The Public Stunt

Episode 17: Runway

“What are you doing here, Jarren?!” Hinila ko siya pababa ng hagdan ng fire exit, “someone may catch you here! More importantly, hinila mo pa ako rito! Talagang malaking gulo kapag nakita nilang magkasama tayo!”

“I am just worried for you,” he sighed, “I am sorry, Sofia.”

Napakamot ako sa batok ko at napangiti na lang talaga. Kasi naman, bakit ang pogi pa rin ng ekalal na ‘to kahit mukhang stressed na stressed na?! “It’s okay. I am also just worried about you. Hindi ko na kakayanin kapag nagkaroon ka na naman ng issue ng dahil sa akin. You have an on-going teleserye with Hope. Highest rating sa bansa currently, I don’t want to be the reason why it will fail eventually.”

He pats me on top of my head, “don’t stress yourself out, Sofia. It will not going to happen; I will be careful with you… for us.”

For us?! US?! Luh, nubayan Jarren! Ang bilis mo naman, US agad? Ang bilis mo namang mang-angkin! Great Wall of Fyang ‘yan?! Nangbabakod agad-agad?

“By the way, I will wait for you in the parking lot later. Sabay na tayong umuwi,” he continued patting my head, “have a blast on your event. I will be cheering silently for you at the corner.”

“Thanks,” nag-iwas ako ng tingin saka ngumiti nang malawak.

Nang lumabas na ako sa fire exit ay bumaba naman si Jarren sa ibabang floor. When I went outside of the door, I made sure no one noticed us. Pero mukhang wala naman talaga kasi lahat sila dito sa corridors ay aligaga. Mukhang malapit nang magsimula ang fashion show. And I confirmed it the moment the floor directors called all the models. Nagsimula na ang mga staff na i-line up kami. At kung mamalasin pa nga, kasunod ako ni Hope na siyang mag-o-open ng fashion show.

Mukhang bet na bet talaga ng organizer ang drama! Nakakainis!

The fashion show started with the song called “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” by LISA. Ang naunang rumampa ay si Hope. From the backstage, rinig na rinig kung papaano mag-cheer ang mga tao. ‘Di na rin naman nakakapagtaka kasi bagay na bagay itong fashion show na ito kay Hope. ‘Yung pang-mukhang maamong prinsesa na hindi maka-basag pinggan.

“On my que, Ms. Fyang, you are next,” told by the floor assistant and I only nod at her. Maya’t maya siyang tumitingin sa screen ng TV. Mula doon, narating na ni Hope ang dulo ng runway. That was the point she looked at me, “go, Ms. Fyang! You may now walk on the runway!”

I nodded my head at her with a big smile. Lumabas na ako sa backstage. The spotlight is now pointed in my direction. I did a cute pose first and that earned me applause from the crowd.

That moment is that one slowmo moment of my life. I am smiling wide as I enjoy every second that I am walking in the runway. Lahat ng tao na nadadaanan ko ay nakangiti sa akin. Nagpalakpakan pa silang lalo nang bigla akong umikot, a thing that I learned from Mama Cece kasi suki siya dati ng mga Gay Beauty Contest!

Sheesh! I am living my dream! Naalala ko nung bata ako, pinapanood ko lang ‘to. Pero ngayon, nandito na ako! Ako na ang rumarampa ngayon! And you know who did? God did!

My wide smile never fade up until I reached the middle of the runway… up until Hope’s distance from me became closer and closer. Nang malapit na siya sa akin ay kitang-kita ko kung papaano tumaas ang kilay niya habang nakatingin siya sa akin.

And I never expected it when suddenly, bigla akong nawalan ng balanse nang bumangga ang isa kong paa sa kanyang paa.

Natumba ako sa runway.

All the people gasped and so did I, as well. Bigla, nabalutan ng bulungan nila ang buong paligid. Hanggang sa nagsikislapan ang mga camera habang nandito pa rin ako sa pinakanakakahiya kong sitwasyon.