Lose to Win (Trazo Real Series #2)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

That week felt so surreal. I had so many guestings from different TV shows in our network. I also made headlines and everybody seemed so impressed on my performance.

This week is Theo's last week of review before he takes the board exam.

Sinabihan ko na siya na hindi muna ako tatawag o magtetext sa kanya pero ang sabi niya, kahit update na lang daw sa mga ginagawa namin ay ayos na. That's what we do. We update each other of our whereabouts. I also include him in my prayers. I really pray for him to pass the board exam.

Mom went home tonight and wanted to have dinner with me. She even brought a bottle of red wine for us.

"Tinatawagan ako ng mga relatives natin. They were all congratulating me for your movie's success", saad ni Mommy na mukhang masaya talaga ang gabi ngayon.

"Now I have an excuse kung bakit hindi ka nakakasali sa honor roll. I can just simply say that you're busy with showbiz, right? And you're also prioritizing your relationship with Theo", nakangisi niya pang dagdag.

I don't want to be disrespectful so I really tried my best to keep myself calm in front of the food. I breathed heavily before responding.

"Mom, I am studying. Hindi naman na kailangang gawing excuse na nasa showbiz ako kaya mababa ang grades ko. Just tell them that I am not as smart as Kuya Pancho and that's fine. And please, I am not prioritizing my relationship with Theo. We aren't together", I stated before trying to take a slice from my steak even if I have already lost my appetite.

"Mama's favorites are your smart cousins. Gusto mo bang sa tuwing makikita ka na lang ni Mama ay halos hindi ka niya kilalanin na apo niya?", nakakunot ang noo ni Mommy nang bumaling sa akin.

"Kuya's smart and he is not Lola's favorite too. Alam ko naman na kaya ayaw sa amin ni Lola dahil... dahil kinahihiya niya pa rin kami"

"Kaya nga. Make them like you. Gamitin mo 'yang pag-aartista mo para hindi ka minamaliit ng mga kamag-anak natin", mariin na sabi ni Mommy.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kubyertos. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung kailan kami huling nagkaroon ng matinong hapunan. I'd rather eat alone in this house than eat with my mother kung lagi lang din namang ganito ang pag-uusapan namin.

"I entered showbiz not because I want their approval, Mom. I love what I'm doing. Hindi ko kailangang patunayan ang sarili ko kina Lola o sa kahit pa kanino sa mga kamag-anak mo o kahit sa side ni Daddy. And please, bakit naman kailangan pang idamay si Theo?"

"Bakit naman hindi? Theo is your fiancé. Natural lang na kadikit na ng pangalan mo ang kanya"

"We're not married yet, Mommy. Hindi pa tayo sigurado kung makakasal kaming dalawa. I am too young for marriage. Hindi natin sigurado-"

"Then you have to make sure that the marriage will happen. Nakakahiya sa mga Deltrazo kung ikaw pa ang uurong. Don't be so picky, Clara. Maswerte ka na nga dahil mukhang nagugustuhan ka ng fiancé mo. Huwag mo nang hintayin pa na mauntog si Theo at ang mga Deltrazo at sila pa ang mag-back out sa engagement niyo", Mommy warned me.

Halos hindi ko man lang nakalahati ang pagkain. Nawalan na talaga ako ng gana kaya tyinaga ko na lang ang dessert at tsaka umakyat na sa kwarto.

Sumunod na araw ay wala na kaming pasok. It's our semestral break and because my name was still the talk of the industry, hindi kaagad ako nakawala sa mainit na atensyon ng mga tao at media. I had lots of endorsement contracts piled and I was told that the management wanted to pair me with Neil Enriquez.

I had to go to Tita Jen's office for a quick meeting. They wanted to pair me with Neil and I told her that it's fine with me. Hindi ko pa nakakasama sa isang project dati si Neil pero katulad ko ay galing din siya sa isang loveteam na hindi naman nagwork.