Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Two

I sat on the sofa and Cienne did the same. Her grin is still very visible and I instantly rolled my eyes, probably for the fourth time today.

"So," She started. "Na-f'fall ka na kay bes 'no?" Cienne calls Jerome bes. Ewan ko sa bruhang 'yan kung bakit.

"No." Sagot ko kagad. "He's just not quite there..."

"Ay! Taas ng standards ni ate gerl!" She commented.

"Ewan ko sayo," I said. "Anyway, ano na nga? Wala ka pa ring balak kausapin kambal mo?"

Cienne grabs a pillow and shoves it on her face. Tapos sumigaw siya nang sumigaw. Parang baliw talaga 'tong babaeng 'to.

"Huy," I tried removing the pillow from her face pero hinigpitan niya 'yung hawak niya sa pillow at mas lumakas pa 'yung pagsigaw niya.

"Huy!" I said again. Sigaw pa rin siya ng sigaw. Hindi ko nga maintindihan 'yung pinagsasabi niya e, tinakpan ba naman kasi 'yung mukha niya ng unan.

She screamed and screamed for a few more seconds until she finally removed the pillow from her face. Hinawi niya 'yung mga buhok niyang nasa mukha na niya and arranged herself.

"Okay. I'm done." She said and placed her hands on her lap.

I looked at her with confusion. "Ano 'yun? Para kang baliw!"

"It's to release the anger I have," She explained and stood up to leave.

"Huh? Ganun ka talaga kagalit sa kambal mo?"

She stopped walking and faced me. She gave me a weak smile and walked away.

I sighed. I hated seeing Cienne like this. Cienne was always supposed to be happy -- but with all this twin sister drama going on, I guess not.

---

The next day, Jerome visited us again and this time I had gladly let him in, considering that I don't look like an emotional wreck anymore. I needed to look ligaw-worthy, even if I really couldn't care less.

"Hi," He greeted me with a smile. "Tapos ka na ba mag-banyo, or...?"

I laughed. "Gago ka talaga kahit kailan."

We sat down on the sofa. I turned on the TV to fill in the silence.

"Where's Cienne?" He asked.

"Ah, she's in her room. Nag-d'drama, probably."

He chuckled. We caught each other's gaze, and for a while, we were just staring at each other. It felt really awkward.

"Okay, uhm," I broke the silence. "How's work?"

"Good," He replied. "Actually, nandito ako kasi I want to tell you about work."

"Oh," I frown. Pumunta siya dito para pag-usapan lang 'yung trabaho niya? Weirdo.

"Parang hindi ka yata masaya." He smirked. "I meant, I'm here to get you one."

"Ano?"

"May job opening 'yung company na tinatrabahuhan ko. And I think you'd be perfect for the job."

I gasped in excitement and immediately wrapped my arms around him. "Oh my God. Thank you."

"No problem." He pulled away, removed his glasses and wiped the lenses with the lower hem of his shirt. "Alam mo namang I work for Lumiere Sportswear, and right now they're in need of an assistant production manager. Walang assurance na makakapasok ka pero marami kang alam tungkol sa mga ganung bagay, diba?"

"Yes!" I replied immediately. "The job's perfect! Thank you talaga, Jerome. I owe you one."

"There's more, and you're never going to believe this." He put his glasses back on and looked at me in the eye. "If ever makapasok ka, the person you'd be working for is Victonara Galang!" My smile immediately faded. "I actually can't believe na hindi ko pa na-m'mention sayo na I work for her. You know her diba? You both played for La Salle nung--"

"No!" I cut him off.

"Excuse me?" Jerome looked very confused.

"Uhm... hehe." I smiled, ashamed. "I-I can't take the job. S-Sorry." Nahiya tuloy ako bigla. Wala naman kasing ka-poise poise 'yung pag-hindi ko. Nakakahiya.

"Okay," He looked even more confused. "Bakit?"

"Uhmmmm," I thought of some sort of excuse. "Allergy!"

"Allergy?" He asked ng nakakunot 'yung noo.

"Yes, allergy. May allergy ako sa ano, sa ano, sa ganon. Alam mo 'yun?" He shook his head. "Oh basta 'yun. Okay sige byeeeee," I grabbed him by the wrist and brought him to the door. I looked at him nung nasa labas na siya nung pintuan.

"Sorry," I said and I was about to close the door when he stopped me.

"Mika?" He said with his hopeful eyes.

"Sorry, that job's not for me. Okay see you tomorrow, byeee!" And with that, I slammed the door.

I leaned against the door and let out a sigh.

I am NOT working for Ara. No way. Not in a million years. Nakakaloka 'tong si Jerome.

I was still overwhelmed with everything that's happened when Cienne came in.

"Oh? Bat ka nandyan sa may pintuan?" She questioned.

Binuksan ko 'yung pinto para silipin kung nandun pa si Jerome, but he was gone. I sighed.

"You're never going to believe what Jerome just told me," I said.

"Ano? Na peke talaga 'yung glasses niya?"

Binatukan ko naman siya kagad. "Gags! Seryoso 'to!"

Nakapamewang na si Cienne. "Whatever. So ano nga sabi niya?"

I exhaled deeply before I spoke. "May job opening 'yung company na tinatrabahuhan ni Jerome, and syempre wala namang assurance na makakapasok ako but still, I was very excited."

"Oh! Maganda 'yun! You'll finally have a job!"

"I know, I know. But the thing is..." I started twiddling my thumbs. "Magiging boss ko si Ara. As in... Ara Galang."

Cienne's jaw dropped immediately. "A-Ano, wait, ah-eh, what?" Napakamot siya sa ulo niya. "Eh pero, matagal na tayong hindi nagkikita-kita ah? Tinext ko ngang babaeng 'yun dati para kamustahin siya pero hindi siya nag-r'reply. As far as I know she cut all the communication she had with us. Dineactivate nga niya lahat ng social media niya. Buhay pa pala 'yung babaeng 'yun?"

"I haven't had the chance to talk to her." I looked down. "Hindi na buhay 'yung babaeng 'yun sakin."

"Kuuunnnggg walaaaa ka naaaang, maiiinnntindiiiiihaaan," Nagsimula nang kumanta si Cienne ng Wag Ka Nang Umiyak by Gary Valenciano. Para talagang timang 'to. "Kuuunngg walaaa ka naaang, makapitaaan, kumapit ka sa aaaakiiin, kumapit ka sa akiinn."

"Tapos ka na?"

"HINDIIII KITAAAAAA, BIBITAWAAAAAAAAAAAAN!" Todo birit naman niya. "Okay, tapos na ko."

"Ciennang! Maawa ka naman sa mga homeless people!" I exclaimed. "Dahil dyan sa boses mo babagyuhin tayo tapos wala silang masisilungan! Tsk tsk."

"Haaaa? Anong pinagsasabi mo dyan? May golden voice kaya ako." Hinapos naman niya 'yung throat niya.

"Golden voice? Saan mo nakuha 'yang golden voice mo? Sa 168?"

"BULLY!" She yelled and stomped away. I laughed as she paused for a while and faced me. She looks much calmer, and more serious. "By the way, I suggest you to take the job anyway. it'd be nice that you two would catch up." She said and shifted from nice to angry again.

Of course she'd say that. Hindi naman niya kasi alam 'yung totoo.