April 10, 1995
The day that Caspien Miller was born.
I never thought na the same day pa ng birthday ko ako babagsak ulit sa Pilipinas. Luck, that's what it is. Tss, my dad doesn't know anything at all. Dahil kung may alam sya, baka ipakulong nya pa ko states para lang ilayo ako sa lugar na to.
Kinuha ko ang phone sa bulsa ko at tinawagan si Arkin. He's my best friend here since elementary up until high school.
"Hey man" Pambungad ko sa kanya. As usual, I heard the same Arkin I knew.
"Uy Cas! Napatawag ka?" Swear, his voice is swallowing up the whole phone. Sobrang lakas ng boses.
"Yeah, I am here at the airport. Where are you?"
"Potspa!!! Airport? Pilipinas? Teka lang ah, nagshoshooting pa kami. Hindi kita masusundo." Inilayo ko ng kaunti yung phone sa tenga ko. Nakalimutan kong artista nga pala ang mokong na to. Hindi lang talaga halata sa ugali.
"It's fine, where are you?"
After nyang sinabi yung address kung nasaan sila, I drove near there. Buti nalang at may malapit na 7/11 sa gilid ng set nila. I don't wanna go there.
Bukod sa mainit, kitang-kita ko dito sa loob ng 7/11 yung mga taong nanonood sa paligid.
Dito nalang ako manonood. I bought noodles and sat beside the transparent glass. Hindi pa sila nagshoshoot, nagbabasa palang ng script si Arkin and yung ibang artist di ko makita. Baka nasa loob lang ng tents.
I focused on eating my noodles but then nag ring bigla yung phone ko at nakita kong tumatawag na ang ungas.
"Dude, asan ka na? Ang ganda na pa naman ng scene baka mamiss mo."
Tss, anong mamimimiss ko? Sira talaga. " I'm here inside 7/11" I said and therefore lumingon sya dito at nung nakita nya ako ay todo ang ngiti nya at aastang maglalakad na papunta dito kaya inunahan ko na. I don't know how that guy found out it was me dahil naka face mask at hoodie na black ako but nevermind though.
Maybe my figure is obvious.
"Stay there, akala ko ba may scene kang ipapakita saken."
I hang up after saying that, pagkatapos non bigla akong nginitian ng ungas mula sa pwesto nya. Ano nanaman kayang kalokohan ang nasa utak nyan? Tss.
Ilang minuto akong nakatutok lang sa pagkain ko until ilang teenagers na babae mula dito sa loob kanina ang nag-uunahang lumabas para makinood sa labas.
After having some thoughts, nagdecide ako na lumabas rin. Manonood nalang ako sa labas. I want to see and hear how Arkin act. Nag improve narin siguro ang loko.
Pumwesto ako di kalayuan sa kanila at sumandal sa may poste. Again, si Arkin palang ang nasa labas and hindi naman nya ko napapansin dahil busy parin sya sa script.
"Game na, start na tayo. Marie, pakitawag na si Shaun"
Tumakbo agad yung Marie papunta sa isa sa tent. My heart thumps a bit after hearing that. Maybe that was a coincidence, maraming may ganoong pangalan. They are talking about a guy, not a girl Caspien. So chill.
"Saglit lang direk, minemeykapan pa sya"
Wtf? So girl? Aish nevermind. What I am thinking is never possible.
Minadali naman agad sila nung direktor sa harapan at si Arkin naman ayun at seryosong nakatitig parin sa script. Hirap magmemorize yan kaya ganyan.
"Direk, ready na!"
That Marie shouted and kasabay non nagring rin ang phone ko. To my freaking amusement, it was Max. A trusted young bodyguard of dad.
So in short, this is a call from dad. Hindi rin talaga sila mahilig mag call ano.
I didn't speak, hinintay ko na sya yung unang magsalita. First of all, bigla nya nalang akong pinalipad dito sa Pilipinas. I was having a party with my friends and then nung mag-isa ako sa bakod ng bahay nila. Biglang may humila saken at tinakpan ng panyo ang bibig at ilong ko.
And then that's it, I woke up on a plane to the Philippines. Another thing is that the reason is unknown until now. They never answered my call while I was in flight.
"So, you knew it was me"
Kumunot agad ang noo ko. I turn around and face the stone beneath me. Dito ko nalang ibubuhos yung inis ko.
"Obviously... so what's the reason?"
I clenched my fist as I am eagerly thinking for a good reason he might have. He is a loving father, I admit. But I am never a good son. He knows that, and I will never change. Pero still sya parin tong palaging nag a-adjust. He loves me to the point of spoiling me.
"Caspien, there's something happening in the company. And the safest place to be right now is there."
What? How is this the safest place? Why? I can't understand it. Ano nanamang pakulo ito?
"Dad, there's always something happening in the company. What is it now?"
Obviously, I don't like being here. I never wanted to go back here again. Gusto ko nalang magparty ng magparty sa mga bar sa states. That's the most enjoyable thing I always do. Mas maraming magandang babae doon kumpara dito.
"Just... Just stay there, please son. You can't understand it now but soon you will. Always be safe and Happy birthday."
What was that? Ayaw ko dito but I have no choice but to be here. Wow, buti nalang dala ko yung mga bank cards and such. Obviously, aware si dad na may dala kong pera.
Huminga ako ng malalim, from the looks of it, parang may malaking problema sa company enough to make dad feel fear and unsecured.
So what Caspien, what will you do now? Tinigilan ko na yung batong marmol na kanina ko pa inaapakan. Pinong-pino na ito.
I turn my back to what I am watching awhile ago.
And then I saw her....
Kissing with Arkin.
