Rose

EPILOGUE

I was in my new office when someone came in. A middle-aged woman wearing a very sophisticated dress and expensive jewelry. Oh, kilala ko siya.

“Congratulations Roselle, you did a very good job with the article you made about Darwin Jackson!” bati sa akin ni Francesca Torres, ang editor-in-chief ng Star Magazines.

“Thank you Ma’am Torres, I’m so honored.” Sagot ko naman habang nakikipag-kamay siya.

“Vasquez is right, you’re really a talent! Hindi siya nagkamali to choose you do the job!” sabi pa niya sa akin. “People—especially ladies and teenagers, love it!”

Ilang araw pa lang ang lumipas simula ng ilabas ang issue ng magazine kung saan nandun ang exclusive interview ko kay Darwin. And it was a big hit. Isang milyon na kopya pa lang ang inalalabas nila sa market but it was already sold-out. Kaya kinailangan na magpa-print ulit ng doble ng original number of copies supposedly to be sold by this month. Sa pagkakaalam ko, sa 50 years ng Star Magazines, this is the only issue that rocked the whole nation.

Really? Dahil lang sa Jackson na yun? (=___=)

“Your interview with him is really spectacular. It’s like Darwin Jackson become an open book. Kaya gustong gusto ng mga readers’ yung issue dahil madami silang nalaman sa kaniya. How did you managed to do that, Roselle?”

Ngumiti ako. Paano nga ba? “Let’s just say that… we had a special connection…”

***knock***knock***knock***

Pumasok si Mary na sobrang lapad ang ngiti.

“Ma’am Rose. May bisita po kayo—” Sabi niya sa akin pero nang mapansin niya si Ms. Torres ay bigla siyang nag-alangan. “—ay, may kausap pa po pala kayo, papasukin ko pa po ba siya?”

“Sige lang Mary, papasukin mo na.” sabi ko sa kaniya then I turned to Ms. Torres. “Hope you don’t mind?”

“Oh, sure… walang problema.” Mabait na sagot niya sa akin. “I’ll be leaving soon din naman.”

Lumabas si Mary at ilang saglit pa ay may kumatok na ulit. Hindi na ako nagsalita dahil alam ko naman kung sino yun.

Pagpasok niya ay nakita kong napatigil si Ms. Torres.

“Mr. Jackson!” sabi niya. Ngumiti lang sa kaniya si Darwin. “What are you doing in here?”

“Ah, I’m just visiting her.” Sagot naman niya sabay turo sa akin.

“Oh, maybe you heard about the great article she wrote about you, huh?”

“Yeah, but actually, I’m here for another reason.” Sabi pa niya.

Tumaas lang ang kilay ni Ms. Torres. “What is it?”

“I’m gonna ask her for a date…” nahihiyang sabi ni Darwin.

“Huh?! Date?” react kaagad ni Ms. Torres. Hala.

Pumagitna na ako. Baka ano pa ang sabihin ng mokong na ‘to eh.

“Ah, Ma’am Torres, hindi ko pa po pala napapakilala siya formally sa inyo po.” kinuha ko ang kamay ni Darwin at pinalapit sa kaniya. “He’s Darwin Jackson. A special friend po.”

“Special friend?”

Tumungo ako. “Classmate ko po siya nung highschool. I didn’t know it was him because he’s concealing himself. Nalaman ko lang po nung araw ng album launch.” Paliwanag ko.