What's Wrong With My Fan

CHAPTER 4

Hindi ako napagbigyan ni Direk sa request kong huwag kaming kuhanan ng woke up like this na tema.

Sabi niya noong nag-request ako. I don't have to worry naman daw kasi I'm already pretty.

Geez. Direk doesn't need to say that pero pumayag na rin ako.

Kaya heto ako ngayon, mas inuna kong kinuha ang maliit kong salamin sa bedside table na talagang hinanda ko kagabi kaysa mag-inat ng katawan.

I think I just need to believe Direk's words. Maganda rin naman ako sa palagay ko.

“Good morning,” I greeted my 2 sissies and they greeted me back too.

Nagulat ako nang makitang bihis na bihis na si Ayan at nagsusuklay ng basang buhok.

“Nakaligo ka na, Ayan?”

“Opo, nauna na ako.”

“Anong oras na ba?”

“Don't worry ate, 6:30am pa lang po. I'm a morning person po kasi. Pagpatak ng 5am, gising na gising na ang diwa ko.”

“Oh...” Bumangon na ako at inayos ang kama mo. "I think kailangan kong matuto sa diwa mong 'yan. I've been struggling to wake up at 7am and my work is 8am. I'm always running after the time every morning.”

“If you fix your mind to wake up at 7am or earlier. I think you can do it po, until without knowing nag-aadjust na ang katawan mo.”

“Hmm, I will try to do that,” I said smiling. Ngayon pa lang kasi feeling ko 'di ko na magawa.

Binalingan ko naman si Pristine. “Maliligo ka na Pristine? Mauna ka nalang, alam niyo naman ang dami kong kaartehan.”

Natawa na lamang sila at nauna na nga si Pristine sa CR.

Jump off namin today is 8am and ang una naming pupuntahan is 'yong salon kung saan regular siya. Ito na muna ang inuna ni Direk dahil nasa city lang. Pagkatapos dito ay babyahe na kami patungo sa kalupaan ni Brace kung saan siya lumaki.

Pagkatapos ni Pristine ay sumunod na ako. Dumating na rin ang dalawang make-up artists/hairstylist na ang unang inayusan ay si Ayan.

For today, I chose my fitted black longsleeve turtle neck paired with white long pants. I know it's summer, pero mas mainit ang sikat ng araw at masakit sa balat.

After taking a bath, ako na ang inayusan. They sprayed some hairspray into my hair for more volume and bounce.

After the preparation, 10 minutes before going out ay dumating na rin si Direk.

Dalawang van ang dala. Sa van namin ay may kasama kaming dalawang staff, dalawang cameramen at si direk na nasa front seat.

The camera is rolling while we're still talking about Brace's hairstyle.

“Ang shiny ng hair niya ate, feeling ko nga mas shiny pa sa akin,” natatawang turan ni Pristine.

“Yes, I agree. And whatever hairstyle suits him,” I replied.

“Long hair or short hair, walang katapon-tapon sa kanya,” dagdag pa ni Ayan.

Parang lahat yata ng hairstyles na-try na ni Brace, at lahat bagay sa kanya. Pero may isang hairstyle niya na napagkasunduan naming hindi ginusto.

Iyong parang 1 inch, 2 inches nalang sa gilid, pero mahaba pa rin ang nasa gitna. Para siyang badboy roon. Nevertheless, hindi niya ikinapangit iyon. It even makes him hotter.

Mas prefer lang namin 'yong mga pang-lola style niyang buhok.

“But I'm also worried for his scalp din ate. He frequently changes hair color,” sabi ni Pristine.

“Ah oo, ako rin. Super bothered ako sa paiba-ibang kulay niya ng buhok. Maganda lang tingnan, pero the process? Masakit din sa anit.”

“Have you seen his video noong nagpa-bleach siya ng buhok?” I asked them.

“Yah, that one ate, doon ako nag simulang mag-worry,” ani Pristine.

“Ako rin pero let's not worry too much, nagpapa-treatment na siya.”

Marami-rami pa kaming nakuwentuhan tungkol lang sa buhok ni Brace alone. If we are to talk about his entire life that we know. Kulang pa ang isang linggo.

Pagkarating namin sa salon ay aktibo kaming pumasok.

Brilliant Beauty Care ang pangalan. Noong college ako, minsan kong nadadaanan ito. Bakit hindi ko nalamang dito pala nagpapaayos ng buhok si Brace. De sana dinalasan ko na talaga ang pagdaan-daan dito.

Sinalubong kami ng may-ari at tinour niya kami sa loob.

I closed my eyes for a while and smelled Brace's favorite salon even though I could only smell strong odors of hair chemicals. But whatever, this salon is blessed by his presence.

Tinanong pa ni Pristine kung saan ang madalas upuan ni Brace kapag nagawi rito. Tinuro naman iyon ng may-ari at kumuha pa ng selfie.

They're sure taking documents for Brace's traces. For me? Nah. What is important for me now is to just know Brace's history. I was already fed up with photos. Mayroon na akong tatlong makakapal na photo album na puro compilation ng pictures ko with his standee, edited photos, concert photos na puro blur dahil ang likot niya sa stage, at kung ano-ano pang may bahid Brace.

The photo album is all about him, but there's no actual photo of me with him. When kaya?

Nag-share pa ng iilang kwento ang may-ari ng salon.

“Hanggang ngayon po ba regular pa rin siya rito?” tanong ni Ayan.

“Ah oo, actually he's scheduled to be here next week.”

Ayan and Pristine giggled at the same time feeling nanghihinayang.

“Sana pala next week nalang tayo pupunta rito,” singit ko dahil dama ko rin talaga ang panghihinayang.

Imagine, kung ngayon pala appointment niya rito. Edi kami ang na-surprise. Hay, imagine.

“Edi babalik tayo rito Ate,” Pristine suggested.

“Oo! Naisip ko rin! Kailan po ba next week?” malapad ang ngiti na tanong ni Ayan.

Nakangiti lang 'yong may-ari at nagkatinginan pa sila ni Direk.

“I'm sorry, I can't give you that,” sagot ng may-ari.

Napa-aww ang dalawa.

“Tatambayan namin dito ng one week.” Talagang pursigido si Pristine.

“Please thank Mr. Bederov and ask for a photo,” singit na ni direk.

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo at ako na ang nagsalita.

“Ah yeah, thank you for accomodating us po. And also thank you for taking care of Brace and for keeping him handsome. There was a video before, sinabi niyang kung hindi dahil sa may-ari ng salon na pinupuntahan niya. Hindi niya sana papuputulan ang buhok niya. Thank you for making him still look like a person. Sa haba ng buhok niya noon, he would've end up in a jungle.”

Napuno ng tawanan ang salon. I'm glad that I made them laugh.

We said our thank you again and took a photo.

It's already lunch. We had our lunch first before going to Brace's province na apat na oras ang byahe. Sa loob ng van, excited na excited si Pristine sa pupuntahan namin.

We also thanked direk for the opportunity. Sa dami ng Angels, kami ang mga swerteng napili.

“Pero direk hindi ba talaga namin ma-me-meet si Brace?” pagkausap ko kay Direk na nasa frontseat.

“I'm not confident. His schedule is always full. But we are still trying to reach through Manager Rod.”

“May number po kayo ni Manager Rod?

Ako na po kakausap.” Napuno na naman ng tawanan ang loob ng van. “Joke lang po hehe,” dagdag ko na lamang dahil baka halatang-halata na ang pagka-desperada ko.

Maliban kasi direk sa hindi ko siya makikita, e wala na akong trabahong babalikan.

“Don't worry, we're all trying our best to communicate with Manager Rod. But I don't want to give you false hope.”

“Okay lang direk, sanay na rin kaming masaktan kakahintay kay Brace,” singit pa ni Ayan.

Hindi namin namalayan ang apat na oras na byahe dahil sa kadaldalan namin. Alas kwatro ng hapon ay nakarating na kami sa Liwayway Province.

Liwayway Province is really a typical province. No busy streets. Kahit mainit sumasayaw ang mga puno sa malakas na hangin. Mainit ang sikat ng araw pero malamig ang hangin dahil hindi kalayuan dito ay dagat na. Habang bumibyahe kami kanina ay tanaw na namin ang dagat.

Brace's story is also one of the typical story from rags to riches.

Nakipagsapalaran sa syudad at nagtrabaho bilang utility sa isang hospital. But was scouted by a talent manager na noo'y nasa hospital dahil na-admit ang asawa at talagang inoperahan. While his wife is in the operating room, he waits outside. And while waiting, there's Brace, who was humming and mopping the floor.

Kahit kinakabahan para sa operasyon ng asawa, hindi niya pa rin nakalimutan ang trabaho bilang talent manager.

He observed Brace, and he listened to his hum. Brace is tall and he really finds him attractive. Talagang nilapitan niya pa raw si Brace para makita ang buo nitong mukha.

It's really weird if a stranger came up close to you and look at you, the reason why Brace walked away. Pero hinabol siya ng talent manager at sinabing he has the looks and physique, and if the manager is not wrong he can also sing.

He gave Brace his card and introduced himself as a talent scout from TriDharma Entertainment. If he want to be an artist, he could just call him. Noong una hindi naniwala si Brace, at inisip pang scam iyon. Pero tinanggap pa rin ni Brace ang card at sinabing pag-iisipan niya raw.

Brace ignored it and even forgot about it. But the card accidentally slipped from his wallet noong nagbayad siya sa jeep. He considered it and Brace Angeles was born.

Nalaman ko ang lahat ng 'to dahil na rin sa kadaldalan ni Brace sa mga show kung nasaan siya. He always talks about his life publicly because he was never ashamed of where he came from.

That's why I love him!

Una naming pinuntahan ang school niya noong grade school at high school.

We shared memories with his teacher.

“Matalino si David. He never left the top 10 outstanding students.”

He was called David, and the people around him are used to it. Noong naging artista lang naman daw nila napansin na may second name pala si Brace. Kaloka naman no'n, teacher pa naman sila na laging nagro-roll call pag attendance time.

Napa-wow kami sa sinabi ni ma'am dahil hindi namin alam 'to. Hindi niya naman ipinagmayabang na consistent honor student pala siya. Now, we have some additional facts about him.

Just like from the salon. We thanked the teachers and asked for photo for memorabilia.

Pagkalabas namin ng paaralan ay diretso na kaming bumalik sa van. It's already 6:30pm. Medyo madilim na ang paligid.

We started to hit the road again.

“Saan po tayo sunod, direk?”

Nilingon kami ni Direk. “I have good news for you —”

“We will meet Brace?!” Muli ay naputol na naman ang sasabihin ni direk dahil sa excitement naming tatlo na ikinatawa lang ng mga staff.

“I can feel your anticipation to meet Brace but...”

Sa but pa lang ni direk, eh naglaglagan na ang balikat ng dalawa. Antcipating din naman ako, lowkey anticipation lang.

“At least we have good news. I just received this and you're going to meet Brace's parents and family!”

Agad na tumili ang dalawa. Hindi na ako tumili pero lumukso ang puso ko pagkarinig niyon.

Paano ba 'yan Brace, hindi pa kita name-meet pero pero meet the parents na agad? Naku, Brace kailan ba kita makikita?

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