Chapter 5: The First Date

<p>Napapitlag si Via nang harabas na balyahin ni Monique ang pinto ng tech booth. Busangot ang mukha at panay ang ingos nito. Kasunod nito ang tatawa-tawang si Frac, ang tech head. Sumigaw ito bigla ng maisara ni Frac ang pinto. Soundproof ang tech booth. Hindi na sila maririnig sa labas.<br/><br/>"Anong nangyayare sayo?" ani Via.<br/><br/>"She's being Diva-nized," ani Frac na nakatawa. Sumalampak ito sa sofa.<br/><br/>"Vi, I love you and I trust you pag dating sa mga decision mo sa trabaho natin. But, please lang, I can't really get the idea na i-cast mo ang primadona mong pinsan sa hinliit sa paa. And Vi, sa opening night pa talaga. What were you thinking?!" reklamo ni Monique, halatang galit na galit at gigil na gigil.<br/><br/>Napangiti si Via sa litanya ng kaibigan. She get the idea kung bakit bigla itong nagwawala. They call it Divanized. Kapag may mga artistang mahirap maka-adjust sa standard nila and is rejecting their decisions, it's Divanized! Samantha is one hell a lot of it.<br/><br/>Yesterday, nagreklamo ito na puro salad ang nasa buffet ng catering. Galing kasi iyon sa mismong secret admirer nito. Imbes na magpasalamat, nagreklamo pa sa mismong caterer. The other day, the starlet diva was complaining na mahina ang aircondition sa theater. They don't open the lahat ng aircon on rehearsals. Besides, nagscript reading lang naman sila. She even complain about how small the fonts in the script. Masakit daw sa ulo basahin.<br/><br/>"What is it this time?"<br/><br/>"Ari is showing her the designs of the dress na gagawin because she ask for it. She rejected it all. She wants more modern and daring! Vi naman! Nabasa ba niya ang script? Does she understand the setting? Anong modern sa fairytale like scenario?"<br/><br/>Ari is the costume designer. Alam niyang naka-schedule ngayon ang fitting ng mga artists. Wala sa schedule kung magrerevise pa sila. Besides, hindi naman decision ni Samantha ang masusunod sa aspetong yun.<br/><br/>Napailing si Via. Gayunpaman, ayaw niyang magkomento. Natatawa na lang din siya sa reklamo ng kaibigan.<br/><br/>"The rehearsals haven't started yet stress ka na? How can we work this perfectly?"<br/><br/>"Yun na nga eh. We still have time to replace her," sabi ni Monique.<br/><br/>"Pano? Eh naka-spread na sa news ang pag-ganap niya as lead sa opening cast," turan ni Frac.<br/><br/>"I don't care! May mga artista namang pinakilala na as main project holder pero nagbaback out pa din at the last minute! Besides, sa dami ng bad reviews niya, it doesn't hurt another more!"<br/><br/>"Tumigil ka na nga. Nagkaka-wrinkles ka na," awat ni Via rito. Tumayo siya. Lumapit kay Monique. "Ako na bahala. I am just trying to avoid her. Pero this Diva attitude must stop for awhile," sabi ni Via as she head out of the tech booth. Nagtinginan si Frac and Monique. Saka mabilis na sumunod kay Via. Tila na-excite sa magaganap.<br/><br/>Gayunpaman, hindi naman pasugod ang ginawa ni Via palapit sa aktres. Bawat madaanan ni Via ay kinukumusta niya, chinecheck, binabati. Hanggang sa makalapit siya sa aktres. Nakaupo ito sa harap ng sarili nitong vanity mirror. Inaayusan. Nagtataka si Via kung bakit kailangan itong ayusan gayong, wala pa naman silang gagawin today. Magsusukat lang naman ito ngayon. From behind, nakikita niyang tila may inirereklamo din ito sa sariling make up artist. Sinusungitan din iyon.<br/><br/>"Hanggang ngayon hindi mo pa rin kayang ayusin ang kilay ko! Ano ba?" reklamo ni Samantha. Panay naman ang hinging paumanhin ng make up artist.<br/><br/>"Excuse me," singit ni Via sa make up session. Bahagya siyang lumapit. Nakita niyang tinignan siya ni Samantha mula sa reflection ng salamin. Nahuli niya ang pag-ngiwi nito. "Busy ba kayo?"<br/><br/>"I'm doing my make-up," ani ng diva. Iritable ang tinig nito.<br/><br/>"You seemed in bad mood. Kaya nahihirapan yung make up artist mo maybe because nakabaliko yang mukha mo," ani Via try to sound like a joke but end up being sarcastic.<br/><br/>"Why walang dressing room dito?" Samantha voiced out what maybe was irritating her.<br/><br/>"You mean your own dressing room?" balik tanong ni Via emphasizing the "your own" part. "We're not starting yet. This is just pre-prep. I don't see why you need a dressing room pa much more makeup. Have you done you're fitting?" ani Via in her straight tone. She can Divanized everyone but not Via Alguerra.<br/><br/>"I ask to revise the design. I don't like all of it," malditang turan pa rin ni Samantha.<br/><br/>Umukit ang mas sarkastiko pang ngiti sa labi ni Via. Lumapit itong lalo sa nag-iinarteng dalaga and slightly pushed out the make up artist. Sinenyasan niya itong umalis muna. Nagpanggap naman si Samantha na hindi napapansin ang paglapit ni Via. Umiiwas ito ng tingin sa kaniya.<br/><br/>"I thought I'd clear this out to your manager. Na this project is for charity. Everything that goes around here is free. Even these people who work backstage," litanya ni Via. Her words are slowly spelled out as she speaks. "If the memo does not reach you yet I'll tell it to your face. I solely decide what goes in her. I would ask your opinion if I need to or rather accept it. But you have no right to overpower my people. If you want you can always back down and continue to rot your dying career." Sinalubong niya ang matalim na tingin ni Samantha through the mirror's reflection. Samantha didn't respond. Nakipagtitigan lang ito sa kaniya.<br/><br/>"I'd tell you this last time. Do your work as expected of you and see your career soar higher, all right?" Hindi sumagot si Samantha. Bagkus, inirapan lang siya nito at hinablot ang telepono saka nagbusy-busyhan na roon.<br/><br/>Iiling-iling na napatalikod na lang si Via. Akma na niyang iiwan ang aktres nang may nahagip ang mata niya. Aguimatt Aragon, step in the room. Napataas ang isang kilay niya with a slight twitch on her lips. Muli niyang nilingon si Samantha.<br/><br/>"I think your secret admirer is here as well," ani Via.<br/><br/>Napatingin si Samantha sa tinutukoy ni Via. Napatayo ito. Nahagip niya sa gilid ng mata ang excitement nito. They stared at Matt who's walking towards them. To her curiosity, hindi rito tumitingin si Matt kundi sa kaniya.<br/><br/>"Direk Vi!" tawag nito sa kaniya. Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Via. "I thought you'd be busy. But I mean no harm, I just want to drop by," malapad ang ngiti nito.<br/><br/>Bilang major sponsor, they gave Matt and his friends to visit the set once in awhile. Share some inputs kung meron man. But mostly, just to feel being involved. Yesterday, ito ang nagpadala ng catering but on anonymous note. Siya lang ang nakakaalam nun. She just concluded na para iyon sa aktres na fling nito. She's thinking na kaya ito nandodoon probably it's because of Samantha again. Tila mapapadalas pa ata ito doon.<br/><br/>But Matt acted as if hindi nito kilala si Samantha. Kahit magkakaharap na sila, Matt didn't even bothered to acknowledge her. Sa kaniya lang ito nakatingin.<br/><br/>"I-it's nice to see you again, Mr. Aragon. I mean, Aguimatt," aniya trying to hide her confusion. "What brings you here today?"<br/><br/>"Wala naman. I'm just here para makinuod ng rehearsal," anito na umiikot-ikot ang tingin. "I'm actually a lover of arts. I enjoy watching things like this."<br/><br/>"Sorry. But rehearsals haven't started yet. We're here today for fitting and props stuff."<br/><br/>"Oh really? Some other time maybe," anito.<br/><br/>But Via could sense na hindi naman iyon ang dahilan why he was there. Hindi lang siguro nito maipakita. She feel na dapat ipakilala niya rito si Samantha but she finds it awkward. Alam niyang may hidden relationship ang dalawa. Gayunpaman, she pretended to introduce Samantha to Matt. People are watching them.<br/><br/>"Oh, Sam, you know Matt Aragon, right? Matt, this is Sam, by the way," Via said trying to be legit but ending up stammering.<br/><br/>"I've heard so much about you Mr. Aragon. It's good that we've finally met," ani Samantha.<br/><br/>Hindi naitago ni Via ang pagdiin pa ng pagsasalubong kilay. Her curiosity deepens.<br/><br/>Finally met? Haven't they met before? Or are they just pretending?<br/><br/>Tumango lang si Matt ang gave Samantha a slight smile. Pagkuwa'y bumaling ito sa kaniya.<br/><br/>"Direk, Are you kind of busy? Can you spare me a minute for a coffee? I just want to discuss something with you," turan ni Matt.<br/><br/>"Huh?" Matt is inviting her for a coffee. Her, not Sam. "Oh! Sure. L-let's do coffee break," Binabaha siya ng pagtataka. Hindi siya usisera but she just feels there's something she needs to clarify. Naglakad na sila ni Matt palayo kay Sam. Sam just slammed her self back on the chair at nag-abot ng lipstick.<br/><br/>Nagpunta sila ni Matt sa kalapit na coffee shop. Her curiosity did not fade. Nakatitig lang siya kay Matt nang umupo ito sa tapat niya bitbit ang isang tray na may dalawang kape. Dahan-dahan nitong tinanggal sa tray ang dalawang kape. Humarap ito sa kaniya.<br/><br/>" Do you want creamer?" tanong nito.<br/><br/>Hindi siya tumugon. Nanatili ang mapang-usig niyang titig dito. Bahagyang salubong pa ang kilay niya sa pagkakatitig dito.<br/><br/>"What?" turan ni Matt na napagtanto ang kakaiba niyang titig.<br/><br/>"I'm confused," aniya. "I thought you had some special relationship with Samantha. But the way you treat her kanina, as if hindi naman kayo talaga magkakilala. Was that just a front act?"<br/><br/>Matt gave her a boyish grin. Napailing-iling ito. "I never thought you will take gossiping as a sideline."<br/><br/>Dumukwang si Via sa mesa nila. "I think you have to be honest with me. I'm so curious to know." Hindi siya usisera in any way. But there's something in Matt that she wants to know a lot about him.<br/><br/>"I don't have to share anything with you. With regards to your cousin, I mean," turan ni Matt as he sips on his coffee.<br/><br/>"I insist," mariin niyang sabi. "Hindi ako nakikitsismis. I just want to know the cast I work with. This is to avoid any controversies that may affect the project."<br/><br/>"I told you there's nothing to share about. I am a lover of the arts. I have businesses na related sa arts. My mom is an actress. Samantha's manager came to me once for sponsorship. I helped. Nothing's more to it." Matt said in a platonic tone of voice.<br/><br/>"You're friend says she's your fling."<br/><br/>"Boys have wide imaginations, especially my friends. They think more than what you say," Kibit balikat na sagot ni Matt.<br/><br/>"But you haven't met her before?"<br/><br/>"I don't think I need to." He sipped again at his cup while staring at her.<br/><br/>"So that means up until now, her mom is asking for your sponsorship?" tanong ni Via. <br/><br/>Tumango si Matt. "The reason I want to name the donation under her. But you find it deceitful, so just let's just make it anonymous since, you know, my friends named it after their wives and I don't have one yet."<br/><br/>"So bakit sabi ng mga kaibigan mo you ask them to donate as well?"<br/><br/>"It's charity. That nut heads need to do some good deeds once in their lives. I think you should meet their wives," simpleng sagot ni Matt.<br/><br/>Tila naman naubusan ng maitatanong si Via. Somehow, naliliwanagan na siya. Funny though. She find what she have learned somewhat relieving. Tila tumututol din siya sa idea na may intimate relationship si Matt kay Samantha. But she brush it off on the back of his head.<br/><br/>"So, Direk. Do I pass your standards?" birong turan ni Matt when she did not have anything to ask. He even winked at her.<br/><br/>"Can you not call me Direk? I don't like it. I love my name more."<br/><br/>"Sorry," maiksing turan ni Matt. "So, did I satisfy your curiosity o may gusto ka pang itanong?" tanong ni Matt with a boyish grin on his handsome face.<br/><br/>Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Via. Matt seemed to be teasing her. "Why do I have the feeling that I should be thanking you for being truthful to me? Do you intend it to be?"<br/><br/>Napatawa si Matt. "It's surprising you're this quick-witted pretty-miss. I don't intend it to be. Pero you owe me a thank you," anito sa natatawang tinig.<br/><br/>"Huh?"<br/><br/>"You see, I didn't bother explaining it to my friends. I let them believe what they want to pero sayo nagpaliwanag ako," explain ni Matt.<br/><br/>"And why is that my fault?" ani Via.<br/><br/>Biglang nagseryoso ang mukha ni Matt. He leaned forward folded his arms sa ibabaw ng mesa and stared at her straight.<br/><br/>"Because Aguimatt Aragon does not explain to anyone," anito sa straight but almost small whisper.<br/><br/>Hindi nakasagot si Via. Sinalubong lang niya ang tingin ni Matt. Whatever he means by it, she couldn't decipher. She twitched her lips.<br/><br/>"Ok. Fine. Sorry for jumping to conclusions. And thank you for telling me," ani Via. She gave him a cute smile saka nag-peace sign.<br/><br/>Napangiti na lang din si Matt. Natigil pansamantala ang usapan nila nang magring ang phone ni Matt.<br/><br/>"The nutheads are calling. D'you mind?" anito sa kaniya tila nagpapaalam na sasagutin ang phone. Sumenyas lang siya urging him to go on.<br/><br/>It was a video call. Matt answered. JV is on the front screen.<br/><br/>"Where the hell are you? You're secretary said you left hours ago."<br/><br/>"What do you need me for?" ani Matt<br/><br/>"Just checking. Baka nagsisintir ka na naman dahil ikaw na lang ang single. Ally said, we will be having dinner with her school friends mamaya. Baka gusto mong sumabit," ani JV.<br/><br/>"I don't need another blind date. And stop playing Cupid for me," reklamo ni Matt.<br/><br/>"It's not a blind date. I'm giving you options," ani JV.<br/><br/>"I don't need an option either. Besides I already have a date," ani Matt saka umikot upang iharap sa camera si Via. "Vi, just wave and smile," turan niya as Via did so.<br/><br/>"Ms. Via?!" gulat na turan ni JV. Biglang lumabas sa screen ang isang babae na tila inagaw ang telepono kay JV.<br/><br/>"Ohemgee! For real Aguimatt? That's Via Alguerra?!" the girl exclaimed. Nailing at natawa si Matt sa biglang pag-fan girling ni Ally.<br/><br/>"Hi, Ally." kumaway si Matt sa harap ng screen. Dumukwang naman si Via upang tignan din si Ally sa screen. "Via, this is Ally," pakilala ni Matt sa babaeng nasa screen na bahagya siyang nilingon. "JV's fiancée."<br/><br/>"Matt, can you take her picture for me? I mean Ms. Via, can I? I'm a fan!" excited na turan nito.<br/><br/>"Uhuh! It's pretty obvious Al," ani Matt as he click the shot button and took a picture of Via kasama siya. Natawa si Via. Ally shows excitement. Nakakatuwa itong panoorin.<br/><br/>"I'll send it now," turan ni Mat saka bahagyang inalis sa screen ang mukha.<br/><br/>"Can we join you for dinner tonight?" ani Ally na diretsang tanong nang ibalik ni Matt ang screen sa kanila ni Via. Via got caught of guard.<br/><br/>'Dinner? I don't remember being asked on a dinner date?'<br/><br/>"Allyanna!!" Awat ni Matt. "This is our first date. Why would you join us?"<br/><br/>"I'll tell the girls that we're having dinner with Ms. Via Alguerra. Thanks, Matt. See you Ms. Via!" ani Ally na pinatay na ang telepono.<br/><br/>Napatanga na lang si Matt. "I'm sorry."<br/><br/>"She's lovely. No wonder JV choose to end his bachelor's life."<br/><br/>"You should've met all the other wives. When they knew na nameet ka namin, they were like teenage girls na nagagalit sa mga asawa for not bringing them. Thor told them by the way."<br/><br/>"Then, it'll be a delight to meet them. We will be done by 5 pm today tomorrow pa naman ang real work," turan ni Via casually.<br/><br/>"You mean makikipagdinner ka talaga samin?" nasurpresang turan ni Matt.<br/><br/>"Well it was not a formal invite but you've confirmed. And I'm free," desisyon ni Via. "I mean kung ok lang sayo."<br/><br/>Hindi mawari ni Matt kung matatawa but he liked the idea. "I can make alibis," to hide his excitement as well.<br/><br/>"I don't usually go on dinner dates with new friends. But I'm excited to meet them. Just pick me up by 7 pm.<br/><br/>Umukit ang excited sa ngiti ni Matt. "Fine," he said in a suppressed happy voice.<br/><br/>Pa-cute na ngumiti na lng si Via.</p>