Chapter 11
Ethos
"It was so nice meeting you, Guys. Thank you so much! Love lots"
I waved infront of the camera before I turned off the live.
Hanggang ngayon ayaw tumigil ng puso ko sa bilis ng tibok. I am still nervous. I should have put my phone on silent.
Binigay ko kay Harris ang Ipad na ginamit sa live. He's looking at me suspiciously. I know he will ask me about my phone kept ringing a while ago.
"Bakit tumutunog 'yung phone mo kanina? You're being distracted" he said.
He looks pissed off.
"I know. I'm sorry. I should've silenced it"
I sincerely apologized. I know it was really my fault.
"Sino ba 'yon?" galit parin na tanong ni Harris.
God! I can't tell them the truth. I don't want them to know about Avery. They must not know.
"It was.....the GC"
He sighed. I'm glad he bought it!
"Okay. Let's go. May photoshoot ka pa" sabi niya at tumayo na sa upuan.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Ate Sara. She comfortingly smiled at me. Like, she's telling me that it was okay. I just smiled back.
"Are you okay? Wag mo nang pansinin. It was a small mistake" sabi niya at hinawakan ang balikat ko.
Tumango ako at binuksan niya ang pinto para sa 'kin. We're walking in the hallways. Some staffs greeted me kaya binati ko rin sila pabalik.
Now, I need to be more careful. Okay lang na si Dad ang makaalam, since he's supportive. But Harris? No. Ate Sara's also nice to me but I still don't trust her.
I know they're just here for their work. If I ever fuck up my career, they will lose their job.
And their money.
As soon as we get out the building, I smiled like nothing happened. Inalis ko muna sa utak ko ang kaninang iniisip. All the cameras are on me and I don't want to mess things up more.
I heard my fans screaming and calling me. They waited for me. Kanina pa sila nandiyan nang dumating ako.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti ng malaki nang makita ko ang isang batang babae na nasa likod ng barricade.
She looks happy when she saw me. Nakita ang hawak niyang envelope kaya lumapit ako sa kanya. Hinawakan ng mga guard ang barricade nang bahagya itong gumalaw.
"Hi" nakangiti kong bati sa bata.
"Kuya Ethos!" she said and gave the letter.
"Thank you so much" I said.
Kinuha ko ang letter at pinisil ang pisngi niya. Hindi niya pa abot ang taas ng barricade kaya mukha siyang naiipit.
"Guys, please step back so everyone won't get hurt" I politely said to the girls standing infront.
They were crowding the front kaya naiipit yung iba. Umatras naman sila.
Maraming nagbigay sa akin ng gifts at tinanggap ko naman. Some of them asked for pictures and autographs.
I gave what the want. I love them. They always supports me and I guess this is the only way to thank them. If I could just thank them one by one. I will.
"Bye! Thank you so much"
I bid my last goodbye nang buksan na ni Ate Sara ang pinto ng van.
I have to go. May photoshoot pa akong pupuntahan.
Nang makasakay ako sa van, kinuha na ni Ate Sara ang mga gifts para ilagay ito sa likod. Hindi ko binigay sa kanya ang letter dahil alam kong hindi ko na iyon mahahawakan ulit.
I got a lot of gifts from fans today but I won't be able to bring them home. Ganito naman lagi.
Nang umandar ang van, binuksan ko ang letter at binasa iyon. I really love reading letters from the fans. It gives me motivation to work harder.
I smiled. Pambata pa talaga ang sulat niya but I love her efforts. She wrote the letter on a scented stationary paper. It smells good.
Pencil ang pinansulat niya kaya kinuha ko ang phone ko para ilawan ito.
Dear Kuya Ethos,
I went to your fanmeet last year and I saw you. It made me so happy. I really look up to you because you're a very good person and actor. I want to be like you when I grow up. I want to be an actress. You're handsome and I want to have a boyfriend like you when I grow up. I love you so much Kuya Ethos.
Love,
Mary
Aw. Mary.
You shouldn't be dreaming that. I did acting because I love to and I enjoy doing that, but showbiz is chaotic. Masyadong magulo ang buhay dito. Hindi ka magkakaroon ng private life.
Sana magbago pa 'yung dream mo. You're still young.
Inabutan ako ni Ate Sara ng tissue kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.
"Wipe up your sweat. Ireretouch ka ni Kim bago tayo dumating sa venue" sabi niya.
