Pag Mulat

IX. The Siopao

I slowly walk to the stage wearing my glass slippers, tonight is the grand ball where the Prince invited all the maiden in the kingdom so that he could choose from them the woman he'll marry.

I wasn't wearing the dress yet. Pina practice lang kami ni ms. Minchin kung pano namin dalhin ang sarili namin sa scene na to. Mariel had her scene and I can say.. pwede na. Sanay naman kasi siya mag heels at kabisado niya ang line niya. But me? Huh! Di pag arte ang ginagawa ko, it's reality honey. I really like the prince at ako talaga ang pakakasalan niya.

I was nervous but I held my chin up as I entered the stage. May mga extra na nag sasasayaw din kunwari. Natatakpan nila si Kristan. The extras were supposed to make way and stop whatever they're doing to welcome the last maiden that went to the ball and that was me. Cinderella. Isa isa silang nahawi and Kristan was at the end waiting for me. Nagulat ito dahil ako ang lumabas at hindi si Irene.

I struggled to walk my way to Kristan but when I took the last step, I slipped. Dali dali ay sinalo ako ni Kristan sa siko. Nakakunot ang noo nito sakin.

"What are you doing?" mahinang tanong nito.

"Kristan, binigyan ako ng chance ni Ms. Minchin!" I excitedly whispered to him. He sighed. He held me to dance, I kept on stepping on his feet dahil nakatakong ako. "Oopps, sorry." I whispered. We kept dancing.

"How come I've never seen you before?" The prince asked.

Tumunog yung orasan and it striked 12:00 midnight. I gasped.

"I- I have to go!" I said my script. Hinawi ko yung mga tao pero nag kakanda patid patid ako dahil sa pesteng glass slippers. Hindi kasi ako sanay mag takong. Bat kasi di na lang bakya yung gamit ni Cinderella!

"I haven't gotten to know you yet. Wait!" Sigaw ni Kristan.

Na excite naman akong si Kristan naman ang humahabol sakin this time kaya talagang performance level ako sa pag hawi sa mga harang kaya napatid na talaga ako this time at sumalampak sa sahig. I heard some people laugh.

"Caroline!" Sigaw ni Ms. Minchin. I can already imagine her thin pointy eye brows lifting at me.

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"Hindi lampa si Cinderella. Have you studied her character enough Caroline?" Pinagsasabihan ako ni Ms. Minchin kaharap ng mga set sa play, Mariel and the other crews are also there. Nakayuko lang ako dito. Nararamdaman kong nakatingin sakin si Kenzie at Maco.

"Yes ma'am. Favorite Disney princess ko kaya yun." I told her.

"Then bakit ganyan! Ibang version ba yung napanuod mo nung bata ka!" Napaface palm ito. Umiling iling lang ako. Sakto namang tapos nang magbihis si Kristan at lumapit ito sa meeting. Napaangat ako ng tingin. Save me Kristan. You know how much I wanted this.

"Sige, Kristan. I'll give you the privilege to choose your Cinderella." Sabe ni Ms. Minchin. Everyone was looking at him waiting for his answer.

"It's Mariel ma'am." He said. Gulat na napatingin lahat dito. Mariel looked happy.

"It's Mariel then. I appreciate you trying Caroline. End of rehearsal. Bye everyone." Sabe ni Ms. Minchin.

Umalis na lahat pero naiwan lang akong nakatulala dun. Naupo lang ako sa edge ng stage and I keep on swaying my feet.

"Line, it's okay. You can still be the photographer." Pag alo ni Kenzie sakin.

"Line, ikaw yung Cinderella para sakin." Sweet na sabi ni Maco. I smiled at him. Tinaasan ito ng kilay ni Kenzie. "Wag kang selos dyan baby girl." Then he winked at Kenzie.

"Ew! Pwede ba. Di kasi bagay sayo maging prince. Cos you're not charming."

"Bakit ang dali lang sakanyang hindi ako piliin?" Malungkot na sabi ko, nang marealize ko yon nangilid ang luha ko. Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Maco.

"Ops ops ops. Grabe yang si Kristan eh. Alam mo kung wala lang siyang choice, I'm sure ikaw pipiliin non." Sabe ni Maco. Binatukan ito ni Kenzie.

"Pwede ba, okay na kanina e."

"Kung kailangan niyo na umuwi, okay lang. Susunod ako." I swallowed the lump on my throat.

"Sige, mauuna na kami Line. Sumunod ka ha!" She rubbed my shoulder. Humarap ito kay Maco and she dragged him. "Halika dito. May plano ako." Tapos ay lumabas na sila ng concert room.

I was too distracted to even hear what she said.

I decided to finally get up and walk home. Palabas ay nakasalubong ko si Ice.

"Oh? Ang aga natapos ng rehearsals. Bat ikaw na lang natira?" Tanong ni Ice na may dala pang gym bag.

I was keeping myself from crying. But seeing someone I can run to, i just can't help it.

I cried like a freaking new born baby.

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"Siguro naman may dahilan si Kristan kaya si Mariel ang pinili niya." Paliwanag sakin ni Ice. I told him about everything that happened a while ago while we went somewhere else, dinala niya ako sa comic stores sa mall at nag window shopping kami just to get my mind off things.

We were heading back to the dorm. I didn't even notice that the sun has set already. Nilibre ako ni Ice ng siopao habang pabalik.

"Meron nga. Kasi lampa ako." Malungkot na pag amin ko. "But I can deliver my lines with feelings! I can be a better Cinderella kung walang takong. " Sabay kagat ko sa siopao na special.

"Sayang, hindi kita napanuod."

"Gusto mo akong panuorin?" Tanong ko dito.

"Duh, sinong di gustong makakita ng lampang Cinderella." Then he laughed. I pouted but then I laughed as well.

We parted ways when we reached the fountain. I waved goodbye.

Malapit na ako sa stairway ng dorm when I saw Kristan taking pictures of the fountain. He noticed me but he didn't care. Dire diretso lang ako papuntang hagdan ng dorm namin, I can't look at the face of betrayal right now. Even if that face is the face of the man I love! I looked away and walked exaggerately para mapansin niya ako.

"Line." Napahinto ako sa paglakad. Dahan dahan akong lumingon. "Siopao mo, nahulog." Sabe niya. Napatingin ako sa lapag. Nanlaki ang mata ko, nahulog pala yung tira kong siopao na nilagay ko sa gilid ng bag ko sa pagmamadali ko. Dali dali ko itong pinulot ng hindi tumitingin sa kanya tapos ay lumakad ulit paakyat. Nakakahiya!

"Nag hanap ka nanaman ba ng part-time job?" Napahinto ulit ako at nilingon ko ito, nakaharap na ito sakin.

I was just standing there and thinking of what to say. I can't look at him, I feel like the person I've always trusted myself with, I've always been comfortable with, and someone who accepts me for who I am, is a person I cannot trust right now.

Umiling ako dito bilang sagot.

"Hmm.. dumaan lang ako sa may plaza." I said. Plaza yung mall na malapit sa university namin. He stepped closer to where I was standing. I have no other choice but to look up, only to be greeted by his beautiful eyes.

"May mga nandudukot ng bata sa plaza pag gabi, alam mo ba yun?" My heart warmed down a little with his playfulness, and I hate myself for it.

"Dukutin ko muna mata nila bago nila ako mahawakan." I saw a suppressed smile on his face.

"Delikado pa rin."

"May kasama naman ako."

"Sino?" Kumunot bigla ang noo nito.

"Si Ice." I answered innocently. His face become passive, then he turned around and left. Napakamot ako ng ulo, but then dumiretso na ako paakyat.

Anak ng siopao naman.