After that night, it was just like any other normal day. I was on my way to grab a coffee in my favorite store, then suddenly my phone rang.
I adjusted my shade and my hat para hindi agad ako ma-recognize ng mga tao. I'm not being paranoid or feeling famous, it's just that I don't want any people to look at me or talk to me. Especially that my social battery was full on blast last night, talking to people and interacting with strangers- exhausting.
Sometimes I hate being famous, but that's part of my job too. Malaki naman ang sahod at hindi ako lugi kaya wala akong karapatan na magdabog.
I wonder where Tyrone went last night? He never appeared on the party kaya ang awkward dahil wala akong masyadong ka close doon except social buddies. Well Trixie was an exception since she likes being with me- that's what she said.
I answered the call, "Sama ka na next week please~" Ang matinis na tinig ni Trixie ang bumungad sa akin, speaking of the devil. "Minsan lang naman manlibre yung kompanya! Summer splash yun, maraming pagkain!" She squealed from the line.
"No." Matabang kong sagot, "At saan mo nakuha ang number ko?" I asked because kaka-change ko lang naman ng number because of that creepy text I've received two days ago.
"Secret! Come on, wala akong ibang makakausap don kapag di ka sasama~" I can imagine her pouting right now.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit feeling close siya sa akin, mas maraming artist ang gusto siya maging kaibigan. She's also socially active and very friendly kaya hindi mahirap sakaniya na makipag meet and greet to other people pero I don't bother asking her naman. Ever since I helped her out in her shoot last weekend, she's been hanging out with me basta nakikita niya ako. I don't find her annoying actually, pero minsan nakaka-drain lang.
"Sounds like not my problem." Pumasok ako sa shop at yumuko, andami atang tao ngayon dito?
"Pleaseee! I know wala kang schedule bukas, the boss said that everything will be cancelled tomorrow! One week vacation oh!"
"I would rather sleep in my room." And continue that new song I composed.
If you're wondering I am also a part time singer, like, I also do singing but not all the time dahil wala naman akong confidence sa boses ko.
"Ansama mo talaga." She sighed and I just ended the call and blocked her number.
Let me rephrase what I said earlier. Actually, I do find her annoying ngunit naaaliw rin naman ako minsan. Take the word 'minsan' and being a happily socially active person rarely happens in me.
"Hello, ma'am, ano po gusto niyo?" The cafe cashier or whatever you call it called me out.
"Mocha frappe please."
"Right away maam, please just wait on Number 73 table."
I looked around and found the table, "Pero it's occupied?" I said, confused.
"Sorry ma'am, marami po talagang customer ngayon dahil sa sale namin and we're running out of seats." Pagpaumanhin neto.
So that's why sobrang dami ng mga tao ngayon unlike the usual days.
Tumango lang ako sa kaniya at naglakad papunta sa designated table ko. I was looking down the whole hanggang sa makarating ako sa table. My neck hurts while waiting dahil nakayuko lang talaga ako, afraid that people might notice and recognize me.
"You look so weird." I heard the person in front of me said so but I just ignored it.
"Hahaha ang pangit naman, no wonder you do that to your face. No one will love you if you're like that." Sabi neto ulit.
Kumunot ang noo ko, "Excuse me?" I looked up to him, "Excuse you?" Tiningnan niya ako.
Natigil ako ng ma realized na may kausap pala siya sa phone. My face was burning hot dahil sa hiya. Umiwas namn agad ako ng tingin sa kaniya.
Shit.
Narinig ko siyang tumawa ngunit hindi ko na siya binalingan pa. Sakto namang dumating ang order ko kaya dali dali akong umalis.
Nakakahiya! God what the hell happened to my composure? Hindi naman ako ganito madaling inisin. Siguro ay dala ng pagka-annoyed ko sa tawag ni Trixie before. Damn it, whiever that person was sana ay hindi ko na siya mkita pang muli.
My phone rang again as I got in my car, ngayon tiningnan ko na talaga kung sino ang tumatawag.
"Tyrone? What's wrong?" I answered.
"Don't go in your house! Something is wrong, tumawag na ako ng mga pulis." He shouted.
I froze on my seat when I heard what he said "What? Bakit? Anong nangyare?"
"I guess someone tried to rob you, lahat ng gamit mo nagkalat." He answered.
Kumabog ang dibdib ko.
"Pumunta ako dito kanina, akala ko nandito ka kasi wala ka sa condo mo. Before I opened the door, narinig kong may kumalabog at may nabasag. Pagbukas ko ng pinto ang kalat kalat sa loob. I didn't explore your house, afraid that the robber might still be in there kaya I just called the police." His voice is shaking. I almost melted, I'm scared as hell while listening to his story.
Ang bahay ko na kaniyang tinutukoy ay ang sariling bahay ko na aking pinagipunan gamit ang aking sweldo. Most of the time I stay at condos or at hotels. My house is very private at nasa loob ito ng isang hindi known na subdivision, what in the world happened at nagkaganito? Are the guards even trying hard to guard the subdivision? Damn it, I should've hired some personal bodyguards para bantayan ito.
"But where am I supposed to stay?" I asked in distress.
"Sama ka kay Trixie bukas, palipasin mo muna. Ako na bahala pagbalik mo. Please, be safe."
I hesitated at first, but knowing Tyrone, I know he's going to insist and force me to go to the summer splash vacation kesa pa stayin ako sa sarili koong bahay.
"Okay, fine. Be safe too."
**
"Aaahhh!! You came, you really are my true friend!" Trixie hugged me nung marating ko ang private airport ng kompanya. Ang daming tao, it's 3 AM. I didn't sleep well, because clearly, I was in my car the whole time. Glad that I brought all my credit cards kaya nag shopping nalang ako ng mga bagong damit para madala sa so called summer splash. Dami ng pera ng kompanya at puro lang paparty ang ginagawa.
Dumeritso nalang ako ng punta dito dahil staying with Trixe = summer splash vacation.
I wonder what's the update with Tyrone, wala na siyang contact contact sa akin kaya nag aalala na ako. His last text was saying I should enjoy my vacation and siya na ang bahala.
I still can't help but worry a lot dahil sa nangyare at wala manlang akong natatanggap na balita or miski isang word lang galing sa kaniya.
Ilang minuto pa, sumakay na kami sa eroplano. This is private kaya ang pasahero lang na laman neto ay ang mga taga kompanya. I think sa Cebu yung pupuntahan namin. I forgot where exactly but Trixie said may villa doon and a hide away, perfect para sa ganitong okasyon. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya galing ng mga impormasyon ngunit wala nalang din akong imik.
Speaking of Trixie, where is she? She suddenly disappeared when we got in the plane.
Oh well, that's good I guess.
Umupo ako sa pinaka last part ng eroplano, and sa corner din. Since there are three airplanes, I really didn't think magkakasikipan kami. Plus not all artist are here dahil nga, yung iba may trabaho at sariling ginagawa.
I was about to sleep when someone spoke up.
"Makikiupo." I opened my eyes and I almost choked at my own saliva when I saw who it is.
"Boss?"
"Hi, Miss De Leon."