"Damn, hindi ba nila alam ang salitang opinyon?" Reklamo ko sa kausap ko sa teleponong si Clio habang tinitingnan ang sarili ko sa salamin.
"Whatever Celeste. Sabi mo nga, opinyon mo lang. Hindi palaging masusunod ang opinyon mo, okay?" I rolled my eyes before pouting.
"So haharap ako sa camera habang suot ko 'tong napakapanget na dress? Ugh!"
"Stop throwing tantrums and just fix yourself, okay?" I heaved a sigh before nodding.
"Tss, as if I have a choice. Alright, I'll hang up na." She just laughed and I ended the call.
"Miss Celeste, start na raw po within five minutes," pagtawag sa akin ng isa sa mga staffs. Tumango lamang ako sa kaniya bago muling pinagmasdan ang sarili ko sa salamin. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako bago lumabas sa dressing room.
"Celeste?" Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at takang tumingin sa tumawag sa akin. She's a petite girl with a blonde hair. Nakasuot rin siya ng id tanda na isa siya sa mga staff.
"Uhm... hi?"
"Hindi mo na ba ako natatandaan? Ako 'to, si Yna. 'Yung Vice President ng club natin dati!" My brows furrowed and tried to remember her face. My eyes widened upon remembering her.
"OMG Ate Yna, ikaw pala 'yan! Hindi kita nakilala dahil sa buhok mo, I'm sorry. How are you?"
"Executive Director ako dito." She answered before pointing at her id. "Alam mo bang sobrang tuwa ko nang malaman ko na ikaw ang ig-guest dito? Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita!"
I nodded before smiling at her. "Yeah, busy kasi ako. There is a lot on my plate right now and it's quite hard to handle all of them. Halos wala na nga akong social life eh." She laughed before tapping my shoulder.
Maya-maya pa ay tinawag na ako para umakyat sa stage dahil magsisimula na raw ang shooting. I was invited to do an interview to a famous morning show.
"Lights, camera, action! Rolling!"
Hinawi ko ang buhok ko bago mahinhing tumingin sa host. She's quite famous in the country dahil maganda at successful ang mga shows niya. She's a good host too.
"Welcome to our show, Architect Celeste Villareal. How are you?" She asked before handing me a microphone.
"I'm doing good as always," I answered.
"You're one of the highest paid architechts in our country, Miss Villareal. What can you say about that?"
I smiled at her while my cheeks turned red. "Well it is truly an honor for me and to honest, I am still shy up until now whenever I hear praises about my works but still, I appreciate it so much."
The audience clapped and I just bowed my head to them as a sign of gratitude.
The interview went well just like what I expected but not until when she mentioned one thing.
"So Miss Villareal, graduate ka pala sa Avalon High?"
I bit my lower lip before slowly nodding. "Can you tell us a story about Avalon? I mean, that's a really famous school and I heard, it's a neck to neck battle to get in."
"Uhm... sure," I answered. Muli akong tumingin sa audience at mukhang interesado nga silang marinig ang kuwento ko.
"We all knew that Avalon High is such a prestigious school. Let's just say that it is a home of spoiled brats and smart students. Mahirap makapasok sa Avalon High dahil unang una, mahal ang tuition. Pangalawa, mahirap ang entrance exam. Matanggap ka nga lamang sa Avalon ay napakalaking achievement na, paano pa kaya kapag grumaduate at napasama ka pa sa Rank Five?" I smiled upon remembering my highschool days. Ang tagal na pala?
"Oh! The Rank Five? 'Yan nga pala ang tatak ng Avalon High. Can you tell us something about that?"
"The Rank Five are like the face and the ruler of the school. Once you were a part of it, you would experience an extravagant highschool life. You can actually rule the school once you were a part of The Rank Five." I answered and the audience awed in amusement. I mean, who wouldn't love extravagance, right?
"You are successful now, Architect Villareal. Do you mind if I ask if you're part of The Rank Five?" I bit my lower lip and looked down.
After a couple of seconds, I looked up and smiled. "Yes. I was once a part of The Rank Five together with my friends."
"Friends?" She asked.
I nodded and swallowed the lump on my throat. "They are actually my bestfriends— Kelly, Ashanti and Clio." I answered.
"We are once a part of The Rank Five," dugtong ko. I smiled bitterly upon mentioning it.
"Wait. Once? What do you mean?" She asked curiously.
"We were dethroned by some jerks."
-----
:)
CELESTE"No one asked for your fucking opinion, you abominable piece of trash!"I winced upon hearing Kelly's loud voice. Ano na naman bang gulo ang ginawa ng babaeng 'yun? Damn!I heaved a sigh when I saw her holding someone's hair. Agad akong tumakbo palapit sa kanila at pilit na inihiwalay 'yung babaeng mukhang wala namang ka-muwang muwang sa mundo. "Kelly, what's with the commotion?" bulong ko sa kaniya habang hawak ang balikat niya. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang babae at iwinaksi ang kamay ko sa balikat niya. &nb
CELESTE"Kanina ka pa?" tanong ko nang makitang nagluluto si Ashanti sa kusina pagkagising ko. Tumingin siya sa akin at tumango."Anong trip mo at sinipag ka?" tanong kong muli bago sumilip sa niluluto niya. Simpleng fried rice iyon na may lahok na gulay. Nakahain na rin sa lamesa ang pritong hotdog, ham, itlog at bacon pati na rin ang salad ni Kelly."Gusto ko lang," sagot niya. Tumango naman ako at umupo na sa lamesa.Normally, Ashanti is someone who doesn't
CELESTE"Yes, I actually ranked first." Walang gana kong sabi kay Mommy na kausap ko sa telepono."Then you should do your best to maintain that spot. Baka naman ipaagaw mo pa sa iba." I rolled my eyes before nodding at her even though she can't see me."Mommy, hindi ko naman nakakalimutan ang sinabi mo sa akin. I am Celeste, I should always be first." She laughed and I just smiled."Very good, Celeste. You are really
CELESTE"See? Hindi talaga maganda ang kutob ko diyan kay Butler Cox," ani Ashanti."Tumahimik ka nga lang, okay? Ugh, I'm tired na talaga," reklamo naman ni Kelly. Nag-stretch pa siya ng kamay na animo'y sobrang napagod."Bakit ba ayaw niyo akong pakinggan?" Tumigil kami sa paglalakad at takang tumingin kay Ashanti."Bihira na nga lang akong magsalita, hindi pa
CELESTE"What the fuck, Celeste? Bakit ngayon mo lamang sinabi?!" Reklamo ni Kelly habang nagvavacuum."Sa halip na magreklamo ka, bilisan mo na lamang ang kilos mo," saway ni Clio. Umirap naman si Kelly at ipinagpatuloy ang paglilinis. Muli akong tumingin sa suot kong wrist watch."We still have twenty five minutes. Mag-ayos na kayo," I announced. Tumango naman sila at ibinalik na ang mga cleaning materials.Jarvis is
CELESTE"Bakit ba kasi ngayon pa bumalik si Jarvis? Ugh, I'm so tired na!"Napailing ako bago muling dumampot ng bola para ilagay sa basket na pinagkuhanan ni Clio."I'm sorry girls," paghingi ng paumanhin ni Clio. Tumigil naman ako sa pagpulot ng bolang ikinalat niya kanina at tinapik siya sa balikat."It's alright.""Medyo
CELESTE"Can you please stop pestering me?" I hissed at Jarvis. He just sighed before pouting."Maghapon ka na lamang ba magbabasa? Weekend na weekend," reklamo nito."Kung ayaw mong mag-aral, pabayaan mo na lamang ako, puwede ba? May test ako sa Lunes.""Sa isang araw pa naman," pagsuko nito at tumayo na. We were currently at the library dahil ayon sa kaniya ay gusto raw niyang mag-aral— na hindi naman niya gi
KELLY"Yes, Mommy?""Bilisan mo na di'yan, alright? Fix yourself, siguraduhin mong maganda ka."I chuckled. "Mommy, I'm already pretty.""I know, my daughter. What I mean is, make yourself prettier." Natawa naman ako at bahagyang napailing habang isinusuot ang aking hikaw."Mommy, I'm hanging up na. Let's just see each other later, okay?"