China Doll [DaraGon/NyongDal]

{ 05 }

{ 05 }

Para akong may neck brace na suot nang makapasok kami sa loob ng conference hall. Halos marami-rami na ring staff ang nasa loob at bumati agad kami pagpasok. I sat next to Kiyong to be safe, habang katabi naman niya si Yoona na nasa gilid si Jiyong.

I wasn't looking in their direction at all. Paminsan-minsan ay kinakausap ko si Kiyong at nagtatanong sa kanya ng ilang mga bagay na hindi pamilyar sa akin habang hindi pa nagsisimula ang mismong script reading at ipinapaliwanag naman niya. This guy definitely has more experience than I do, and it's evident in his aura. His relaxed posture and goofy smile all indicate how experienced he is in this, samantalang napaka-stiff ko naman.

I sighed, which made him turn his head towards me. "Hey, is something wrong?" Tanong niya.

Tipid ko siyang nginitian bago ako umiling. "Nothing, just nerves."

Kiyong grinned, ruffling my hair. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil nagulo na ang buhok ko pero humalakhak lang siya. "Don't be nervous, Dara. You have me. You have the staffs. Kaya nga may script reading prior to the actual shoot is to at least get a feel of our roles. Wala namang magagalit sa'yo rito kahit na magkamali ka." He lectured.

I do know that, but somehow the nerves just won't go away. Siguro ay dahil sa aming apat, ako talaga ang pinakabago sa industriyang 'to. Not to brag, but I know I have the skill. Still though, hindi lang naman talent ang basehan sa mga ganitong bagay. Talent in itself can't make up with experience.

Unti-unting napuno ang conference room ng iba pang mga artista na makakasama namin sa drama. At 9 o'clock on the dot, pumalakpak ang director sa gitna para makuha ang atensyon namin. "Alright, I think everyone's here, 'no?" He called out bago tumango-tango. "Of course, thanks to everyone who made time today to be here. We'll start off with an introduction of everyone who will be involved in the production of the drama. As you all know, I'm Kim Hanjun, the director." Pumalakpak kami at isa-isa nang sumunod ang ibang staff sa introduction ni Director Kim.

Nang matapos ang nasa production team ay ang mga artista na ang sunod na ipinakilala. One of the actresses who was present in my audition was also here. Kaming apat ang huling nagpakilala sa lahat.

"Good morning, everyone! I'm Kwon Jiyong and I will be acting the part of Jiang Meng in the Taiwanese version, and Ahn Geunman in the Korean version. Please take care of me!" He bowed and resounding claps were heard. Muntik na akong mapairap. Buti na lang pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

Sunod na tumayo si Yoona. "Hello! I'm Im Yoona and I will be playing as Min Seolhee, Taiwanese version's Li Xiang! Thank you for having me!"

Nang tumayo si Kiyong ay bumilis na ang tibok ng puso ko. I'd be up next after this goofball. Calm down, Dara! "Hello everyone, I'm Jang Kiyong. My role is Moon Junghwan, Shang Yuan Yi in the original version. Thank you for choosing me!"

When Kiyong sat down, I heaved a deep breath before standing up and smiling brightly. "Good day! I'm Park Dara, and I'm Cheon Saeun, the Qi Yue of the Taiwanese version. Nice to meet you all!" Pagpapakilala ko bago ako nag-bow at umupo.

Kiyong leaned in a bit, whispering. "See, you did great. Nothing to be nervous about." He said and winked.

Nginitian ko siya bago ako tumango. We then focused on the scripts in our hands. Nagpaliwanag ang direktor nang iilang mga bagay bago kami tumuloy sa mismong script reading.

It was kind of difficult at first, especially since it's really my first time and I'm only beginning to test the waters. It's a really good thing that Kiyong was encouraging me and he helps me out a lot lalo na kapag may mga parts na hindi ako sigurado kung anong gagawin.

"You all did a good job! The first half of this meeting is already promising." Ngisi ni Director Kim sa amin. "Ten-minute break, everyone!"

Nagkanya-kanya na muna kami. May ibang mga lumabas para mag-bathroom o 'di kaya naman ay bumili ng snacks habang may mga katulad naming nanatili lang sa loob ng conference room. Maliban sa aming apat, halos limang staffs lang ang nag-stay maliban kay Director Kim at sa dalawa pang producers.

"How is it?" Tanong ni Kiyong sa akin.

I gulped down my water and I accidentally averted my eyes to Jiyong and Yoona's place behind this goofball in front of me. Nasa may sulok sila ng conference room at tumatawa si Yoona habang pinapalo si Jiyong. The latter was laughing too as he dodged Yoona's hits.

They look good together.

Kiyong cleared his throat, which brought back my attention to him. "I've been meaning to ask you this, pero ngayon ko lang nakuha 'yung timing." Nagtatakang tumingin ako sa kanya. "Remember the first time we met? Sa bar?" I nodded. His voice lowered when he spoke again. "Jiyong said he's your guy. Is it true?"

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. Damn, keep your composure, Sandara! I chided myself. Actress Dara mode, on!

Mahina akong tumawa, sa pagkagulat ni Kiyong. "Nope. We met for the first time do'n sa bar. Maybe he just worried about me 'cause you're drunk and you were persistent on sitting with me," pagsisinungaling ko. I even smiled for added measure.

Sa itsura ni Kiyong ay mukhang napaniwala ko naman siya sa kasinungalingan ko. He slowly nodded his head before shyly scratching the back of his nape. "C'mon, let's forget about that part. I already apologized, you know!"

Tumawa na lang ako atsaka umiling. Wala akong balak na ipaalam kahit kanino na kilala ko na noon pa man si Kwon Jiyong.

"Really though, that's good." Biglang sabi ni Kiyong.

"What?"

"The fact that you haven't met him before. I know I already said this back then but I'll reiterate: don't fall in love with that guy, Dara." Sumeryoso siya. "He'll only break your heart. We're not close but I'm friends with some of the girls he went out with and they were all crying at the end." He shook his head repeatedly. "Kiss 'em and leave 'em, that's how he operates."

He already broke mine, Kiyong, I thought but I kept my mouth shut. Wala na akong pakialam sa kanya dahil hindi ko na problema kung sino man ang gawin niyang girlfriend o kung sino mang babae ang nagpaloko sa kanya.

Uminom si Kiyong ng tubig bago nagsalita. "Besides, as far as I know, si Yoona pa lang talaga ang nakaka-handle sa kanya. They've been in several projects together and she's the closest girl to him na hindi nawawala."

Lumunok ako bago sumagot. "I don't really care, either way. I'm here because of work. Yoona can have Jiyong all to herself and I'd even support them in case they come out as a couple." Pagkikibit-balikat ko.

Kiyong grinned, ruffling my hair once more. "That's my girl!" He chuckled loudly, attracting the attention of the others inside the room.

Kumunot ang noo ko at sasagot pa sana nang may isang staff na magsalita. "Look at Kiyong-ssi and Dara-ssi. They are already getting along so well even though they only met today! Is this something we can look forward to in the future?" Tukso ng mga staff sa amin. Pati sina Director Kim ay nakisali na sa tuksuhan at hindi ko na napigilan ang pamumula ko dahil sa hiya.

"Thank you, thank you!" Parang pulitikong nagpasalamat naman si Kiyong habang natatawa rin. He playfully placed his arms around me which caused more ruckus and teasing. Agad ko siyang itinulak palayo nang hindi sinasadyang napatingin ako sa gawi nila Jiyong at Yoona. Yoona was laughing too but Jiyong was expressionless as he watched us.

I swallowed before averting my gaze.

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A/N: Please vote and comment, guys! ;D Updated again 'cause APEC week's done. May pasok ako kanina huhu :(

Btw, G and D's character names are Korean puns!~ In Korean, devil is agma = Ahn GeunMan; angel is cheonsa = Cheon Saeun :))) ㅋㅋㅋㅋ just wanna share.

AND YASSSSSS WHO HAS SEEN HELLO BITCHES???? THE QUEEN SLAYED! <3

-X