I Have Questions

What am I doing here?

Anton

I’m not even supposed to be here. Carl, my friend, had an emergency meeting just hours before this interview. He promised his brother that he’ll help him with his film project so that the poor guy could finally graduate, and now here I am as Carl’s substitute.

I have no idea what I’ve gotten myself into, but I showed up for the sake of our friendship. I was late actually, and sweating profusely. Do they have to shoot on the seventh floor? They were already filming other interviewees when I came. I looked around the room when somebody poked my arm.

“Kuya Anton?!” I turned to my left, and to my surprise, it was a familiar face. It was Dane, a girl I knew since she was a kid. But instead of looking happy that she saw me after so many years, she had this confused look. “What are you doing here?” Same question I have inside my head. What am I doing here?

It took seconds before I could answer, plus I can’t stop panting from climbing all those stairs. Just when I had composed my thoughts on what to say, Carl’s brother approached me.

“Kuya Anton! My savior! Thank you, thank you for being here! Hazel, please get him ready. Also, give him some water, please. He’s up next.” This Hazel was part of their glam team, or whatever you call it. She led me to the “backstage”, the corner of the room turned into a makeshift dressing room with whiteboards acting as dividers, then made me sit down on a monobloc chair.

As they were applying some kind of powder on my face, I dared to ask. “Um, Hazel? Hi. What kind of interview is this, by the way?” “It’s about people who gave up on love, but there will be a blind date later.” Now I’m having the idea that Carl had set up this trap for me. Seriously?

I sighed. Might as well do this while I’m here. As I stood up from the chair, I noticed someone sleeping on the couch in the corner. These poor students must be exhausted. I can’t see her face, but she seems tired.

Then I was called for an interview. Simon, Carl’s brother, was the director. He asked me a few questions, and I felt I was doing well when Simon asked this one: “Do you regret falling in love?” I’m not going to lie, it caught me off guard. But I know the answer to this.

“Why would I regret loving the person that made me so happy, the person who gave her best and made sure I felt taken care of? But if there’s anything I wish I haven’t done, I wish hadn’t been a jerk to the person who wanted nothing but to be loved back in return. The greatest regret I have in life…is that I regret leaving her.”

Gail

You know how in the movies when a ghost haunts a part of the house where the lead actors are, and they suddenly feel shivers running down their spine? That’s how I felt when I heard that voice.

I am so certain that I am not hallucinating. I know that voice. I know whose voice that is and I—

“Miss Gail? We need to put a blindfold on you for the next part of the interview.”

Hazel, the girl who fixed my makeup, interrupted my thoughts. She then put the blindfold on my eyes and led me to sit on probably the sofa I sat on a while ago for the interview.

“Oh, so THIS is the blind date part? That’s nice. Whoever thought of this, you’re witty!” I commented. The director is kind of strict. He shushed the team (and me, of course) “Quiet on the set!” Okay, mister. I’m shutting my mouth until this whole thing is done.

I can feel someone sitting next to me. His skin is brushing against my arm. This got me anxious. Did I use my lotion today? No. But that doesn’t matter anymore. It’s just weird that this person next to me smells so familiar. That perfume again. Just how many people are using that same damn perfume? He can’t be this person…right?