Be With You

Chapter 3

"Okay, cut!"

The voice of our senior director covered the whole clubroom when he shouted.

"15 minutes break, then let's proceed for the next scene." He added.

I went to my bag and got my bottled water to drink. I can feel my throat drying up because of the consecutive takes for just one scene. Medyo mahirap kasi dahil may sigawan at mabigat ang eksena. The scene were about me and my girlfriend, screaming at each other because I'm jealous of a guy. My role is a short tempered guy, who's always jealous of someone or something. Then this is the highest point of our script, where we will be quarrelling and will cause our break up. Then, I'll try to change myself, be more control of my emotions and get back with her.

"Okay ka lang ba,Leo?" Cris, a senior, asked me.

"Medyo nanunuyo lang ang lalamunan ko, pero hindi naman malat." Totoong sagot ko.

Naupo muna ako sa isang gilid at tsaka uminom ng tubig.

Lumapit naman sakin si Kuya Dren at tinapik ang balikat ko. I just nod at him.

"Pagod na ba ang best actor namin?"

I just give him a faint smile. Sabihin ko mang pagod ako, hindi pa rin naman pwedeng tumigil. Isa pa, nasimulan ko na rin naman, better finish it.

" I-remind lang pala kita ng tungkol ulit sa another script reading natin. This time it will be with all the cast, yung galing sa dalawang clubs which are Drama and Dance Club. Mag- aasign na rin ako ng mga performers and props men."

Tumango ako bilang pagsang ayon.

"Kailan ba yan, Kuya?"

"Mamaya-maya. I'll just send a message on our group chat."

He then walked away and talked with the other actors.

Later that day, after my last class,  I went directly to the club room as per Kuya Dren's message. May mga nauna na. Siguro yung mga early cut, na agad naman akong binati, and I did likewise.

Bago pa man ako makapaglagay ng earphones ko ay nagsipasukan na ang mga ibang bagong dating.

New faces, unfamiliar ones.

Baka sila yung mga members from Dance Club na sinasabi ni Kuya Dren. Some are freshmen, I guess.

"Okay guys, settle down, please."

Our senior started the briefing for the script and the Dance Club members.

" For those who are in the Dance Club, I already gave your seniors the songs needed for the show. And also, please do study the script, para malaman niyo ang entrance and exit niyo sa play."

They all nodded.

"Ayokong mapahiya kayo sa harap ng mga guests, lalo pa't mga freshmen pa lang ang iba sainyo. It's better to leave good impression, right? And, no worries dahil magtutulungan tayo all throughout ng play."

All of us clapped na ikinahiya naman ni Kuya Dren. He said he's just doing his job as the director of the play. And indeed, he's doing it at his best. Tinututukan niya talaga lahat ng mga members, and also give motivation to us all. His skills, it will be useful in the future.

A loub bang made the whole room silent. All heads turns to the door, and watches a new comer- No, a late comer instead.

"Sorry po, I'm late. Kakadismiss pa lang ni Ms.-"

Kuya Dren cut his sentence, gesturing him to find a seat.

" Your last subject professor is really like that. First time mong um-attend so, I'll let you pass."

The late comer just nodded and find a seat, away from the other members.

I eyed him and saw him seat just near the room's equipments and stared blankly at our senior. Looking at him, I remembered someone familiar.

Right.

Siya yung sa room, na nakipag- agawan ako ng doorknob.

That guy.

Agad kong naibalik kay Kuya Dren ang tingin ko ng lumingon siya sa direksyon ko.

-

A clap is the sign that the meeting is adjourned.

We were thanking the seniors for the discussion ng makarinig ulit kami ng kalabog ng pinto. My eyes automatically went to that guy's seat earlier and confirmed that it's really him who just left.

" Mukhang may panibagong Leon tayo, no?" a member said, looking at the shut door and back to me, with a teasing look.

" Hindi ako ganyan, ah?" I tried to save myself

" Oo nga pala. Hindi ka nga ganyan, mas malala pa," sabay tawanan nilang mga nakarinig.

A shoulder tap on my left side was given by Kuya Dren. " Tama na at baka mapikon ang bida natin." Bumaling sakin ang tingin niya, " Don't forget to reread and reread your script. First rehearsal natin bukas." I just nod as an answer.

"Mauna na ako, ingat sainyong lahat pauwi." Paalam niya saka binigyan ng tapik ang balikat ng maaabot niyang members.

I checked my phone for any messages and found some from my great sister.

"Hindi na naman makapaghintay." I chuckled.

Ng makarating ng carpark ay agad ko ng pinigilan ang kung anumang sasabihin niya at pinaandar na ang kotse pauwi. Nanahimik naman siya, hanggang sa maka-abot ng bahay.

I went straight to my room and decided to rest without eating dinner.

"Oh shoot!" I got up from my bed and read the script until i find what I'm looking for, but became disappointed.

"Right! Hindi ko nga pala alam ang pangalan niya."

I dialed Kuya Dren's number and asked for the name of that freshman.

"It's Phillipe Fuentes."

He's one of the dancers then. I said my thanks and bid goodbye to the person on the other line. 

I typed his name on the search bar on a socmed app and found no results.

" Wala ba siyang account?"

" Sino, Kuya? Crush mo?"

I was startled for a bit and locked my phone.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?", I asked Gianna. She just raised the tray of food she's holding and placed it in front of me.

"Eat up. Stress na stress ka ata, eh.",she said, with concern etched on her face.

I just nod," I'll eat it later. May ginagawa pa ako." I reasoned.

She leaned closer and tries to take a peek at my phone which I immediately turned off. Hindi talaga pwedeng mapagtaguan ng sikreto ang babaeng 'to. Pero on the second thought, bakit ko naman isesekreto ang tungkol sa lalaking yun? Gusto ko lang namang malaman ang pangalan tska kung may account siya. Just that. Right? Right!

"Kuya~~"

"No. This is my privacy. Thanks for the food, by the way." I said, dismissing her.

"Hmm, okay. If you need anything, nasa kwarto lang ako. I can talk to your girl if nahihiya ka. Babye~"

Naiiling na lang ako ng lumabas na siya ng kwarto ko. At last, I'm all alone.