What's Wrong With My Fan

CHAPTER 3

Handang-handa na ang mga gamit ko at dahan-dahan ko itong binaba. I'm struggling right now pulling my suitcase down the stairs while my brother is just watching.

Tumigil ako sa gitna. “Mind helping me bro?”

“Wait, are you finally living on your own?”

“No, I'm not! Just help me first!”

Napapakamot siya ng ulo habang paakyat ng hagdan.

He's Darthon, my older brother. But I just call him bro dahil two years lang naman ang gap namin. It's so awkward to call him Kuya. Ew.

Nang maibaba ko na sa sala ay chineck ko kung kumpleto na ba.

One suitcase for my clothes. One packbag for my pang-arte necessities and one tote bag for my to-go snacks. Alam ko namang hindi kami pagugutuman ni Direk. But, just in case.

“What are these things, Delartheece?” si Mommy na galing kusina, may bitbit pang cup ng ice cream.

“Nakahanap ka na ng asawa?” segunda rin ni Daddy na sa wakas ay nagsalita na rin. Kanina pa siya nakaupo rito sa sala at tinitingnan lang akong nagpapababa ng mga gamit pero hindi man lang nagtatanong.

“We have a stay-in shooting Dad, Mom, and bro.”

“Shooting? Kailan ka pa naging artista?” sabat na naman ni Daddy.

“Okay...” Umupo ako sa isa sa mga sofa. Dad is sitting while Mom is leaning on the arm rest and bro is just standing. Ang eksenang 'to para talagang aalis na ako ng bahay at mag-aasawa eh.

Naku, Brace lumalaki na ang expectations ng family ko. Panindigan mo ako!

“This beautiful daughter of yours will appear on a show as a fan of Brace!” I exclaimed. “And we'll have to be together with my other two sissy Angels for a 1-week shoot. We're gonna have a tour of Brace's history.”

“1-week shoot? How guaranteed that all of your shots will be aired? Baka 20 seconds lang din ang appearance mo sa TV.” Bumaba ang tingin ni mommy sa mga dadalhin ko. “I don't think 20 seconds appearance will suit this luggage.”

Ang OA rin mag-react ni Mommy! Tatlong bag lang naman ito.

“No, mom, I will be one of the main characters Brace will be watching.”

“Brace and brace again.” Pinaikutan lang ako ng mata ni Darthon at lumayas na. Sawang-sawa na siya at rinding-rindi sa akin kaka-Brace ko.

Ayaw na ayaw niya ring pumasok sa room ko dahil kahit saan siya tumingin eh may mukha ni Brace.

“Akala ko mag-aasawa ka na.” Daddy again with his marriage topic for me.

Hello, I'm just 26 pero kung paulit-ulit niya sa akin na matanda na ako kaya dapat na akong mag-asawa eh parang 37 na ako. Hindi pa nga rin nag-aasawa si Darthon, dapat nga mauuna ang isang 'yon.

"Dad naman, if I will marry right now, are you ready to accept Brace as your son-in-law?”

“Oh, here she goes again.” Just like what bro did. Mom also rolled her eyes and bumalik na sa kusina.

“Just be safe Delartheece Van!” pahabol na sigaw pa ni Mom.

“Yes mom!”

Tumunog ang message ringtone ko, saying the van from the show is already outside.

“Nandito na ang susundo sa akin. Dad, can you help me with my bags?”

Dahan-dahan naman siyang tumayo, inayos ang eyeglass niya at kinuha ang packbag ko at suitcase.

Ako nama'y kinuha ang tote bag.

“Mom, I'm leaving! Darthon, don't miss me so much!” sigaw ko na kahit saang sulok man sila ng bahay ay siguradong maririnig nila.

“Kailan mo ba ako bibigyan ng apo? Your mom and I are halfway to 80's,” banat pa niya habang palabas na kami ng bahay.

“Dad! Kay Darthon ka muna humingi.”

“I have this feeling na mauuna ka pa kay Darth.”

“Whatever, Dad.”

Nakalabas na kami ng gate at nakabukas na rin ang van. Binati ko ang apat na staff, at nandito na rin si Pristine. Dadaanan pa namin si Ayan.

Nakasakay na ako sa van pero hindi pa rin pumapasok si Dad sa gate.

“Dad, pumasok ka na. Bye!” I even waved.

“Bye, be safe. Please take care of my daughter.”

Aw, that's so sweet of Dad pero bigla akong nahiya sa mga staff.

“We will, sir. Thank you. Alis na po kami.”

Dad just nods and bids goodbye too. If Axel is a mama's boy, I am a daddy's girl.

Dad is such a sweet father. Naiintindihan ko ang pagmamadali niya sa apo dahil 52 na siya at malapit na ring mag-retire bilang financial director sa isang kumpanya. Si Mommy naman ay kaka-50 lang last month at nauna pang nag-retire kay Dad bilang HR director sa isang University.

Si Darthon, may girlfriend naman 'yon ngayon. I don't know where Dad gets his instinct na mauuna pa ako kay Darth. Eh ako nga halos hindi magka-jowa dahil kay Brace.

Yes, it's all about Brace, because of Brace. All of my love for Brace.

Habang papunta kina Ayan ay nagchichikahan na rin kami ni Pristine. We showed each other our own collection of Brace's merchandise.

30 minutes long and we already got Ayan in the car kaya mas maingay na.

We talked about Brace, about his songs, his videos, his funny remarks on the show and everything.

Pagkarating sa hotel na tutuluyan namin. I was in awe sa dami ng camera sa palibot ng hotel room namin. Kada angle may camera.

Isa lang ang nasa isip ko. I should be beautiful even before going to sleep and waking up. So, hindi ko tatanggalin ang make-up ko?

Though light lang naman ang make-up ko but it feels heavy kapag patulog na at may make-up na. I didn't think of this noong sinabi ni direk. I'm kind of confident naman with my bare face. I have real thick eyebrows and pink lips. Pero hello, it's a national TV and Brace will be watching us. Hindi pwedeng maging mukhang sabog.

I think I'll just endure the feeling of having make-up sleeping. Or maybe request direk nalang na if he could just air the shots that we are visually prepared.

We are unpacking our things and we have different beds. Ako pa ang nasa gitna.

After unpacking our things, we had our working lunch with direk sa baba, he's briefing us on what our itinerary will be for today.

After lunch, bumalik na kami sa room para magbihis and with two make-up artists s***h hairstylist to assist us. Pinauna ko ng pa make-up-an ang dalawa dahil maghahanap pa ako ng damit.

I chose my white and gray stripe self-belted casual romper.

Naunang natapos si Pristine kaya doon na ako sa sumunod sa nag make-up sa kanya.

“I love your hair,” sabi ng artist pagkaupong-pagkaupo ko sa harap ng salamin.

“Oh, thank you po. I'm lovin' its vibe too.”

After our preparation, we are now set to be shot. Dito lang din sa hotel, sinet up lang nila ang background like a studio type dahil short clip lang din naman ito.

We're gonna share how we became fans of Brace.

Nauna si Ayan at nandito lang kami ni Pristine sa likod ng camera waiting, and also watching her from the cam. In fairness kay Ayan, she's telegenic.

Ano kaya itsura ko mamaya?

“Ah.” I think of something. “Pristine, pwedeng kuhanan mo ako ng video later through the cam? Para makita ko ang itsura ko, and remembrance na rin.”

“Sure ate.” Binigay ko na kaagad ang cellphone ko sa kanya at nakinig na kay Ayan.

After her is Pristine and I'm the last. They were just both influenced.

While me? I have another story.

Ako na ang sumalang.

“Okay ready, Delartheece?”

“Yes direk.” I even thumbs up.

“I was 16 years old back then. I was that young when I had my first heartbreak.” Bahagya akong natawa looking back into my first heartbreak.

“My boyfriend broke up with me dahil ang arte ko raw, he can't live with my standards. That's why. I think I was infatuated so much that I cried my heart out that night while my TV is on. I was just crying back then, lights in my room are off, para total emote. Tanging TV lang 'yong nagbibigay ng liwanag. Nakatalukbong ako sa kumot niyon, humahagulhol, questioning myself kung gaano ako kaarte. When suddenly I heard a song being played in the TV. It was Brace's 2nd single,' yong Lean On Me? Iyon ang unang kanta niyang narinig ko. At first, I ignored it. Who cares about song when I was hurt inside? But his lyrics...”

Hinanda ko ang lalamunan para kumanta ng isang linya. Kahit isang linya lang kailangan kong paghandaan dahil marunong lang akong kumanta, hindi magaling.

“Let go of your burdens, and lean on me. That line from his song comforted me. Pagkatapos kong marinig 'yon, umalis ako sa pagkatalukbong sa kumot. Pero wala na akong naabutan sa TV dahil parang advertisement lang iyon that he released a new single. We all know that Brace's voice is soothing. That time, his voice gave me chills. Mangiyak-ngiyak akong bumangon no'n at sinearch ang linyang 'yon sa YouTube kung anong title. I think marami namang makaka-relate sa akin, na kapag hindi natin alam ang title, we typed the lyrics on the search bar and YouTube will give its everything to us.”

May konting tawanan na namuo sa kwarto galing sa mga staff, pati na rin kay direk.

"So ayun, lumabas ang music video niya and at that time it was just released a day ago. A day ago but it already has 18 million views and it's trending no. 3. Tambay ako sa twitter at IG, but how come I didn't know about him? I think I'm missing the trend because I don't know Brace Angeles. Doon na akong nagsimula mag-search about sa kanya. His songs, shows, and even his video compilations. Until I became part of Angels. I literally just didn't let go of my burdens, I let go of everything and I leaned on him. Him, being a good-looking man is just a bonus. He was never involved into scandals. He has a pure heart and pure talent.”

Bago pa ako maiyak eh tinapos ko na.

“Until now, I can't even go with my day without glancing into his poster in my room or listening to his songs when I'm in the shower.”

Tumingin ako straight sa isang camera. “Brace, all for my love for you.”

--