Chapter 2: Road to Stardom?

AMBER

MATAPOS magpasalamat ang mga pulis sa tulong ni Gray, agad na kaming nagpaalam. On our way out the KTV bar ay nakatayo sa entrance ang lalaking kanina ay kinaiinisan ko-the executive producer, Sir Michael Batongbacal.

Huh! Nag-abang pa talaga siya! He's really into Gray!

"That was a great show," sabi nito kasabay ng mahinang pagpalakpak. "I'm impressed. Also, the shirt is catchy and I anticipated you can live that word printed there." Inilahad niya ang kanyang palad. "We met at unfavorable circumstance so let me introduce myself again. My name is Michael Batongbacal or you can call me Michael B., I am an executive producer at BNC-12."

Gray looked at him intently as if he's wondering what the man wants from us. Napansin naman 'yon ni Sir Michael B. kaya agad niyang kinuha ang kanyang wallet, naglabas ng calling cards, at ibinigay 'yon sa amin isa-isa.

"I'm not a bad person, pinahanga n'yo lang talaga ako sa ipinakita ninyo kanina. I didn't expect that high school students like you can handle that case. I know it's late pero puwede ko ba kayong imbitahan sa isang coffee shop? I have some matters to discuss."

All of us looked at him with so much caution. Marahan naman akong hinila ni Jeremy at saka bumulong. "This is it, Bestie, our road to stardom!"

Bago pa man kami makatanggi ay nagsalita si Math. "OMG! I've heard about you! May kakilala akong nagtatrabaho rin sa BNC-12 at ngayon ko lang naalala kung bakit pamilyar ka sa akin. I've seen you in pictures! Sure, we're glad to have a word with you."

At wala na kaming nagawa nang tanggapin ni Math ang paanyaya nito. He brought us to the nearest coffee shop na bukas pa. At least, it's safe to talk here kaysa kung saan lang.

Pagkatapos niyang um-order ng maiinom, hinarap na niya uli kami. "We're having a Filipino Adaptation of Whose Deduction Show which features young detectives like you," walang paligoy-ligoy na sabi niya. Wait, is that why he can't take his eyes off Gray? And here I am, thinking of mean thoughts about him.

"Kung hindi kayo busy, join the show," sabi pa niya.

"I'll be frank with my words, Sir," sagot ni Math. "Back then, somebody offered me some jobs on screen like modelling and acting but I declined because I know how show business works. We don't want scripted stories and predetermined winners dahil 'yon naman ang nangyayari sa mga reality show at mga competition na ipinapalabas sa national TV, hindi ba?"

I was surprised with Math's bluntness, pero kailangan ba talagang i-mention ang tungkol sa mga offer sa kanya?

That surprised Sir Michael B. also pero ngumiti lang siya sa amin. "Well, hindi ko maikakailang nangyayari nga 'yan 'minsan.' But, ibahin n'yo ito. We want something new and fresh on the screen and this is it."

Wala sa sariling napalingon ako kay Gray. Tahimik lang siya at tila nag-iisip nang malalim. He's also tapping his fingers on the table. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. "Let's say totoong 'yon nga ang intensyon ninyo. . . . What can we benefit from it?"

He looked at our shirt. "First is promotion. I see you wear shirts to promote. By joining this, hindi lang iilan ang makakikilala sa inyo kundi ang buong Pilipinas na."

'Yon na nga ba ang sinasabi ko kaya ayaw ko talagang isuot ang damit na 'to, eh! Napabaling ako kay Jeremy and I saw his eyes were sparkling in excitement.

"Aside from that, you'll meet people like you-young detectives, and you might win the grand prize of half a million pesos!" dagdag ni Sir Michael B. "Isn't it exciting to match wits with other detectives like you?"

"According to my favorite fictional character, 'There is only one truth.' So why do we have to match wits with others?" tanong ko. I hope I didn't sound mean. Hindi lang talaga ako interesado sa gano'n plus I'm awkward with cameras.

"Bestie, look at the brighter side! Malalaman ng lahat ng tao na may mga katulad natin na tumutulong sa mga kaso. Maybe if we appear on that show, hindi na nila tayo tatawanan kapag nasa crime scene tayo. Hindi ba't madalas nilang iniisip na panggulo lang tayo? This is our chance to prove ourselves! We have to show them what we've got!" pagsingit ni Jeremy.

He has a point pero ayaw ko pa rin! Hindi ako interesado! No need for promotion, nationwide recognition, and all. Okay na ako sa ganito!

"Plus think of the grand prize," pangungumbinsi ni Sir Michael B.

Hindi ko tuloy naiwasang taasan siya ng kilay. Is he saying mukha kaming pera? But before I could say what's on my mind, nauna na siyang sagutin ni Math.

"Sorry, Sir, but we're not interested with the price. That amount is just my quarter allowance for shopping," Math said.

"Exactly! Wala 'yan sa kita ng furniture shop ni Maya!" Jeremy said. Kahit kailan talaga, hindi niya maiwasang barahin si Math!

"Oh, you owned a furniture shop?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Sir Michael B. kay Math.

"Ha? No, ano'ng sinasabi mo, Je-"

"At factory ng papel," pagputol na naman ni Jeremy sa sasabihin ni Math. "Kita mo naman, sobrang mapapel," he said under his breath.

"You must be incredibly rich for being an entrepreneur at a young age!" manghang sabi uli ni Sir Michael B. kay Math.

Poor old man, naniwala sa sinasabi ni Jeremy. . . .

When Jeremy says Math has a furniture shop, it means magaling itong magbuhat ng sariling bangko. When he says she owned a paper factory, ibig sabihin ay sobrang mapapel ito. Minsan ay tinatawag niya rin itong may-ari ng Jollibee. Kasi raw, sobrang pabida. He's lucky Math takes it as a joke!

"I see. So how about for the experience? Ang dapat sa mga katulad ninyo ay nagte-trending at kilala ng lahat. Like you should get known through other means, such as vlogs and the likes. Kayo ang dapat na maging influencer ng mga kabataan ngayon, hindi 'yong mga walang kuwentang content lang."

Nambola pa siya. But still, my answer is no. Then I sipped on my coffee and waited for this discussion to end. Bakit pa patatagalin, eh no lang din naman ang magiging sagot? I'm sure maging si Gray, hindi rin sang-ayon dito.

But to my surprise, Gray stood up and agreed to it! What the hell? At nang mapatingin ako kay Sir Michael B., nakangiti na siya at tinanggap ang nakalahad na palad ni Gray. Tumayo rin sa pagkakaupo si Math at nakipagkamay rin. Even Jeremy! Did they already agree?!

Mayamaya, napakurap-kurap ako nang makita ang nakalahad na kamay ng producer sa harap ko. Nagpalipat-lipat din ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa mga kasama ko. I don't want to be disrespectful kaya tinanggap ko na lang 'yon at nakipagkamay. Then he told us the details of the show at sinabing contact-in na lang siya gamit ang ibinigay niyang calling card.

When he left ay saka lang ako nagreklamo sa mga kasama ko.

"You all agreed?" hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ko."Hindi n'yo ba naisip na may pasok tayo?"

"Bestie, the show is for high school detectives kaya alam nila na may pasok. In-adjust naman nila at ginawang weekends ang show."

"Pero-"

"Okay, that was a rough night," Jeremy said and rubbed his palms. "It's about time."

I think I know where this is heading. . . . Kailangan kong ihanda ang sarili ko.

"About time for what Jeremy?" tanong ni Math.

"About time for my quiz!"

Sabay kaming napa-face-palm ni Gray. When he says quiz, he means pun. Kailan ba siya nagpa-quiz nang may sense? Never. Ewan ko ba kung saan niya nakuha ang mga puns niya 'tapos, siya pa ang mas natatawa. Is that even normal?

He cleared his throat before he proudly looked at us. "Ano ang suot ng mga bahay?"

"Hmmm, kurtina?" sagot ni Math.

Right. Siya lang din ang sumusuporta kay Jeremy at sumasagot sa mga walang kuwentang tanong nito. Hindi pa rin siya nadadala kahit ilang beses na kaming na-scam ng mga sinasabi niyang quiz gayong puro 'puns' naman pala 'yon.

"Eeeenk!" He made a sound like a buzzer.

"Table cloth?" Si Math uli.

"Eeeenk! Mali pa rin. Bestie? Gray?"

Gray frowned and shook his head. "I'd rather not say it."

"Bestie?"

"Pass."

"Eh 'di address!" He burst out laughing like a retard.
Nakakatawa ba 'yon?

"Ito pa. Ano'ng ginawa ni 30 nang magutom siya?"

Tinakpan ko na ang tainga ko. Here we go again.

"Ano?" tanong ni Math.

"Eh 'di 38!" Humagalpak na naman siya ng tawa.
What? Ano raw?

"Enough, Puns," awat na sa kanya ni Gray ngunit daig pa yata niya ang Pabebe Girls dahil walang makapipigil sa kanya.

"Do you know why you shouldn't spell the word part backwards?"

Hindi talaga siya titigil, ah?!

"Why?" tanong ni Math.

"Because it's a trap!" Tumawa uli siya.

"Seriously, I'm not going to that TV Station," pagbibigayalam ko sa kanila na ikinatingin nilang lahat sa akin. And I'm seriously making my stand on this.

"Let's just say it's for experience," sabi ni Gray sa akin. "Who knows? They will have codes and other deduction techniques na puwede nating matutunan. Also, other detectives may stimulate us."

Padabog na ibinagsak ni Jeremy ang dalawang palad sa mesa. "Okay, that was like crossing the line. Why do you need those other detectives to stimulate you when that is my role kaya ko kayo pinapa-quiz? Am I a joke to you?"

I rolled my eyes and surrendered upang hindi na mapahaba pa ang usapan. Fine, I'll go. Maybe I'll meet some nice and humble people.

Maybe.

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