Behind The Spotlight

Episode 17

#BTSEp17

"Liv? Anong ginagawa mo dito?!" My mouth went agape. I am still blinking as I continue to land my gaze at him.

"Sige, alis na lang ako." He stood up and I grabbed ahold of his arms without thinking about it. Noong idako niya ang tingin sa kamay kong nakahawak sa kanya, agad ko iyong inalis.

"Ah, eh . . . Sorry." Awkward akong ngumiti.

But I was shocked when he suddenly grabbed my hand. Then he put it back to his arms.

Ano 'to, Liv?!

Shira ka ba?!

Muli siyang umupo sa tabi ko. Nakahawak pa rin ako sa kanya. Liv, umayos ka talaga! Baka iba ang hawakan ko sa 'yo! Sinasabi ko talaga sa 'yo! Charot!

"What happened?" He finally said after a long moment of silence.

Inalis ko na ang kamay ko sa kanya. "Si Mom kasi," I wince before I pout, "she is starting to be the most obnoxious person to my life. Nakakainis na."

Hindi talaga ako handa noong kinuha na naman niya ang kamay ko. This time, he intertwined his fingers to mine as if my hand was made for him.

"She is still your mom." He nonchalantly said as I tried to hide the fast beating of my heart.

"Pero--"

He cut me off. "Ngumiti ka na." Then he faced me. He is with his full of concerned eyes when he told me, "miss ko na agad ang ngiti mo."

That moment, I swallowed hard.

That specific moment, gusto kong mag-gugulong sa damuhan!

Shiyet ka, Liv!

Pakshiyet!

Hindi ko na kaya ang pagbilis pa lalo ng puso ko! Punyemas na 'yan! Naknampochi! Jackpot?! Lotto pala ang araw na 'to?!

Dahil pabebe ako, I tried to surpress my smile. "Ayoko nga." Pero ang totoo niyan, hindi ko na talaga mapigilan ang ngiti ko.

"Smile na," he gave me a boyish smile. He is surprisingly cheering me up and that made me look away from his stupid hot face, "please?"

"Oo na!" I playfully rolled my eyes at him. Then I smiled at him while showing all my teeth. Kunwari ayokong ngumiti, ganiyan. Pero ang totoo, malapit ko na siyang sunggaban kung hindi pa siya titigil sa pagpapakilig sa akin!

"Good girl." Came by his barritone voice.

Sweet mercy, bakit iyon lang ang sinabi niya pero sa kwarto na niya agad nagtungo ang utak ko?

Bakit ang sexy naman yata?

Teka lang naman?!

"By the way, may shooting tayo bukas nang maaga. Do you want to sleep on my unit tonight?" He is now eyeing me as if begging me to say yes.

I wanted to say no para kunwari, hindi ako kinikilig. Gusto kong tumanggi para hindi ako magmukhang easy to get. Pero bago ko pa talaga maisip iyon, wala na. I already said yes to him! And that earned me a nodding smile from him.

***

Days went by in a blur. Before I knew it, tomorrow's my debut party. At hindi pa rin talaga kami nagkakaayos ni Mom. I just don't have the mood to talk to her again, naiinis lang ako.

Hindi naman sa pagiging ungrateful na anak, pero I will never rebel like this if it wasn't for her. Kung sana noong una pa lang, naging okay na siya sa lahat ng desisyon ko sa buhay-- sana, wala kaming problema ngayon.

Nakakainis lang kasi. Matatanggap ko naman kung hindi siya sasang-ayon sa desisyon ko kung nagpapakagaga ako. Pero hindi naman, eh.

Dad is always trying hard to make me go back to our house. He even come to a point na binisita niya ako sa unit ko. Pero I am firm with my own decision. I will deal with Mom after my party. Ayokong makipag-ayos sa kanya ngayon dahil alam ko, mangingialam na naman siya.

"What are you thinking?" Asked by Liv na nakaupo sa tabi ko. He is wearing a white t-shirt na tinupi ang sleeves. It was tucked in on his blue fitted trousers. Obviously, he is looking so hot without even trying.

We are now facing the make-up mirrors na may mga malalaking ilaw. Nakaalis na ang mga fashion staff na nag-ayos sa amin kaya kami na lang dalawa ang nandito sa dressing room.

"Are you okay?" Liv continued asking.

Speaking about him, Liv and I became too closed with each other sa nagdaang mga araw. Paminsan-minsan akong natutulog sa unit niya pero disclaimer, walang nangyayari sa amin!

Nakakainis nga, eh!

Ewan ko ba kung bakit wala?! Charot!

But I really don't know. Liv is being too possessive lately. Iyong para bang sobrang clingy na niya bigla. As if naman titingin pa ako sa iba eh bigay na bigay na kaya ako sa kanya?!

Ewan ko na talaga sa lalaking 'to.

"Nothing." I smiled at him. "Medyo kinakabahan lang sa debut ko bukas." Sana lang talaga ay hindi iyon sirain ni Mom . . .

"You'll do well, don't worry." Liv is giving me an assurance through his smile. Nakakatuwa na talaga itong pag-ngiti niya sa akin lagi! "And I will not leave your side tomorrow. I am going to help you enjoy your night."

I gave him an overacting moved face, "Ang sweet naman. Isa na lang talaga, iisipin kong na-fo-fall ka na rin sa akin."

"Hindi pa ba?"

I blink at him. "Uhm?"

Then he chuckled, matapos ay napapailing siya noong inayos ang buhok niya sa salamin. "Wala."

Magsasalita na sana ako noong biglang pumasok si Billie. Iyong kaibigan kong photographer na nagpumilit sa akin na ituloy ang interview na 'to. Dahil malakas sa akin ang gagang iyan, pumayag agad ako. Mabuti na lang talaga at free rin si Liv today kaya naaya ko.

"Ready na ba kayo, love birds?" She winked at us. Kaya ako'y sa kanya, eh! Napaka-supportive talaga nito basta kalandian ko na ang pinag-uusapan!

Kaya favorite ko talagang i-sama 'yan noon sa galaan, eh! Maasahan ang gagang 'yan sa tabuyan sa crush noong nagsisimula pa lang talaga ako sa showbiz!

Liv only nod at her. Ako naman ay pabirong iniirapan si Billie.

"Okay, let's go." She said and on cue, we followed her when she stormed out of our dressing room.

Habang mine-make-up-an kami kanina, na-brief na talaga kami ng creative staff. They told us that this is not going to be just an interview. Nilagyan nila ito ng twist.

So bali, they will ask the same questions to Liv and I. Ang twist? Hindi namin maririnig ang sagot ng isa't isa. In a way, parang isa itong couple challenge.

Kaya heto ako, kinakabahan. Kailangang pareho ang sagot namin, jusko! Pero punyemas sila, paano naman? Hindi naman kami mag-jowa talaga ni Liv?!

Anong isasagot ko kapag tinanong nila kung kailan ang first time na nag-I love you si Liv sa akin? Ano?! Syempre wala?! Never namang nangyari iyon kahit sa mga interview!

Bahala na talaga!

Noong makarating na kami sa set ay agad kaming pinaupo ng mga staff doon sa yellow na director's chair. For sure, kaya yellow ito ay sinabi ni Billie sa kanila na favorite color ko ito. Yellow din kasi talaga iyong inabot sa aming headphones.

"Ready na kayo, Liv and Grace?" Asked by the camera man.

I wanted to say no.

Ayokong mapahiya!

Punyemas kayo!

But I politely nod my head. "Yes po."

Si Liv naman ay parang putol ang dila. Tumango lang. Natatakot talaga ako para sa kanya tuwing interview. Baka kasi sa sobrang suplado ay hindi talaga siya sumagot! Knowing how cruel all of the people behind the showbizness, paniguradong pagpipiyestahan siya ng mga showbiz journalist kapag umattitude siya!

"Okay, start na tayo." Muling sambit ng camera man. And on cue, that girl named Sammy started to sit beside the camera.

Nagsimula na akong isuot ang headphone. At veh, nagulantang talaga ang kaluluwa ko! Bakit ang lakas naman ng punyetang music? Ano 'to? Ang goal ba ng interview na ito ay gawin akong bingi?!

Right now, a song called Like That by Doji Cat is playing. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan ang maigalaw-galaw ang mga balikat ko dahil sinasayaw ko kasi ang kantang 'to sa t****k.

For a few minutes, I just watch Liv to speak. I tried to read his mouth. Pero wala pa rin talaga. Hindi ko malaman kung ano ba ang sinasabi niya!

Then when he stared at me, he gave me a smile. I just throw him a wince. Anong sinasabi nito? Binabash ba ako nito?

Nagtagal iyon ng ilang minuto kaya curious na curious talaga ako sa mga sinabi ng lalaking 'to!

Then on moment later, Sammy gestured me to pull off the headphone. Si Liv naman ang nag-suot noon.

Ha! It's my turn now!

I am smirking at Liv. Siya naman ay seryoso lang na nakatingin sa akin.

"Grace, ikaw naman." Sammy is smiling at us. Cute talaga ng babaeng 'to. "Here's the question, how do you see your future with Liv?"

Hala?

Bakit hindi niyo naman in-inform na pang-Miss Universe pala ang tanungan dito?! Sana nag-review ako! Ayokong mag-mukhang tanga!

Char! Kahit tanga naman na talaga ako?

"With Liv," I started as I smiled at Liv, I cemented my gaze at him when I said, "I just don't see my future without him . . ."

I paused for a moment. Liv is staring at me as if he wants to decipher what I am talking about, "Liv just means everything to me. Sa kanya lang ako sumaya ng ganito. Sa kanya ko lang talaga naramdaman itong saya na gusto kong hindi matapos. Iyong saya na gusto ko, forever na. Iyong unending na. Kasi right now, my only plan is to be his happy ending."

"Sweet talaga ng tropa ko!" Said Billie. She is now cheering at me as if I am in the middle of a boxing match. Gaga talaga.

Ngingiti-ngiti naman ako noong inalis na ni Liv ang headphones sa kanyang tainga. Then he has this puzzled look when he handed me the headphones. I only shrugged at him when I put it on my ears.

Tumagal ang interview for about an hour. Sampung questions ang tinanong nila sa amin at hindi ko na talaga natandaan ang lahat dahil sa hiya! Panigurado kasing hindi kami pareho ng mga sagot ni Liv. Kapag may lumabas talagang issue na peke lang ang relasyon namin, ipapa-salvage ko talaga lahat ng nandito!

"Okay po, here's the last part na po." Sammy told us with her genuinely looking smile, "this time, without headphones naman po."

Liv and I nod at her. Sammy is still on her smile when she landed his gaze at Liv. "Liv, what is your birthday message to Grace?"

Oh . . .

Napaayos tuloy ako ng upo.

"Baby," Liv started and swear, mamatay-matay talaga ako sa kilig! Akala ko ba, "Babe" ang tawagan namin sa public? Bakit naging "Baby" na ngayon?!

"Happy 18th birthday. Finally, adult ka na. Pwede na, 'no?" He has this teasing grin. I started to blush for a minute. "Kidding aside. Eto na talaga." He chuckled and I joined him. Patawa-tawa lang talaga ako pero kilig na kilig na talaga ako sa sitwasyon kong ito!

"I know, narinig mo na 'to for feels like forever. Pero hindi ako magsasawang sabihin sa 'yo 'to." Liv is now staring at me as if I am the only girl on Earth. "Thank you. Thank you for bringing the best out of me. Thank you for opening avenues on my life that I never thought I'd enter. Thank you for letting me experience things that I know, I didn't deserved."

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. "Thank you for letting me love you."

Then he reached for my hand. He gently squeezed it as he continued. "And for that, you are never going to be alone. I will stay here on your side. I will stay here forever. Gan'on kita kamahal, eh. Masiyado kitang mahal para iwan."

Sa mga naririnig ko sa kanya, nag-simulang mag-butil ng luha ang mga mata ko. This is the very first time that Liv told me that he is inlove with me. This is the effin first time he told me he has feelings for me.

Huminga siya nang malalim. Tila bang pinipigil ang nagbabadyang luha sa kanyang mga mata. "I just don't see my future without you, baby. I only see nothing but a hopeful happy ending everytime I stare at you."

His hand is doing the thumb thing on mine.

His teary eyes are giving me an assurance that this moment is never artificial.

His mouth is slowly moving as he said the words that I never thought I'd be able to hear from him on this lifetime.

"I love you, baby. Hinding-hindi na kita papakawalan." He brought my hand on his lips, his eyes never left my face when he told me. "You are mine. You are going to be just mine, baby."