SWIPE HELP GONE WRONG - COMPLETE

DIRECTOR'S CUT EP 3

"I thought you'll focus on your noontime show?" Inabot sa'kin ni Bria ang script ng isang sketch comedy sitcom na idi-direk ko. "Why changed of mind?" She smiled.

"I recently received the offer. Run through with the script before accepting it. Besides, isang araw lang naman 'tong i-sho-shoot. It's a light comedy sitcom, why not?"

Tumawa si Bria. "'Yon nga e. Ikaw na hindi nga mangiti-ngiti magdi-direk ng isang comedy sitcom? Sure ka?"

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata. "You're doubting me? I have directed a few rom-com films in the past. Just because my personality doesn't match a casting call for a comedy story that doesn't mean I don't know humor. Ikaw nga, horror story ang genre mo, pero kaya mong mag-romance."

There was a proud smile on her face. "Of course, I am a versatile director."

"Pero dahil bitter ka, you tend to write stories with bittersweet endings. 'Yong bidang babae, sa huli hindi rin sila magkakatuluyan. You like the star crossed lovers, pinagtagpo pero 'di tinadhana na mga kwento. You like to hurt people with those bittersweet endings."

Sumimangot si Bria. It was my turn to laugh. Ito ang gusto ko kapag kasama si Bria. I can bully her stories and directing styles. But that doesn't mean she's not good. She's really one of the best in MS. Gusto ko lang talaga siyang biruin dahil pikon.

"Wow, ha? Sino ba sa atin ang pumapatay ng bida?"

"I'm not denying it." I held my hands up. "That's my crime. At least not in a gruesome way like yours. Tapos sa ending may biglang sisigaw kasi may part 2."

"Yaks! Hindi kaya ganyan mga movies ko."

She looks annoyed already. Madali talagang mapikon 'tong si Bria. Pareho lang ng asawa niyang si Crosoft. Mas seloso lang 'yon.

"Kapag movies pinag-uusapan ang daldal mo," aniya. "Pero kapag sa ibang bagay, hininga lang nakukuha namin sa'yo."

I chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Anyway -"

Pag-angat ko ng tingin sa labas ng coffee shop saktong dumaan si Scroll. She was smiling while holding her phone. Mukhang may ka chat na naman. Sino na naman kayang ka chat ng 'sang 'to?

"Hoy Alt!" Bria snapped. Doon lang ako natauhan. Lumingon ito sa likod, thank God, Scroll is no longer in sight. "Sino ba 'yong tinitignan mo sa labas?"

"Wala," kaila ko.

Pero mukhang 'di ito naniwala. "Sure ka?" Lumingon ulit ito at this time biglang sumilip si Scroll. I almost fell from my seat. Bria was even shocked. Natutop nito ang dibdib sa gulat. "Tang na juice, Scroll!" It was like watching a horror movie at biglang lalabas ang isang duguang babae.

Seriously, Scroll is ... weird.

Malaki ang ngiti ni Scroll at kumaway sa kanila.

"Pumasok ka nga rito. Nanggugulat ka." Bria gestured to the door.

Agad namang pumasok sa loob si Scroll. "Hi Ate Cam." But there was no hi for me. The angst of this woman.

"Invisible ba si Alt? Bakit walang hi?" nagtatakang tanong ni Bria.

"May kasama ka pala?" Iginala nito ang tingin sa paligid. "Wala naman akong nakikita." And to make things believable tumabi ito sa akin - 'yong marahas na pagtabi na may kasama pang sagi. Kamuntik na akong sumubsob sa glass wall. How respectful. "Ate Cam, mag-isa ka?"

"Hindi siya mag-isa, nandito ako," sagot ko.

"Hinihintay mo si boss?"

Patience, Alt. Ano bang utak ang meron sa isang 'to?