Below The Tide (Charity Series #1)

• Ending Part Two •

Betina Tiara

~

"Pagkatapos ng pagpapahinga mula sa showbiz, Alexandria Rudio, sasabak na sa kan‘yang gagawing drama series ngayong buwan--- magandang umaga, Alexandria. Anong masasabi mo sa iyong muling pagbabalik?"

"Hello... uhm, masaya ako dahil matapos ang isang buwan, heto at makakabalik na ‘ko sa trabaho. Nagpapasalamat ako na muli akong nabigyan ng magandang role at kuntento na ‘ko ro’n."

"Maraming nabahala noong nawala ka matapos ang insidente sa inyo ng aktor na si Zen. Ngayong kasama mo siya sa series na ito at siya ang main character, may gusto ka bang sabihin matapos ang naturang press conference n‘ya ukol sa mga nakaraang nangyari?"

"E-Eh? I’m not... prepared to answer that."

"Ibig mo bang sabihin ay tapos na ang issue na ‘yun at malinaw na hindi pagkakaintindihan lang ang nangyari sa inyo?"

"Uhm... why are you asking me that? It’s in the past now and the misunderstanding was resolved. I... admit that I was wrong and I already apologized to him and to his girlfriend so... I think we should not open about that issue ever again."

Napabuga ako sa hangin matapos malamang sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, matapos ang pananahimik niya, heto at na-interview na pala siya. Sa totoo lang, wala na ‘kong sama ng loob kay Alexandria simula no’ng kausapin niya kami ni Zen at humingi ng sinserong tawad. Doon, inamin niya na nadala lang siya ng emosyon dahil sa pagkakagusto kay Zen-- and she was obviously looked very apologetic and sincere. So I guess, there’s no point on getting into more arguments and hard feelings.

"E, ‘di bumalik din sa kan‘ya ‘yung ginawa n‘ya," nakangising usal ni Jenina na siyang nagpanuod sa 'kin sa kan'yang cellphone ng balita.

"Wala na ‘kong galit sa kan‘ya pero sa tingin ko deserve n‘yang mapahiya dahil sa ginawa n‘ya," sagot ko.

"Buti nga sa kan‘ya. Alam mo, naaartehan talaga ako sa Alexandria na ‘to. Maganda nga, maarte naman, malandi pa. Hmph!"

Natawa na lang ako sa naging reaksyon niya. Si Jenina ay isang aktres at ka-trabaho ni Zen sa nagdaang shows, nagkakilala kami simula no'ng pumalit ako bilang manager ni Zen. Simula kasi nang lumabas ang issue, mas pinili paniwalaan ng dating manager ni Zen si Alexandria at iniwan ito sa ere. Samantala nagkaroon siya ng kapalit, pero hindi nga lang permanente.

So yes, I am now his manager. I’m still part of CVA as their event coordinator, professional veterinary doctor, personal doctor of Elizabeth the 3rd-- and now, the manager of my boyfriend.

"Jenina, ‘wag ka masyadong pa-stress. Tapos na ‘yan. Lagpas isang buwan na rin, sayang naman ang magandang tanawin kung papaapekto ka," natatawa kong bulalas sa kan‘ya.

Sa isang beach house kasi ginawa ang shooting ngayon nina Zen. Although, mabilis lang ang scene niya ngayon dito.

Tumayo ako nang makitang tapos na ang take ni Zen. Lumilingon-lingon siya na parang may hinahanap. Oo nga pala, sinabihan pala niya akong 'wag aalis sa harap. Ito kasing si Jenina tinawag ako, e.

"Fine!" tugon ni Jenina, "Miss Betina, samgyup tayo sa sunday ah? Girls only! Kasama si Miss Nica at Yanna. No boys allowed!"

"Yes, I know, I got it." saka ako lumakad.

"Make sure you’re free!"

Kinunutan ako ng noo ni Zen nang makita niyang palapit na 'ko sa direksyon niya. Tinaasan ko naman siya ng dalawang kilay.

"Babe, where did you go? Saglit lang naman ‘yung take ko umalis ka pa," he pouted, "Look what you’re wearing, it’s too low... what if you attract other guys? We have a lot of young guys here."

Bahagya kasing mababa sa dibdib ang suot ko. Actually, it’s a beige lace crop top matched with my high waist maong pants and sandals.

"But we’re going on a date later," I said.

"Kuya Mack, please get my jacket in my bag," utos ni Zen sa P.A. niya saka ako hinarap muli, nilagay niya sa magkabilang gilid ang buhok ko para matakpan ng kaunti ang cleavage ko, "You could’ve change after I’m done. I mean, it’s okay to wear something sexy like that but only if you’re with me."

Hinayaan ko lang siya gawin ang ginagawa niya at ngumiti, "But I’m with you."

"Yeah but... it still bothers me. What if they stare at you while I’m focusing on my scene?" hinawakan niya ang dalawang pisngi, "You’re too sexy and gorgeous, for sure someone will get attracted over you. You’re only mine."

Nagseselos ang baby ko sa wala.

Dumating ang P.A. niya at agad sinuot sa 'kin ni Zen ang kan'yang itim na jacket, "We still need to take one more scene and after that, we’re done. Wear that for now."

I smirked and nodded, "Ayaw mo ba no’n? Nagagandahan sila sa girlfriend mo."

"What?" his brow knitted, "You’ll never know their dark intention. Don’t tell me that," in a smooth motion, Zen brought the tip of his nose close to my ear, "Let me make sure when we get home--- that you’re mine."

Mahina ko siyang nahampas sa dibdib na siyang kinatawa niya, "What are you talking about?"

Geez, here comes again his pervert words...

Inakbayan niya 'ko dahilan para mapaharap kami sa maganda at malinaw na karagatan, "You know, I’m so happy." he muttered.

Niyakap ko naman ang isang braso ko sa bewang niya at ngumiti, "I’m happy, too."

"Every morning when I see you asleep in bed, I tell myself that I will always love you and always be true to you. When I see you fall asleep beside me every night, I think about our past, present and future."

"You’re making cringe," I joked.

"Babe, I guess you don’t know what’s cringeworthy. I don’t want to stop expressing my love."

Pinaharap niya 'ko sa kan'ya at malalim na tinitigan sa mata. Wala akong ibang magawa kung 'di ang mapangiti, pero bukod do'n, pakiramdam ko may mga tumitingin sa 'min.

"You are my life and my traces, sometimes we fight over small things but screw that, our hearts are connected," he gently spoke as the wind embraced our skin.

My heart starting to beat loudly, my face heated, "B-Babe, maraming tao---"

He cupped my face and drew closer until I felt his forehead against mine, "Even when the sun rises from the west and sets in the east, my heart will always love you. Since you came into my life, I’m trying hard to understand everything you went through in your life when I wasn’t there..."

Zen...

"Because babe, basically you are my life."

Sanay na sanay naman na 'kong marinig sa kan'ya ang matatamis niyang salita pero hindi ko maiwasang kiligin at matuwa dahil sa t'wing gagawin niya 'to, palagi niya 'kong sinu-surpresa sa kung anong salita ang maririnig ko sa kan'ya.

Nakakatuwa lang na parehas namin napupuno ng pagmamahal ang dating malungkot na puso namin. If he's blessed to have me, I'm much more blessed to have him in my life.

Zen chuckled softly, his lips formed into a handsome arc, "I love you so much, my babe, my baby, my love, my cutie, my Betina."

I squeezed his hand and stared at him lovingly, "Y-You... of course I love you, too."

Then, I felt him kissed me on my lips and whispered, "The motorcycle isn't the only thing you’ll be riding tonight, I assure you."