Beautiful Art

XXII

Brianna Huangco's POV

"Ngayon lang nila nilabas dahil sisimulan na ang hearing." Agad kong inagaw ang cellphone ni April at tinignan ang article na pinakita nya.

"Hindi ba 'to fake news?" I said with a hopefull tone of voice. My hands were shaking that the phone almost fell. Good thing that April immediately catched it.

"Hindi ko alam. Pero galing mismo sa senate 'yan. Mas mabuti kung si Senator na ang tatanungin mo." Hindi na rin mapakali si April sa kinatatayuan nya.

I couldn't talk anymore when I went out of the room. I'm so confused. I don't know if it's true or not. Conclusion starts eating me. From the fact that he's always busy, he always looked tired and problematic like he carry the whole world.

"Anna, where are you going?" Manager Kim collided me. I just ignore him and continue walking but he's blocking my way. "Where are you going, Anna, I'm asking you."

"Kailangan kong makausap si Brian," I said as I looked at him.

"Nagkakagulo pa ang media sa labas, Anna. You can't go," he said with emphasis. My brows furrowed and looked at him, narrowing my eyes. He looked away, concious and guilty.

"You mean you know this?" I asked.

"It's trending, ok? And I don't know kung 'yun ba ang sadya ng media dito o ang pagbabalik mo sa showbiz. Don't be pathetic. Bumalik na tayo sa conference room. Pwede mo naman syang kausapin mamaya diba?" He rose up his brows, commanding me.

"But I need to talk to him. I need answers. I want to know if it's true or not. This is driving me crazy," I said, almost a yell and start walking again but he grab my arm.

"You are not required to set yourself in fire to keep other people warm." I was taken aback from what he said. "Deep down there." He pointed out my chest where my heart placed in. "You already know the truth. Don't be pathetic and accept it."

That hit me realizations. Am I drowning myself too much to please other people? I didn't think that I would be like that tho. My mindset was always be I don't care, I'm doing this for myself. I would just help to...alright, maybe I am. I just want to satisfy myself. And maybe part of that is seeking for other people's attention. Maybe my mind sets me to always do something perfect so people won't discriminate me. Because I never heard that I did a right thing from my family.

The next thing I knew was that I'm already inside the conference room, anxious, bothered, eager to know the truth. With all what happened this past few weeks, slowly sinking in me.

"Bakit ba si Ma'am Anna ang nadidiin dito? Wala namang ginawang masama si ma'am Anna," April said with dismay in his tone as she put down a water in front of me.

"Ang hindi ko lang marealize talaga, bakit parang napagtutulungan pa ng senate si Senator Brian," Kio said while preparing the food on the table. My eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?" I asked. I saw him getting anxious so I crossed my arms over my chest, starring at him.

"Ay! Grabe, gutom na 'ko," singit ni Manager Kim. "Wag nyo na isipin 'yan. Kumain na tayo at gutom na 'ko."

Manager Kim sat just right adjacent to me, in front of April. While I'm already sitting at the head of the table. They're trying to escape the topic by putting all the attentions to the food except me. The moment that Kio said that, an idea already came in my mind.

"I can't go to Brian, right?" I asked with authority. They all looked at me like they already knew I want something to do more.

"What are you planning, Anna?" Manager Kim asked and set aside his food first.