“It was you!”
Tama nga ko sa hinala ko. It was Ram. A friend in high school. What a coincidence,.. pareho naming pinangarap na makagawa ng pelikula, at ngayon.. it’s our chance!
I’m Ark Villanueva. 24 years old. A young professional. Graduate ng AB Filming sa University of the Philippines. Ito ‘yung pangarap ko. At ngayon, naabot ko na.
Last night, I came from a victory party. It was a victory party of my previous true-to-life action packed TV series. The audiences responded very well to it that’s why we got the gold. Naghari ang series sa weeknight primetime slot nito. I’m living in Makati City now. Sarili ko ng property ang condo unit ko. ‘Yan ang pinakauna ‘kong investment sa perang aking pinaghirapan. Sumunod na ‘yung laptop, pc, gadgets, appliances at ang aking kotse.
Many things have changed since I started working in RMB. Nabili ko na ‘yung mga bagay na gusto ‘kong makuha noon pa man. Sobra-sobrang biyaya na ang natatanggap ko mula sa Kanya. That’s why I’m very thankful, na kahit hindi ko naman hinihingi, binibigay pa rin Niya.
I promised myself one important thing. Nabago pa man ako lumagay sa tahimik, kailangan ko munang mapatayuan ng mansion ang pamilya ko. And I guess that would be a little bit easier for us now. Proud na proud ako sa narating ng bawat member ng aming pamilya. My mom is now the head of the Department of Education Region 12, she’s kind’a in to politics. I was raised hating that field, I just don’t like it and don’t ask why.
Masaya na rin ako para sa kapatid ko, he’s Dowell Villanueva… at nagsisimula na siya sa photography business niya. I’m very much proud of him. Kung kinakailangan talikuran niya kami, alam kong gagawin niya ‘yon para lang makamtan ang mga pangarap niya. He was brave enough to fight for it, hindi kasi ‘yon ang gusto ni mama at papa para sa kanya. They’re in Gensan now. At sana next week matuloy na ‘yung pag-uwi ko ‘ron.
But I think medyo matatagalan pa ang uwi ko ng Gensan. Ito na kasi ‘yung pinakaiintay ko. That someday I can bring my imagination into the big screen. At eto na nga talaga ‘yon! Bukas ko makikilala ang taong siyang magsusulat ng aking pelikula. Sino kaya siya? I don’t know but there’s something bothering me. And it was my high school buddies. They helped me a lot. And not because of them? Siguro hindi ko na na-pursue ang pagfi-filming. Pero matindi talaga ‘tong pagnanais na ‘to e. I don’t see myself in any other future except filming or getting into show business. Not like the “showbiz” you’re thinking of.
“Siguro mayaman ka na ngayon...” while drinking coffee, a Starbucks coffee.
“’Di naman, siguro nakakaangat lang ako ngayon.. At saka siguro, panahon ko lang talaga ngayon… Panahon na natin ngayon.” It’s just hard to believe that this could really happen. No one expected this. Ram was a bit taller than me before but now, we’re just the same. Ito na nga ‘yung bagay na bumabagabag sa akin, kagabi pa.
“First film mo rin pala ‘to Ark. Possible pala ‘tong mangyari…”
“You know what, when I first heard about this.. Kayo kagad ang unang pumasok sa isip ko…”
“Talaga lang ah.. Oh, wait! Still remember Sandy?” Sandy?...
“Sandy Crisanto! Naaalala mo pa?”
I stopped. Hindi ko alam pero bigla akong natigilan. “I guess you remembered it already…”
I simply smiled. I know what Ram is thinking of right now. “Kumusta na siya?”
“Well, I saw her yesterday. Sinamahan ko kasi ‘yung pinsan ko na magpacheck-up…. Sandy’s a doctor now!”
Sandy was my high school….. I don’t know what it is called but I guess it is something like… high school love. Ewan, pero parang tinamaan talaga ako ‘non. It was a hard and yet a wonderful feeling. Ewan pero until now napapangiti pa rin ako ‘pag naaalala ko ‘yon. It was really a weird thing for a friend.
“Why are you smiling like that? Don’t tell me hanggang ngayon may gusto ka pa rin sa kanya…”
“Wala na Ram… sobrang tagal na ‘nun and I’ve totally moved on..” Hindi ko alam kung nagpapakatotoo ako o nagsisinungaling lang ako. Minsan kasi, tinatanong ko sarili ko, nakapagmove-on na ba talaga ko? If ever I will meet her again, is there any chance for the feeling to come back?
“Ram, I have a question...” Please Ram, stop me from asking this!!...
“Ano ‘yon?” I can’t help it!
“’Sang hospital kayo nagpacheck-up kahapon?” I’m just curious, you know.
