Lovesick: Book 2

18

Chapter 18 
Acts of Bravery

My stomach is rumbling from thousands of butterflies inside me like I just ate a whole lot of garden. I haven't eaten breakfast and it's already lunch time, not the rumbling doubled for more.

Dahil ito sa maagang pagpunta namin ni Van sa Star Ent. para sa isang meeting with our actors for the film. Kalahating oras na kami ni Van sa loob nitong maliit na studio, nagtititgan sa pagitan ng bilog na lamesa at sinusubukang i-examine ang script na hawak namin kahit nakalimang basa na ako dito simula kanina.

Para akong nakahinga ng maluwag nang pumasok ang dalawang staff kasabay si Mr. Xiu, at ang dalawang actor na dahilan nang pagpunta namin.

"This is Van, director for this film, and Davienne, the writer of this manuscript," pagpapakilala ni Mr. Xiu sa akin. "Like I said, they are the minds of this production film."

Tinanggap naming dalawa ang kamay nila. Napatingin ako sa kanila nang may malawak na pagngiti. They look so good and also smell so good.

Garrette De Leon is known to be one of the gay actors in the industry. He's one of the advocates of queer media, the person who became part of paving the way to the gay community in the country. He'll be playing the mature character of Shin.

Jeremiah will be played by the known action and drama star actor, Adam Manuel. His fame really bloomed in the 90s together with other actors who are now living a quiet life in the industry.

Van is the one who began pitching the story to them. It turns out, napanuod na pala nila yung ibang clips na nakuhanan namin sa La Union.

Akala ko, dahil sa matanda na sila at kausap kaming wala pa halos sa kalahati ng edad nila, ay hindi na nila papansinin ang proyektong gawa namin. I thought they just wanted to do this because of their contract or maybe because there's no other project pending on them. But I was wrong.

"Davienne, right?" Mr. Garrette De Leon caught my eye.

"Ah, yes po," I nodded, almost a bow.

"Nabasa namin last week ni Adi 'tong manuscript mo, and I we must admit, you're very raw with your words ha..." he smiles, which Mr. Adam Manuel also validated.

"We heard it's your first time to write a manuscript?" Mr. Adam, whom I thought is a very serious man, is now talking to me softly.

"Ah, yes po," I don't know what to say next.

Mahigpit na hawak ni Mr. Garrette De Leon ang manuscript, "well, that's the reason why we also agreed to make this short film. We figured that despite the openness to the LGBTQIA+ here, maganda na maraming kagaya niyo ang sumusulat ng mga pelikulang may kapupulutang aral."

"Hindi kagaya ng mga masyasyadong sexual na palabas ngayon sa kung saan saan. Ginagamit na lang ang plataporma ng pelikula para bastusin ang talento natin. Dinudungisan nila ang ating industriya. It's tragic to see that some of your generation are losing the spark of creativity. Hay, lalo na 'tong mga influencer-influencer na kung ano-ano na lang ang mga ginagawa. " Kasing lalim ng pag-iisip ang lalim ng boses ni Mr. Adam Manuel.

Tumtango lang kami ni Van na para bang pinapangaralan dahil sa kanilang mga sermon sa amin. Before they left, we took photos with them. Right when they reached the door, I realized how my characters, Shin and Jeremiah, will be at good hands with these veteran actors.

Naiwan kaming tatlo ni Van at Mr. Xiu sa studio. Kahit na ilang upuan lang ang pagitan ko sa kanilang dalawa, pakiramdam ko ay ang layo-layo nila dahil sila lang ang nag-uusap. Nang matapos sila, kumaway sa akin si Van na para bang nagpapaalam. Tumayo siya at naunang nagpunta sa pinto. 'Hintayin kita sa labas' he mouthed.