(Filipino) A Walk Down Memory Lane

Three

           Kasalukuyan kong binabasa ang script ng bago kong proyekto. It's a movie. I know na kakatapos lang nung huli kong proyekto but I really can't sit still. I think my body's used to working. Feeling ko magkakasakit ako kung tutunganga lang ako buong araw. Sayang yung kikitain ko kung tatanggihan ko ang project na inaalok sa akin dahil lang gusto kong magpahinga.

           "What's the problem?" nagtataka kong tanong kay Gina. Kanina pa kasi siya pabalik balik ng lakad. Nakakainis. Hindi ako makapag-concentrate dahil sa kanya.

           "Kasi... You know I went back to your condo unit this morning, right?" aniyang may pag-aalala sa boses.

           I raised my eyebrow. "And?"

           Nagdalawang isip pa siya kung sasabihin ba sa akin. I gave her a stern look. Napakamot siya ng ulo at sinabi rin sa huli ang bumabagabag sa kanya. "I saw your parents outside. They were begging the guards to let them in." aniya.

           Binaba ko ang hawak na script. Mapakla akong natawa. Really? After all this years? Wow. Kapal nga naman ng mga mukha. Malamang naubos na yung perang ninakaw nila mula sa akin kaya bumabalik na naman. I can't believe na may mga tao talagang tulad nila na nage-exist sa mundong toh. They're cunning. And I'm very ashamed na sa lahat ng pwedeng magulang sila pa. I will never forget what they did to me. That was unforgivable. I trusted them pero anong ginawa nila? They broke that trust. Kung talagang kailangan nila ng pera, dapat sinabi nila. Hindi nila kailangang magnakaw mula sa anak nila. Maayos ko silang tinanggap matapos nila akong inabandona noong sanggol pa lang ako. Wala akong inexpect mula sa kanilang kahit ano. I was just happy to meet them but I never thought that happiness was temporary.

           "Tell the guards not to let them enter the building kahit ano pa ang sabihin nila and iklaro mo na I'm in no way connected to those people." utos ko kay Gina.

           Tumango siya at di na nagtanong pa. Siguradong sanay na rin yung mga guards doon sa condo sa mga ganung bagay. Ilang beses na rin naman kasing may pumupunta roon at sinasabi na kilala ko raw sila at nagpapakilalang kaibigan ko o kapamilya. Shame on them. I was never close to any of my relatives and I never had friends outside AbTV. Kung may bibisita man sa akin, malamang ay ite-text muna nila ako. We warned the guards about that so everytime na may naghahanap sa akin, tinatawagan muna nila si Gina bago sila pinapapasok. Safety measures. Ganun talaga.

           "Anyway, total pinag-uusapan na rin naman natin toh, isn't it better for you to find a new condo? O kaya you should just stay in your house."

           "I'm not moving just because of those people. Wala namang nangyaring masama while I was staying there, right? Saka isa pa, gusto ko ang condo na yun dahil di malayo dito. Kompleto na rin sila sa lahat. I don't need to leave the building just to buy groceries. Bihira na lang na makahanap ng lugar na ganun."

           She sighed. "I'm just concerned. Napakarami na kasi ng nakakaalam ng address mo. Hindi na ako sure kung safe ka pa sa lugar na yun."

           I rolled my eyes. "Hindi mo kailangang ipag-alala ang bagay na yan. That condominium is exclusive. Hindi sila nagpapapasok ng kung sinu-sino lang."

           Hindi na lamang siya sumagot. May sarili akong bahay pero hindi ako umuuwi doon. It's too big for me. I will just feel lonely.

           NAPATINGIN ako sa likod ko nang marinig ang boses ni Gina.

          "Napapadalas ang pagpapadala ni Mr. Ventura sayo ng bulaklak. Is he courting you?" tanong ni Gina ng mapansin ang bulaklak sa mesa ko. She assumed na it's from Allen Ventura na agad dahil wala naman kasing bulaklak o regalo na nakakarating sa akin unless it's Allen Ventura's.

           I still don't know what to do with him. I barely see him in the building. Puro padala lang naman ng bulaklak ang ginagawa niya. Pag nagkikita naman kami we just smile at each other. I'm not really sure what he wants. He's a bit complicated. I wonder if sinasadya niya ito. Maybe it's part of his game. He's making me curious so I'd be more interested. But of course I won't give in that easily. Marami na akong nakilalang lalaki na tulad niya. Hindi niya ako madadala.

           "Wala ka ng schedule ngayong hapon. Do you want to go back to your unit para makapagpahinga ka?" tanong ni Gina pagkuway.

           Tiningnan ko ang relo ko. May lakad ako mamayang gabi but of course I'm not telling Gina. Siguradong hindi niya ako papayagan. She's obsessed with protecting my image. Wala siyang tiwala sa akin. Natatakot siya na baka mag-skandalo lang ako.

            I miss hanging out every night. I wasn't able to attend Christian's birthday. We had to attend an incident. It was urgent so I had no choice.

           "Sure. You can go home as well, after mo ako ihatid sa unit ko. Balak ko ring magpahinga ngayong gabi."

           "I can stay with you in case you need something."

           Umiling ako. "Having people around all the time is exhausting. Ngayon lang ako ulit makakapagpahinga. I want to be alone for tonight."

           Tinitigan niya ako. Tila ba pinipiga ako. Kinikilatis kung may plano na naman akong hindi niya alam. Tsk. She's been my manager since I started acting. Dapat alam niyang expert ako sa pagtatago ng sekreto.

           "SURE ka talagang di mo ako kailangan rito?" paninigurado ni Gina.

           "Just go, Gina. If I need something I will call you."

           "Wala ka naman sigurong binabalak na di ko magugustuhan noh?" nagdududa niyang tanong.

           I rolled my eyes. "Kung sinabi kong magpapahinga lang ako ngayong gabi, then yun lang talaga ang gagawin ko. I'm really tired so please..."

           Bumuga siya ng hangin. "Okey but call me if you need anything o kung may problema."

           I rolled my eyes. "Bye!" at saka sinara ko na ang pinto the moment na lumabas siya.

           Agad akong nagpunta sa kwarto ko. I took my outfit na susuotin ko ngayong gabi saka tinaggal ko yung suot kong wig. Yeah, I'm wearing a wig everyday. I don't think my fans think it's a wig since it looks very realistic. Everyone believes that I have a natural straight black here but my real hair's actually curly and it's kinda brown. Dark brown. I actually like it but noong sumisikat na ako, nahihirapan akong ayusin yung natural kong buhok kada-umaga. Uso pa nun yung straight kaya I had to straighten it every morning until sinuggest ni Gina na gumamit na lamang ako ng wig para di ko na kailangang mag-effort ng ilang oras every morning tapos ay mapapangalagaan ko pa yung buhok ko. Masama kaya yung araw araw na lang na nae-expose sa mainit na iron yung buhok mo.

           Nilugay ko yung buhok ko, sinuklay ko ng konti yung dulo. I waited 30 minutes muna bago ako lumabas ng unit ko. Just to make sure na wala na talaga si Gina. After 30 minutes lumabas na ako at ginamit ko yung kabilang elevator. I bought another parking space malayo sa unit ko. Doon ko pinark yung sasakyang sekreto kong binili noong isang taon. I usually use it pag lumalabas ako. No one figured it out... I guess.

           Nung papasok na ako sa kotse I felt my phone vibrate.

           "The fun already started. Are you coming?"

           Napangiti ako. "I'll be there in 10 minutes." sagot ko kay Christian.

           Christian and my other cousins are the only people I know here. They are the only people I can hang out with. And yes, Christian is my cousin. I'm adopted. I ended up in a very good family after my boiological parents throw me away. They're all nice to me. I lived with them when I was 5. I only met my biological parents recently. And it was the biggest mistake I ever did. There was a reason why they throw me in the first place. I should have not trusted those people again.

           Pumasok na ako sa loob ng kotse ko saka mabilis iyung pinaharurot papunta sa underground bar na madalas naming puntahan ng mga pinsan ko. It's the only place that's safe from the media. They're banned from getting in there dahil mostly ng customers nila ay public personality na gustong magwawal sa free time nila. I'm a party girl and that's not even a secret.

           The reason why Gina doesn't want me going out with my cousins often ay dahil nababalita na iba't ibang lalaki daw ang kasama ko gabi-gabi. It's actually hilarious. I'm a social climber daw for hanging out with those personality. Lol. No one knows that they're my cousin dahil sekreto pa lang ang totoong pagkatao ko sa lahat. I chose not to tell anyone about it. I think I'd be stressed out if they find out that I'm the daughter of the country's president. It's better this way. I can do whatever I want... Though my adopted parents don't really mind.