Same face, different person

Pagkatapos ng nangyari ay araw araw nang bumibisita si Art sa bahay. Hindi ko alam kung paano pero nakakagawa sya ng time para puntahan ako. I know that he's a busy person pero hindi sya pumapalya sa pagbisita. He never fetch me from school. 

I remember the girl who's with him the last time in the mall. The same girl in our company, the one who brought a small paper to my brother. I still don't know her. And I still haven't ask Art about that. Humahanap lang talaga ako ng magandang timing. Yung tipong makokorner ko sya at hindi sya makakapag sinungaling sa akin. 

I badly want to know what's going on with the two of them. Specially now that Art have the permission from my parents to court me. He ask me but I said no. I made a promise to myself that no matter what happen, I will not let him court me hanggat di ko alam kung sino yung babae na yon. Ayokong magkaroon ulit kami nang di pagkakaintindihan. I don't want to ask kuya dahil baka mamisinterpret nya ang sasabihin at itatanong ko at sugurin si Art. 

"Everyone please be seated" the choreographer said while clapping his hands loudly and everyone, total of 4 trainees, in the room sit on their own chairs including Art. Then, the girl that I want to know the identity show up. So she's one of the choreographer here? 

I crossed my arms at nanatiling nakaupo sa korner dito sa likuran nila. I pin my eyes on her. She slightly smiled at me when she saw me. She stand up next to the guy.

"So para sa araw na to, we will plan the dance moves you want to do. I know you all guys are not in a group and are all individual trainees but for the next 2 months, you guys will work as one in terms of dancing." She loudly said in a wide smile. Pasalit salit ang tingin nya sa mga trainees and I notice na parang iniiwasan nyang tignan ang isa, which is Art. 

"Okay. You, you and you" the guy choreographer pointed to the three trainees except Art. "Follow me." they all exit and me, Art and the girl, was left here in the room. Just the three of us. 

Perfect. 

Tumayo si Art mula sa kinauupuan nya kanina at dahan dahang naglakad papunta dito sa pwesto ko. Nakatingin sya sa direksyon ko habang naglalakad nang bigla syang sumayaw. Feeling ko ay mawawalan na ko ng hangin na malalanghap any moment from now. I can feel the redness of my face. Nakaharap sakin ang katawan nya. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan yung last time na nagsayaw sya sa harapan ko tapos uulitin na naman nya. Nakakahiya specially ngayon na may kasama kaming iba.

Speaking of 'iba' kahit si ate girl ay nanlaki ang mata at napanganga. May kunot sa kanyang noo habang tinitignan si Art na magsayaw.  Ito namang si Art ay tuoy tuloy lang sa pag giling. Akala nya ba mag isa lang sya sa kwarto na to. Tumigil sya sa pag indak at tumawa ng sobrang lakas. He came closer to me at inilevel ang mukha nya sa mukha ko.
"You look so cute, blushing" i poke his wide forehead and push him as hard as I can. Napaupo sya sa sahig. Bwisit na lalaki to. Napakagaling mang asar. He stand up immediately at tumawa na naman.

"Nababaliw ka na talaga"  i look at him. Itinaas baba nya ang kanyang mga kilay sa komento na yon. I roll my eyes.

Tumikhim sya at inilevel muli ang mukha nya sa akin "Yes. I'm crazy. Crazy inlove with you."

Nakalimutan ko na yatang huminga sa mga sandali na yon. We are staring deeply at each other's eyes. I can see the happiness in his brownish eyes. Umismid ako at napayuko. I bit my lip, trying to stop the smile that any time will flash in my lips. I got defeated easily when I heard his laugh.

Nakisabay ako sa tawa nya dahil hindi ko na maitago ang saya na nararamdaman ko. We laughed as if someone told us a very funny joke or something epic or awkward happened in front of us. Sobrang komportable na ko sa kanya. 

Umalingawngaw ang ismid sa kwarto. Natigil ako sa pagtawa at naalala na may kasama pa pala kami. And naalala ko na dapat ko pala silang ikonfront. This is a perfect timing that I shouldn't waste. Tumigil din sa pagtawa si Art at nakatitig lang sakin na nagtatanong ang mga mata. I think nakasense sya na may problema.

"What's wrong?" Tanong nya at tumayo sa harapan ko. Tumayo rin ako at iniwan sya sa pwesto namin. Naglakad ako papunta sa gitna ng kwarto na to. I crossed my arms and I'm sure na nakuha ko ang atensyon nilang dalawa dahil na rin sa tunog ng heels ko.

I started to confront them in a calm and respectful way that I know "So, hindi nyo ba mauubos ang dalawang ice cream kaya pinaghatian nyo ni Art ang isa?"

This is not a respectful way Sapphire! 

Tila may dumaang anghel sa loob ng kwarto na to. Biglang natahimik nang magtanong ako. I looked at both of them. Parehas nanlaki ang mata nila. Napayuko ang babae at tila naglued and bibig nito. Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Art. Nanahimik lang sya at di nagsalita. Habang tinititigan ko sya ay tinaas nya ang parehas nyang kamay sa ere.

"Y-you saw it?" sa wakas ay nagkaroon rin ng boses yung babae. 

"What's your name?" imbis na sagutin ko sya ng sagot ay binato ko sya ng tanong. 

"It's Alexa ma'am" hindi ako sanay na tinatawag akong ma'am so I order her to just call me by my name. 

Tumango tango ako na para bang interesadong interesado ako sa sinabi nya. I'm delighted na nalaman ko na ang pangalan niya so I won't need to refer her as a 'babae' or 'girl', nothing more and nothing less. "So Alexa, what is the truth?"

"Please don't tell anybody what you saw. Please keep this between you and me. And yes of course Art." Tumingin kami pareho kay Art na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa inuupuan ko kanina at nakadekwatro't naka crossed arms pa. Hindi naman ako madaldal katulad ng bestfriend kong walang tigil ang bibig. She can trust me about this, if she will tell the truth. I'll definitely keep this to myself. Tumango lang ako biglang sagot.

Bumuntong hininga muna sya bago magsalita. "It's not Art." Pinanliitan ko sya ng mata sa naging sagot nya. So anong pinapalabas nya?

"Sinasabi mo bang nagsisinungaling ako?"

She gesture her hand na para bang nagsasabi ng 'no no no' at mabilis na lumapit sakin. Pumwesto sya sa harapan ko na para bang isang maamong tupa. "Nagkakamali kayo. Kamukhang kamukha lang sya ni Art. Maybe that's why you thought it's him." Seryoso nyang sabi na may halong kaba sa mukha. What's with the nervousness? If she's telling the truth, di nya kailangang kabahan, right? "I don't want this entertainment to know that I have a boyfriend." Talaga bang may issue ang kumpanya namen sa mga taong in a relationship?

"And why. Please specify" I ask to clear my thoughts.

"Mike is also an idol but he came from a different company and not here." She briefly pause and I know na nag aalangan syang sabihin sakin ang iba pang impormasyon. But she decided to trust us. "He came from our most rival company"

Nagulat ako at di nakakibo. That's why nag aalinlangan syang sabihin sakin dahil kakumpetensya pala namin ang kumpanya ng boyfriend nya, if she's telling the truth. Napansin nya yatang di ako masyadong kumbinsido sa mga sinabi nya kaya naglabas sya ng ksang wallet size na litrato na kinuha nya sa likod ng kanyang ID. She show me a picture of a handsome guy. Namangha ako sa nakita. Ipinaubaya nya sa mga kamay ko ang litrato.

Tumakbo ako palapit kay Art at inihambing ang litrato sa mukha nya.

"Woah" i uttered under my breath. Hindi ako makapaniwalang kamukha nya nga ang nasa litrato. Magkamukha sila from side view to front view. Aakalain mong si Art nga ang nasa picture at hindi ibang tao. But then of course, I saw something na magpapatunay na hindi ito si Art. This guy have a mole in the upper corner of his left ear. Art doesn't have one. Plus, this guy's eyes are black and his lips were thinner than Art's lips.

Okay. Now I'm convinced. Pinalo ko si Art to show him my frustration. "Bat naman di ka nagsalita at i defend ang sarili mo."

He shrugged and give me a calm face"I don't know what you're talking about but I do know that Alexa knows base on her reaction. So I left all the conversation with the two of you."

Lumingon ako kay Alexa at lumapit muli sa kanya. Iniabot ko pabalik sa kanya ang litrato. "I'm really sorry for suspecting you that you have an affair with Art. Don't worry, you can trust me that I will keep this conversation with myself. I'm a nice girl." I wink at her and she smile at me as a return. "Don't be afraid na sabihin kay kuya ang lahat ng to. Kung mabait ako, mas mabait yon." Lumawak ang ngiti nya sa akin. "One more thing. That day, when me and my friend was were in my brother's office, you came and hand him a small paper. Can I know what is it? I'm just curious." This is the second question I want to know because I have instinct, saying that paper is from Art.

She is about to say something when suddenly, the door burst open. Napaka wrong timing! Well, slight dahil nalaman ko naman yung pakay ko talaga.

The three trainees with the choreographer enter the room with several mic (same as Alexa's) in their hands. One of the trainees handed Art a black shiny mic. So lumabas lang sila para kumuha ng mic?

"I'm sorry if we keep you waiting guys, ma'am" the word ma'am sent a shiver in my body. "We talked with the head choreographer and agreed with our plan. We will make Art the leader, only for this time frame." Art look surprised and jump in happiness.

What a crazy and cute guy he is.

It took them the rest of the afternoon practicing their special dance number for an event here in the company. Yun naman kasi talaga ang kauna unahang dahilan kaya nagkasama sama ang mga trainees na to. But then my brother suggest that why not make them as a whole group for a month and see if this will help them improve their skills. Like competing with each other and boost each other's confidence. They will still debut solos.

And that's why I'm here. He gave me a challenge. Gusto nyang simulan ko na ang pagoobserba kung pano isinasagawa ang mga ganitong bagay bagay. Gusto nyang magkaron na ako agad ng experience para hindi ako ganong mahirapan once ako na ang mamahala rito. He's kinda worried though. Baka daw maka apekto ito sa pag aaral ko. I assured him that everything is and will be fine. I can handle this.

As they continue to display their skills in front of me, I completely forgotten the image of that small paper in my head.