ang gaganda nyo pero paka sama naman ng ugali nyo sobra! Sige na, halaaaa late na ko. Enjoyyy! he airkissed his friends and left the dressing room.

--

They decided to have dinner at Dawn's resto near the ABS. Dawn was talking on her phone as she closed the sliding door of the private function room of her resto.

"That was Reg, she couldn't make it. Rehearsals."

"Its okay. Ayaw mo nun masosolo mo ko?" Lea winked as she took a bite of her food.

"Sabi mo eh." Dawn took her seat across Lea "Now you talk. What happened last night?"

"What about last night?"

"Ano Lea mamili ka, sasabihin mo o aantayin natin si Vice dito para magsalita para sa iyo?"

"Dawn naman. Kakarating lang natin ginigisa mo na ako agad. Hindi naman ako sibuyas!"

Dawn was stunned. "Sa tingin mo benta yon? Kakasama mo yan kay Vice eh. Lei seriously, I invited you for coffee kanina, you declined, sabi mo nag coffee ka na.. with Aga. Ano? kasama rin ba sa contract nyo na dapat magdamag kayo magkasama?"

"Aga just drove me home.."

"Hanggang kuwarto." Dawn finished.

Lea smiled at Dawn.

"Continue." said Dawn.

"He didn't spend the night, and for the record, nothing happened, really, if that's what you are curious about."

"So ano, nag jackstone lang kayo ganun?"

"I don't know Dawn. I was totally drunk and sleepy I can't vaguelly remember getting home."

"Sure ka ba?"

"As far as I can remember, I woke up this morning wearing the same clothes as last night. So I guess that's a good thing right?"

"Anong malay mo, pwede namang bihisan ka ulit."

"Oh my God Dawn!" Lea already thought of that as a possibility. Aga is still a man after all. "Actually, that's reason why I invited Aga for a coffee kanina. I just want to confirm if nilamog ba niya ko kagabi."

Dawn choked on her wine, the liquid falling down on the wrong pipe. Lea burst out into laughter. "Oh, God. Look at your face!"

Dawn was wiping her mouth looking at her giggling friend. "Bibig mo naman Lea!"

"No seriously, I-- I just felt bad for Aga, I was rude to him during our ride home. You know me, I get too honest when I am drunk. So, I think a coffee invite would be a nice gesture."

Dawn was eyeing Lea now picking at her food. She decided to give it a shot since its the only two of them.

"Lea, ano ba talaga nangyari sa inyong dalawa ni Aga?" Lea dropped her fork and sighed. "Sampung taon na lumipas. Ganun pa rin ba kasakit?"

Lea looked at Dawn and realised its about time to let go of the past.

"Remember when I am about to leave for Lez Mis?" Dawn nodded "During that interview with Ms. Vilma, she asked Aga if sasama siya sa akin pa New York. He didn't answered that time. Kahit pabirong sagot na lang sana, but he didn't."

"You mean totoo yun, I thought showbiz lang yun." Dawn can't believe it. "Naging kayo?"

"Hindi naman naging kami eh. We are something pero walang label. I asked for one week with him sa New York, assurance lang ba, if importante ba ko talaga, but no, he declined. Baka ma-issue daw kami, may future movie lineups na daw kasi siya with other actresses. Not a good publicity if ma link daw kami. Tapos after a year susulpot bigla tapos sasabihin can I just give up singing, mag artista na lang ako sa Pilipinas. Ang gago lang di ba?"

Dawn handed her a tissue. "Kaya ayun, hindi na ko bumalik." Lea finished while wiping her tears.

"What changed your mind Lei? Don't get me wrong ha, I am happy you came back, for good."

"Sila Mama at Ge. Andito sila eh, I can't force them to leave everything here just for me. Besides, I've been receiving offers from the management. Like a lot. Then came The Voice. So here I am."

Dawn took Lea's hand to comfort her. She didn't know she's been holding these on her own.

"Thank you Lea, for telling me this."

"No Dawn, thank you for listening. I feel more lighter now."

A beep from Lea's phone signalled an incoming message. Lea opened it and smiled widely. She saw Dawn suspiciously eyeing her.

"What?" Lea asked innocently as she put down her phone.

"Ang bilis mag-shift. Kanina lang umiiyak-iyak ka."

Lea shakes her head. Dawn will not stop until she get what she wants "Its just Aga.. he's inviting me for coffee again tomorrow. I said I need to check first with Rona. The nerve. He even replied a sad face pa." Lea replied giggling.

"Ayuun.. Textmate na, coffeemate pa. Aba Lea, iba na yan ha. Baka malaman-laman ko ibang mate-ing na ginagawa nyo. "

"Dawn! Ano ka ba? Ang dumi ng isip mo, mag-dasal ka nga. Tsaka ikaw na nga nagsabi di ba make it reel, so I am making it just a reel. "

"Tigilan mo nga ako sa pa reel reel mo, kilalang-kilala kita Lea Carmen, napaka honest mong tao. Yan bang puso mo na-orient mo nang maigi na reel lang ang ginagawa nyo? Wag nga ako."

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Real or Reel ba? 🤭

#WhiteLies