CHAPTER 07

Habang naghihintay sa elevator na magbukas ay nagpadala ako ng mensahe kay Mang Ferdinand na pababa na kami. Muntikan ko nang makalimutan dahil sinabi ni Malcolm na umalis na raw kami.

The elevator opened and Malcolm and I stepped inside. Ako na rin ang pumindot ng ground floor dahil sabi ni Mang Ferdinand na maghihintay raw siya lobby.

Bahagya akong natigilan nang tumigil ang elevator sa 22nd floor. As the elevator doors opened and revealed Hendricks Smythe. His eyes sparkled when he saw me.

"Oh! Phia!" he exclaimed. 

Mabilis akong sumulyap kay Malcolm na nakakunot ang noo ngayon. I slightly nodded my head and shyly smiled at Hendricks, "Hello po..."

Binalingan ko muli ng tingin si Malcolm at natagpuang nakatingin ito sa akin. Naniningkit ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. I smiled at him.

"If you don't mind..." Hendricks said and joined us inside the elevator.

"Of course." Malcolm coldly replied.

Hendricks snickers as he pressed B2 after the elevator doors closed.

"By the way, Malcolm," he called, looking back at Malcolm beside me. "I heard you got the Locale campaign, Congratulations!" Hendricks cheerfully said to Malcolm.

However, Malcolm answered him with a cold nod. 

Oh my! Ang suplado!

Easy-han mo lang Malcolm, ah. In love na ako sa'yo tapos binabaliw mo pa ako ng ganito. Marupok ako kaya please lang, maghinay-hinay ka.

"I wanted to be in that project but when I found out that you got it, I already know that I don't have a chance!" tumawa siya, "The people behind the campaign was meticulous during the auditions but then you passed!" he stated with enthusiasm. "That just meant that there's nothing Malcolm Humphries can't have..."

Was he implying something? Because by the looks of it, Malcolm scowled at his statement. Binalingan niya ngayon si Hendricks.

"Thank you for the compliment, Hendricks." Malcolm thanked him. "If you really want the project then you can have it..." umiwas ang tingin niya at nanatili iyon sa bumababang numero ng mga palapag. "Because for me, it's just another work."

Malcolm looked bored. When he glanced at me, I felt small. He let out a sigh, "Minerva bagged the job for me, I didn't even do the audition," he shrugged.

"Minerva? Your manager? She auditioned for you?" Hendricks joked.

Malcolm smiled and you know at first glance that is sarcastic. "I don't know how she got it, but she just gave me the project" Malcolm told the now silent Hendricks.

Just in the nick of time, the elevator doors opened. Malcolm walk past Hendricks and held the elevator doors to prevent it from closing.

"Sophia and I shall take our leave now, Hendricks." he said and motioned for me to move. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kaya't sumunod na lang ako. Bago bitawan ni Malcolm ang pinto ng elevator ay kinawayan ko si Hendricks. Nginitian niya pa ako bago tuluyang magsara ang elevator.

Sinalubong kami ni Mang Ferdinand na tinulungan si Malcolm bitbitin iyong mga garment's bag papasok sa sasakyan. Tumulong din akong ayusin ang mga gamit sa likod at matapos iyon ay naguguluhan ako kung saan ba ako mauupo.

Sa huli ay nagdesisyon akong sa front seat maupo. Ngunit may ibang balak si Malcolm dahil pinigilan niya ako nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko.

"Why are you going to seat there?" he asked, "Join me back here..."

Nagkatitigan kami ni Mang Ferdinand. Pero sa huli ay tinanguan ako ng matandang driver.

"Doon ka na sa likod at samahan mo roon si Sir Malcolm." ani Mang Ferdinand.

Wala akong nagawa kung 'di ay sumunod. Naupo ako sa bungad samantala'y katabi ni Malcolm ang bintana.

"Okay ka na riyan, hija?" tanong ni Mang Ferdinand.

Marahang tango lamang ang nagawa kong isagot dahil nagpipigil ako ng kilig. Kakaunting distansya lamang ang pagitan namin dahil sa interior ng custom built niyang van.

Nang maisara ni Mang Ferdinand ang pinto ay umikot siya papuntang driver's seat. Without any further delays, we are on the road.

"Sir, alam niyo na po ba ang schedule niyo po for the day?" tanong ko. Umiling siya, "Should I?" I asked, hesitant.

Ipinatong niya ang baba sa kanyang palad at tinitigan ako na parang napakahalaga ng sasabihin ko at interesadong interesado siyang malaman.

"Please, do so." he whispered, almost sensually.

That actually made me gidddy. It's almost inappropriate.

I took the iPad, and scanned through his schedule for the day. "You have a photo shoot for Locale at 1 o'clock, a radio guesting by 5:30 to 6 o'clock, and a TV interview with Mr. Boy Abunda at 7 PM."

Nang matapos ako ay itinabi ko ang iPad at inangat ang tingin sa kanya. Kinagat ko ang dila ko upang pigilan ang sariling ngumiti.

'Wag mong sabihing nakatitig lang si Malcolm sa akin habang binabasa ko ang schedule niya ngayong araw...

Dahil kinikilig ako! Nagsusumigaw ang feelings ko sa isip ko! Omg!

Upang mapigilan ang sarili, dinako ko na lamang ang tingin sa labas. Mabagal ang naging usad ng kotse kaysa kanina. Dahil na rin siguro sa rush hour o ano. Wala rin naman akong pakialam doon, ang mahalaga ay kasama ko si Malcolm.

Being just near him, I've already got a slight taste of what heaven feels like. Every fangirl can relate. I'm this close! So close!

Hindi na nasundan ang interaksyon namin ni Malcolm matapos ng maikling pag-uusap namin. It's better than nothing, right? 

Natigil ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang warehouse building. Studio 3, ayon sa karatula sa gilid nang gate. Dito ang location ng kanyang photo shoot.

Nang buksan ni Mang Ferdinand ang pinto ay dali-dali akong lumabas ng sasakyan tapos ay sumunod si Malcolm sa akin. Agad na may lumapit na isang babae at lalaki na nagsabing titignan daw nila ang damit at sapatos na dala ni Malcolm sa likod. 

Pagpasok namin doon ay sinalubong agad kami ng malamig na hangin. Wala na bang lalamig rito?

Sumunod na sumalubong sa amin ay ang manager ni Malcolm na si Minerva Asistio. She had been his manager for 7 long years.

"Malcolm, darling." lumapit siya kay Malcolm at bumeso. "How are you?" she asked, Malcolm answered in gibberish that I didn't understand.

Nakamasid lamang ako sa kanila mula sa likod ni Malcolm. Just then a girl emerged from the side. Niyakap niya si Malcolm.

Sino 'tong babaeng 'to? Ngayon ko lang nakita ang babaeng 'to. Though she was awfully familiar.

Minerva sneered, "You know Zamantha Alvarez Rockefeller, right?" she fluttered her lashes.

Tumango siya, "Of course, Maddison's cousin..." sagot ni Malcolm habang nakatingin siya doon sa babaeng pinakilala bilang Zamantha.

Minerva giggled and it doesn't suit her, "Zamantha will be your partner for this shoot!" masayang pahayag niya kay Malcolm na kumunot na noo ngayon.

"We're so good together, this campaign will be a success!" ani Zamantha tapos ay ngumiti.

Napasimangot ako sa likod ni Malcolm. Ayoko sa babaeng 'to. Simula nang dumating kami rito ay tinapon na lang niya ang sarili kay Malcolm. Hindi ko rin gusto ang malaswa niyang damit dahil nakikita ko ang kanyang cleavage mula sa suot niyang deep v-neck. 

Napansin niya siguro ako at dumungaw siya sa likod ni Malcolm. She surveyed me from head to foot before settling on my face. "Is she your newly hired assistant? The one hired by the company?" tanong ni Zamantha at namewang pa.

"I have told Maddison that if she would hire Malcolm an assistant, she should hire a male!" Minerva said in rage. "Tell Maddie to fire this woman!" she told that to Zamantha.

The devil, Zamantha, smirked at me, "No need to tell me, Minerva, I'll have her fired." 

"As far as I'm concerned, the company hired her and not you, Zamantha..." depensa ni Malcolm, "So what right do you have to fire her over baseless notions? And her name is Sophia and she's my new assistant," he put his arm around me, naestatwa tuloy ako!

"She's very hard working, and enthusiastic. So don't screw this one again." sabi ni Malcolm na may pagbabanta sa kanyang boses. Tapos ay hinila na niya ako palayo roon. 

Iniwan namin ang dalawa roon. Kung 'di lang sila mas matangkad sa akin ay binanatan ko na sila. Akala ba nila na kaya nila ako? Even if they are taller, I'm much feisty than the two of them combined.

As soon as we arrived by the vanity, the stylist and hairstylist flocked him. It was the man and the woman from earlier, they're the ones doing his make up.

He instructed me to take a seat near him. Kailangan daw ay iyong nakikita niya ako. Tahimik kong pinapanood ang pagaayos na ginagawa nila kay Malcolm. He's already handsome barefaced, they just enhanced what he already is.

Camera clicked and lights flash but Malcolm is unfazed and continued posing for the photographer. A few clicks and flash, break and change of wardrobe then back to click and flash again after.

I just watch how Malcolm worked. Propesyonal siya. Kahit mukhang ayaw naman niyang katrabaho iyong si Zamantha ay itinuloy niya pa rin ang shoot.

Dati ini-enjoy ko lang ang pagse-save ng mga litrato niya mula sa mga fan accounts na sobrang updated sa bawat ginagawa niya. 'Yung grabe ba mag-stalk na fans. Napangiti ako sa sarili.

Naramdaman kong may kumalabit sa akin. Nang lumingon ako ay nadatnan ko si Minerva. She surveyed me yet again.

"Malcolm said you're a hard working," sabi ni Minerva. "I don't see anything that says hard working on you," tuloy niya at dinuro-duro ako gamit ang kanyang hintuturo. "Parang kulang ka nga sa sustansya." dagdag sabi pa nito.

Awtomatikong tumaas ang kilay ko. Ako? Ako pa ang kulang sa sustansya? Baka siya itong kulang sa pansin! Instead of looking after Malcolm, she had gone around and order the staffs around as if she's paying them.

I said nothing. Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin dahil mas lalo lamang lalaki ang gulo kung bibigyan ko pa siya mga pansin.

Wala siguro siyang makuhang atensiyon mula sa akin kaya umatras na lang ito sa akin. Pinanood ko siyang umatras palayo sa akin. Tama 'yan! Lumayo ka sa akin!

Natahimik ang buhay hanggang sa matapos ang photoshoot ni Malcolm. Nagmadali siyang nagbihis at saka kami pumunta sa kasunod na building kung saan andoon ang radio station na may guesting siya.

We are sitting on the couch and munching on some snacks the staffs left for us. Naghihintay kami ng susunod na segment kung saan siya i-interview-hin ng radio DJ.

"I saw you and Minerva talking." bulong ni Malcolm.

Nilingon ko siya. Did I heard him wrong? Minerva and I are talking? Talking? Mukha ba kaming nag-uusap ni Minerva? It's more like Minerva talking lang. Hindi ko naman pinatulan 'yung babaeng 'yun.

Umiling ako, "Hindi ko naman siya kinausap, siya lang 'yung kumuda." wala sa sariling sagot ko, lumingon ako kay Malcolm nang ma-realize kung ano ang sinabi ko. "Este, ano, siya lang naman ang nagsalita." bawi ko, kabadong natatawa.

A hint of a smile broke into Malcolm's face, "It's okay." he said before sipping his coffee. "Ilang taon ka na pala?" tanong niya, his gray eyes are staring at me.

Napalunok ako at bumaba ang tingin sa kamay ko, "Ah, ano, mag-22 na ako sa August." sagot ko. Tumangu-tango siya.

I was just staring at him. He smiled at me and that made my cheeks burn. Agad kong tinakpan ang mukha ko. Narinig ko na lang ang mga halakhak niya.

Nang binalik ko ang tingin sa kanya ay nagbukas ang mga labi niya na mukhang may gustong sabihin nang lumabas ang radio DJ sa booth upang samahan kami. Kinausap niya si Malcolm.

He's smiling and enthusiastically talk, and answered every question the DJ asked of him. Nakikinig lang ako sa mga topic nila. Until they are called for the said interview, the radio DJ invited Malcolm inside the booth for their on-air talk.

"Is it really true that Malcolm Hinge Humphries is single or you're seeing someone?" the DJ asked Malcolm.

Umiling si Malcolm, "I'm not seeing anyone." sagot niya.

"Talaga? You're being linked with Kaie Crisostomo, may nakakita raw sa inyo." pagpu-push pa ng DJ kay Malcolm at doon sa rising star na si Kaie.

Umiling lang ulit si Malcolm, "Show that witness to me," tumawa siya, "Kasi as far as I know I'm not dating nor seeing anyone." sagot ulit ni Malcolm.

Natapos ang guesting ni Malcolm sa isang OST ng kanyang dating teleserye. Ayaw ko pa sanang umalis dahil ini-enjoy ko ang kanta pero si Malcolm na ang nagpumilit sa aking umalis.

Nang makalayo kami roon ay nakakita kami ng mga stalls. Malcolm looked at me.

"Do you want something to eat?" he asked me.

Umiling ako. Iniwan ko ang ang wallet sa sasakyan kanina dahil nagmamadali akong bumaba at sundan si Malcolm.

"I'm paying..." he said.

"Talaga?" tinitigan ko siya.

He nodded, "Talaga."

Nagturo ako ng mga gusto kong kainin. He paid for the waffles and shakes I asked for. Naglalakad kami papunta sa susunod na location.

"You know that this is the disadvantage of being famous..." sabi niya bigla. "They'll link you here and there, then if they don't see you being around any girl they'll immediately think that you're gay!" he exclaimed.

I immediately shushed him. Baka isipin ng mga makaririnig na bakla talaga si Malcolm. That's a headliner.

"'Wag mong isigaw, baka may makarinig na iba..." sabi ko sa kanya bago sumipsip sa aking shake. "Ganoon kasi ang media, gusto nilang may maibenta sa tao. Kahit pa kung anu-anong walang kuwenta ay isusulat nila para may bumili ng theory nilang walang basehan." dagdag ko pa.

Sinulyapan ko siya at nakitang nakatitig siya sa malayo. Siniko siko ko siya.

"I've read many articles about you, and I don't think that it is true..."

He smiled, "And why is that?"

I shrugged, "Because those kind of articles looked like it was made up and their sources was not thay reliable..."

Tumango tango siya. "Thank you for believing in me." he said sincerely.

"Thank you rin sa libre!" I grinned.

Itatago ko talaga 'tong baso ng Zagu at papel ng Belgian Waffle. Remembrance din 'to! Galing kay Malcolm and treat niya pa! Ang sosyal! Ni-libre ako ni Malcolm. Hihi.

He chuckled, "No worries, tell me if you want more." he said before taking a big bite from his waffle, "You seriously need every carb." he commented, I pouted. 

I know I'm a little slim compared to anyone pero may laman-laman rin naman ako. I want a perfect healthy body pero hindi ako nakakain sa tama dahil marami akong tinatapos noon na mga commission na madalas ay rush.

"Gusto ko nga tumaba ng kaunti eh, magkaroon ba ng konting laman." sabi ko at kumagat sa waffle ko, "Pero hindi ako makakain ng tama kasi marami akong tinatrabahong rush na commission." paglalahad ko.

"Commission?" naguguluhang tanong niya.

Tumango naman ako. "Yung may ipinapagawa sila akin na drawing, either digital, traditional, or painting." I sipped a bit of my shake, "And I do it in exchange for a certain deal of money." sagot ko.

He nodded, "You must be really good at that," he said, complimenting me. 

Namula ako, "I don't know." sagot ko.

He chuckled, "Pa-humble pa." sabi niya bago inubos ang kanyang waffle.

We arrived at the dressing room by 6:30. He didn't ask for makeup, instead he said that he'd like to be barefaced. Nagbihis na lang rin siya casually.

Kaya saktong 7 o'clock ay nasa set na kami at on standby na siya. Binigyan ako ng mauupuan sa tabi ng mga fans niya. Some of the fans that are there recognize who I was. 

I was the fan that provides digital illustrations.

Yes.

I'm that kind of a fan.

May nakita pa nga akong tumuturo sa banda ko, at 'yung iba naman ay bumabati. I didn't mind the others that's pointing at me, I just greeted and waved at the girls that's greeting me with enthusiasm.

Tito Boy does his introduction with Malcolm and the video for Malcolm's introductory played as they put the chair and let him took a seat.

"Hello, Malcolm, welcome to the program." Tito Boy greeted Malcolm after the video ended.

"Thank you, Tito Boy." sabi ni Malcolm tsaka nilingon ang kanyang mga fans na nagsimulang maghiyawan.

"Thank you for being here tonight." sabi pa ni Tito Boy.

Malcolm smirked, "The pleasures all mine." and smiled at the audience.