Seeking Twilight: Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Right Round…

“…So much for my happy ending…oh…oh…oh…”

Nagmamadaling kinuha ni Mitch mula sa bag ang kanyang cellphone. Kadarating lang niya ng bahay at nage-expect din na kapag bumalik ay wala pa rin ang mga tao pero nagkamali siya dahil nandito na ulit silang lahat.
Ano kaya ang nangyari?

“Hello?”
“Hija!”
“Oh, Tito Sam! Napatawa ka?”
“Thank God! At last, nahagilap ko na rin yung isang ‘to.” parinig ni Tito Sam sa kabilang linya.
“Hahaha…why, Tito?”
“Well, since ngayon lang kita nahagilap. I might as well use my chance.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been looking for you since last night.”
“Hmmm…”
“What happened last night, iha?”
“…”
“Alam ko na may nangyari kagabi at bigla ka na lang nawala without telling me na aalis ka na.”
“It’s a long story, Tito.” resigned na sabi ko.
“Try me.”
“Fine!”
“C’mon, iha. Tell me about it and if I remember it right, may atraso ka pa sa akin.”
“What?! Atraso? Bakit?!”
“Kung hindi ka umalis kaagad kagabi, naipakilala na sana kita sa magiging manager mo habang wala ako at sana nagkausap ulit kayo ni Mr. Nicolas Ghesquire ng matagal. You know what? That guy likes you to model his creation again. It’s one big step in your career, Mitch but what did you do? You disappeared! Hayyy…”
“…”
Ano ba ang napasok mo, Mitch? Baka isipin ng ibang tao na unprofessional ako when it comes to work.

Bagsak ang mga balikat na napaupo ako sa sofa ng living room. Ang sakit naman sa ulo ng mga nangyayari sa akin ngayon. Pagod na hinawakan ang noo ko at hinilot-hilot while yung isang kamay ay hawak pa rin ang cellphone na nakatapat sa tainga.

“Ano, hindi ka na ba magsasalita diyan?” untag ni Tito Sam.

“Hoy! Hihingahan mo lang ba ako ah, Mitch?”
“I don’t know what to say, Tito.”
“Why don’t you just tell me what really happened last night and start from the very beginning.”
“It was an accident.”
“The accident that I knew was the one from the runway when you tripped. But I know that the scene from the hall was not an accident. Pinag-alala mo ako, Mitch and you and your friends really made a scene.” naninitang sabi nito sa kanya.
May point naman kasi si Tito Sam tungkol doon. Let’s face it. We really made a scene. This time, it’s a big one. I just hope na hindi kumalat iyong nangyari sa mga tao.
“Ahmm…Tito, may dapat po ba akong ipag-alala?” kinakabahang tanong ko.
“As of now, wala pa naman. Let’s just hope na walang mangyaring hindi kanais-nais.”
“Are you sure about that, Tito? You know media.”
“Bago pa makaalis ang mga media kahapon ay we, me and Nicolas confiscated their video footages and cameras para wala silang evidence from the accident. Pinakiusapan din namin silang lahat including the guests na walang makakalabas na anything concerning you and the fashion show.”

“Ano, okay ka na?”
“Medyo, nakahinga ako ng maluwag ngayon.”
“Ano ba talaga ang nangyari?”
“Let’s just say na may sira-ulong gusto ako paalisin sa mundong kinagagalawan ko ngayon.”
Napatawa na lang ako ng mapait.

Bakit naman kasi hanggang ngayon ay may mga taong gusto pa rin akong pabagsakin? Why don’t they just give me a break and let me be?
“The accident from the runway and the scene from the hall were not really an accident, Tito.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sinandya nilang mangyari iyon sa akin, Tito. You know me, maingat ako gumawa ng work at wala akong sinasagasaang ibang tao.”
“What the…?! That’s bullshit! Why didn’t you tell me about it earlier?”
“Huli ko na na-realize ang mga nangyari. Tapos na at wala na akong magagawa so, tell me, paano ko sasabihin sa inyo iyon kagabi nang hindi lumalabas na nangbibintang ako ng ibang tao?”
“You could at least, try it.”
“Naiinis ang mga co-models ko kagabi sa akin for the simple and dumbest reason na ako ang nagiging center of attention sa fashion show at ako pa ang kinakausap niyan Nicolas etchos na iyan. Kaya nila sinadya na ma-tripped ako sa runway at yung scene sa hall ay pinatid nila ako kaya doon na nagsimula yung confrontation.”
“Hayyy…so, where did you go after the scene?”
“I went to someplace wherein I can unwind from everything.”
“Okay, wala na tayong magagawa sa mga nangyari, Mitch. Ang kinakahinayang ko lang ay dapat nakilala mo na yung magiging temporary manager mo kasi malapit na ang scheduled flight ko, iha.”
“I’m really sorry for everything, Tito. So, saan ang bakasyon natin ngayon?”
“I’m going to the US, iha. Mas madami kasi ako kakilala doon.”
“Hmm…I bet, it’s also concerns to your work.”
“…”
“C’mon, Tito. You told me that you’re going to have rest from all of this then why the sudden change?”
“I can’t help it, Mitch. You know I can’t just sit and relax without doing something really useful.”
“That’s why you’re being a workaholic person and not realizing what you’re missing.”
“I am not.”
“Yes, you are and don’t you dare deny it.”
“Fine! You got me there.”
“Tito, why don’t you cancel it and just have fun? Instead of US, go to Europe and meet some friends.”
“I’ll think about it, iha.”
“Don’t think, just do it.”
“Okay, okay.”
“So, when can I meet your temporary manager?”
“Are you free tomorrow after your classes?”
“Yeah, I’m free.”
“Okay, just text me after your classes and meet me at Gloria Jeans’s in Makati.”
“Sure, Tito.”
“Take a rest, Mitch. It’s already 10 o’clock.”
“You too, Tito. Good night and sweet dreams. Take care.”
“See you tomorrow. Bye.”
“Bye.”

Pinindot ko na yung end button ng cellphone na hawak ko. Napapikit ako dahil sa pagod. Hindi ko akalain na marami pala ang naapektuhan doon sa nangyari.

Ilang minuto na ang nakakalipas ng may naramdaman ako na may nakatingin sa akin. Nag-pretend ako na nakaka-idlip na sa may sofa nang may narinig ako…

“Mitch, can we talk?”