Neighbor

Dala nalang ng pagod ay nakatulog siya. Sa tulong ng alarm clock ay nagising siya ng alas kuwarto. Isang oras siyang naghanda, sinabayan na rin ng lemon juice. Nagsuot siya ng corporate attire, dahil ang Sayci Daily Show ay mapapanood sa Europe at America.

She was VIP treatment. Picked up by a limousine. Retouched by the famous make-up artist, Cloud Dior. The whole staying on the backstage was not boring. She was entertained by Sayci herself. Ipinadama sa kanya nito na parang matagal na sila magkakilala at ang show ay platform kung saan casual lang silang nag-uusap.

Gayunpaman, kabado siya kanina pa. Naririnig kasi niya sa mga staff na marami ang mga taong pumila para makapasok dahil siya ang guest. Ngunit hindi lahat ay nakapasok. Napuna nga niyang maliit lang ang buong studio na kayang mag-okupa ng isang daang tao.

"Do you had your most embarrassing moment?" the American famous host, Sayzi Mcquire.

"Oh, yeah. I had one." She sweetly winced as she thought of it. "We're done on the photoshoot. I had an empty bottled of water. I put it on the ground and kicked. I don't know why I think about that, but what's funny I didn't hit the bottle. You know my whole force when I kicked it, it made my balance unproportioned so I fell on the ground. I think the cheek of my butt was red for almost two weeks."

"That's surely painful. And if you fell now, surely all the audience... especially the men will crawl at you."

She laughed, giving a quick glance at the crowd. "I won't allow that. It's ugh— I don't want to remind how painful it was." She chuckled once more.

"Oh, no. Of course, Jessica. Your Talent Scout will be going to kill me that's for sure. See here there on the side. I think she wants to slap my face."

The audience and the backstage staff genuinely laughed. Sayci is full of her sense of humor. Kanina pa ito sa backstage na pinapatawa siya.

"So, the top poll question for you, Jessica was that... you were often seen with Mr. Trevor, so can you label him to your life?"

The audience started buzzing her, teasing her, until the screen on their left side flashed, Von live on his shooting for the best-selling book series— The Game of Thrones. He is one of the main cast. And rumored spread that she'll be the guest star there as the king's concubine. She will die on the last episode tragically after a sultry-intimate kinky with the Kings old son, Clark Snow where Von will portray.

She shifted on her seat. The question is quite tough to answer, especially Von himself listening to her answer together with the watchers— the whole of Europe and America.

"Label? What's the highest is it ten or one?"

Napahampas sa hangin ang host. "Let's say ten as the highest and one is the lowest. Come on, Jessica."

Sinulyapan niya ang audience. Ang kanyang talent scout na naka-krus ang mga braso mula sa backstage. Ang host. Panghuli si Von mula sa screen na nangingiti lamang. "He is... ten."

Nagtilian ang mga tao, maging si Ms. Sayzi. Napatayo pa ito upang halikan si Von mula sa screen. Von himself had that winning smile on his face. He is speechless and red now.

"What can you say Mr. Handsome?" baling ni Sayci sa binata.

Von is obviously tired and sleepy. She understood that possibly by this moment he just touch down Spain. His hair was dyed black and he was literally handsome. His smiles are very captivating. That was his signature. He could catch any woman in the earth by that smile of him.

"Say to whom, Sayci?"

"Von, where are you? What kind of question is that? You had a beautiful lady in front of you. Of course, what can you say about me?"

Muling nagtawanan ang audience. Maging siya. Lalo nang humagalpak ng tawa si Von mula sa video. Halatang hirap itong idilat ang mga mata.

"I'm just kidding, Von. What can you say with Jessica Smith?"

"Jessica is an important person for me. She knew her place on my heart. I want her to always smile. Be happy. I will support her no matter what."

"That's nice, Von. But... do you have something privately that we wanna know... badly. To say with Jessica?" Lumingon si Sayci sa kanya.

Tinging alam niyang gusto nitong marinig ang cue word na may relasyon sila o may pagtingin sila sa isat isa.

She remained confident and smiling. She gave herself a quick glance in the audience until she noticed a small movement on the side. May isang lalaki roon na saktong tumalikod at pumasok sa naglalakihang kurtinang itim.

Cameraman? Stage crew?

"I like her," Von simply said.

Parang sinilihan ang mga audience ng sabay-sabay na tumili at napatayo sa sobrang kilig.

Muli siyang tumingin kay Von. Hirap makangiti dahil bigla ay muling umahon ang kaba sa kanyang dibdib. Klarado niyang nauunawaan kung nasaan siya ngayon at kung ano ang pinag-uusapan, pero iyong misteryosong lalaki ay pamilyar talaga. His whole back physique made the nerves on her body shivered.

She is getting uneasy now.

"Jessica, how 'bout you? What can you say' bout that?"

Isang lingon kay Von. Ganoon pa rin ang pakiramdam niya. Batid niyang napansin din iyon ni Von noong hindi na siya ngumingiti at umiwas nang tingin dito.

"I like him too," sagot niya.

Hindi na namalayan ang bilis ng pangyayari. Nagpaalam na si Sayci kay Von. Si Von ay nagpaalam sa lahat. Ngayon ay scripted na ang gagawin niya. Kailangan niyang i-promote kung saan siya lalabas na Fashion Show. Ang ilan sa mga guesting niya. At dito niya na rin papatunayan na tama ang matunog na balitang, mapapasama siya sa last episode ng Game of Thrones.

Hindi iyon live kaya alam niyang aayusin ng Director ang naging come up ng record. Nilapitan agad siya ng kanyang Talent Scout at make-up artist para hilain sa back stage. Nagpalit siya ng damit at nag-tone down ng make-up. Kaunting photoshoot kasama si Sayci at Mr. Dior ay nakawala na siya.

"I thought you will drop a bomb a while ago," biro sa kanya ng kanyang TS.

"Sayci told me that showbiz is full of lies. Sometimes I have to be in favor of the audience taste so they will love me even more."

Nagtataka siyang nilingon nito. "That's not so you, Jessica."

"I will talk to Von. Or maybe not... for sure he knew the world of showbiz. Besides, we both know our label."

"Are you sure 'bout that, Jessica? Anyway, my job was done now... I have to go. Enjoy your three days siesta."

Tulala siyang nakipagbeso rito. Naisip na mukhang naging padalos-dalos siya kanina. Hindi niya niloko ang mga nakapanood noon. Niloko niya ang kanyang sarili at nagsinungaling kay Von. O baka iyon talaga ang totoo niyang nararamdaman?

Lutang siya sa paglalakad palabas. Nakatingin sa grey carpet. Napahinto sa nakitang pares ng itim na sapatos. Pag-angat niya nang tingin dito ay napaatras siya. Her drain energy recharge at the sight of Paulite in flesh standing in front of her, wearing a black t-shirt a logo of Sayci Daily Show on the right chest. A template saying staff. On his hand a piece of paper.

What the hell? She scratched her eyes. Thinking it was just her imagination. Lately, she is talking with Lawrence, asking her about Paulite. Any news about him? But Lawrence is goofing around. If she would answer here, sabihin mo muna sa akin na gusto mo siya. Saka ko sasabihin sa'yo ang balita sa kanya. She had a thought of stalking him, but she is busy. She doesn't have time.

It's been three years. The last news she heard about him was the link and those random stolen pictures of him together with Quillian. Then everything went silent or she was just not paying attention to it.

She opened her eyes.

He was still there. Glaring at her.

"What are you—" She cleared her throat when someone passed through. She waited that person gone, then she proceeded on her sentence. "A Stage Crew is a decent job," puna niya. Tumango-tango. Hindi makatingin dito.

"I will wait for you in the Le' bonne eleventh floor. I am your neighbor, J. Sabay tayong uuwi bukas." He coldly tore his gaze with her and left her dumbfounded.