Scene 53 – The man she once loved
Clara watched as Direk Ryan yell at one more staff, he had been in a mood since yesterday where they had to cut the filming short because the leading man was nowhere to be seen.
Nobody could contact Ralphe since the other day. He was just gone. And Direk Ryan was fuming. They were on schedule but with Ralphe gone AWOL, they couldn't shoot scenes. Almost all of the remaining scenes required Ralphe.
“Naku paano ba natin matatapos to kung ngayon palang wala na si Ralphe.”
“Kaya nga e, eto yung kinakatakutan ni Direk, yung laging mawawala si Ralphe. Diba ganito nangyari dun sa Paradise Lost. Porket alam kasing in demand siya, masyadong lumalaki ang ulo.”
“Tama, ni hindi nga siya ganun kagaling umarte. Nakakainis na yan si Ralphe, tayo na peperwisyo sa ginagawa niya.”
She frowned. She didn't like those people talking behind Ralphe’s back. She knew the industry so well and she knew this was just part of it, those backstabbing two-faced bitches.
She was sure that if Ralphe was here now, they’d all be swooning over him.
She stood, everybody turned their eyes at her, she raised her eyebrow and walked toward Direk Ryan. “Are we postponing another?”
Direk Ryan forced a smile at her and nodded, “I’m sorry, Clara. Had I known Ralphe would do this, I wouldn't have accepted him in this.”
Her lips pursed, “This is a sequel, Direk. Ralphe is needed as much as you need me.” Why were all of them acting like stupid fools? First, they welcomed Ralphe with a warm embrace and then just because he’d been AWOL, they disrespected him as if…
“Of course.” Direk Ryan looked flustered. “You can go and rest. Maybe enjoy the day with your children.”
She nodded and walked away. As she was walking away, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed a number, “I need Ralphe Mendez’s location. Now.” and hung up.
She needed to find Ralphe. They’d put a ceasefire first because she really needed him here. She couldn’t allow them to disrespect him. She admired Ralphe as an actor and she wouldn’t let them diminish what a great actor that he was.
***
Napag-alaman ni Clara na bumalik ng Maynila si Ralphe. Kaya napagdesisyonan niya muna na lumpiad pabalik ng Maynila para mas mapadali. She rented a private charter to take her to Manila and back.
She said goodbye to the kids before leaving.
Dumating siya ng Maynila at agad naman na pinuntahan si Ralphe sa Dark Alley kung saan ngayon umiinom si Ralphe.
Pagkadating sa Dark Alley ay dinala siya ng waiter sa private lounge kung nasaan si Ralphe.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Widow
Storie d'amoreWhen Clara Dela Merced left the Philippines, she left everything behind knowing that it was the right thing to do especially when the father of her child didn't want them. She left to start anew, she just didn't expect to find a home and love among...
