Love In The Spotlight

Chapter 3

Hanggang makauwi, hindi mawala ang ngiti sa mga labi namin.

After mom struck me with the surprise, they eventually told me that they had been keeping it for almost a month already. Tinago rin ni Wendy 'yong letter kasama nitong necklace na pinadala ni mommy dahil gusto niya 'kong i-surprise instead of mom informing me with the letter she sent along with the necklace. Masyado raw plain kaya naisipan niyang lagyan ng twist.

Wendy seemed nosy, of course, but I understood because we were like siblings after all. We had been living together for so long; and her wanting the best was inevitable considering how stubborn she could get.

"Has it ever crossed your mind that dad and mom are still capable of having a baby?" I giggled habang naka-indian seat sa black kong yoga mat.

"Tito and tita are still young."

"Yeah?"

"Anyway, while we're waiting for your next taping, pupunta muna tayo bukas sa Bataan. You're going to have a mini pictorial para may update ka na sa mga social media accounts mo."

"Ahh," I repeatedly nodded. "Kaya pala may kakaiba sa 'yo."

Napansin ko agad na hindi madaldal si Wendy, kaya naman binuksan ko ang mga mata ko para makita ang ginagawa niya. She was jotting something on her iPad while sitting on her own yoga mat. She seemed too focused and could not even be bothered.

"Magsimula muna tayo by you being active on social media gradually but consistently. Hindi ba nag-e-email sa 'yo 'yong clothing line kung sa'n ka nag-model dati?"

"'Di ako sure," kinuha ko ang phone ko na nasa left side ko at in-unlock 'yon. "Just scroll through my email." I lended her my phone which she reluctantly took from my hand.

I closed my eyes again to feel the breeze going against my skin. Nandito kami sa rooftop to catch some fresh air. Nag-shopping kasi kami nila mommy and daddy kanina. I felt so tired because we did a lot of activities after several weeks of not being able to do so, at the mall. We laughed and talked a lot; Wendy and I even bought some unisex baby stuff for my sibling. For two months pa lang pregnant si mommy, and according to her, by the 12th or 14th week pa lang nila malalaman 'yong gender ni baby.

Sobrang nakaka-excite and I couldn't wait any longer. Parang nawala nga ang sakit ng mga paa ko dala nang paglalakad dahil sa nalaman ko.

"Thank you." saad ko habang nakapikit pa rin. "Kung 'di dahil sa 'yo, hindi magiging memorable 'yong announcement na 'yon. You're like a dessert in our family na plain dish lang." tawa ko pa.

"Not just plain..."

"Then, what?"

"Baliw ka!"

Nabigla ako't napamulat ng mga mata nang malakas niyang paluin ang legs ko. "Why?! Napano ka?!"

Parang na dislocate 'yong hips ko sa pagkapalo niya.

"Ilang months ka nang hindi nagbubukas ng email?! Tignan mo! Ang daming nag-e-email sa 'yo for collaboration, pero nilamat na dahil 'di mo binubuksan! You were not responding!"

"What?"

"May makeup brands, small businesses, clothing lines-- even 'yong Halli Clothing emailed you! They emailed you! Not just once, but numerous times!"

I recalled all the emails that popped up on my phone the other night. Pero hindi ko sila binuksan for some reason.

"Ano? Intentional ba 'to o sadyang wala kang pakealam?"