Unforeseen Connections

CHAPTER 1

July 2022

“Why aren’t you picking up your phone?” the man beside her na kagigising lang, asked nang makita nitong patay-sindi ang screen nito dahil sa tawag.

“Hayaan mo lang, huwag mo pansinin. That’s work and it’s my day off. Hindi ko kailangang sagutin.” iritadang sabi ni Primrose at tumayo mula sa kama.

Of course, it’s not work. It’s some other guy na naka-fling niya few weeks ago, bugging her and asking her for a date kahit na nilinaw niya naman na hindi siya nakikipag-date.

Last night was wild for her, since it was her friend’s birthday na ginawa sa isang exclusive bar. Kaya siguro nagising nalang siya katabi ang isang anak ng mayor ng city nila na nakayakap sa kaniya.

“Are you leaving already?” tanong ng lalaki nang makita niyang isa-isang isinusuot ni Prim ang mga damit niya na nakita niyang nakatupi sa couch.

“Did you fold my clothes?” the guy nodded. Primrose smiled and gave him a peck on the lips.

“You know, that’s thoughtful and sweet.” saad nito habang sinusuot ang blazer niya.

“Nothing happened between us. We just literally slept together.”

“I know…” Prim answered. She knows, because kung meron man nangyari sa kanila, she’s probably fully naked, but she’s not. She’s fully clothed in parin with undies.

Nang matapos suotin ni Prim ang mga damit niya at sapatos, she gathered her things and checked her phone. Pinapanood lang siya ng lalaki habang ginagawa niya ‘yon.

“How did we end up here?” Prim is talking about the guy’s condo.

“You were really drunk— wasted nga yata. Other guys were looking at you as if you’re a meat and they look starving. I just—”

“Thanks.”

“Repay me with a meal.”

“I’ll send you food dito sa condo. Let me know kung anong gusto mo—”

“No, no, no. What I meant was by having a meal with me.” sabi nito kaya naman kumunot ang noo ni Prim.

She never once had someone na nakilala niya sa bar na makasama niya na mag-lunch because she thinks that that act only is appropriate when you’re either friends with someone or when you date them.

“I don’t date. I never date guys.”

“Let’s not date then. Just lunch.”

“You’re not a friend either.”

“How can I be one?”

Nag-isip saglit si Prim. No one ever folded her clothes before, kaya nang makita niyang maayos na nakatupi ‘yon sa couch, it touched her kaya naman imbes na tumanggi, she decided to give this guy a chance to be her friend.

“Well, I can feel naman na you’re a good person kaya sige. Isang lunch lang and hindi ngayon, kasi I need to go somewhere.” she checked the time and it’s almost 1 PM.

Mabilis na pumunta ng kitchen ang lalaki at binuksan ang ref niya at inabot kay Prim ang overnight oats.

“Here. Eat this on your way somewhere. I called for your car din, kaya nasa parking lot siya ng condo. I’ll just take you there.”

“Wala ba ‘tong lason?” she jokingly said.

“Mukha ba akong nanlalason?” umiling si Prim at natatawang kinuha niya ang overnight oats sa kamay ng lalaki.

“I’m Ian Letran, if you don’t know that yet.”

“Ian, huh…” ulit ni Prim habang naglalakad silang dalawa papuntang parking area ni Ian.

Nang makasakay siya ng sasakyan niya, kaagad siyang nagmaneho sa condo niya na hindi naman ganoon kalayuan. She stared to the overnight oat na pinagpapawisan ang glass container, dahil sa pawala na ang lamig nito.

Natagpuan niya ang sarili niyang nakangiti dahil dito kaya kaagad siyang nagseryoso ng mukha. She even slapped her cheek to wake herself up sa pag-ngiti ngiti niya. It’s so not her to smile at something like that.

She quickly took a bath and faced time her manager habang nakadapa sa kama niya. Kailangan nitong i-discuss ang need nilang gawin sa susunod niyang role na gaganapan niya.

“I know you can do this role effortlessly, Prim. You gotta trust yourself more…” sabi ng manager nito nang mag-dalawang isip si Prm sa pagkuha sa role na ibinibigay sa kaniya dahil ibang iba ito sa nakaraang role niya.

Ang palaging role niya kasi ay isang anak-mayaman na mataray at laging supporting actress. Hindi kasi bagay sa facial features niya ang pagiging mabait. She basically has a resting bitch face.

“Ate Ji, I’ll try, but I just don’t think I’ll suit this role. I think someone out there is more deserving than me—”

“Naku ka, Prim. I told you. Pilit ko nang sinabi sa mga producers and even directors na ayaw mo na tanggapin, kasi full sched ka pa, pero they really kept bugging me.”

“It’s my first time, Ate Ji. I’m not that confident yet.”

“Do it scared. Sinasabi ko sa’yo, you can do this one.”

Wala nang nagawa si Prim kung hindi um-agree nalang sa manager niya. Tomorrow na ang contract signing at next month na sila magsh-shoot.

Humiga siya sa kama niya at tinignan ang mga unread messages niya. She received a lot of messages from Miguel, her admirer since college, telling her na he’s back again sa Pilipinas after migrating to the US after their graduation.

She replied to Miguel’s message since they’ve been friends since 1st year ng college rin naman, so marami talaga silang memories.

Siguro nga, if hindi nag-migrate ‘tong si Miguel, baka binigyan na ni Prim ng chance ang lalaki at baka nagkaroon sila ng romantic relationship.

To Miguel Eros: Hello, Migs. It’s been years, no? I’m here, sa condo ko. We can spend time together sometime, sure. Hindi ko lang sigurado when ako free hihi!

Ilang segundo lang, mabilis na nag-read ng message si Miguel.

From Miguel Eros: Glad you did not change your phone number. See you soon!

Hindi na nag-reply si Prim at dumiretso na ng tulog. Her life cycles lang naman sa work, tulog, party, tapos magigising nalang siya na may gwapo, mayaman at mabangong lalaki na siyang katabi.

Nang akmang pipikit na siya, bigla namang nag-pop up sa screen niya ang follow request ng walang iba kung hindi si Ian Letran.

What now?