Karlos Samonte

Chapter Two

I FEEL like my mind is flying somewhere I don’t know. I’m too preoccupied right now and I know exactly that it is because of the talk I had with Karlos yesterday. That damn guy and his gross ideas didn’t let me sleep last night.

“Tulala ka na naman!”

Bumuntong hininga ako at ibinagsak ang noo ko sa mesang nasa harap ko. Naging malakas ang impact nito pero hindi ko ininda, sa katunayan ay gusto ko pang ulitin para mawala sa isip ko ang pinag-usapan namin ni Karlos.

I’m just hoping that Karlos will never consider everything as his personal issues. I’ve known him long enough to say that he always get what he wants, and if it means playing with dirty tricks he’s more than willing to do so just to get that certain everything.

“Nasaan na ba si Direk? Kapag late tayo galit na galit siya pero ngayon mag-iisang oras na siyang late.” Umupo si Kyla sa tabi ko at naramdaman ko ang mataman niyang pagtitig sa akin kahit na hindi ako nakatingin. “Are you okay, Bella?”

I looked up at her for a moment and sighed heavily before talking. “Kyla, you’ve always wanted to become an actress, right?”

“Alam mo ‘yan friend.” Malawak ang ngiting sagot niya.

“Paano kung sakaling madala ako sa kapahamakan tapos… tapos ang paraan lang para makawala ako sa kapahamakang iyon ay isuko mo ang pagiging artista?” nakita ko kung paano kumunot ang noo niya sa naging tanong ko.

“What kind of question is that?”

“Kyla, just… what if?”

Saglit siyang nag-isip bago sumagot. “Ikaw ang unang kumausap sa akin noong bago pa ako sa industriya, ikaw ang una kong naging kaibigan at ikaw ang nagpalakas ng loob ko, siguro kung darating ang panahon na iyon ay isusuko ko na lang ang kung anong meron ako para matulungan ka.” Ngumiti siya pagkatapos sabihin iyon.

Mariin akong napapikit at ibinagsak ulit ang ulo ko sa mesa. She’s been a good friend to me so how can I possibly let her down? Show business is important to her and I know that.

“Attention!” sabay-sabay kaming napalingon kay Direk na kadarating lang at mukhang hinihingal pa. “T-There’s a problem.”

I feel like my heart suddenly stopped beating as I heard the word ‘problem’. “DVS Media and Production wants to cancel this movie.” We all gasped out of disbelief.

“W-What? How is it possible when we’re almost at the end?” iritadong tanong naman ni Amanda. “Ano iyon nagpagod ako sa wala?”

“Sa tingin mo ikaw lang ang napagod?” mas iritadong tanong sa kanya ni Direk. “I’m doing everything to make the management change their minds but they showed me enough reasons to cancel everything, and you know what the main reason is above it all? Your unprofessionalism, Amanda! Nakarating sa management ang ginawa mo!” Bulyaw sa kanya ni Direk kaya hindi siya nakasagot.

“What are we going to do now?” mahinang tanong ko.

Gustuhin ko mang isipin na walang kinalaman si Karlos dito ay alam kong lolokohin ko lang ang sarili ko. Noong nagpakasal si Thunder at Karma ay binuo nila ang kompanyang ito. DVS stands for Del Valle and Samonte. DVS Media and Productions is under his management but he’s never, even for once, stick his nose with every project, maybe that’s the reason why most of the actors and actresses under their company didn’t know him.

Kapag na-approve-an na niya at nabigyan ng budget ay hindi na niya pakekealaman at mas lalong hindi niya ica-cancel dahil masasayang ang pera. Pero ano itong ginagawa niya?

“Bella, I badly need your help about this.” Pakiusap ni Direk.

“H-Ha? Ano pong magagawa ko, Direk?”

“Bestfriend mo si Karma Samonte hindi ba? Ang misis ni Thunder Del Valle. DVS Media and Productions is under their names but Karlos Samonte, Karma’s older brother is managing it. Baka makumbinsi mo sila, Bella? Nakakahiya man pero sa tingin ko ay pakikinggan ka nila dahil kaibigan mo sila.”

I fell silent for a moment, trying to figure things out and trying to find the perfect words to say.

“Direk, I don’t think I can do that I mean, I want to avoid future’s issues regarding this project. Paano kung kumalat na kaya lang na-release ang movie ay dahil—”

“Kung ayaw mo edi huwag! Dami pang satsat.” Saad ni Amanda.

“Oh shut up, Amanda! Karma Samonte found out what you did and mind you, your career is in chaos and your contract is on the ground for termination.” Bulyaw ulit sa kanya ni Direk

“Buti nga. Masyado kasing nagmamaganda pilit naman kung umarte.” Rinig kong saad ng isa sa mga script writers namin.

“Another thing,” tumingin ulit kami kay Direk. “Tingin ko nasa alanganin na rin ang career nila Mark at Kyla. Some of their endorsements have been canceled, sponsors are backing out.” Halatang problemado si Direk.

Bukod kasi sa pagiging Direktor ay siya rin ang may hawak sa amin nila Kyla, Amanda at Mark. Huminga ako ng malalim at marahang tumango kahit na hindi ako sigurado kung may nakatingin ba sa akin.

“I…” I trailed off. “I’ll try to talk to Karlos about this and see what I can do. But I’m not making any promises.” Tumango-tango si Direk at bumuntong hininga.

“Titignan ko rin kung ano ang magagawa ko, Bella. Salamat. Sa ngayon, magsi-uwi na muna kayo at magpahinga. I’ll call you beforehand whatever happens.”

Agad akong tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko at umaalis ng hindi nagpapa-alam kahit na kanino man. Agad ko ring inutusan ang driver ko na ihatid ako sa main building ng DVS Media and Productions.

Hindi naman kalayuan ito sa set kaya agad din kaming nakarating. Pagkaparada ni Manong sa sasakyan ay bumaba ako at nagmamadaling pumasok. Hindi ko na rin nagawang batiin man lang ang mga bumabati sa akin.

Naiinis ako na kinakabahan. I know for sure that Karlos was the one who made this! My friends… what will happen to them if they lost their careers? I didn’t have to ask how Karlos possibly made it. It’s pretty obvious that he pulled some strings.

Nang nasa tapat na ako ng opisina ni Karlos ay umamba akong bubuksan ang pinto pero natigilan nang pigilan ako ng babaeng may katabaan na sa tingin ko ay sekretarya niya.

“Ma’am, mahigpit pong bilin ni sir na walang papasok.”

“I know for certain that I’m an exception, miss. This is urgen—”

Hindi ko na naituloy ang sasabihin ko dahil bumukas ang pinto. Literal na nanlaki ang mga mata ko at nalaglag ang panga nang makitang magulo ang suot niyang kulay puting long sleeve at nakabukas ang dalawang butones sa taas.

Sa tabi niya ay isang babae na mukhang espasol sa kapal ng pulbos sa mukha at mukhang sinapak ng tatlong bouncer sa bar dahil sa kapal ng lipstick na nagkalat pa sa gilid ng labi niya.

My eyes went down to his hand which was place on the woman’s waist. I sighed heavily and looked up at him.

“We need to talk.”

“What for?” he asked while raising me one brow.

“Karlos, stop playing innocent, will you? We both know what you did!” I said, almost hysterically.

“Fine let’s talk. Come in.” hinila niya ulit ang babae papasok sa opisina niya at tinalikuran ako, napapikit naman ako ng mariin bago sumunod. “Speak.” Saad niya at umupo sa swivel chair, hinila niya sa pag-upo niya ang babaeng espasol kaya bahagya itong napatili at humalakhak nang mapaupo sa kandungan niya.

Damn, do I even have to witness that?

“Karlos!” desperadang saad ko pero tinaasan lang niya ako ng kilay.

“What?” he took a glance at his wristwatch and shook his head. “Say what you want to say, woman. Stop wasting my time.”

“It’s about the movie.” Pumikit ako ng mariin kasi naluluha na ako. “Fine, it seems to me that you’re damn busy.” I said sarcastically. “Just call me if you have time. Pasensiya na sa istorbo.”

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pumiyok ang boses ko. Ayokong umiyak pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganito ako ka-emosyonal. Mabilis ko namang pinunasan ang takas na luha para hindi niya makita. Nadedesperada na ako. Ang karera ni Mark at Kyla ang inaalala ko.

Ayoko namang dalhin ko habang buhay sa konsensiya ko iyon kung sakali at isa pa, naging mabuti sa akin ang dalawa. Akmang maglalakad na ako palayo pero natigilan din ako nang magsalita si Karlos.

“Have a seat, Bella.” Nilingon ko siya at nakita kong nakatayo siya at hindi na nakahawak sa babaeng espasol. “Go home, Holly. I’ll just call you.”

“It’s Hailey.” The woman said, sulking.

“Fine, fine! Whatever. Just go home.”

Padabog naman na naglakad paalis ang babae. Huminga ako ng malalim at umupo sa silya na nasa harap ng office table niya.

“Speak.” Again, he commanded like an almighty God.

“Karlos, alam ko na may kinalaman ka sa nangyari. Bakit mo ba ginagawa ito?” ngumisi siya at sumandal sa swivel chair habang ang malalim niyang titig ay hindi ako nilulubayan.

He placed his right hand on his chin and he played his beard and whiskers. I swallowed real hard at the realization that he’s indeed manly.

Pakiramdam ko ay napapaso ako sa klase ng titig na iyon. Masyadong malagkit. Masyadong mapang-akit. Ang klase ng titig na ibinibibay niya sa akin ay naglalabas sa akin ng kakaibang emosyon na hindi ko naranasan kanino man.

“I thought we made ourselves clear? I offered you a deal, you turned me down and that’s it. Just be thankful that Karma is your friend. Kung hindi pa nasabi sa ‘yo ni Direk Joey, hindi ko dinamay ang career mo.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

“What’s there to be thankful about? Karlos naman! Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto mo at kung bakit mo ginagawa ito sa akin. May kasalanan ba ako sa ‘yo? May nagawa ba akong mali? Naging mabuti naman akong kaibigan sa ‘yo ah?”

“Nasabi ko na sa ‘yo kung ano ang gusto ko. Oo, may nagawa kang kasalanan sa akin at hindi, hindi kita naging kaibigan at hinding-hindi kita magiging kaibigan.”

I stared at him for a moment. It’s as if I’m memorizing every single detail this brute has on his face. I feel like a pang of unfamiliar feeling crashed deep inside me.

“A-Anong nagawa kong kasalanan sa ‘yo?” mahina ang boses na tanong ko na sinuklian lang niya ng ngisi.

“Isipin mong mabuti kung bakit ako nagkaka-ganito. I don’t get mad, baby. I get even. It seems to me that you have decided so why are you still here?”

I breathe in deeply and gathered all the confidence I have with me before answering. “How long will I need to stay with you? How many times do I have to sleep with you? And how can I be sure that after that, you won’t bug me ever again?”

“As long as I want.” He answered without any hesitations.

“That’s not fair, Karlos. Paano ako? May buhay rin ako. Darating ang araw na bubuo ako ng pamilya at gusto ko ng tahimik na buhay kapag nangyari iyon.”

Ngumisi siya na nagbigay na naman sa akin ng kakaibang kilabot. Saglit siyang tumitig sa akin bagi tumango.

“Okay, give me at least a year.”

Paulit-ulit akong umiling sa sinabi niya. “Karlos, maawa ka naman. Ginagawa ko ito para sa mga kaibigan ko! Kung hindi lang ako nagaalala sa kanila ay hindi ko gagawin ito!” nakita ko kung paano siya pumikit ng mariin.

“Fine! A month!” pabigla niyang saad na ikinagulat ko.

“Karlos, a month is still—”

“A month, Bella. Take it or leave it.”

Napapikit din ako ng mariin. “A month then.”

“But,” natigilan ako nang magsalita ulit siya. “In that month, I want you to do nothing but be with me. I’ll guarantee you a month leave; I’ll also file my leave. Thunder will understand for sure.”

“You’re unbelievable, Karlos.”

“Unbelievably awesome, yeah I know that, you don’t have to remind Me.” he said with his head up high. Napailing na lang ako dahil sa kayabangan niya. “Also, you’ll be out of the movie. Sasabihin ko sa mga scriptwriters na patayin nila ang role mo bacause in two days, we will be heading to Greece. One of the companies there sent me an invitation to…ugh, whatever, just go with me. It would take a week and after that, let’s have a vacation. And when I say vacation, you already know what I’m up to.” He licked his lower lip upon saying that.

I looked away as I again, felt something foreign deep inside me. I didn’t know what to say. I don’t want this! Yes, I’m only doing this for the sake of my friends and that’s for certain but why do I feel like something inside me… is excited? Jeez!

“And oh, I’ll fetch you later tonight. Sa suite ka matulog.” The naughtiness on his voice is evident; he even licked his lower lip and winked at me as if he’s trying to tempt me.

“Whatever, Karlos. You’re a beast.” I said and stood up.

“I’m your beast, baby.”