SINCE NINE Book 2: Reunited

Cheese Monster

CHAPTER 10

As days and months went by, Ramcel became busier juggling her studies and working for Studio 11. Victoria had to be patient with her temper. May mga times na nasusungitan sya nito at kailangan nyang pigilan ang sariling patulan ito. Hindi nya rin masyadong makausap si Arianna dahil abala din ito. Napapaiyak pa ito minsan ni Ramcel.

“Why do you have to make her cry?! You are so hard on her. Kailangan bang sigawan mo sya?” Nainis nang sabi ni Victoria nang minsang naabutan nyang nagtatalo sina Ramcel at Arianna tungkol sa ginagawa ng mga itong script. Umiiyak na nagwalk-out si Arianna nang dumating sya.

“What are you? Her mother?” Ramcel shot her a cold look. Her piercing gray eyes could easily inflict fear on others but Victoria disregard it. “Hindi sya batang paslit para kailangan kong akayin. Entertainment is a very competitive business. It’s not for faint- hearted. You always have to be on top of your game. I’m just driving her to be the best that she can be. Sa industriyang ginagalawan ko, hindi pwede ang sensitive. If she can’t take constructive criticism, she doesn’t belong here.”

“Can’t you talk gently? Mahirap ba sayong magsalita ng maayos?”

Ramcel breathed deeply. She seemed to be calming herself. Nakikita nyang ayaw nitong magalit sa kanya. “Vi, huwag mo na kaming alalahanin ni Arianna. Sanay na sya sakin. Babalik rin yun.”

“Ganyan mo ba talaga tratuhin ang mga staff mo?” Victoria was still irritated. “Hindi ako magtataka na isang araw mapagod sila sayo at iwanan ka.”

“This who I am, Vi. Iiwanan mo ba ako?” Ramcel threw her a challenging look.

Of course not, she wanted to say but she stopped herself. Sinalubong nya ang tingin nito. “Kung ganyan din ang magiging trato mo sakin kapag magkasama na tayo sa iisang bahay, malamang na mapagod din ako sayo.”

Natigilan si Ramcel at nakita nyang nasaktan ito sa sinabi nya.

“I have to go. Pumunta lang ako dito para dalhan kayo ng pagkain.” Inilapag ni Victoria ang dala nyang paperbag sa mesita ng sala saka walang lingon-likod nya itong iniwan.

It was a Friday night and she’d been busy at the Bistro too. Hindi na sila masyadong nakakalabas ni Ramcel kaya gusto sana nya itong makasabay man lang kahit dinner kaso init ng ulo nito ang naabutan nya. Naaawa na sya kay Arianna dahil ito ang sumasalo ng temper ni Ramcel. Alam ni Victoria na nape-pressure si Ramcel on meeting deadlines sa klase nito pero hindi tamang kay Arianna nito ibaling ang galit.

Nagtataka ang Mama nya nang umuwi sya sa bahay. Nagsabi kasi sya ditong sa apartment ni Ramcel matutulog. Nang makita nitong nakasimangot sya, hindi na ito nagtanong pa. Alam na nitong nagkatampuhan sila. Ibinilin pa nyang sabihing wala sya sa bahay kapag hinanap sya ni Ramcel.
Nagbasa na lang ng libro habang nakasandal sa headboard ng kama nya si Victoria. She tried hard to ignore Ramcel’s numerous phone calls. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the door bell after almost an hour.

Kumatok ang Mama nya. Hindi rin nya matiis si Ramcel kaya agad nyang binuksan ang pinto para labasin na lang ito. “Arianna’s here.” She was a bit disappointed it wasn’t Ramcel.

Nakaupo ito sa sala. Arianna looked distressed. Tumayo ito nang makita sya at bahagyang ngumiti. “I’m sorry, Vi. It’s my fault kaya kayo nag-away ni Ramcel.”

“You don’t have to say sorry. Sumusobra na rin kasi…”

“No, you don’t understand. I’ve been working with Ramcel for few years now. She has temper yes, but she’s always reasonable. Hindi sya magagalit nang walang dahilan. What happened earlier was my fault. May kailangan kaming i-submit na script. It’s a big project. It’s gonna be an all star cast and Remedios Castro would be directing it.” Victoria knew that director. She’s critically acclaimed in the Philippines and recently won Best director in Cannes Festival. “Ramcel always believed in me. She’s two years my senior. Kahit nung nag-aaral pa lang kami sa Academy, I already look up to her. I know Ramcel told you it was Olivia who assigned me to her but it was actually Ramcel who chose me. This upcoming big project was supposed to be my break. Studio 11 asked Ramcel to write the screenplay but she gave me a chance. She asked me to write it with her guidance. But I messed up. I got distracted by some loser who I thought loves me. I lost focus. I wasn’t able to beat the deadline. We were not able to submit yesterday. So there would be a delay on the project. The higher ups were really furious. Ramcel took all the blame. Nagalit sya sa akin hindi dahil napagalitan sya but because she was rooting for me to succeed in this project. I disappointed her, Vi.”