Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Gus

Twelve years later...

"The famous Hollywood Actress, Gus Marquez!"

Lumabas ako ng stage as soon as I heard my name. I'm on Ms. Eden's show, the renowned show on Earth. Yeah, sikat siya at ang show niya all over the world. And I am very lucky to be here right now. Nagpalakpakan ang mga audiences nang makalabas ako ng backstage. They are also waving at me so I waved back.

"Hello, Gus!" Paunang bati sa akin ni Ms. Eden. Tumayo siya at kinamayan ako.

"Hi, Ms. Eden! Thank you so much for having me here!" I said and accepted her hand.

"No. The pleasure is mine. Thank you so much for being here despite your busy and hectic schedule."

"You're welcome. The pleasure is also mine. One of my dreams is to be one of the guests in your show." She laughed so am I. That's true. Being a hollywood actress for six years I was dreaming to be here on her show. Because she's famous because of her sense of humor. She knows how to handle each people especially her guests. She had no script and all the questions are on the spot. So I'm admiring her.

"Yes, I knew that. Your manager told me when I called her."

"Oh.." I laughed.

"So, okay, let us talk about you who've won as the best actress last week." She seriously asked me.

"Well, I did not expect that I'll win. I was happy and grateful being nominated. When the emcee mentioned my name as the best actress of the year, I was speechless. I cried because of overflowing happiness."

"Yes. I saw you cried but you still managed to talk and thanked everyone. You still looked gorgeous."

"Thank you, Ms. Eden!"

"Yeah. That's true. I was wishing that maybe someday I'll be as beautiful as you are." We both laughed because of what she said.

"Yes. You are more beautiful than me." I told her.

"Oh, don't flatter me. I might believe you."

"That's true." Yes, she's really beautiful.

"Maybe I might win as best actress also soon."

"Hehehehe! Why not?"

"Hahaha! I was just kidding. Anyways, many people admire you because despite your busy schedule as an actress you still managed to finished your bachelor's degree."

"Oh, yes! But there were some movies that I turned down because I couldn't accommodate anymore. My time was limited. Although I wanted to accept the offer but I was thinking that education is far more important than any necessary things. I do regret those projects but I did chose. And I am happy for my choice."

Marami pang tinanong si Ms. Eden sa akin. Good thing dahil lahat naman ay nasagot ko ng maayos. She asked me about being a Filipino. And I told her why I chose to live here than in the Philippines. My boyfriend is here. And I am happy wherever we go as long as he's with me and I'm with him.

She even called my boyfriend who is sitting in the audience. Pero mahiyain siya kaya hindi pumayag.

"You're lucky for having him. He's hot and very handsome."

"Yes. He's the most understanding boyfriend. And I love him so much!" Naghiyawan ang mga manonood. Maging si Ms. Eden ay ganoon din. I looked at him and he's blushing. Naalala ko pa noong mga panahong kailangan ko siyang e-deny dahil sa kasagsagan ng kasikatan ko.

Akala ko ay iiwan na niya ako pero mas lalo lang niya akong minahal. I met him ten years ago. We were on the same school in high school and college. He's a business tycoon at the moment. Nagtayo siya ng sariling negosyo pagkatapos naming mag-aral. He's already my boyfriend that time. And I was already famous back then.

Kailangan ko muna siyang ikala o itago dahil sa mga fans ko. Three years ago ko lang siya pinakilala sa publiko. My fans loved him. Not only because he got the looks but because he supported me in every decision I made. Minsan kasama ko siya sa mga shows, minsan naman ay hindi dahil sa negosyo niya. He even told me na kaya siguro nagtagumpay siya sa business world ay dahil isang sikat na aktres ang girlfriend niya. I just laughed when he told me those.

"Before we end this. I have one last question." Ms. Eden asked me.

"Okay."

"What did you feel when you're acting as Olivia in the movie entitled Someone's Torturing Me?"

"The movie was so intense. I got carried away. My anger, my tears, my pain, and my heartaches was all natural. Every time I read my speech, I always cried off cam. The movie was great, really really great. It touches not only the heart of all the viewers but the staff, the director, the actors and actresses as well."

"Yes. I felt that too. And I won't get tired of watching it over and over again."

"Thank you," I said. Really glad of what she said.

"Okay. Thank you so much, Gus Marquez! I hope it's not the last time you guest here."

"Me too. Thank you so much!"

"Gus Marquez, the best actress in Hollywood everyone!" I waved at the audience, they're also my fans. Masaya ako at nakapunta sila. Masaya akong makita na marami akong tagahanga.

Natapos ang guesting ko sa show ni Ms. Eden. My manager just messaged me, informing me na wala raw akong schedule buong araw bukas. Hindi siya nakasama ngayon dahil masama raw ang pakiramdam niya. I waited for my honey bunch at the back stage.

Hindi pa ako pwedeng lumabas dahil marami pang tao. Prente akong nakaupo sa sofa habang naghihintay sa nobyo ko. I scanned my phone and decided to send him a message.

to honey bunch:

Wer r u?

Ilang segundo lang ay nakatanggap ako ng sagot mula sa kanya.

from honey bunch:

On my way there

to honey bunch:

hurry.. I'm hungry

Isang matunog na halik ang nagpa-angat ng tingin sa akin. And standing right in front of me is my hot honey bunch. Tumayo ako at niyakap siya.

"What took you so long?" malambing kong tanong sa kanya.

"Nagkagulo sa labas. Gusto kang habulin at makita sa labas ng building. May mga gusto pang lumapit sa akin mabuti na lang at alisto ang mga bodyguards natin."

Sanay na ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. Sa tuwing may guesting or shooting ako, maraming mga fans ang gusto akong lapitan. Nang makilala ng lahat ang boyfriend ko, pati siya ay gusto na ring dumugon. Gwapo naman kasi.

He hugged me tight. Walang pakialam sa mga bodyguard na nakapalibot sa amin. We're used of that also kaya wala na kaming pakialam.

"Saan tayo kakain?"

"In my place. Pinaghanda na kita. I called my cook earlier."

"Ohh.. You're so sweet, honey bunch." Sa ganitong estado ng buhay ko, hindi na ako nakakakain sa labas. Sa mamahaling restaurants o kahit sa mga pampublikong lugar. Dinudumog kasi ako ng mga fans ko. Okay lang naman sa akin, natutuwa pa nga ako ngunit isang beses kasi ng lumabas ako at pumunta sa mall, dinumog ako at nasaktan. Kaya mula noon, pinagbawalan na akong lumabas ng manager ko. Kung lumabas man kailangang may kasamang bodyguard.

"So, let's go?"

"Okay. Let's go."

May naunang mga bodyguard sa aming dalawa. Sa likod at gilid namin ay may mga bodyguards din. Papalabas na kami sa likod ng building. Naroon kasi ang sasakyan namin. Sinalubong na naman kami ng sigawan ng mga fans ko. Calling my name and saying sweet nothings.

"We love you, Gus!"

"Gus!"

"Gus, we love you!"

Nginitian ko silang lahat at kumaway pa. Nais ko silang lapitan ngunit pinigilan ako ng mga bantay sa amin.

"I love you too! All of you!" Paulit-ulit na sigaw ko sa kanila. Sila rin ang rason kung bakit sikat na ako ngayon. My fans love me so much at hindi ako nakakalimot sa kanila.

Kapag birthday ko ay palagi akong may autograph signing sa isang kilalang mall. Palaging dagsa ang mga fans ko roon. I also donated money and goods to the street people, sa mga bahay ampunan, home for the aged at kahit saang nangangailangan ng donasyon dito sa New York.

Kumaway pa akong muli sa mga fans ko bago pumasok sa loob ng kotse. Nakangiti kong sinalubong ang boyfriend ko na kasunod kong pumasok.

"Nothing's changed."

"Hehehe. Hayaan mo na. Ayaw mo noon, sikat pa rin ang girlfriend mo?"

"We barely date outside."

"Okay naman tayo sa loob ng bahay mo o ng bahay ko, di ba? We even went abroad para lang mag-date. Hehehe."

"Na minsan na lang din nangyayari." Kinabahan ako. Nagsasawa na ba siya?

"Are you tired of me?" Nakita kong sumeryoso ang mukha niya at humarap siya sa akin.

"Of course not. What made you say that?"

"Kasi baka nagsasawa ka na sa akin kaya mo sinasabi 'yon."

"No. It's not that. Hindi ako magsasawa sa'yo. Tandaan mo' yan, okay?" He intently look at me.

"Okay." Nginitian ko siya. Pero kinabahan talaga ako doon. My friends told me na wala raw nagtatagal na relasyon kapag nasa show business ang isa. It's because of busyness or third party kaya nagkakahiwalay ang magkarelasyon. Pero hindi ko naman naiisip na maghihiwalay kami ng boyfriend ko dahil lang doon.

Sinisiguro namin na may oras pa rin kami sa isa't-isa. Kahit gaano ka busy, we always make sure to find time for each other. We were able to understand one another on hard times. Hindi rin kami nag-aaway. Kasi sinisiguro niya na hindi ako magagalit at ganoon rin siya sa akin. Ganoon namin kamahal ang isa't isa.

"Anong niluto ni Madessa?"

Madessa is his cook and helper. She's a bit old. Para ko na nga siyang Lola. Pero malakas pa siya sa mga gawaing bahay.

"I told her to cook your favorite food."

"Which favorite?" Marami kasi akong paborito at alam niya 'yon.

"Lahat ng paborito mo."

"Ano? Ang dami naman yata?"

"Marami rin kasi tayong kakain."

"Oh.." Oo nga. Kasama pa pala namun ang mga bodyguard ko. May manager, Mommy Anita insisted that I should have lots of bodyguards. Mahirap na raw baka maulit na naman ang nangyari sa akin noon. Naipit ako ng mga fans ko kaya tuloy, sa ospital ang bagsak ko.

"I have to tell you something," aniya nang magkaharap na kaming kumakain sa dining area ng bahay niya.

"What is it?" Napansin kong hindi pa siya sumusubo sa pagkaing inilagay ko sa pinggan niya.

"I need to go to the Philippines next week."

"Philippines?" He'd never been there those past twelve years. Ano at pupunta siya roon?

"Why?"

"I need to check some important things there."

"What important things?"

"It's about my business."

"Ano nga?" Bakit ayaw niyang sabihin sa akin kung ano 'yon? For the first time in our relationship, ngayon lang siya parang naglilihim sa akin. He's not specific.

"My parents called me. Gusto nilang pamahalaan sa akin ang negosyong itinayo nila."

"What?" Bumuntong hininga siya. Tila nahihirapan rin na sabihin sa akin iyon.

"But I didn't told them that I will. Alam nilang may negosyo ako rito kaya hindi maaari ang gusto nila." Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa. Isipin ko pa lang na aalis siya at patungong ibang bansa, nalulungkot na ako. Ayokong nalalayo siya sa akin.

"Hanggang kailan ka doon?" Matagal na akong hindi nakakauwi ng Pilipinas. The last time I had been there was when I was in elementary. Iyon din ang sabi sa akin ng mga magulang ko.

They told me that I had an accident twelve years ago. Kaya nila ako dinala rito sa New York. I was unconscious for six months. Dito na ako nagkamalay sa New York. Naroon ang mag magulang, kuya at ate ko nang magising ako. Masaya sila dahil naaalala ko raw sila. Bakit naman hindi di ba?

They were happy when they found out na wala raw akong amnesia. Masama raw ang pagkabagok ng ulo ko kaya iyon ang pinangangambahan nila. I was hit by a car. Pero wala akong maalala. When I told them na wala akong maalala tungkol sa aksidente, they got worried again. When the doctor came and asked me lots of questions, we found out that I forgot some years of my life. I woke up and thinking that I was ten years old but I was halted when they told me that I was already thirteen that time.

I got confused. I couldn't remember anything. Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi nila. I was sure I was ten then but when I looked at the calendar, I was shocked again. They wanted me to see a psychologist but unfortunately, hindi pa bumabalik ang alaala ko. Ilang buwan din ang lumpis bago ko natanggap ang nalaman ko.

Somehow I was bothered dahil wala akong maalala sa tatlong taong iyon ng buhay ko. But with my family beside me, I chose to totally forgot that three years and continued with my life. After two years of studying, doon ko na pala makikilala ang lalaking magiging nobyo ko. And that is, Channing Nickolas Padilla. My boyfriend.