Two
1700 Words
Naghahanda ako para sa guesting ko mamaya when the door opened. Tiningnan ko kung sino ang pumasok mula sa salamin. I really hate it when people disturbed me while I'm relaxing. Bumaling ang tingin ko sa mga puting rosas na hawak ni Cheska.
"I strictly told you not to bring any gifts from the fans." seryoso kong wika. It's not that I don't like it. I had to refuse it for security purposes.
"Ah, I'm sorry Ms. Tanya. I just didn't know kung anong gagawin ko rito kasi--"
"Throw it away." putol ko sa kanya.
"You know anything from strangers are not allowed in this dressing room. Saan mo ba natanggap yan? Have you checked it? We don't know if it's safe. Alam mo namang muntik ng mapahamak si Tanya dati." dugtong naman ni Gina.
Yumuko ito. "P-pasensya na po. I can't throw it k-kasi.... I-it came from Mr. Ventura."
Mr. Ventura? Sino naman yan ngayon? Isang matandang mayamang fan na naman? Isipin ko pa lang tumatayo na ang balahibo ko. Those rich assholes really think they can get whoever they want dahil lang mapera sila. Sadly, I don't need anyone to protect my name.
Sasagot na sana ako ng tumayo si Gina at kinuha mula kay Cheska ang bulaklak. She looked at the card na kasama nito. Bakas ang gulat sa mukha nito. Tila hindi makapaniwala.
"He gave it directly to you?" Gina asked.
Umiling si Cheska. "One of his bodyguards approached me. Siya dapat yung magbibigay dahil kabilin-bilinan ni Mr. Ventura na iabot directly kay Ms. Tanya yung bulaklak but I told them na hindi pwedeng pumasok yung hindi parte ng staff dito sa loob."
Inikot ko ang swivel chair paharap sa kanila. "Can anyone tell me who that Mr. Ventura is and why is him sending me flowers a big deal?"
Tiningnan ako ni Gina na parang ang laking kasalanan na tinanong ko kung sino ang Ventura na yan. "He's the new CEO of AbTV. He's Mr. Tan's eldest grandson. Ang kaisa-isang anak ni Mrs. Kathleen Tan Ventura."
Napataas-kilay ako. Why would he send me flowers?
Tumayo ako at kinuha yung bulaklak mula kay Gina. Binasa ko kung anong nakasulat doon sa card. "I'm your number one fan, Allen Ventura."
"Maybe it's just for formality. I'm sure every star in this building received one. Just put it in a vase at ilagay mo sa cr. Palanta na rin naman ang bulaklak na nilagay niyo roon." utos ko saka umupo na muli sa swivel chair.
Agad na sinunod ni Cheska ang utos ko. I guess I can't just throw it away since it's from the new CEO. Parang nakakainsulto naman kung sa trashcan lang ang punta nun. Baka isipin, I'm against him being the CEO. Don't get me wrong, wala akong pakialam kahit ano pa ang sabihin ng iba pero tingin ko mas matiwasay ang buhay ko kung maganda ang relasyon ko sa mga big boss ng kompanya.
"It's almost time for your guesting, Ms. Tanya." paalala ng PA ko.
PAPUNTA kami sa studio ng paggi-guestingan ko habang nakasunod sa akin yung team ko. I can't go anywhere without them. Sadly, privacy is a luxury once you're a celebrity. That's the price you pay for fame and money.
Dahil nasa baba pa ang studio, sumakay pa kami ng elevator. Papasok na sana ako sa loob nang mapansing tumigil ang lahat. Nakakunot ang noong tumingin ako sa lalaking nasa loob. I recognized him. Siya yung lalaking nakasabay namin sa elevator noong isang araw.
Inayos ko ang sarili at naunang pumasok. Everyone greeted him again. Ngumiti na lamang ako. I really don't know him. Hindi ko type na batiin ang taong di ko naman kilala. Yeah, I'm not that nice.
"Going home?"
I looked at his reflection. He was looking directly at me pero hindi ako sure kung ako ba ang tinatanong niya. Malay kong yung bodyguard niya diba? O kaya baka may kausap sa phone or something.
"I wasn't able to greet you noong nakaraang araw because everything was so hectic. So allow me to formally introduce myself to you, Tanya."
This time napataas kilay ako. Ako nga yata kinakausap niya. I mean, he said my name. Wala naman sigurong ibang Tanya dito seeing that no one else reacted to what he said.
Maayos ko siyang hinarap. "Are you talking to me?" I asked in a formal tone.
He laughed. "May ibang Tanya pa ba dito?"
Nagkibit-balikat ako. "I'm not sure. My name's very common."
"But it only suits you." aniya.
"Thank you." I responded.
Umayos siya ng tayo saka nilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin. "I'm Allen Ventura. I'm your number one fan."
Umunot ang nakakunot kong noo. Agad kong nakilala ang pangalan niya... So he's the one who sent those flowers. The new CEO of AbTV. What a surprise. I didn't expect him to be this young and good-looking.
Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya. "I'm sure you already know me since you're my number one fan. I heard a lot of things about you, Mr. Ventura. It's nice to finally meet you." not really but oh well...
"Really?" anitong tila may pagkasarkastiko ang tono ng boses.
Hindi ko yun pinansin sahil baka guni-guni ko lang. "And I received the flowers. Thanks."
He smiled. "Akala ko pinatapon mo. I heard you don't accept gifts that's why I asked my bodyguard to send it to you directly... I'm glad you liked it."
"You must be very competent to know a lot of things about your employees."
He licked his lips. I can feel that everyone's looking at us. Nakikiramdam. Nakikinig.
Nakatingin lang ako sa mga mata niya. He's got that really strong aura with him. I can feel that he's not the type of person you'd want to be your enemy. I've been working in this industry for years. I know everyone just by looking at their eyes. Ika nga nila, ang mga mata ay bintana ng kaluluwa ng isang tao. And as a public personality, it's important to know if someone has pure intention or a bad agenda in just one look. You have to assume everyone's your enemy. That's the only way you'd survive.
"Not really... But I do know a lot of things about you. As I said, I'm your number one fan."
Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko na para bang na-touch ako sa sinabi niya. "I feel pleasured, but at the same time pressured to hear that from the new elect CEO. Mukhang mas kailangan ko pang galingan ang pagtatrabaho ko."
Nilagay niya ang isang daliri sa pisngi ko at hinawi ang iilang hibla ng buhok na hindi ko napansing kumawala sa pagkakatali. "If you need anything, you know where to find me." bulong niya.
Bahagya akong umurong palayo sa kanya saka matamis na ngumiti. "Thank you for your concern. I really appreciate it, Mr. Ventura."
Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto. I smiled at him again saka nauna ng lumabas. Hindi ko tinanggal ang mga ngiti hanggang sa sumara ang pinto ng elevator. My eyes rolled. Player. Well, what do you expect from the youngest CEO in AbTV? With that face and his family's fortune, he probably gets whatever he wants.
Hindi ko alam pero parang nae-excite ako sa mga pwedeng mangyari. I can feel that he's trying to get something from me. Hmm, what should I do with that?
"I feel like Mr. Ventura's trying to flirt with you." anang si Gina nung kami na lang ang naiwan sa backstage. I know she's been dying to tell me something simula nung nangyari sa elevator.
I chuckled. "You think so?" I said innocently.
"You shouldn't waste this opportunity. Try to get to his good side."
"Why would I?"
He groaned. "Come on, alam mo kung anong mangyayari kung talagang interesado siya sayo. More projects, endorsements... Siguradong malaking tulong din siya lalo na sa pagpatay sa mga issues tungkol sayo."
Binaba ko ang binabasang script at tumingin kay Gina. "I don't need anyone to keep me on top. I'm Tanya Felix. No one can stop me kahit walang back up, Gina. I can take care of myself."
She laughed. "You're really confident. Alam ko naman na kaya mong iangat ang sarili mo ng walang tulong ng iba pero maganda pa rin pag may malakas kang back up."
"You don't need to worry about anything. I can handle myself. But... If he's really interested, why would I say no?" wika ko at makahulugan ko siyang tiningnan. "I mean... He's handsome and hof and rich. Sinong aayaw sa kanya?"
Umiling-iling ito. "He's not like the other guys you flirted with, Tanya. If you're going to use him then I'd rather want you to be serious about it. Kung hindi then I guess staying away from him is the best for you and your career."
"I don't know. But let's see."
Let's see.
- Writer
