Illegitimate

Part 3 : The Interview

• Julian •

I hear the sound of audience from the backstage. Eto yung bagay na paulit ulit kong iniisip kung nangyayari talaga.

"Let's welcome, the casts of Illegitimate, Elaine Basco, Kyle Bustamante, Charmaine Resilla and Julian Credo" our host, tito Mark called us and we move out the stage and I can hear screamings of the audience, shouting our names. And yes, totoong nangyayari 'to. "Good evening young ladies and gentlemen"

We four sat down on our respective seats on the left side of the round glass stage. Sa kabila naman, si tito Mark nakaupo sa malaki niyang white na upuan na parang trono.

I can see tarpaulins of me and these three co-stars I'm with.

"Good evening to the three of you" tito Mark said and we four greeted him back. "Kamusta naman kayo?"

All of us said good, the usual.

"Julian" Tito called me. We were briefed beforehand sa mga questions, I'm aware where this interview is going to, I'm relieved na merong kumakapi sakin, especially now, medyo magulo sa loob ng management. "Anong feeling na naging pelikula na naman yung isa sa mga story na sinulat mo dati? This is the fourth right?"

"Opo, pang-apat na siya. Well, Tito, it's very overwhelming, hanggang ngayon feeling ko nananaginip pa rin ako" I told him. "At last, kasi pangarap ko lang 'to dati tapos ngayon natutupad na, tapos ilang ulit pa. Alam ko natanong niyo na 'to dati, pero ganoon pa rin yung feeling eh"

"Well you deserve it, you've shown us great talent not only in acting but writing the stories of our teleseryes and those movies na pinalabas din sa ibang bansa" Tito said and the audience clapped. "Kung tama ako, hindi mo pinili yung main character and si Kyle yung ni-recommend mo"

"Opo Tito Mark" I said. "I believe na mas fit sa kanya yung role kesa sa akin. Tapos, sabi ni direk na mas babagay sakin yung other role, tapos yun din yung iniisip ko, kaya nag-agree kami and nagdecide na wag na lang ako sa lead"

"I see, well Kyle has been here for years" Tito Mark said. "This is your first lead role, tama ba?"

"Yes po Tito Mark" Kyle said. "Most of the time supporting roles lang yung binibigay sakin, bestfriend, pinsan o kuya. Kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa bestfriend ko at kay Direk Monet sa pagtitiwala sakin. Hindi niyo lang alam Tito kung gaano ako kasaya noon, nung nalaman ko na sa akin ibinigay yung lead"

"Actually Tito Mark kasama niya ako nung nalaman niyang sa kanya binigay yung role" Elaine said. "And I can be your witness, talon siya sa saya at sobrang saya niya talaga"

"Oh really? well sana nakita namin yung reaksyon mo. I know it is a very priceless reaction. Kyle I've seen your TV seryes your movies, and I can say you really deserve it, you really are a great actor. Kayong apat you all are great" Tito Mark said, then he leaned his back to the chair throne he's sitting and smiled. "However, meron akong narinig kanina Elaine sa sinabi mo. Magkasama kayo. Ano kayang dahilan bakit kasama ni Kyle si Elaine?"

Biglang umingay yung studio, naririnig mo kinikilig yung iba, lalo na yung may tarpaulin na si Kyle and Elaine yung naka-print.

"Oo nga bakit kaya?" Charmaine teases and she smiled at them like they're cornered. Well, this was also planned, di ko akalain na masasanay ako ganto. "Feeling ko meron kayong di sinasabi"

"Feeling mo rin ba Charmaine?" tito Mark said and he laughed his remarkable laugh. "Meron nga kayang hindi sinasabi? Julian, bilang bestfriend naman kayo, ibubuking mo ba ang kaibigan mo?"

"Bro pasensya na" I said and tapped his shoulder, umingay na ulit yung studio, I tried to tease the audience "Di ko din alam tito Mark"

"Di ako naniniwala, sigurado akong meron kang alam pinoprotektahan mo lang yung kaibigan mo" tito Mark said jokingly. The studio is still loud. "So ano na nga ba Kyle and Elaine?"

"Uhm" sabi ni Elaine while having a smile on her face. She looks at Kyle and he looked back. Mas umingay yung lugar. "Kyle is a very good friend to me"

"Well, kung yun yung sabi niya" sabi ni Kyle and laughed after. He adjusted his seat. "We are very good friends"

"Bakit friends lang Elaine?" tito Mark said. "Hindi mo ba type si Kyle? Sabi kaya ng kaibigan mo, na itago na lang natin sa pangalan na Ann Ruisto, crush mo daw si Kyle. Sorry Ann Ruisto, peace tayo"

"Hala, totoo ba?" Kyle said. And this place is slowly getting unbearable to my ears. "Di mo naman sinasabi?"

There' someone literally screaming.

"So ano na Elaine?" Sabi ni Tito Mark. Well, the crowd really seem to take this as unmeant, pero nakaplano talaga 'to. "Kung totoo daw ba, tinatanong ka ni Kyle"

"Okay, lagot ka sakin Ann" sabi ni Elaine and she covered her mouth, in a way she confirmed it, and that's also planned. "Yes"

And this place turned into a screaming zone. Ang ingay, sobra.

The interview suddenly stopped due to this at pinapatahimik ng mga staff yung audience. Nakatingin lang si Tito Mark kay Kyle and Elaine, naghihintay ng reaksyon nila.

The interview went on after few moments. Minutes later, kumalma na yung audience after 'umamin' din si Kyle.

Now, I believe, kami naman yung target.

"Kayo namang dalawa" sabi ni Tito Mark. "Though di niyo man aminin, nahuli na naman kayong nagde-date ng secret. Ano ba, official na ba?"

"We're only friends Tito Mark" Charmaine said. "Seriously"

"Wala, hindi na kami naniniwala" sabi ni Tito Mark. "The fans are anticipating that soon in the future sasabihin niyo na"

"Well, Tito" sabi ko and for the second time tumaas ulit yung volume ng studio. "Hindi kami aamin"

Charmaine tapped my shoulder, then pushed me and I can see in her face a question 'why?'

"Promise tito we're only friends" again, Charmaine told that thing. Hindi na lang ako magco-comment tungkol doon. "Julian, say something"

"Say what?" I said and smiled. She tapped my shoulder again for the second time. "Okay fine, friends lang daw kami tito"

The audience again were hyped. Ang bilis nila mag-react.

"At mukhang may bantaang nagaganap dito sa studio mga kaibigan" sabi ni tito Mark. "Para saan yung tap sa shoulder Charmaine? Bakit mo siya tinulak?"

"Eh tito ayaw niya magsalita" She said. Tito Mark's just smiling he don't seem to look like satisfied on Charmaine's initial answer. "Pangiti-ngiti lang. Masyado pa-cute oh"

"Di ako nagpapa-cute" sabi ko. "Cute lang talaga ako"

And another roar from the crowd.

"Mga kaibigan, wala tayong magagawa kung ayaw nila umamin" tito Mark said. "Isipin na lang natin na totoo, dahil sooner or later naman aamin din silam Pero alam naman natin talaga na totoo"

"Seryoso, tito Mark, friends lang" Charmaine iterated.

"Wala nang maniniwala sa'yo Charmaine, meron kasi kaming narinig na implication kay Julian, so bahala na kami mag-isip. Eh naniniwala kaming kayo na" sabi ni Tito Mark jokingly, he's really smiling teasing Charmaine. "Oh eto na lang, Julian, tungkol sa story na isinulat mo way befote. It is very coincidental na ngayong nataon pa na pinagdedebatehan ng marami yung bagong batas. Tungkol sa pangagaliwa, that's the jist of the story right?"

"Yes tito" I said.

It really is not coincidental. Plinano na ipalabas itong bago mapirmahan yung batas, para madaming sumuporta. It just happen na di na kakailanganin.

• Chapter 2 : 1 of 2 •