Erina's Curse (FILIPINO)

Chapter 2

"Mary Raquelle! Picturan mo ako dali!"

I'm fixing my black fitted cropped turtle neck when I heard Sassy and Raqi fighting again. Palagi nalang nag-aaway 'tong dalawang to na parang hindi sila nagshe-share ng pagkain at damit. Dinaig pa nila si Stallion, Leina's golden retriever at Kokoro, her cashmere cat.

"Bruhang to, ilang beses kong sasabihin na Raqi ang pangalan ko ha? Raqi! Mas makulit ka pa sa mga nag-aalok ng networking gaga", ayaw na ayaw talaga ni Raqi sa pangalan niya. She said it was too girly but I knew better, she loves girly things like make-up and tiny cute clothes. It's just that, the company trained and groomed her to become boyish. They said it suited her position and looks at wala naman kaming choice, they will make us do what they want without hesitations.

"Ina dongsaeng..." Sassy said while pouting.

I knew she would eventually ask me to take her photos kasi lagi namang ganon. Mag-aasaran sila ni Raqi na parang mga bata tapos magpapagandahan ng photos sa i********:. They sometimes compete with each other sa dami ng likes but it's just a friendly competition. Madalas lang naman na consequence ng natatalo ay ang paghuhugas ng pinggan. As far as I can remember, mas maraming wins si Raqi because fans go crazy every time she change her hair. That is also the main reason why the management lets her do what she wants when it comes to hair styling because obviously, she knows what she's doing and fans lived for it.

"Fix your socks"

I directed Sassy's posing and angles while she fix her black high socks. As always, Sassy looks classy and girly with her black racerback crop top and checkered fitted skirt. May itim na armband with our band's name printed on it pa siyang suot as an added accessory.

After some solo shots, Raqi joined in, wearing a fitted checkered cropped turtle-neck top and neon green Jagger pants na may hati sa magkabilang tuhod. She's also wearing a black Gucci belt and black ankle army boots to add some style. Raqi is pinching Sassy's cheek as I take their cute photo when Leina and Kesha joined them.

Leina is wearing a black tube topped with a checkered green crop top jacket and a black short shorts. She's also wearing the same army boots as Raqi and a black band is strapped in her upper right leg. Kesha partnered her neon green crop top with high-waist leggings and black knee-high army boots. She's also wearing a black velvet glove in her right arm.

"Boba umusod ka ang laki ng mukha mo hindi na tayo kasya sa camera", Raqi said habang nakikipagkulitan kay Sassy.

"Tanga ne'to. Hindi talaga tayo kakasya sa camera, ang liit-liit nyan eh", sumagot naman si Sassy habang sinasabunutan si Raqi.

"Kung nakakaganda lang sana ang ka-cornyhan mo Sass, kasing ganda na sana tayo ni Erina", singit naman ni Leina.

"Hala siya, flattered naman ako. Libre kita mamaya Lei", sumingit na ako kasi ang sama na ng tingin ni Sassy.

"Hoy! Hoy! Bakit si Leina lang ang ililibre mo Ina? Sama ako", naka-pout pa si Kesha na parang nagtatampo talaga.

"Ganyan ata pag tumatanda ang hilig na magpalibre", nagbubulungan pa sila Sassy at Raqi kahit halata namang gusto rin nilang iparinig saamin ang pinag-uusapan nila. Mga poser.

"Excuse me! 21 lang ako. Kung matanda na yung ganong edad anong tawag dito kay Erina? Sanggol?" sagot naman ni Kesha. Grabe 'tong mga to, hindi ko alam kung kino-complement o bina-bash ako eh. Mga scammers.

Pagkatapos nila magbangayan, pinilit pa nila akong umanggulo sa kung ano-anong solo shots ko. I feel a little uncomfortable because I'm wearing a pretty heavy silver metal necklace, para akong sinasakal. My checkered Jagger pants hang low from my waist kaya kitang-kita ang tiyan ko. I'm also not very fond of taking pictures of myself. Pakiramdam ko kasi, kapag kinukuhanan ako ng litrato, kailangan ko magpanggap. Na perpekto ako, na kailangan palaging maganda ang ngiti ko kahit nasasaktan ako because of my injured ankle.

We took a couple more group shots before we were called in the backstage to prepare. We are the opening performance for this year's KBS Drama Awards. It's an annual awards ceremony commonly held every December but they had to do it early because last year's event was cancelled due to unforeseen events.

We were sitting in the platform while we wait for the hosts to call our band's name. "Junbi doeeossnayo?" The fans around the dome cheered. "Hitting top charts not only in our country but also in the international level, let us all give it up for.........GreyArea!" and that was our cue. The platform slowly rise as we made our entrance dancing to the beat of "Kiss Me", one of our hit songs.

I was very focused and I made sure that each sway of my hips and every move of my hands scream perfection. It was Leina's turn to go center stage for her rap part when someone caught my eye. Who is he? Mukha siyang diyos na bumaba sa Olympus. f**k! He looked like a Greek god for Pete's sake! Unti-unti kong tinanggal ang pagkakatitig ko sakanya because its already my turn to sing. I pushed his beautiful face out of my mind while singing because I don't want to be distracted. I need to perform well because I'd rather die than to hear false accusations of me being lazy and rude remarks from the bosses again.

It was Kesha's turn when I had the chance to glance at him again. Who's this guy? And why do I not know him? Sa kapokpokan ko dapat yung mga ganyan kagwapong nilalang kilala ko! nakatingin lang siya sa stage habang naag-uusap sila nung katabi niya na gwapo rin. Pero walang binatbat compare kay Greek god grabe lang! hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti although the dance requires a serious facial expression. Pinakatitigan ko na siya ng bongga kasi malapit nang mag dance-break! He's wearing a solid white long sleeve polo and black suit. He wasn't wearing any tie and three of his buttons are open. Naka brush-up din ang itim na itim niyang buhok. He looks serious and paminsan minsan lang ngumiti kapag may nakakatawa sigurong sinasabi yung katabi niya.

I tore my eyes away from him when the dance break started. We dance in sync and after a minute of fast and coordinated moves, the performance ended. We gathered in the middle at unti unting bumaba ang platform. They dimmed the lights and turned it back on when we were already out of sight. Narinig ko nalang na nagsasalita na ulit ang mga host when our assistants gave us sparkling water to drink.

The staff congratulated us for the strong performance and after a series of 'thank yous' and paying respect, we were escorted to the dressing rooms to rest. We'll only perform one song because there are other performers too.

"I swear the 'kiss me' choreography drains the life out of me", said Leina while sitting in the sofa and resting.

"Buckle-up girls because the hell's not over yet. May performance pa bukas... haay! Hindi ba pwedeng i-skip ang hirap at maging mayaman nalang agad?" Kesha while tying her hair.

"The effort's worth it though. Ang daming gwapo kanina sa audience!" Sassy squealed like a Hyena na halatang kilig na kilig pa. Because of what she said, naalala ko nanaman si Greek god. s**t! I need to see him again. For the first time, parang naging teenager talaga ako. Yung normal lang na may mga tinatagong crush. I was drafting plans on how to meet the guy again when I noticed that Raqi's not around.

"Where's Raqi?" I asked the group and the staff.

"She went to the bathroom", sagot ni Sassy. Speaking of bathrooms, naiihi din ako. Nasobrahan ata ako sa tubig because I was so thirsty earlier. Thirsty sa tubig o thirsty kay Greek god? I heard my conscience. Hay nako Erina, ang landi mo talaga,  I talked to myself while smiling coyly. Nagpaalam ako sa members and staff na magsi-cr lang and they nodded.

I was already walking in the hallway when I realized na hindi ko pala natanong kung nasan ang bathroom. So that leave me with no choice but to wander around. One way or another, makikita ko rin naman kung nasaan ang banyo. I noticed na may palikong daanan sa dulo ng hallway and assumed that that is the way to the bathroom so I turned left but what I saw made me stop.

Parang bumalik sa puson ko lahat ng ihi ko. I saw Raqi kissing Nathan. Nathan is one of the members of Axis, our male counterpart. Naguluhan ako kung anong gagawin ko. We are not allowed to have relationships inside or outside the company. It was clearly stated in our contract. I know that Raqi's a rule breaker but I've never imagined that she has a secret relationship or flings. Still confused, I turn my back on them. Hindi rin naman nila ako napansin kasi pareho silang nakapikit. I walk again and at the other end of the hallway, I finally found the bathroom. It's not a shared comfort room so I made sure na sa pambabae ako pumasok.

Pagkatapos umihi, I just stared at myself in the large mirror in front of me. I'm dumbfounded, I didn't know kung pano ko sasabihin kila Kesha or kung dapat ko bang sabihin at all. I moved to open the faucet to wash my hand when a sudden burst of water hit my face directly pati narin and damit ko. Because of shock, I shouted out load like a hyena, unaware that someone heard me and open the door.

Fuck! Ba't naman ganon, Lord? May galit ka ba saakin? Why would you let Greek god see me like this? Para akong basang sisiw at paniguradong mukha akong tanga.

"Kenchana? I heard a shout and thought something bad happen so I rushed here".

Shit! Ang hot ng boses, para akong hinehele. Nawala din agad ang kilig ko nang ma-realize how stupid I may have possibly looked. I forced myself to still smile at him kahit ang gusto ko nalang talagang mangyari ay lamunin ako ng lupa. He looked at me with those ash gray orbs, confusion reflected in them. Ang ganda ng mata niya. Nagmukha akong alipin sa tabi ng diyos na to.

Nakatulala lang ako sakanya when he started to remove his suit. Wait, teka! Hubad agad? Speed din naman 'tong si Greek god. Hindi mo ba muna ako liligawan kahit 3 days lang, balak mo na ako agad anakan ganun? Hala, marami pa akong panga---

"Here. Wear this. You must be freezing", he said that stop my panicking thoughts.

"Oh! No! No need! I can handle myself", nahihiya ko pang sagot kahit na gustong-gusto ko namang masuot yung suit niya. Panigurado mabango yun kasi kahit isang metro ang layo namin sa isa't isa, I can still smell his manly perfume.

"It's just a suit. Come on! Wear it baka magka sakit ka pa".

Hala! Concern na siya agad sakin? Grabe na ito! Thank you Lord! Magdadasal na po ako araw-araw, promise. Inabot niya saken ang coat niya at sinuot ko naman. f**k! It smells so good, kung hindi lang ako nahiya, inamoy amoy ko na yun sa harap niya mismo. I said my thank you and also promised him na ipapa-laundry ko and I'll return it as soon as possible.

"No pressure", he smiled. He ask me if I still needed anything and also offered to accompany me to my dressing room but I refused kasi gusto ko pang mag-stay sa banyo para magsisigaw sa kilig.

"Okay then, be careful next time. Hindi pang-swimming yang suot mo", he chuckled sexily. 

Umalis ka na s**t! Malapit na akong himatayin sa kilig dito. He smiled at me for the last time and turn his back to leave.

You'll be mine. Soon, you will.

I promised myself, not knowing how high the fence I will soon embark to climb. Not knowing, how much I am willing to sacrifice for his smile.