"Neia, ready na daw on signal," announce ng isa sa mga stage producer sa dressing room ko. Sinipat ni Ms. Nina ang mukha ko bago tumango at tsaka ako iginiya patayo.
I met Third outside my assigned dressing room. He offered me a small smile and his arm, which I took since mataas rin naman yung suot kong heels. Narinig kong naghagikhikan yung mga nakasunod sa amin na staff kaya napailing ako.
I was really nervous. Hindi naman ito yung first time na nag-guest ako sa isang interview, but it's the first time I'm not with my friends, and it's the first time I'm in an actual love team. What if I mess up? What if I slip up?
"Hey," bulong ni Third, at ipinatong ang kabila niyang kamay sa kamay kong nakapulupot sa braso niya. "It's okay. Hindi kita papabayaan."
Napadiin ata ang kapit ko sa braso niya. Tumango lang ako. The pd gestured na naka-on na 'yung mic namin.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Third Arcanghel and Neia Salvador!"
Humigpit ulit ang kapit ko sa braso niya. It was definitely painful, but his face remained unmoving from his smile. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ngumiti rin. Nilingon niya muna ako sandali, as if checking to ensure I was okay. I just widened my smile at him, and he mirrored mine, before he pulled me towards the light.
Mahabang kwento kung paanong napasali ako sa ganitong klase ng industriya. After what happened with Third and I, I never personally thought that I would enter the industry that took away the man I love. And the bright lights, and the screaming, and the pleasantness—all that, hindi pwedeng nawawala hangga't nasa harap ka ng camera at ng mga tao.
It was burdensome, but it paid well.
"Hi," bati ng host, malaki ang ngiti. "Welcome to my show!"
"Thanks," ngiti ko, sabay kaway sa audience na lumakas ang sigawan. "Hi guys!"
Kumaway din nang maliit si Third kaya lalong lumakas ang mga tili. The host laughed. "Grabe. It's the first time after Jonas and Selene's interview na may makitang artists mula sa opposite sides. How are you two feeling?"
"Nervous," I answered honestly, at natatawang ipinakita ang nanginginig kong kamay. "But it's okay, I'm just getting jitters. I'm also really excited to be here."
"And ikaw, Third?"
"I just want to make sure she's okay," sagot niya, at nagsigawan na naman ang mga tao. I looked at him in protest pero nginitian niya lang ako. "Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous too. I just want to make sure that she's comfortable. Baka di na 'to maulit pag hindi eh."
"Wow," the host laughed. "I heard news about how flirty you are with her but I never thought it was this bad. Pano mo natatagalan, Neia?"
Makulit ang ngiti ni Third nang masilip ko, kaya maliit na lang akong umirap sa kanya habang nagpipigil ng tawa. "Hindi ko rin alam."
"The audience is getting wild," tawa ulit ng host. "This film you're making, it's HIT and EZEM's first collaboration, right?"
Sabay kaming tumango.
"How did it feel, nung nalaman niyong kayo ang gaganap as leads?"
"I was happy," una nang sagot si Third. "Matagal ko na talagang gustong makatrabaho si Neia, way back before people even wanted us together for a project."
BINABASA MO ANG
bad romance
Fanfiction[COMPLETED] The memories of yesterday still haunt me. - Ireneia Salvador Five years ago, Ireneia and Third broke up. Five years later, they are the nation's newest love team, thrown together to work on the most ambitious film of the decade. No press...
