Episode 14: Ice Cream

                                    

                                          
The lemonade started running from my hair until it reached my dress. My jaw dropped to the floor and the next thing I did was to jump off from where I am sitting. The make-up artist was as shocked as I am. 
“Ano ba, Hope?! You ruined my look!” I clenched my jaw while staring at smirking Hope. 
“Well, girl. It’s a tie, you are ruining my loveteam,” she smirked more, and I really want to punch her face. 
I ball my fists. I am trying hard not to cause more trouble for both of us because still, I care about my career. ‘Di ko kilala itong make-up artist ko ngayon. I don’t know who her connections are. Ayokong maging laman ng blind item bilang basagurerang newbie actress! Tama na ‘yung si Hope ang ma-blind item at maipinta bilang kontrabida! 
“I never ruined your loveteam, Hope. Ano ba?” I sighed exhaustedly, ngayon ay nagmamadaling pinunasan ng make-up artist ang buhok at mukha ko, “wala akong balak maging ka-loveteam si Jarren. I never dreamt of it as I look up to you, guys! For once, Hope, hindi ka inaagawan ng ka-workmate—at hindi ko aagawin.”
“I am not talking about work here—”
I cut her off as I initially get where she is coming from, “well, if it’s outside of work… wala na akong magagawa doon, Hope. The heart wants what it wants. It’s not for you to decide. It’s Jarren’s choice.” This is the time for me to smirk at her. 
“This bitch!” She is about to slap me on the face but suddenly, natigilan siya nang biglang magbukas ang pinto. Then it revealed Jarren and Luhan. 
Jarren’s eyes widened as it travelled from Hope’s hand raising in the air and the lemonade from my hair and dress. Hanggang sa biglang nagsalubong ang kanyang kilay.
“Stop it already, Hope!” His voice roared inside the dressing room. 
I was intimidated. I never seen this raging version of Jarren ever even in the television nor in the teleserye or movie. 
Agad na lumapit sa akin si Luhan. Nakakunot din ang kanyang noo. He grabbed me from the wrist and moved me away from Hope as if she had a contagious disease. 
“Oks ka lang, Fyang?” Luhan mumbled but my attention is on Jarren whose raging eyes are still pointed at Hope. If looks can really kill, pupusta akong nasa morgue na itong si Hope. 
Hanggang sa bigla siyang lumapit kay Hope. He grabbed her from the wrist. Hope even protested pero wala na siyang nagawa nang sapilitan siyang hilahin ni Jarren papalabas. 
Until they left us here. Nang mapatingin ako sa nag-aalalang mukha ni Luhan ay hindi ko na napigilan pa ang mapaluha. The pain on my chest started to succumb my system as I remembered the shit that Hope did to me. Ang kapal ng mukha niya…
Luhan hugged me, “hindi bagay sa ‘yo, ‘wag ako Fyang. Tigilan mo ako sa pag-iyak mo.”
Natawa ako habang patuloy na napapaluha. Hinampas ko siya sa dibdib. Gago talaga… nagdadrama na nga 'yung tao dito, oh. 
“Osige na, ‘wag ka nang maarte diyan. Malapit nang magsimula ang show, mag-ayos ka na,” he turned his face at the make-up artist, “pasuyo, patulungan siya.”
Patuloy lang naman akong umiyak nang umiyak hanggang sa makakuha ng panibagong dress ang make up artist ko. ‘Di ko lang sure kung anong iniiyak ko. Iyong ginawa ba ni Hope sa akin o iyong na-realize kong ‘di man lang ako kinomfort ni Jarren?! Bakit ang sensitive ko ngayon? Buntis ba ako? Ano ‘to, nabuntis ako sa ngiti ni Jarren kaninang madaling araw?!
“Tama ka na nga, Fyang,” Luhan stared at me with a poker face from the vanity mirror, lumabas ‘yung make-up artist para kunin ‘yung terno na boots ng bago kong outfit, “hindi talaga bagay sa ‘yong umiiyak-iyak diyan. Nagbago ka na, Neng! ‘Wag gan’on! Payag ka n’on, pinapaliguan ka lang ni Hope ng lemonade? Kung ako ‘yon, ‘di pwedeng lalabas ‘yon dito nang walang bangas sa nguso. Pupuruhan ko talaga agad sa mukha ‘yon.”