China Doll [DaraGon/NyongDal]

{ 15 }

{ 15 }

"Okay!" Tawag ni Director Kim sa atensyon namin ni Jiyong. Kaming dalawa lang muna ang magkasama ngayon at bini-brief ni Director Kim dahil kami ang main focus ng scene na ifi-film for now. Manonood kami ng concert ni Moon Junghwan na siyang role ni Kiyong but unexpectedly, Ahn Geunman who is Jiyong's character, was friends with the band we'll watch.

"Jiyong-ssi, as stated, ibabalot mo sa kamay mo 'yung scarf na kinuha mo mula kay Dara-ssi from the last scene. You will play the guitar with that injured hand and you'll keep your eyes on Dara-ssi. The look must be..." Napapalatak pa si Director Kim nang hindi niya mahagilap ang nararapat na salita. "...intense. 'Yung tipong kahit nahihirapan at nasasaktan ka na sa ginagawa mo dahil injured ka, you'll persevere because you don't want to ruin Dara-ssi's night. Because you want to see her smile and enjoy." Pagtatapos niya.

"Yes, Director." Sagot naman ni Jiyong. He briefly looked at me and smiled. Inismiran ko naman siya at narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa.

Bumaling sa akin si Director Kim. "Dara-ssi, on your part, you'll be captivated by Jiyong-ssi. This is your date with your ultimate crush, supposedly, right?" Tumango ako. "Pero sa halip na kay Moon Junghwan ka mag-focus ay na kay Ahn Geunman ang atensyon mo. You have to look as if his eyes draw you in and you can't look away anymore. Na kahit na hindi man siya ang bokalista at kahit na nakasuot man siya ng maskara, siya at siya pa rin ang nakikita mo."

Ngumiti ako kay Director. "I understand, Director."

Tumango si Director Kim sa aming dalawa at ngumiti. Tinapik niya ang balikat namin ni Jiyong. "Well, I'm counting on the two of you." Huling pahayag niya bago naglakad papunta sa ibang staffs.

Nagulat pa ako nang tumawa si Jiyong at bigla niya akong akbayan. My eyes were wide when I turned to him and I realized how close our faces were. His chinky eyes were twinkling with delight and no matter how much I want to deny it, I saw the face of the Kwon Jiyong I loved from years ago.

"You'll be captivated by my eyes, miss," bulong niya sa akin sa mababang boses at hindi ko napigilan ang paninigas ng katawan ko. I felt his warm breath close to my cheeks and I was fully aware of the weight of his arm around my shoulders. What is he doing to me?! Why is he assaulting my senses like this?! Bakit nararamdaman ko ang presensya niya sa bawat galaw ko?!

"Sh–shut up, Jiyong," I stuttered. Hindi ko alam kung tinitingnan na ba kami ng mga staffs o ano. Nanatili lang ang paningin ko sa baba. I was afraid to meet his eyes. I was afraid that he's right. That I'll be captivated by those stupid brown orbs again this time.

"Come on, miss." He responded, not minding my answer. "Look at me. I bet you'll be captivated." Paanyaya niya pa muli.

I swallowed hard. I was slowly becoming beguiled by that low voice of his and I know for sure that this isn't good. Do friends do this? Do friends tease their friends like this? Then... does it mean he does this with Yoona too?

Napapikit ako sa naisip ko bago kinagat ang aking pang-ibabang labi. What the hell am I thinking? Itinulak ko siya palayo. He staggered back because I caught him by surprise. I looked up and saw confusion in his eyes but I steeled myself. Pinilit kong ngumiti kahit na sigurado akong hindi mukhang matinong ngiti ang ipinakita ko sa kanya. "S–stop playing around, Kwon." Mahina kong sabi. "Una na 'ko, may kukunin lang ako sa tent ko." I mumbled before practically running back to the tent.

Malakas ang kabog ng puso ko nang makarating ako sa loob ng tent. Nanghihina akong napaupo bago ko hinilot ang sentido ko. I don't like this. I don't like that I'm feeling like this. Na para bang may naghahabulang sampung kabayo sa dibdib ko at may party ng isang buong zoo sa tiyan ko.

No, hindi tama 'to, I chastised myself. Kailangan ko 'tong pigilan hangga't maaga pa. Being around Jiyong proves to be a danger to my senses.

Wala sa loob na binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at bigla pa akong napatayo nang makita ko si Jiyong na matiim ang titig sa akin. I gulped before speaking, opting not to meet his eyes. "A–anong–" I sighed. "Bakit ka nandito?"

"Bakit mo 'ko iniiwasan?" Diretsong tanong niya at hindi agad ako nakasagot. This guy's pretty sharp, huh?

Nagkunwa akong nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "Ano bang sinasabi mo?" Nakangiti pa kunwaring sagot ko. I met his eyes in fake bravado. "Nababaliw ka na naman." Kaswal ko pang dagdag para mapagtakpan ang kaba ko.

"Are you really keeping up with the act?" Bored niyang sagot. "For an actress, you're doing such a shitty job of keeping yourself together."

"If only you'd make sense, hindi ako aakto ng ganito." Pagsisinungaling ko pa. "Para kang ewan mag-isip minsan eh."

"We're friends, right?" Bigla niyang sinabi.

I pursed my lips for a bit before nodding. "Yes."

Tinitigan niya pa ako ng ilang saglit bago nagsalita. "Fine. Whatever you want, Dara." Huling sagot niya bago lumabas ng tent.

--

Gabi na nang matapos namin ang shooting. Good thing Yoona wasn't here today dahil wala naman siyang scene. If she was, jeez, I don't know how I would act around her. Hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang mga pinagsasabi niya tungkol kay Jiyong no'ng nakaraang araw.

"Good work, good work!" Kanya-kanyang bati namin sa isa't-isa. I was exhausted to the bone and was about to go back to my tent when Jjangmae oppa– the manager appointed to me by the company– strode towards me with a smile. "Dara, sasabihin ko lang na darating na bukas 'yung trailer van para sa'yo. Mas makakapagpahinga ka na ng maayos do'n." Maligayang balita niya. Well, the other artists began bringing their own trailers about a week ago. Since ako 'yung bago, medyo natagalan pa bago maasikaso ni Jjangmae oppa 'yung akin.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Thank you oppa!"

He waved his hand. "No problem, Dara. Sige, mauna ka na do'n sa van. Ako ng bahala sa pagbibitbit ng gamit mo."

Pagod akong ngumiti bago nagpasalamat muli atsaka dumiretso sa company van. Pagpasok ko sa loob ay agad kong isinandal ang likod ko sa upuan. "Hayyyy," I made a sound in comfort before closing my tired eyes. Buong araw kaming nag-film ngayon kaya naman nakakapagod talaga. What drained my energy the most though is the fact that Jiyong and I are together in most of the scenes! Kung si Kiyong nga ay kaninang hapon pa nakauwi dahil kaunti lang naman ang scene namin ngayon na magkasama. Dapat nga ay hihintayin niya ako kung wala lang siyang photoshoot na pupuntahan kaya hinayaan ko na siya.

Nang bumukas ang pintuan ng van ay idinilat ko agad ang mata ko. "Oppa can we get some– JIYONG?!" I screeched when I saw it wasn't Jjangmae oppa. It was a smirking Kwon Jiyong, and at that moment, I knew it wasn't good.

"Aalis na kami ni Jjangmae oppa, bakit andito ka pa?!" Sigaw ko nang walang paalam na pumasok siya sa loob ng van at umupo sa tabi ko.

"You don't have plans tonight, right?" Sagot niya nang hindi pinansin ang sinasabi ko.

I debated lying just to get him to go away when he spoke again. "Right. I know you don't have plans so don't try to lie, miss."

Inis na tinitigan ko siya. "At paano mo naman nasigurado?!" Iritadong sagot ko.

He only shrugged with that annoying smirk that I want to wipe away so much. Sa pagkagulat ko ay hinawakan niya ang braso ko atsaka ako hinila. "Ji–" Sisigawan ko pa sana siya nang bigla niyang binuksan ang pinto ng van at may mangilan-ngilan pang staff na naroon.

He was dragging me to a white Lamborghini and I was trying to take my arm back but he was much stronger than me. He unceremoniously shoved me inside the shotgun seat and quickly sealed my seatbelt. Nailang pa ako nang lumapit ang mukha niya sa akin habang inaayos iyon. "So you won't run away." Nakangisi niyang sabi bago mabilis na ini-lock ang pinto at lumipat sa driver's seat.

I was in a daze when I realized that he was already driving. "Jiyong saan tayo pupunta?!" I shouted at him but he only briefly turned his head to me with a small smile.

"Dinner."