He'd already taken off his sunglasses.
"Oh my gosh! Michael Zachary?" sabi ng isang babae na bibili rin sana. Patay. "Pwede pong papicture? Fan niyo po ako!"
And with that, people began to flock around Kuya Michael. Agad din akong nilapitan ng isang bodyguard para ilayo kay Kuya. Naglakad kami papalayo, papunta sa lift. Nilingon ko ulit si Kuya pero hindi ko na siya makita. Marami ng tao ang nasa paligid niya.
His manager would probably kill him. I could sense it.
"Will he be okay?" I asked the bodyguard as we got inside of the lift.
"Yes, po Ma'am. Andoon po si Christian na kasama ni Sir," He mentioned this while talking to someone over his earpiece.
"I told him to be careful, that dumbass," I said, trying not to worry.
When we got to the parking lot, they handed me the card to Kuya's vehicle. I waited inside the car as they surrounded it. Matagal-tagal din bago dumating si Kuya. He instantly hopped into his car, panting. I looked for a bottle of water and was fortunate to find one. I handed it on to him, and he finished it.
"You okay?" I asked him worryingly.
He chuckled and nodded.
"You have the energy to laugh after what happened to you, don't you?" I asked, and then found myself laughing along with him. We drove away from the mall once he started the car.
"Oh! The kwek-kweks are with Christian. Buti na lang the lady gave it to me before I left," he said while his eyes were on the road.
I gave him a nod. There was a moment of silence between us.
"Is it hard?"
"Huh?" Napansin kong tumingin siya sa akin saglit bago ibalik yung tingin niya sa daan.
"Being an actor," alam kong madalas niya itong naeexperience. He only wanted to live a regular life like everyone else, but I knew he couldn't since people are all around him and may makakakilala sa kanya.
"It's hard, of course, but I like it! I also have to fulfill my promise to Mom," he responded after a little pause. This time, ako naman ang napatingin sa kanya.
"What promise?" I asked him.
"She said that if acting is my passion, I should be happy with it, and if I am, she would be pleased as well," he smiled. "I told Mama that one day I would be renowned as one of the greatest actors in this field. It's a shame that when I did, they were already gone. I should have done it when they were still living."
"They're proud of you Kuya, don't worry." I tapped his shoulder and smiled. "We're proud of you."
