Siobhán’s Wrath

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I didn’t know that this is how hectic the schedule of the artists are, parang wala na akong naging pahinga. Shoot here, meeting there, reviewing the scripts here, workshop there, and I always have something to do everywhere!

Sumakit pa ang ulo ko nang mag notif ang reminder ng concert nila Dohyun. Nag set kasi ako ng reminder 1 month ahead para ma-clear ko ang schedule ko sa araw iyon. I am so proud of him and his group, they are really working so hard. Kumusta na kaya ang grupong iniwan ko?

“Shiyo!” si Valentina, simula nang malaman niya ang nickname ko na ‘yon ay iyon na ang itinatawag niya sa akin. Mas cute raw kasi ang Shiyo tsaka narinig niya kasi na Shiyo ang tawag sa akin ni Paige, narinig niya lang mula sa telepono noong magkausap kami ni Paige.

“Wish me luck! Mamaya na ang final evaluation. OMG, natetense ako!” Ramdam ko nga ang pagiging tense niya, ang lamig pa ng kamay niya.

“Relax, just imagine na normal performance lang. The more na natetense ka ay the more na magkakamali ka.” Payo ko sa kanya, naglalakad kami ngayon pareho papunta sa auditorium.

“I will try, gosh!”

No doubt, this girl will make it. She has a huge potential at gusto niya ang ginagawa niya talaga. I’m not saying na iyong iba ay hindi gusto ang ginagawa nila, there are some artists that aims popularity and income rather than enjoying what they’re doing.

I messaged Dwayne na nandito na ako sa auditorium, sinabi ko rin sa kanya na mabuting hindi kami magkatabi because lately ay naku-kwestyon ang pagtatabi namin palagi kahit na ang iilan doon ay kasama si sir Fred.

While focusing on the performance I noticed how Inara’s line improves. Nabawasan naman ang kay Rein which is fair enough. Rein is a mediocre performer but she’s good looking.

I clapped my hands as soon as they finished performing. They improved a lot from their last performance. Agad akong emexit pagkatapos nilang magperform dahil tumatawag din si Dohyun.

“Ne, Yeoboseyo?” I answered, while walking out of the auditorium.

“Vawn-ah. 잘 지내세요? (are you doing well?)” He asked from the other line. His voice sounds tired.

“나는 잘 지내고 있다. 오빠는? (I am doing well, how about you?)” I returned the question.

“저도요 (me too), don’t forget…concert,”

“Yep, I marked my calendar already. I have my ticket already,” he offered to buy me a ticket for their concert but I refused. Gusto ko ako ang bibili mismo, I want to be there talaga anyway. “You should rest instead of calling me, I know you’re tired.”

He chuckled, if only his fans knew that we talk like this- they might kill me, his fans are obsessed with his deep voice.

“I am resting right now, don’t worry.”

“As you should, you’ve got an injury, right? Are you able to perform tomorrow? I think you should rest.”

“The fans deserved to see me on stage, they paid for it. I have to give my best,” one thing about Dohyun is he really works so hard. He always gives his best even if he is not feeling well dahil ayon ang sa tingin niya na deserve ng mga fans.

“Stubborn,” napairap ako kahit hindi niya namana ko nakikita.

“I can imagine your face right now, Vawn-ah.” I heard his chuckle again.

“Whatever, rest well. Bye!” Pinatay ko na ang tawag bago pa siya makapag salita ulit.

“Boyfriend?”

“Oh, Jesus!”

“Dwayne is the name, again.” Pinantayan niya ang lakad ko habang nakapamulsa.

Bakit ba palagi niya akong ginugulat?

“Bawas-bawasan kasi ang pagkakape,” dagdag niya pa.

I’m not even into coffee. Desisyon nanaman siya.

“Same place,” nauna na siyang maglakad.

Laglag panga ko siyang sinundan ng tingin. Kung slow ako ay hindi ko magegets siguro ang mga pinagsasabi niya.

Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya, pumunta ulit ako sa lugar kung saan kami palaging nagkikita. I messaged Mickey that I’ll be off, alam kasi niya na nandito ako. I drove myself to that place, pagkarating ko ay prenteng nakaupo na si Dwayne. Mukhang naka-order na rin siya. Tamang tama, gutom na ako. Tahimik kaming kumain, though siya ay maya’t-maya ang pagsi-cellphone.

“What do you think about their performance today?” Panimula niya.

“It was excellent.” I did a thumbs up.

Tumango siya, “Sino sa tingin mo ang dapat matanggal?”

Rein. But of course, hindi ko isasatinig ‘yon.

“I believe the decision is on the coach's hand,” sagot ko.

“I want to hear your thoughts,” sumandal siya sa upuan niya at nag-cross arms.

“No, I’m sorry but I don’t want to,” sumagi sa alaala ko ang sakit sa mga mata ng mga kasama kong trainee noon.

I can’t, and I really don’t want to. I’ve been there, ayaw kong maging parte ng rason kung bakit hindi makakapag-debut ang isang artist.

“Alright,” pero ang tingin niya ay parang sinusuri pati lamang loob ko.

“Quit staring,” nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

“Alangan pader ang tingnan ko, eh ikaw kausap ko.” Wow, ang sarap niyang sapakin.

“Moving forward, I sent your profile to a different commercial company. I believe they will reach back by this week,”

“Thanks, kailan pala mag-uumpisa ang training ng boy group?” I was asking because I don’t want any conflicts with my schedule.

“In the next 2 weeks, maybe. I’ll update you,” tumango lang ako bilang sagot.

That was the last time Dwayne and I talked. I was busy shooting movies and commercials. May offer pa ako na mag-appear sa isang MV, pero pinag-iisapan pa ni Mickey ang offer.

“You’re quite good,” puri sa akin ni Fabian.

We have another scene today, pati si Shanaia. They are sweeter off cam, may mga leak videos pa galing sa set. One of the rising love team pa rin sila. I can’t wait to ruin them.

“Thank you po, kuya,” pagpapasalamat ko. Fabian has soft features and he looks innocent.

I wonder if he really had a thing with my sister.

“First movie mo ‘to ‘no?” Tanong niya.

“Opo,”

“Kumusta naman?” pareho kaming naka squat sa damuhan.

“It was fun and tiring,” bahagya siyang natawa kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Pero bakit parang sisiw lang sa’yo? Hindi ka mukhang pagod.”

I pursed my lips, “maybe because I was having fun?” I sheepishly smiled. “Ang galing umarte ni ate Shanaia,” that sounds nothing pero may laman iyong pagkakasabi ko non.

“Oo naman, kaya nga maraming awards e. Many directors want her in their movie,” pareho kaming nakatingin kay Shanaia na ngayon ay on set.

“Really?” As if I was interested.

“Uhuh. Totoo ‘yong kumakalat na balita tungkol don,”

“That’s amazing,” plastik akong ngumiti.

“Bakit mo pala naisipang mag-artista?” Tinapunan niya ako saglit ng tingin.

Para pabagsakin ka. Pero syempre, hindi ko isasatinig ‘yan.

“I actually just wanna try this thing, tinitingnan ko po kung para sa akin ba,” of course it was a lie.

“Tingin ko ay para rito ka, dahil natural lang sa’yo ang pag akting. Bihira ako makatagpo ng kagaya mo,” syempre in game ako sa plano ko e. Malalim ang hugot ko.

“Let’s see,” tanging sagot ko.

“Nag-aaral ka pa?” I didn’t know na fan pala siya ng mahabang usapan.

Tumango ako, “homeschool.”

“Madalas nga sa mga artista ay homeschool, ako rin naman noon,”

“Simula Junior High School ay nagho-homeschool na po talaga ako,” bunyag ko.

Halatang nagulat siya, “Oh? Hindi ba boring. Kung homeschool ka lang tapos wala kang ibang pinagkakaabalahan?”

“Hindi naman, it was in Korea. I was having a hard time fitting in. Kaya nag homeschool ako,” another lie. Lord, sorry na.

“Korean ka? Kaya pala sa unang tingin ko sa’yo ay inakala ko na Koreana ka,”

“Hindi po ako Korean,” bahagya akong napatawa. Hindi naman kasi talaga. “Maybe it’s because I was there for a long time. Pure Filipina ako,” makita ka lang kasi ng mga tao na mala Korean pumorma at hair style ay sasabihin na nila kaagad na parang Korean ka.

Surprisingly, since that day. Fabian and I started to talk casually on set, mandalas ay siya ang nag-iinitiate ng conversation. I would just play along.

“Vawn, today is your last day shooting. Good luck,” tipid na ngumiti si Direk Caishen. Ngayon ishu-shoot ang pagkamatay ng character ko sa movie na ‘to.

“Thank you, direk.” Pagpapasalamat ko.

“1, 2, 3, action!” Sigaw ni Direk, nasa kalagitnaan ng camping ang eksena namin. Event ng University.

“Enough, Zora.” Suway ko sa karakter ni Shanaia. “Kapag tayo nahuli ng mga prof na nagdala ng alak, mayayari tayo,” inis kong sabi.

Shanaia as Zora, laughed sarcastically, “of all people, ikaw talaga ang nasasabi sa akin niyang ngayon, Gab? For all I know- ikaw dapat ang nangunguna sa ganito,”

“Tss,” kumuha ako ng isang stick ng sigarilyo mula sa bulsa ko.

Kita ko ang mangha sa mata ni Shanaia bago siya ngumiti ng nakakaloko, “I guess we’re even? Kapag nahuli tayo, alam mo na.”

“It’s because you are stressing me, d*mn you.” Mariin kong sabi, she just laughed it off.

May narinig akong kaluskos, hudyat na mayroong ibang tao bukod sa amin. A man in a gray hoodie shows out of nowhere. Shanaia and I looked at him in confusion.

“W-who are you?” si Shanaia. While I was just observing the man.

“You don’t have to know, Zora.”

“Zora!”

Kasunod ng sigaw ko ang pagputok ng baril mula sa lalaking naka-hoodie. I pushed Shanaia as I took the bullet for her character.

I looked at the guy in a hoodie in shock as I saw his smirk before he disappeared in the trees.

“Cut! Excellent!” I could sense that Direk Caishen was satisfied with our scene.

But I stayed still on the ground feeling the pain habang si Shanaia ay mabilis na nakatayo, sinalubong kaagad siya ng PA niya.

Hinawakan ko ang braso ko, I was in horror when I saw so much blood coming from my left arm. T-this is…

It was a real gun! No wonder I couldn’t move my arm in pain…

“Vawn?” si Fabian. “Are you okay? Kanina pa cut, pwe-” napaawang ang bibig niya nang magkasalubong ang mga mata namin.

“DIREK!” Malakas ang sigaw niya, enough for all of us to hear.

“I-it hurts, d-don’t touch it please.” I was breathing heavily. Nangingilid na ang luha ko sa sakit until I can no longer hold it. I cried in pain.

“Sh*t, sh*t,” I heard Fabian’s curses.

“Anong nangyari?” Tanong ni Direk nang makalapit sa amin.

“Totoong baril ‘yong ginamit, nawawala ka na ba sa katinuan mo direk?! Just to achieve a realistic expression that you are expecting from the actor, that was why you used a real gun!?” Ramdam ko ang gigil sa boses ni Fabian.

“What? No! It wasn't a real gu-,” hindi na natapos ni Direk Caishen ang sasabihin niya dahil sinapawan nanaman siya ni Fabian.

“Then fvcking explain this!”

Nakuha pa talaga niyang makipag-away muna bago tumawag ng medic.

“V-vawn!” si Eliza, ang PA ko.

“C-call a medic…” pinagpapawisan na ako ng malamig.

Nag tangka si Fabian na buhatin ako but I told him not to, I didn’t allow anyone to touch me because even the slightest move really hurts me.

Malayo sa kabihasnan ‘to kaya matatagalan pa yata bago may makarating na ambulansya. I feel dizzy, siguro ay dahil sa padurugo.

“She’s bleeding, we need to reduce the bleeding at least while waiting for the medic. I…had medical training before. I think I can refrain her from bleeding,” isa sa mga extra na ka-eksena namin ngayon ang nagpresinta.

Kumuha siya ng malinis na towel.

“N-no…don’t touch me,” halos magmakaawa na ako.

“Vawn, kailangan…” lumapit na sakin si Eliza, “p-pwede mo akong hawakan.”

Hinayaan nila ako na nakahiga sa d**o dahil ayaw kong umupo, using force hurts me.

“Ahhhh!” I creamed when Jazmin pressed the wound where I was shot.

“I’m sorry…but you have to endure it,”

I hold onto Eliza.

“Tatalian ko ng medyo mahigpit ha,” pagpapaalam ni Jazmin. I just nodded so we can get over this.

“Ahhh!” I think I screamed from the top of my lungs.

I woke up to a white ceiling. Bahagya akong gumalaw, “Aw…” I then realized what happened.

Someone shot me with a real gun!

“Vawn, thank God!” bumungad sa akin ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Mickey. “How are you feeling? Saan masakit?”

Naka arm sling ang kaliwa kong kamay ngayon.

“Masakit ang sugat ko, can we ask the doctor for a pain reliever?”

Napapikit ako ng mariin nang maalala ang nangyari, a real gun… was it an accident? Direk Caishen said he doesn’t know about it.

Maya-maya ay may kumatok, when Eliza opened the door mga police ‘yon.

“Good evening, we are the police in charge with Ms. Fabroa’s case. We just have a few questio-,” pero hindi natapos ng pulis na nagsasalita ang sinasabi niya dahil dumating si Mickey.

“Mawalang galang na ho, sir. Pero pwede po bang magpahinga muna ang alaga ko? She just woke up, may sakit pa siyang iniinda. Pwede bang bukas na ‘yan?” Ngayon ko lang nakitang ganito kaseryoso si Mickey.

“Pasensya na sir, but in order to catch the culprit as soon as possible- we really need to get an info from Ms. Fabroa,”

“Mem, I think it’s okay.” Binalingan ko ng tingin si Mickey. “But can I have my pain reliever first, sir? I’m a bit in pain.”

Pumayag naman ang dalawang pulis sa gusto kong mangyari. Hinintay ko ang doctor, binigyan niya ako ng pain reliever. Sinuri na rin niya ako, nang umalis na ang doctor ay nagpahinga pa ako ng kaunti bago ko tuluyang paunlakan ang mga pulis.

“Nakita mo ba ang mukha ng bumaril sa’yo?” Diretsong tanong sa akin.

“Hindi po, pero he is one of the cast.” Sagot ko.

“Hindi…we found the real cast far from the set. Nakatali sa puno.” Napaawang ang bibig ko sa gulat.

Sinubukan kong alalahanin ang mukha ng bumaril sa akin, but all I could remember was his smirk, “he was covered with the hood, all I could see that time was his smirk.”