06

Strangers

Nagising ako sa tunog ng alarm clock ko. It's 9:00am. I stretched my arms as I yawn. I get off my bed and fix the sheets.

I make myself some coffee and cooked some pancakes. After I eat, I took a bath.

I checked my phone to wake myself up.

I startled when my phone vibrated. I saw Elisha's name, video calling me.

"Hi, Goodmorning," he greeted as soon as I answered the call.

"Hi, it think it's too early jan? Why did you call? Miss mo na ako agad?" I smirked

"Hala, hindi 'no. Kakamustahin lang kita bago ako magpahinga. Mamaya pa ang conference."

"Ah, I see. Later rin lang ang shoot namin."

"Eh, saan ka pupunta? Looks like you came out of the shower?"

"Wala, dito lang ako sa condo, magpapahinga."

"Ah, I see. Kumain ka na?"

"Yes, I know your tired, Elisha. You should get some rest."

"Okay, Aeri, Goodmornight."

I smiled at the camera and ended the call.

Mika's name suddenly popped on the screen.

Mika:

Goodmorning, Miss Aeri! call time po natin later is 12:30pm. See you po!

Mika:

Ipapasundo ko po ba kayo, Miss? Or you'll go here by yourself?

Ako:

Yes. I'll be driving myself to the studio. I don't want to bother the guards. Don't wrry about me, I can manage. I'll see you later :)

It was 10am when I got bored. I change into my workout clothes to do a home workout. I spent 30 minutes working out. I was kinda feeling hot and dirty so I went to the bathroom for a quick shower.

After nun, umorder  na lang ako ng salad and a fruit shake for my lunch.

Since maaga akong naglunch, I fix my go to bag and yung bag na ang laman ay mga damit ko na gagamitin ko later.

Tapos na akong mag ayos ng gamit ng tumunog ang doorbell. It's 11:30 and hindi naman ako nagpapasundo. Sino kaya yun?

I peeked on tge eyehole to see who's outside my door. My mood suddenly changed when I saw who was it.

"Anong ginagawa nyo rito?" I asked while opening the door.

"Aren't you happy to see us, hija? Napadaan lang kami ng daddy mo. We just want to check on you. Syempre, mag isa ka ngayon." Ani Mommy.

Pumasok sila sa loob ng condo.

"Gusto namin silipin ang condo niyo, Aeri." Mommy simply said.

Nilibot nila ang kitchen, dining area, living room at ang balcony. Pagkatapos ay nagpunta sa hallway kubg saan makikita ang mga kwarto.

Naalala kong naiwang nakabukas ang kwarto ko. Shit! Baka malaman nilang hindi

kami nagtatabi ni Elisha! Come on, Aeri, think of an excuse! Goddamn it!

"Bakit ang mga gamit mo lang ang nandito sa master's bedroom, Aeristell? Asan ang kay Elisha?" Tanong ni Mom. Tapos na sila sa master's bedroom kaya sa guest room na sila nagtungo.

"And what are these stuffs doing here, It's Elisha's, aren't they?" Taas kilay na tanong ni Mommy.

"Hindi ba kayo nagsasama sa iisang kwarto, Aeri?" Nagsalita na si dad.

"Uh... Marami na po kasi ang mga gamit ko roon sa kwarto namin kaya rito na siya naglagay ng mga gamit niya. We're sleeping in the same room po. But... Since wala naman po siya dito, I transferred his stuffs here." Sinikap kong wag mautal.

"Ah, I see." Si dad. Kalmado at tahimik siya ngayon ah?

"Hindi na kami magtatagal. Aalis na kami. Mukhang may lakad ka rin." Sabi ni mom na dirediretsong naglakad patungong pintuan.

"We'll go ahead. Pagbalik ni Elisha, ikakasal na kayo, diba? Sinabi nya na iyon sa amin." ani dad.

"Yeah, I'm so excited. Nagpaplano na rin kami nina Ella." Si Mom.

I fake a smile. Kumaway sila tsaka umalis na sa unit ko.

Naghintay pa ako ng ilang minuto bago ako bumaba sa parking lot. Ayaw ko silang makasabay.

aeri_garcia:

My mom and dad went on my condo. Ugh! Nakakainis! Hindi ba sila kasama sa conference na 'yan?!

I sent Elisha a dm. Magrarant sana ako sakanya kaso mukhang tulog pa siya.

Wearing a yellow v neck ruffled blouse and a tight jeans, Nagtungo na ako sa studio. Hindi naman gaano kabigat yung traffic so I reached my destination on time.

I didn't put any make up on my face so I did it on my dressing room while Archie is busy doing my hair. Mika is beside me, telling me about my schedule for tomorrow.

"Tomorrow morning, you and Laurence will be on a talk show, and then after that, you'll have a contract signing sa isang make up line na nais kang kuhain bikang modelo ng make ups nila. Sa hapon,  ay ang our shooting. Sa isang beach resot iyon sa La Union. Iyon na talaga ang last bago mag vacation." She said.

"La Union? Ano iras daw matatapos yon?" Tanong ko.

"Mag oover night po tayo roon, Miss Aeri. Sa umaga na po ang balik kasi gusto nila Direk na magbonding muna bago tuluyang magbakasyon."

"Okay, send me na lang yung ibang details. Thank you!" I said while countouring my face.

Tinapos na namin ang pag aayos ko dahil maya maya ay sasalang na ako. Sa studio muna ang ishoshoot bago ang sa QC.

After our shoot sa studio, Pumanhik na kaagad kami sa QC. Halos puro scenes namin ni Laurence ang shinoot. Kung hindi naman ay tig isa kami. Nakakapagod.

Marami pa kaming places na pinuntahan around QC na papagshootingan. I am so freaking tired.

Dahil sa pagod, natulog ako sa byahe pabalik. Sumama ako sa service at iniwan ang kotse ko sa parking sa studio.

Nagising ako ng nasa studio na kami ulit. Nada conference room kaming lahat kasi ipinatawag kami ng management.

"Malapit lapit na tayong matapos sa pagshooting. We are planning to release this movie sa October. I'm sure magiging blockbuster ito dahil inaabangan ang tambalan nila Aeri at Rence mg mga fans!" Sabi ni Direk Jane.

"So, we'll give you a break. Magsaya kayo ngayong summer with your family and loved ones. We will resume all of your tapings sa June siguro para makaabot tayo sa October." Ani Mr. Fernandez, ang CEO ng kumpanya.

Whilw we are on the meeting, my phone beeped.

I opened my instagram kase nag dm sakin si Elisha.

elisha.gonz:

Hey, chill. Ano ka ba naman, hayaan mo na sila, masanay ka na. Hindi sila kasama kasi ako na ang representative nila. Are you done with your shoot? Don't skip meals. I miss you.

aeri_garcia:

Sorry, di ko mapigilan. I'm on a meeting right now. Pero tapos na. Yes, kakain ako pagkauwi. Miss mo mukha mo! :b

Unknown number:

Are you free? I'm at a coffee shop near your condo. I saw your condo's name here inside your wallet. Meet me here. I'll be waiting.

-J.C

Ako:

Okay, I'll be there.

J.C... I think those initials are familiar. Ayoko mag assume na si Jacob yun. I really want to believe that it's him but somethings telling me that it's not. Why would he see me after what I have done to him before?

You dumped him, Aeri! Ikaw dapat ang mahiya! Ang kapal ng mukha mong magpakita.

Well, hindi ko naman sinadyang iwala ang wallet ko at siya ang makapulot. Tsaka don't assume nga, Aeri! Damn you!

Nang matapos ang meeting ay lumabad na ako ng conference room kasabay si Mika. Hinatid niya ako sa kotse ko dahil tinulungan niya akong dalhin ang mga gamit ko.

"Thanks, Mika. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a goodnight!" I smiled.

"Bye, Miss Aeri. Ingat po!" She smiled back and wave her hand.

Pumasok na ako sa driver's seat. I am wearing a ribbon strapped top and my jeans earlier. Nag birkenstock lang ako kase O was too lazy to put on a sneakers.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas ng marating ko ang coffee shop. I wear a cap kase ang awkward naman kung mag sasunglass ako eh gabi na.

I parked my car and locked the doors. I walk towards the main door. Halos tatlong table lang ang may laman.

Ang isang table ay puro mga students na nag aaral, ang isa naman ay palagay ko, ay nga buisnessmans at ang huli ay isang lalaking mukhang buisnessman rin.

Nakatalikod siya sakin. I remember that image. Kahit nakatalikof eh kilalang kilala ko kung sino yun.

Gosh, this can't be!

Lumingon siya sa likuran. His eyes met mine. Lumapit oa ako sa table na inuupuan niya. Hindi niya inalis ang mata sakin.

When I finally stood beside him, I feel kike I'm gonna cry. He's changed. He became more mature.

Sa tagal tagal na hindi kami nagkita, maraming nagbago sa kanya. I missed him. I missed him, so damn much!

"J-jacob?" I called. He stared at me coldly.

"Hi, Aeristell... It's nice to see you, again..." He said casually.

I feel like were back on being strangers...

____♥♥♥____