The Beauty Queen And The Geek (COMPLETED)

Part Nine: The Show Pitch

NAPATAAS ang kilay ni Aimee sa narinig. Reality TV? May susunod sa kanilang mga camera saan man kami magpunta?I Napatingin siya kay Wyldon. The guy had his poker face on, an expression she observed he had when he played chess.

"It won't be like the usual reality show in the U.S. like Jershey Shore, Keeping Up with the Kardashians or The Hills," singit naman ng writer na si Belinda. "The tentative title of the show is The Beauty Queen and the Geek. Of course it's quite obvious who's who. Anyway, the idea is that, you guys have two different worlds. Aimee will have Wyldon experience her world, and vice versa."

It was Wyldon's turn to ask. "Can you be more specific on that?"

"It's like this: The two of you would be doing challenges or dares. Like, what are geeks known for? Extensive knowledge on stuff like computers, comic books, video games, sci-fi stuff. So we'll have Aimee try her hand on those things. While beauty queens are on the glamorous side of life like pictorials, fashion shows, or doing charity work. So we'll let you have a taste on that kind of life. Then we'll have cameras to document everything."

Napakagat-labi siya. She felt the surge of adrenaline rush after she heard the show's concept. It sounded fun! And the best part of all, si Wyldon ang makakasama niya!

"I'd have to think about it first," ani Wyldon.

Gusto niyang mag-tantrums. Wyldon sounded that he was already saying "no."

Nagsalita naman si Boss Kelvin. "I'd like you to really consider this, Wyldon. We'll talk offline about your TF, but I'd like to assure you at this early that the treatment to the show wouldn't be circus-like. You could also look at it in this perspective: You and Aimee would be exposed in a different environment, with which we'd surely expect that there'll be learning. And when you learn, the televiewers learn too. Besides, this will also serve as a platform for you to promote chess in our country. You know all too well that chess is one of the more underrated non-contact sports here in the Philippines."

Tumango-tango naman si Wyldon sa pitch ng boss niya. Maya-maya ay siya naman ang niligon ni Boss Kelvin.

"How about you, Aimee, what are your concerns?"

"I have no issues whatsoever, boss. I'm actually excited with the project," sagot naman niya. Sinulyapan niya si Wyldon na nakatingin ng mataman sa kanya.

"Pitchie," tawag naman ni Boss Kelvin sa manager niya. "Are we good, at least on you and Aimee's side?"

Tumango naman si Pitchie. "Yes, Sir Kelvin."

"Okay. We're done then." anito sa kanila. "Thanks, everyone."

Nagsipagtayuan na silang lahat na naroroon. Naiwang nakaupo si Boss Kelvin at Ma'am Diana. Nauna nang lumabas si Belinda, kasunod si Pitchie. At dahil gentleman, pinauna na rin siya ni Wyldon lumabas ng pinto.

Nasa hallway na sila ng lingunin niya si Wyldon. "Pumayag ka na. Masaya 'yon. It'll be a learning experience for both of us, like what Boss Kelvs said."

Tiningnan siya ni Wyldon. "You know that the show will just poke fun of me being a geek."

She rolled her eyes. "Wyldon, kahit gaano ka pa magmukhang tanga sa show, alam naman ng buong mundo na you're a genius. At kahit na maglublob ka pa sa putikan, believe me, your fans will still adore you."

Wyldon chuckled. "It sounds weird kapag... babae ang nambobola sa lalaki."

Hinampas niya ito sa braso. "Hmmp! I'm telling the truth, OA ka!"

Nilingon naman sila ni Pitchie na nakikinig pala sa usapan nila. "Papa Wyldon, ang pino-point lang naman nitong alaga ko, you got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Oh, naging dollar-sounding tuloy ang lola mo. Basta, think about it, ha?" Lumapit ito kay Wyldon at pinisil ito sa braso.

Matipid ang ngiting ibinigay dito ni Wyldon.

Natawa naman siya. "Pitchie, 'wag mo namang i-harass si Wyldon."

Tinaasan siya ng kilay ng manager niya. "Protective?!" kunwaring nagulat na bulalas nito sa kanya.

"Oo, 'noh. Future leading man ko 'to, 'Teh," she said, imitating Pitchie's tone. Hindi pa siya nakuntento, ikinawit pa niya ang braso sa braso ni Wyldon. Hindi naman ito nagkomento sa ginawa niya.

"Sige na, ikaw na ang beauty queen, ako na ang echuserang froglet," sagot naman ni Pitchie sa kanya. Muli naman itong bumaling kay Wyldon. "Seriously, Papa Wyldon, think about it the project, ha? I feel it in my heart, kapag hindi ka pumayag, hindi magpu-push through 'yon. Tailor-made yung show para sa inyong two."

Bumitaw naman siya sa pagkakapit kay Wyldon ng makaratng na sila sa tapat ng elevator. "I second the motion," aniya matapos pindutin ang "down" sign button.

Nanatiling tahimik lamang ito. Nang bumukas na ang elevator at pumasok silang tatlo sa loob, gusto niyang mapahigit ng hininga dahil sobrang lapit na naman nila ni Wyldon sa isa't isa, kasabay ng pagbilis muli ng pagtibok ng puso niya.

Hindi kaya kung matuloy yung programa nila ni Wyldon, matuluyan na talaga siyang magkasakit sa lungs o kaya sa heart dahil sa mga nangyayari sa kanya sa tuwing mapapalapit dito?

---

"DOES THIS mean that you'll be taking a hiatus in Chess competitions, GM Wyldon?"

Wyldon looked at his interviewer, ang Philippine correspondent ng Asian Chess Magazine, si Gilbert Arciaga. Nasa may sulok sila ng isang Japanese restaurant sa may Glorietta 5. Tinawagan kasi siya nito para sa artikulong isusulat nito tungkol sa huling naging laban niya sa Moscow. "Hindi naman." sagot niya rito pagdaka.

"A reliable source said that you'll be entering Philippine showbusiness."

"Hindi ko alam na ume-extra ka rin pala bilang entertainment reporter, Gilbert."

Tumawa ito. "And I didn't know you have your eye on videojockeying, much more on doing a reality TV show. Why, you were even dubbed by the fans as 'The GM That Never Smiles.'"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "They can say whatever they want to say."

"And you can do whatever you want to do?"

He sighed. "Off the record, man. There has been a lot of pressure since the World Chess Championship. Pinagpapahinga muna ako ng PCF mula sa chess."

"I understand. It was quite obvious on your last three competitions. Everyone felt you weren't as daring as you were before on the chessboard. People were saying that since you already reached the peak of your career, there was no way for you but to go down."

Hindi na lamang siya nagkomento sa sinabi nito. Nakararating naman kasi sa kanya ang komento sa kanya ng mga tao. Kahit na hindi niya iyon basahin sa mga forum, magazines o kaya ay sports sections ng mga dyaryo, may mga nagte-text, tumatawag at nagmi-message pa rin sa kanyang mga kakilala, kamag-anak at kaibigan na nagsasabi sa kanyang tungkol sa sinabi ng kung sinuman tungkol sa kanya. Tumikhim muna si Gilbert bago ito muling nagsalita. "So, shall we expect to see more of you on TV?"

"Unfortunately, yes."