AMARA'S POV
Thank God, it's our day off today. It's already weekend to be exact. And, I'm glad to spend my weekend here at my parent's house. I want to be here than my condo 'cause I can't even feed myself there alone. Gugutumin lang ako doon, kaya mas mabuti nang nandito ako kila Mommy. Actually, siya lang ang kasama ko pati mga maids, kasi may trabaho pa si Daddy ngayon.
"Mom, are you sure you're not going to your shop?"- I asked her. Nasa kitchen kami ngayon, naka-upo ako sa counter habang hinihintay ko siyang matapos sa pagluluto niya ng fried chicken.
We decided to make our snacks. Yeah, fried chicken for snacks.
"Of course, ang dalang mo lang bumisita dito, susulitin ko na. Hihi!"- she giggled. Natatawang umiiling na lang ako dahil sa kaniya.
I volunteered to prepare our sauces when I noticed she's about to finish frying. How I missed her cooks.
"Huwag kang maninibago sa luto ko, Amara Irish.. Alam kong puro masasarap na pagkain ang natitikman mo kay Chef Guivara."- tumawa si Mommy sa biro niya, pinilit ko ring matawa doon kahit konti.
It's been few days after that incident happened between us. Out of the corner of my eye, I witnessed him as a cold person, not that much. He's being formal to everyone, except for me. He really did not bother me anymore. Iniiwasan niyang makasabay kaming dalawa ni Samuel, lalo na sa'kin. Hindi niya ako tinatapunan ng tingin o kinakausap man lang, maliban na lang kung nasa script ba sa show na kausapin niya ako.
'Is it better now?'
Yeah, I think it is. He's doing great avoiding me. Para bang naging stranger kami sa isa't-isa. But, is it just me or I am really not comfortable with that treatment?
Tss. Comfortable my ass. Basta alam ko gusto ko 'tong nangyayari.
"Let's go.. Manood tayo sa sala."- yaya sa'kin ni Mommy. Dinala niya na 'yong fried chicken drumsticks, habang ang dinala ko naman ay 'yong mga sawsawan pati na rin juice namin.
Para kaming nagmumukbang habang nanonood ng TV. Lol. Mother and daughter's bonding.
"Masarap ba?"- she suddenly asked me. Tinignan ko siya sabay ngiti.
"The most delicious fried chicken I've ever tasted."- tsaka ako kumagat ulit na naging pagsabay namin sa pagtawa.
Ganito kami ka-close ng Mommy ko, mas masaya sana kung nandito si Daddy tapos naka-mood siya. Si Daddy kasi madalas seryoso at istrikto, kaya madalas kaming dalawa lang ni Mommy ang nagbobonding.
"Baby, si Miguel nasa TV, oh."- she pointed the television.
Nakita ko nga siya na pinapalabas ngayon sa TV. Nilakasan ni Mommy para marinig namin 'yong sinasabi nito.
'Oh? He got invited to the famous Philippines show?'
Na-imbitahan siya sa 'Search for the Star'? Damn. 'Yon 'yong show na magkakaroon ng guest, tapos 'yong guest na 'yon ay papasikat na. I never been invited there, both Samuel and I.
Miguel's already sitting at the heart shaped couch, while Penny Galvez, the famous host of this show, is sitting the single couch. Puro sigawan ang naririnig naming dalawa ni Mommy, marahil ay maraming tao sa studio na 'yon.
"Mr. Guivara, did you expect that you're going to become a popular chef of your show with the SamAra?"- Penny asked him with full of smile in her face. 'Yong malakas na sigawan biglang nawala bago siya sumagot.
"No, Ms. Penny.. I don't usually expect too much. I only did this because I have to."- nakangiting sagot niya, kasunod ng malalakas na hiyawan na naman ng fans niya.
"Miguel's really charming, huh?"
I looked at Mommy, who's now idolising that man inside the television. Bumalik 'yong tingin ko sa lalaking 'yon, hindi maikakailang sobrang gwapo nito kahit anong anggulo.
"If ever they gave you a chance to become an actor and gives you project like movie or teleserye, are you going to grab it?"- sunod na tanong sa kaniya ng host. He didn't answer quickly, maybe because he's still thinking for his good answer.
"I only want to become a successful and professional chef.."- he stopped and looked straight to the camera. Feeling ko, para kaming nagtititigan, kahit hindi naman.
"But, if there's a chance.. why not?"- he chuckled that made his bunny teeth exposed.
Nasa halos dalawang minuto rin ang pag-sigaw ng nga tao doon dahil sa bawat sagot, sa bawat galaw at sa bawat ngiti ng lalaking 'to, ay kinikilig sila.
"Pwede ko na bang itanong ngayon ang gustong malaman ng karamihan?"- Penny playfully glance at the whole studio and she motioned the crowd to shout louder.
Kung isa siguro ako sa mga sumisigaw d'yan, malamang baka paos na ako ngayon. Tss.
"What is it?"- Miguel with his manly expression, seat straight.
"I can't help to get amazed with this man. Mas nauna pa siyang sumikat sa inyo."- komento na naman ni Mommy, pero hindi ko siya pinansin. Pinagpatuloy ko 'yong panonood ko.
'Kailangan pa bang ipa-ulit ulit na mas sikat na siya sa amin?'
So, what? Trabaho lang, walang personalan.
"Do you have a girlfriend, Mr. Guivara?"- pagkatapos itanong 'yon ng host, akala ko wala ng mas lalakas pa sa sigawan, dahil meron pa pala. Nakisabay na din si Penny sa pagkilig sa tinanong niya.
Kaloka. I didn't realize my brows are now meeting each other. Ang alam ko, eh, may asawa't anak na 'tong host nila dito. Paano niya nagagawang kiligin sa mas bata sa kaniya? Napa-ikot na lang tuloy 'yong eyeballs ko.
"No, sorry. I don't have one."- naiiling-iling niya pang sagot.
Napangiwi ako nang mapanood ko si Penny na nanlalaki 'yong mata tapos kinakagat kagat niya pa 'yong labi niya.
"Wala ka man lang bang nililigawan o naging ex?"
Ang ayaw ko lang naman sa show na 'to, marami silang tanong. They keep asking like that like this, this Penny doesn't think if it's personal or something, she kept asking and asking. I do not know if sometimes she's reading the script or not. Aish.
"I have one ex, I don't consider the other one as my ex."- sagot niya. Naka-close up sa kaniya 'yong camera every time na sasagot siya sa tanong, kaya kitang kita ko 'yong mata niya.
I see nothing but a normal eyes of a human. Wala itong emotion.
'You don't consider the other one as your ex? Really, huh?'
I felt Mommy nudged me to see her playful smile. I tss'ed and go back to watch the show. Pasimple akong napangisi sa sinagot niyang 'yon. It doesn't matter if he's referring to me or Claire about the 'don't consider as ex' niya na 'yon. It is all in the past.
"Matagal-tagal na ba no'ng huli kang magka-girlfriend, Mr. Guivara?"- sunod na tanong ni Penny.
"It's been three years."
"It's been three years."
Nakataas ang mga kilay na tinignan ko si Mommy, nagsabay pa talaga sila ni Miguel sa pagsagot. Siya si Miguel, ha? Tss.
"Matagal tagal na rin pala.. So, anyways, kaninang wala ka, pinaboto ko ang mga audience sa tatlong naggagandahang babae na 'to na babagay sa'yo. This is just for fun, Mr. Guivara."- pinakita niya sa screen sa likod nila 'yong mga sinasabi niyang tatlong babae.
It is Lesley Adrin, Alexia Hammington and... me? What the fuck?
My eyes literally widened when I saw my picture included there. Muntik na rin akong mabulunan kaya kaagad akong binigyan ng juice ni Mommy. I can't believe this Search for the Star!
"Let's see kung bagay pa rin ba kayong dalawa."- pang-aasar niya sa'kin bago binalik 'yong tingin sa TV.
'Damn it. Wala bang commercial 'to?'
"Are you ready to see your destiny?"
Destiny your ass, Penny Galvez.
We waited to reveal the most amount of votes. The scream from the crowds and the drum effect were the two we can hear. Seryosong inaabangan din ni Miguel kung sinong mananalo doon, na parang hindi naman siya interesado. Until, Lesley Adrin and my picture disappeared.
Alexia Hammington got the votes from those audience.
"Aww.. you're not meant to be."- umaktong nalulungkot pa si Mommy, sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin para manahimik siya.
"Wow.. Bagay na bagay ka---"
I pressed the power off of the remote control just to not hear Penny Galvez's freaking voice. Aangal sana si Mommy, pero nakita niyang nag-iba na ang mood ko. Nawalan na ako ng ganang manood ng TV at mag-food trip.
"Gonna go get some juice."- paalam niya. I can see her lips raising at the other side before she left.
Is this really acceptable? How did that fucking show became famous if that's their treatment? If ever they invited me there, I swear I will refuse it! Kung gano'n lang rin naman ang gagawin sa'kin ng host na 'yon, mas maganda huwag na akong sumikat. Psh.
How I wish they replaced Penny Galvez into someone better. Better than that intriguing host.
"Irish babe? Babe Irish! Baby?"
Oh. It's Samuel Kim, disturbing my rest day, people.
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