39 Loneliness

NAKAKABULAG ang walang kamatayang flash ng camera pagkababa nila ni Ken mula sa limousine. Napapayag siyang sumama matapos isatinig ni Ken sa management ang tungkol doon upang aprobahan. That is her condition. Pinalawig niya ang kaisipan na maaaring maging pros and cons noon. Tumawag ang ina ni Kelly para hilinging siya ang pumalit. She sounded her begging for a questionable reason yet she didn't bother to ask. She agreed. This must be really important for the young actress. Besides Ken is somewhat trying to dig a hole between her and Zedrick.

Since Maggy brought her to Swizz agency, a bit of issue inside the showbiz become open on her eyes. Until it became usual that she even memorize it. She won't let any harm would open a loophole into her career. Dorothy, Ken, even Zedrick can't break her huge wall. Ilang taon niyang itinayo iyon buhat ng pasukin niya ang karerang tinatakbuhan. Sa rami ng kanyang isinakripisyo. Mabigat na pinagdaanan at katiting na pag-asa, walang makakatibag ng pundasyon niya.

Kinuyog sila ng umuulang tanong ng reporters.

"Yes, I am Majesty. And this beautiful people with me are my absolute friend," hindi niya na napigilang sagutin sa kakatanong kung bakit magkasama sila ni Ken.

Ken held her waist firmly when she glanced at the back when someone asked her to look there. She's wearing the supposed Kelly's long silver dress with a high slit on the side that showed her long legs. Luckily that she had the same height as the actress but she is way curvaceous. Gatus altered the dress for thirty minutes just to fit her.

"Are these your designs, Majesty. They are all stunning and creative." A random question from the media.

"Yes, thanks for the compliment..." Pinaliwanag niya kung saan gawa ang ilan at kung gaano kamahal ang mga tela. She even promoted her new line-up design for men before she smiled from the massive attention. Even if some of the big persons come along their way they were all ignored as they set their eyes with her. So attentive, until a red sports car arrived.

Nagpahila na siya sa mga kasama at pumasok sa loob. Hindi siya nilubayan ng isang reporter na kaanak ng isang kilalang sikat na actor. Tinatanong nito kung may balak siyang mag-artista.

"Oh! It's an honor but no, I'm not into." She waved to Diva when she spotted her coming through.

"You are so very lovely tonight that most of the actors here would swoon at you. We all know that Ken is already taken. Perhaps is there any inspiration behind that beauty and majestic ideas of your designs?"

Diva reached her for a quick peck. Tumawa ito sa tanong kaya tumawa rin siya. She is hesitant to answer that tricky question because Denver was spotted with her on the closed door party. She was even rumored with Zedrick.

"I am inspired because this is my very dream since I was young. Inspiration?" Muli siyang humalakhak kahit walang nakakatawa. May binulong sa kanya si Diva kaya nagpaalam sila sa reporter ng hindi tinatapos ang sagot. Hinila siya nito sa mesa nila Ken. Ayaw niya sanang tumabi rito pero iniiwasan niyang isipin ng mga kasama na may kakaiba sa kanila. Sa huli ay tumabi siya rito.

Hanggat maaari ay tahimik lang siya. Kapag kinausap ay saka lamang siya magsasalita.

"My son, Drake is very fond of you. He said one time that you are her close friend. Is that true?" The winner of best actor Mr. Alfonso Manansala approached her together with his wife, Mrs. Janine Manansala. The former best actress last year.

Hindi niya inaasahan ito. Maraming Manansala sa mundo at kilalang mga artista pala ang magulang ni Drake. Wala namang nabanggit ang kanyang kaibigan. Nagkaka-text sila pero minsan ay hindi niya napaglalaanan ng panahon dahil sa sobrang kabisihan.

"Yes, we are. He is my schoolmate at Casa De Rios," pag-amin niya bago sumulyap sa kanyang likurang si Ken.

"My son is busy on his career, but sometimes he would participate in modeling too. You must know him as carefree before but he is very serious now. Why not you two can go along? You are very much welcome to our house, Majesty," Mrs. Manansala offered, not minding the man behind her.

"I will surely do that, Ma'am. Thank you."

Isang kaibigan nitong kilala rin sa showbiz world ang sumama sa kanilang circle. Ilang pang pakikisama, sagot sa tanong, picture at invitation sa ibang event ay napahinga rin siya sa upuan. Ken would always whispered at her to ask rest but it was hard to leave them. For her it's unethical with this kind of gatherings. Humanga siya sa lalaking ito dahil kahit hindi ngumiti sa ilang lumalapit ay parang kinikilig pa rin, lalo sa kababaihan. Hanggang sa maabala na ito nang lapitan ng isang kilalang sikat na director.

She is not interested that why she stood up and get some drinks to loosen up. She can't deny that an event like this is opportunity. On her full load case, perhaps a booking of schedule will do. Mula ng buksan niya ang sariling line sa pangalang Majesty at magkaroon ng sariling opisina, lalong naging challenging ang role niya.

It completely ate her whole attention. To the point almost forget about her revenge. The same thing with fewer nightmares. Was this means enough and forget about it? But each time she thought about her lovely sister, the pain is still there and very vivid. It crushed and hurt her heart insanely.

Tinitigan niya ang naubos na empty flutes sa mesa. Naparami yata ako. Inisang tungga niya ang hawak bago umalis. Ngunit natigilan siya nang makaharap si Brandon.

"Eury?" he confusedly asked.

That shook her realization. She had gone through the media with simple make-up. Forgotten about the looks of her especially when she doesn't have any make-up or just apply light one. She is more alike with her sister. By now, everyone would acknowledge that Majesty is Eury.

She swallowed real hard when anger filled her chest. She doesn't want to make a scene here but Brandon's face seemed desperate. His action and expression alarmed her so. One stepped forward of him would be her stepped back too.

"Let's talk, please!" He begged her.

Kung nasa ibang lugar lang sana sila ay baka napatay niya na ito. Pinipigilan niya ang sariling huwag itong sigawan, kaya nanatili siyang tikom ang bibig.

"Please! Eury?"

"Please, what Honey?"

Mula kay Brandon ay lumagpas sa isang babae ang kanyang atensyon. Anong ginagawa ng asawa ni Bandon dito? Silang dalawa?

Lumapit ang babae sa asawa nito. Nang-uusig bago ibinaling ng buong atensyon sa kanya. "Can you tell me who is she really is to your life? And why the fuck she pretend as our maid?" Her haunting voice is full of authority and disgust.

It somewhat made her fear the woman even if it was still composed and beautiful.

"Honey—"

Brandon's voice became mute when she forced herself to join the flow of people for escape. Dumadagundong ang dibdib niya. Kailangan niyang makaalis doon bago pa siya ipahiya ng asawa nito. Natakot din siya sa naging reaction nito kanina. Totoo nga kayang hindi siya nakilala nito bilang si Thaysky? Na higit siyang kapanipaniwala bilang nakatatanda niyang kapatid.

Mula sa paitaas na hagdan ay saglit niyang hinanap sila Ken. Hinahabol niya ang hininga habang ini-scan ang bawat mesa sa baba. Nahanap niya ang kaninang mesa nila na walang nakaupo. Gusto niya sanang magpaalam pero hindi na siya makakababa. Kailangan niya nang umalis.

Bumuhos ang malakas na ulan kung kailan nakalabas na siya. Nasa kabilang side ang waiting shed kung saan siya makakasakay. She is dripping wet and shivered as she walk straight almost half running. She can wait a Taxi from there. And funny that after few more steps the rain stopped. Mukha siyang basang sisiw habang hinihintay ang green signal. Walang tao bukod sa kanya at mga nagdadaang mangilan-ngilang sasakyan lamang.

Binalot ng kalungkutan ang kanyang sistema. Niyakap niya ang kanyang sarili habang tulala sa kawalan. Narito siya sa gitna ng dilim na mag-isa at nilalamig, kagaya ng paglayas niya noon sa mansion nila. Iniwan niya ang karangyaan kapalit ng kalayaan ngunit may katambal na kahirapan. Nagtiis siya kahit pa hindi naman siya pinapili na piliin iyon. Pero hindi niya pinagsisisihan ang narating niya ngayon. Ang tumayo sa sariling mga paa ang nagturo sa kanyang maging matatag at matured sa lahat ng desisyon. Ito ang mundong para sa kanya. Mas gusto niyang maging tauhan ng kahirapan pero malaya kaysa kasaganaan ng walang kalayaan.

Ano kaya si Eury ngayon kung hindi ito namatay? Bukod sa talino at gandang angkin nito, personally she can't describe how would be her sister, right now. Everything about Eury's memory is blurred on her imagination except with the young and innocent face. She wanted to laugh at herself at the thought of not knowing her deceased sibling's dream. She didn't talk to her about it. She'd focus on letting her experience what's freedom means.

Hindi niya pala dapat ginawa iyon. Hindi na dapat siya sumali sa Grand Prix para kuhanin ang atensyon ng mga magulang nila. Sa kanilang dalawa, ito ang mas nangangailangan ng kalinga at pang-unawa. Balikat na masasandalan gaya ng nararamdaman niya ngayong nag-iisa siya.

Nangilig ang luha sa kanyang mata. It's so lonely. I only had you but I didn't took care you.