Let's Play Pretend

Second Chance

"So... You're back?" Matapang at mataas ang tindigan sa tanong ni Karylle, and yet there was a hint of longing in her eyes. Like the stiffness is her voice and the walls she put up against everyone was slowly beginning to fall apart.

Kumawala si Vice sa yakap ni Anne sa kanya. Then slowly, he approached Karylle. "Yes." Tumigil lang sya ng ilang hakbang lang ang layo nila sa isa't isa. "I'm back."

Matagal na nagkatitigan ang dalawa, not one moved an inch nor flinched in their long and unwinding staring contest. It's a familiar tension that they've felt months ago. Parang nung unang beses na nagkita si Anne at si Karylle after their misunderstanding a while ago. But of course, this was different. It was caused by something deeper than a childish fight, and it left everyone completely speechless.

And then biglang pumasok si Dumbo sa backstage, catching the attention of everyone.

Nang nakita ng lalaki ang nangyayari sa loob ng quiet room. Vice, and Karylle looks as if they were about to eat each other. And he can't seem to make-out which of the two was it. Kaya naman, napaubo sya at minata ang direktor. "Ten seconds 'till cue time." He declared with finality.

"Pwede pasabi na pa delay lang ng ilang minuto." Sumignal si Direk sa may advedtising at control area. "Break-time muna maski three to five minutes lang, meron lang kaming papag-usapan."

Dumbo sighed pero agad naman syang sumunod at nag-signal sa control room. "Okay, direk. Pero three minutes lang ha. Naghihintay na ang mga tao."

"You heard him." Direk Bobet spoke with a bit of nonchalance in his tone. Nagbuntong hininga sya sabay napa-iling. Mga artista talaga, so dramatic. "Nababasa nyo naman yung tarpulin na naka-digkit sa pintuan diba?"  Tinuro nya yung sign na nakalagay sa door entrance. ""Smile, you're on." Be professional." He looked at Vice and Karylle, and then he noticed that they suddenly became sheepish. "Lalabas na tayo. Make sure you make the audience smile. If I notice any funny business on the stage, papauwiin ko kayong dalawa."

"Wala akong ginagawang masama." Dipensib na sagot ng binata sa direktor.

"Hindi ako mang-mang para hindi malaman ang nangyari sa inyong dalawa." Diretso at tactless na sambit ng direktor sa mga ito. "But, if possible, wag nyong dalhin sa stage. Can you at least make-up, parang yung dati lang. Trabaho lang."

"Sorry po." Bulong ng namumulang dalaga.

Saglit na nagnakaw ng tingin ang binata kay Karylle bago sya tumingin sa kanyang mga kasamahan. He began to feel a bit insecure about his actions and himself. Way to go, Viceral. Reklamo nya sa kanyang sarili. "Sorry din po." Mahina nyang paumanhin dito.

Direk raised his hands, a gesture of utter surrender. "Fine... Fine." Binuksan nya ang pinto ng Entrance. "Now, please, get in there and make the madlang people happy?"

Tumango si Vice at ngumiti sa direktor. Everyone expected for him to be the first to leave the room, but then... instead of walking away from her he did the exact opposite that almost made everyone in the studio pale as a ghost.

He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly as if she'll runaway if he let go... And after fleeting seconds, he let his arms loose and took a step back. "Sorry din." His eyes was cast down and he looked a like a child. Parang bata na pinagalitan ng nanay. "That was unprofessional of me to taunt you like that."

Pigil hininga nilang hinintay ang sagot ni Karylle.

She looked confused and lost as she process whatever is happening around her. Na parang hindi totoo na niyakap sya ng lalaking nasa harap nya. And to think... He looked so different.