All Over Again

Chapter 8: My BOO

Venice's POV

9:10 AM..

-__-

Ang aga.. Ang aga ko talaga gumising.. Usually, ganitong oras, nagpapaka-hurricane pa lang ako sa kwarto ko sa pagmamadali para lang hinde ako ma- late.. Pero look at me now.. All calm.. kumakain-kain lang ng almusal..

Nakatunganga dun sa TV na hindi ko naman talaga makita dahil nasa kabilang kwarto sya.. Ginagawa lang ng nanay ko na radyo ang TV.. kaya di man namin makita kung anong palabas, pang-boombox naman ang lakas ng volume..

Haayyy..

Sa sobrang windang ko yata kagabi, pag-uwi na pag-uwi ko, diretso collapse na ko sa kama..

Although, hindi naman ganun kasama yung dinner with Jerwin's family.. It was kinda.. nice, actually.. Jean seems to be ecstatic to have an "older sister".. and Mr. Santos or Tito Ray seems to be pleased na hinde ako social-climber... and lalo pa syang na-amused nung narinig nyang hinde ko nakilala si Jerwin the first time I met him.. Kasalanan ko ba!?!?

Haaayyyy.. french toast.. buti na lang masarap ka--

"VENICE! VENICE! VENICE! VENICE!!!!"

Wah! *cough* *cough*

Tubig! *cough*

Mom: Well.. Mukhang nandyan na ang mga suki ng telepono kagabi..

I tried to catch my breath, at the same time, trying to stop myself from further choking on the piece of french toast na nag-dire-diretso sa lalamunan ko..

Ako: Ang aga naman!

Mom: Well, what did you expect? Tinulugan mo ung mga tawag nila kagabi? At alam mo naman si Kenny, pano na lang matatahimik ang buhay nya kung wala syang sagap?

Maya-maya lang, ayan na nga. Lumipad na pabukas ang pinto ng bahay namin at tatlong mokong ang madapa-dapang tumakbo papunta sa dining room kung san kani-kanina lang eh tahimik akong kumakain..

Anthony: Venice! Venice! Is it true!?!? (biglang tingin sa nanay ko) Good morning, Tita Mel! (tingin ulit sa'kin) Venice! Is it true!??!?

Meet Anthony, ang epitome ng taong may Attention Deficit Disorder. Ewan ko ba dyan sa taong yan, pero for the past two years, bigla syang naging overprotective daig pa si Double 07 sa pagbantay sa'kin.

Knowing what exactly he was talking about, I held up my left hand and showed him the diamond ring. Mabilis naman syang tumakbo at talagang nilapit ung kamay ko sa mata nya..

Anthony: Totoo nga! Why?!?! Buntis ka ba?!? Ni-r**e ka ba?!?

Sheena: *gasp!* Buntis ka?!??

Kenny: Na-r**e ka?!?!?! OoO

Ako: Mga gunggong! Mukha ba kong na-r**e!??!

Anthony: Then why?!? Kelan pa!? Why!??! T-T

Biglang nalipat ung tingin nya sa tabi ko nung nagsimulang tumawa si mommy.. And syempre, dahil A.D.D nga ung loko, 180-degrees bigla ang turn ng mood nya..

Anthony: Wow, tita! French toast? Penge?

Mom: Sige lang, upo na muna kayo.. At mag-ttoast pa ko ng tinapay..

Just then, biglang napunta ung atensyon ko sa TV nang narinig ko ang three magic words:

"Jerwin Santos' Fiancée?"

At wala nang hinga-hinga, sumugod ako kagad sa living room para tignan kung anong nangyayari.

Nilabas na ba nina Tito Ray ung balita? Bakit 'di ko alam?!?

Sumunod sa living room sina Sheena, Kenny, Anton, at ung nanay ko.. Narinig rin yata nila o baka nawindang sila kasi bigla akong lumipad.. Pero either way, nakatunganga na rin sila sa TV as new photos of Jerwin and I linger dun sa screen..

Mom: Wow.. anak, tignan mo nga naman.. Ang bilis naman ng balita! Kahapon lang yan ah!

Sheena: Kahapon?!

That little high school brat! Anong kalokohan itoh!??! The pictures from when Jerwin and I were at the jewelry shop continue to appear dun sa screen.. Ung 3 pictures naming dalawa -- for some reason hinde pinakita ung picture na kasama namin ung pasaway na high schooler na un..

The morning show hosts relay their speculation about the photos naman.. Nag-sspread daw like wildfire ung mga pictures from one online site to another..

At in fairness, may pagka-hyper ang mga hosts na itoh.. Never did they expect raw na ikakasal na pala ang "Prince of the Music Industry".. Ni hindi nga raw nila alam na may girlfriend 'toh..

Kung alam lang nila ang totoo tignan ko lang kung lalo silang hindi maloka.. -__-

They even went on to add ung quote sa isa sa mga blog na quote-unquote, si Jerwin daw mismo ang tumawag sa'kin na "soon-to-be bride" nya. Although di naman un ung exact words ni Jerwin.. pero.. close enough..

Morning Show Host: Now the main question is, sino ba itong mystery girl na ito?

Oh my golay.. They want to know who I am... T-T

Kenny: WAH!!! Breast friend! Sikat ka na!

Sheena: Nasa TV ang picture mo! Nasa TV!!!

Kenny: At gusto pa nilang malaman kung sino ka! WAH! Dadami ang stalker mo!

Ako: Che! Tigilan nyo nga ako!

*sigh*

But it's probably true. Lantaran ang mukha ko sa picture na un.. And being the unknown, the media will try to find out kung sinoh ung girl sa tabi ng "Prince" nila... Eventually, they'll find me...

Later this afternoon...

This day is just horrible. HORRIBLE, I tell you!

This morning, pagtapak na pagtapak ko pa lang sa school grounds, may mga tao nang nagtitinginan, nagbubulungan... And as the day progresses, lalo silang dumadami! Lalong kumakalat ang news..

Eto na siguro ang karma ko sa lahat ng beses na ako ang nagkakalat ng tsismis.. T^T

Lord, sorry na.. T-T

Ako: Haayyy... -__-

Kenny: Ai, depressed?

Sheena: Relax ka lang dyan, Venice.. Pauwi na tayo.. May 12 hours ka pa ulit bago makakita ng mga nagbubulungan tungkol syo..

Anthony: Ano pa bang bago sa mga taong pinagbubulungan ka?

Ako: Haller?!? Ang pinagbubulungan kaya nila ngayon--

Sheena: eh ang lovey-dovey engagement mo sa isang superstar na walang nakakaalam na lovey-dovey mo?

Ako: I was gonna say something like, it's none of their business... -__-

Naglalakad palang kami malapit sa gate nang bigla na kaming hinarangan ni Manong Guard.. At ung mukha pa ni manong! Napatigil talaga kaming apat..

Wala pa naman kaming sinisira na classroom ah! O_O

Manong Guard: Naku, Venice. Wala ka bang sundo ngayon?

Ako: Eh? bakit poh?

Kelan ba ko nagkaron ng sundo?

Manong Guard: Kanina pa naghihintay ung mga reporters syo.. Nadagdagan na nga ng nadagdagan habang tumatagal.. Baka matabunan ka habang naglalakad..

O_O

Kenny: Ayan magsuot ba naman kasi ng uniform sa pagpapa-picture. Nasundan ka tuloy.

Anthony: Pano yan, Venice? Dito ka na lang matulog?

Sheena: Dalhan ka na lang namin ng sleeping bag..

Ako: Hindi kayo nakakatulong ha..

Nginitian ko si Manong Guard, then slowly, and very carefully, sumilip muna ako sa labas.. Mas marami ngang tao than usual.. Although, parang lahat naman sila eh minding their own business.. Kung may paparazzi man, parang bilang lang sa kamay ang nakikita ko..

So syempre, malakas ang loob ko na makakatakbo ako, ay sige! Nag-step out ako sa gate.. and then, wham! Nagsimula silang lahat na magtutok sa'kin ng mga camera! As in more than kalahati pala sa mga taong nandun eh may dalang camera! 20?!? 30?!?

At hindi pa sila natuwa sa flashing lights, nagtakbuhan pa sila papunta sa'kin with their tape recorders at notebooks at sandamakmak na mga tanong! Everywhere I look, flash.. At dinudumog nila ako!!!! Just then, I felt somebody grab my arm and pulled me back papasok nung schoolgates. Nakita ko na lang si Manong Guard na mabilis sinasarado ulitt ung gates..

Anthony: Venice?! Ok ka lang?!?

Sheena: Ano namang kalokahan mo at lantaran kang lumabas?!?!?

Kenny: Nakakakita ka pa ba?!?

I see dots... At dots talaga! Flashing dots.. sa dami nung camera flash sa harap ko, ang hirap mag-adjust ng mata!

Pano ako uuwi?!?!?

Without thinking, nilabas ko yung cellphone ko and kahit na trembling ung kamay ko sa sobrang shock at panic, na-manage ko naman maka-scroll down sa letter J sa phonebook ko..

It's ringing.. ringing.. Please answer....

"Hello?"

Ako: Jerwin!!

I felt all my panic go to another level nung sinagot ni Jerwin ung tawag ko.. I know! Abnormal.. Pero all of a sudden, parang nag-ssink in lahat ng nangyayari, at nararamdaman ko nang nagsisimula ang hyperventilation ko..

Jerwin: Venice? What's wrong?!? You sound--

Ako: They're everywhere! I can't go out! They have these big cameras and-- and-- and-- Jerwin.. I can't go out...

Jerwin: Crap.. They found you already!??

For some reason, naiiyak ako sa sobrang gulo ng emotions ko. Di ko alam kung magpapaka-amazona ako sa mga photographer sa labas, and yell at them to leave me alone.. o magpapaka-media's sweetheart, at hahayaan ko silang kumuha ng pictures....

Parang mabubulag yata ako sa latter choice.. -__-

Jerwin: Listen, I'm in the middle of a meeting right now.. But.. Are your friends with you?

Ako: Y-Yea..

Waaahhh mas pipiliin mo pa yang meeting mo kesa sa fiancée mong nag-ppanic attack?!

Jerwin: Let me talk to one of them..

I thrust the phone to Sheena, na nagkataon lang na pinakamalapit sa tabi ko.. She looked surprised but she took the phone and listened to whatever Jerwin was saying then after a few quick seconds, she handed me back the phone..

Sheena: Kausapin ka raw nya..

Ako: (took the phone) H-Hello?

Jerwin: Hey... I told her to stay with you for a while.. You'll be alright.. Okay? Just take a deep breath.. I'll be there in 15 minutes..

Ako: Okay...

I hang up, and then did what he told me. I took a number of deep breaths to calm my nerves down.. Naubos ko na yata ung oxygen sa paligid ko.. I tried to block out ang kilig na si Sheena na pinagmamalaki kay Kenny na nakausap nya si Jerwin Santos..

It's gonna be okay.. Jerwin's coming...

Well, I don't know where that came from, but it'd better be alright when he arrives...

Umupo sa tabi ko sina Kenny, Sheena at Anton.. They try to figure out how to get me out of the school grounds to the pick-up truck pagdating ni Jerwin.. Pati nga si Manong Guard, nakiki-plano.. Pero rejected naman ung idea nya..

Magplano ba naman na mag-fire ng baril nya?!? O__O

Honestly, it felt like the longest 15 minutes ever!

At nung nag-ring ulit ung cellphone ko, and when I saw it was Jerwin, halos magtatalon ako sa tuwa! -- hindi dahil sya ang tumatawag noh! Dahil lang sa, at last, makakauwi na ko.. yata.

Ako: Hello?

Jerwin: I'm outside.. Run to the car as fast as you can, I'll meet you halfway.. Understand?

Ako: Okay..

Nag-hang up na ko..

Josko, tatakbuhin ko ung sea of cameras.. O__O

Pumusisyon na sina Sheena at Kenny para makisabay sa pagtakbo.. At least, baka sakaling mahati ung atensyon nung mga paparazzi.. Si Anton naman, tumabi na sa'kin.. Sya raw ung magiging quarterback na mag-ppart ng red sea. Di ko masyadong naintindihan, pero parang ganun..

Manong Guard: Ready na kayo?

We all nodded..

Manong Guard: Okay.. Ehto na.. 1... 2.. 3!!! Takbo!

As soon as bumukas ung gate, nagtakbuhan kagad kami.. And tulad ng inaasahan namin, kahit papano, nahati nga ung atensyon, as some tried to follow Sheena, and ung iba naman napatingin kay Kenny. I looked straight ahead and I ran as fast as I could. I can see the black pick-up truck..

"Venice!"

Ako: Jerwin?

I scanned the crowd pushing all around me, and, finally, I saw him running towards me.. Lalong nagkagulo ang mga photographers.. Ang lokong superstar naman kasi hindi man lang nag-suot nung langaw nyang sunglasses! Pero adrenaline rush na itoh! I ran faster towards him.. Anthony tried to push the people out of my way.. until at last, I was able to grab Jerwin's hand.

Jerwin: (smiles) Let's go.

He held my hand as tight as he can, as we fought our way pabalik dun sa sasakyan nya.. Parang lightning ang bilis ng lahat..

As soon as napaggitnaan kami nung mga paparazzi, he immediately wrapped a protective arm around me as he tried to shoulder our way out of the crowd of over-ecstatic photographers.

Everybody was yelling questions and calling him to look. It felt like we went through a stampede hanggang sa we reached the pick- up truck at last..

Binuksan kagad ni Jerwin ung backseat door and halos, madapa-dapa naman ako sa pagsakay. He slammed the door behind me, then tumalon na rin sya sa driver's side. And finally, we were driving away..

Ako: I think I'm gonna be sick.. -__-

I slumped dun sa backseat, na-lowbat bigla dahel naubusan na ng adrenaline rush. Hopefully, nakatakas na rin sina Anthony pauwi..

Jerwin: Just don't throw up in my car, and we're all good.

Ako: Pwede mo naman ipalinis eh..

I threw my book bag sa isang tabi, then crawled towards the passenger seat sa harap.. Alam mo ung ginagawa nung mga bata na tatawid over from the backseat papunta sa harap? Oo, pinagsiksikan ko ang sarili ko habang nag-ddrive si Jerwin..

Jerwin: What are you doing?!?

Ako: Lumilipat ng upuan.

After getting myself comfortable, I fastened my seatbelt and started taking deep breaths to completely calm myself down..

Jerwin: Are you okay?

Ako: I was just mobbed! Do you think I'm okay?!?

Natahimik si Jerwin.. -__- It made me feel kinda bad for barking at him.. eh sya na nga naman itong naging escape car ko at naging shield ko from all the pushing and pulling kanina..

Ako: Sorry..

Jerwin: Your life is going to change now.

Ako: *sigh* Pansin ko nga.. T-T I just don't understand.. Why are they following ME?!?! Eh ikaw ung celebrity!!

Jerwin: After years of being mobbed, nakahanap na ko ng ways para makapagtago.. And besides, people are always curious about the "unknown factor" -- which, in this case, is you. People will be more curious from now on..

Ako: Eh?!

Jerwin: Well, they'd go into a frenzy after that little incident of me showing up to save you from a herd of hungry tabloid photographers.

Ako: I don't believe this... T-T

Jerwin drove for a few more minutes, and then he entered into a busy restaurant's parking lot..

Ngayon pa nya naisipang kumain?!? At sa lantaran na McDo pa! Gusto nya bang pareho kaming masagasaan ng mga taong curious?!?

He parked in the far back, and then turned off the engine.. May balak yata talagang kumain si kuya!?!

Ako: Anong--?!

Jerwin: Listen..

Ay, teka.. serious mode ang aura.. O_O

Jerwin: We got ourselves in this situation.. and quite honestly, it's not really that bad..

Ako: Not that bad?!? We're engaged! (I held up my left hand) ENGAGED!

Jerwin: I know.. But at least our parents aren't rushing us into marriage.. You know, a lot of engagements break up over time..

Ako: Are you saying...?

Jerwin: Yes.. Of course, hindi pa pwede ngayon, since we just "started".. But Venice, won't you spare me a little part of your life?

O__O

>__<

O__O

Jerwin: Be my fiancée.. We'll get through this together.. as partners.. Well.. that makes sense.. I mean, it's not like may takas pa ko..

Ako: (smiles) Partners sound nice..

Jerwin: So we're in this together?

Ako: Better than being in this alone.. So, yep! We're in this together.

Jerwin: Great! And Venice..

Really, he's not that bad naman pala eh..

Ako: Yea?

Jerwin: Don't worry... When the time comes, I'll let you go.

I nodded kinda hesitant.. kasi naman, ang lungkot naman.. Kakasimula pa nga lang ng engagement namen.. Nyahahaha

Jerwin: But for now -- No, from now on.. I'll take care of you.