Natapos ang table reading. And Via seemed satisfied with the success of it. Obviously the actresses are working hard as well tila excited din sa mga pag-akto. Kasalukuyan silang nasa gitna ng meeting with her musical team nang kalabitin siya ni Monique.
"Can you spare us a minute? We have big issue," bulong ni Monique.
"Big issue?" taas kilay na turan ni Via. Lumingon lang si Monique sa direksiyon ng pinto. Nasa labas ng hallway ang batang si Aizelle Dela Cruz at ang nanay nitong si Soledad. Si Aizelle ang batang gaganap na Princess Alurah kapag nagiging dwarf ito o lumiit. Ang nanay nito ang tumatayong manager sa lahat ng project ni Aizelle. This project is one of Aizelle's biggest break through. But looking at her mom, tila may malaki ngang issue silang need harapin.
Nagapaalam si Via sumaglit sa musical team at sumunod kay Monique. Mrs. Soledad look somewhat bashful and worried.
"Mommy, ano pong atin?" ani Via. Bigla itong napaluha ng makalapit siya. "What's wrong?"
"Ms. Via," nasambit nito. Mabilis na inakay ito ni Via at dinala sa isang silid.
"Please Mrs. Soledad, kumalma po kayo," alo ni Via. "Tubig please Monique," turan niya na mabilis namang tinugunan ni Monique.
Nanatiling nakatitig naman si Aizelle. "Are you ok?" nakangiting turan ni Via sa batang aktres.
"My mom is very sad Ms. Via. She's afraid to tell you," inosenteng turan ni Aizelle.
"Tell me what, Mrs. Soledad?"
Bahagyang kumalma sa paghahugol ang ginang. Bumuntong hininga and gather up the strength to talk.
"I am not being disrespectful or unprofessional, Ms. Vi. I'm just torn between difficult choices. I know na this project might be Aizelle's biggest breakthrough and she really wants to do it. But..." hindi nito natuloy ang sasabihin mula na naman ito napahagulgol.
Via could feel the difficulty na nararamdaman ng ginang yet wala siyang masabi. She could sense what could it be pero ayaw niyang pangunahan and this will be a major problem para sa production. They have launched already kahit hindi pa pormal ang finality ng buong cast. Yet, Aizelle will be playing a bigger role. Kumbaga isa ito sa mga lead cast. She preferred to listen though.
"Our Visas have been approved. We are migrating to New York. I didn't know about this. Plinano na pala ito ng asawa ko since last year. I mean, I know he wants us to go there. Pero hindi ko naisip na agad-agad," litanya ni Soledad. Hindi nagsalita si Via. She remained listening. "I'm really sorry, Ms. Vi."
Via gave a big deep sigh. It was heartbreaking. Not because it would cause major adjustment on the role. But because Aizelle do fit for the role. Pero hindi niya pipigilin ang hangarin ng isang ina para sa anak. She knows how going abroad could improve Aizelle's life. Besides bata pa ito. There's more time para magtrabaho. She could've been a kid for now. Inabot niya ang palad ng humihikbing ginang. She looked at her straight in the eye and she gave a consoling smile.
"I could only imagine how happy you are when you must've heard the news from your husband. It was a big break. Bigger than this," she said. Natigil sa paghikbi ang ginang. "I am happy for your family. Whatever your decision may be, I do not object. Just be happy for Aizelle."
Lalong napalahaw ang ginang ngunit batid ni Via na iyak iyon ng pasasalamat.
"Aizelle?" baling ni Via sa bata. "Are you excited to see your Dad?"
"I haven't met him yet personally," ani Aizelle.
Nanlaki ang mata ni Via. Muling lumingon sa ginang. Tila hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.
"Kapapanganak ko pa lang sa kaniya when his father went to New York. 2years ago lang naapprove ang citizenship niya. That's why he was able to petition us," kwento ng ginang.
"Now, I get that," saka lang naintindihan ni Via ang sitwasyon. "I understand now. Stop crying Mrs. Soledad. Aizelle may feel that what you're asking is wrong. It's ok. No one is more important than growing up with a complete set of parents. Trust me, I know!"
Bahagyang natawa ang ginang sa tinuran ni Via. "Comm'on. Smile." Si Via na ang umakap sa lumuluhang ginang. Naging mahigpit din ang tugon nito. "Cheer up! You will be living the so called american dream. Kapag nasa New York na kayo and bumalik ako dun, please meet me." Humarap ito sa bata. "O Aizelle, study hard ha? Kapag nagka-project ako sa New York, hahanapin kita."
Nauwi sa tawanan ang usapan nila. Ilang saglit pa nagpaalam na si Mrs. Soledad kay Via. Saka lang nailabas ni Via ang panlulumo sa sitwasyon. She's genuinely happy for Aizelle and her mom, but she can't deny the fact na nasasayangan siya para sa batang actress. Nakatunghay siya sa lamesa nang pumasok si Monique.
"Mrs. Soledad cleared out their dressing room. And these are some possible subs or fillers," anito na inilipag ang bulto ng folders with profiles ng mga past auditionees sa mesa. Ngumiwi lang si Via and gave a deep sigh.
"Do you know why I don't take subs or even under study with my project?" aniya with pinaningkit na mata kay Monique.
"I know. You find it inappropriate. And you consider it hurtful to other actresses knowing that they are only second best," sagot ni Monique.
"Right. But that's not the exact reasoning."
"What?" tanong ni Monique.
"Because I have complete trust in my choices," sagot niya.
"We do believe in that too. But, hate to break it to you sister, but let's just consider this bad choice as your first time," turan ni Monique.
"Tough luck, I guess."
"Call it whatever you want. It's just right to have someone fill in this time."
Hindi sumagot si Via. Tumitig lang siya sa kawalan. Nang biglang may kumatok sa pinto ng conference room.
"Knock. Knock." Napalingon ang dalawa sa pinto, dumungaw dun ang gwapong mukha ni Aguimatt. Hindi naiwasan ni Via ang pag-ukit ng ngiti sa labi. "Busy?" tanong nito.
Tila hindi makapaniwala si Via sa timing ni Matt. Napataas ang kilay niya. Her lips twisted in a smile. Humarap ulit siya kay Monique.
"I don't want to do that now. I'll walk it out," aniya. She walks towards Matt palabas ng pinto. "Walk with me," aya niya rito. Sumunod naman ito sa kaniya. Kumaway pa ito kay Monique bago tuluyang lumabas ng pinto. Napailing na lang si Monique.
Matt followed her papasok ng elevator. She didn't even bother to speak to him kahit pa kasunod siya nito. She punched the B1 button. Tila patungo itong parking lot.
"Are we going somewhere?" tanong ni Matt nang makarating sila sa parking.
"Where did you park your car?" she asked.
"Sa dulo," sagot naman ni Matt.
"I don't have my keys with me. Can you drive me?" aniya.
"Sure. It's this way," Matt didn't even hesitate. They walk towards a jet black Roll Royce car. Napataas ang kilay ni Via.
"This is not the one you brought yesterday," aniya.
"It's coded. So I have to bring this," ani Matt.
Via just shrugged. She may have met a lot of well known people but it amused her to know that Matt is worth billions and he looks like just a boy next door.
"Wanna get in?" tanong ni Matt as he opened the door for her. Sumakay na rin siya. As Matt went in, and started the engine, humarap ito sa kaniya. "So, where are we heading?"
Ngumiti lang siya. She started pressing button sa TV monitor ng sasakyan ni Matt and punched on the GPS. She navigate the GPS to where they supposed to be heading.
"Follow that route," she said when she's done.
Napailing na lang si Matt but followed thru. He drove the car out of the parking lot. Nakarating na sila sa Express Way when Matt started asking.
"Alam mo bang boring ang 100 kilometer drive kung hindi tayo magkukwentuhan?" he said on a teasing tone.
Napalingon naman si Via.
"You seemed bothered. Can you tell me what's going on?" ani pa ng bachelor.
Muling humarap sa labas ng bintana si Via. She gave a deep sigh again.
"Do you have an idea kung anong klaseng lugar ang pupuntahan natin?" Via asked not looking at him.
Matt reached on the GPS screen and read the location they were heading. "Sta. Clarita? It's an orphanage, right?"
"Yup," sagot niya. Bahagya siyang humarap kay Matt. "That's where I spent my whole childhood."
Matt sensed a heavy heart. Does growing up in an orphanage affects her memory? Hindi ba maganda ang memories nito sa nasabing orphanage?
"If it's hard for you to go back, why do you want us to go there?"
"Oh no, no, no! It's not that I don't want to go back," aniya na bigla ulit napatingin kay Matt. "It's just that whenever I think of the orphans of Sta. Clarita, I feel pity."
Matt shrugged. "I think it's normal to feel pity."
"Do you know what they teach children in orphanage?"
"Proper decorum, I guess."
"They teach you how to overcome depression of being alone that amidst knowing that your family left you, it will never be your fault," malalim na pahayag ni Via. "That family is not always related by blood and home is where your heart is."
Matt felt that. He sensed something deeper sa pagkatao ng kasamang dalaga. He felt that amidst her happy, vibrant and beautiful aura, there is a hidden pain, sorrow and depressing reality. At sa maigsing panahong nakilala niya ito, there is an urge na gusto niyang makilala pa ito ng lubusan.
The first time he met her was a confusing moment for him. He felt a closeness but somewhat a distant fate. It's as if they were destined to meet but must work their way to succeed. Via has this aura of easy to get along with but aloof inside. She's transparent in facade but look deeper and you'll find something else.
"I am not an orphan since I have my mom with me until I was 16." Via started talking. "But I grew up learning the life of an orphan. Kahit wala akong Papa nang lumaki, I felt more privileged compare sa mga kaibigan ko sa orphanage. Kapag may mga naampon sa mga kaibigan ko, I am the happiest and the saddest. Saddest kasi aalis na sila, and who knows when will I meet them again. Happiest kasi somehow they will belong to a real family. Hindi tipong practice lang." She smiled a little. "Funny, right? That's what I thought it should be. Orphanage is like a dry run for starter bago sila mapunta sa totoong pamilya."
"I think the opposite," turan naman ni Matt. Napatuwid nang tingin si Via kay Matt. Nabigla sa pag-taliwas ni Matt sa ideolohiya niya. "Orphanage is a piece of heaven on Earth. Having a real family may have been a privileged for many, but being in orphanage is already a blessing. Isipin mo na lang, you are being considered as a family without any blood relation. And they took care of you just like a family. And if you have nothing but a caring family, believe me, you are rich!'
Bahagyang nagsalubong ang kilay niya. But slightly giving out a smile. She gained interest sa ideolohiya ni Matt. She gave him her full attention.
"Look at those beggars," patuloy ni Matt. "Some are begging for a food or maliliit na pera para lang may maipangkain. In possibility, some still have their parents with them. Baka lasenggo ang tatay or addict ang nanay. Those kids have been deprived by a family. So they were better off in orphanage rather than on streets. In fact, we must not categorize kung sino ang mas mapalad. In some way, our lives are created equal. You just feel exceeding above everyone else pero ang totoo, you feel empty."
"I feel I am surrounded by many, but alone," she admits. Kasunod ang dahang-dahang pag-ngiti. "I like what you said. It's a realization. Thank you." Bumuntong hininga siya but this time it's a sigh of relief. Sinabayan niya pa iyon ng pag-stretch ng mga braso. Somehow, gumaan ang pakiramdam niya.
"What's with you today? Last night, you were different," Matt said as he continued to drive.
"My child lead actress backed out from the project," platonic na sagot niya. "But I am just letting it go.I just had a heart to heart talk with his mother. And it gave me thoughts about family is being the most important thing in the world."
"I don't really get the picture. How was it not affecting your project?"
Umisod siya ng upo at humarap kay Matt. "I can always replace a backing out actors. Minsan nga umabot na kami sa launching tsaka magbaback out. There are rules though, pero this time I can't implement it kay Aizelle. I mean, she have never met his father personally since she was born. And who am I to deprive of her that chance now? She's young. Career can go after," turan niya.
"But what will happen now? You're main lead is missing."
"Do you know why I succeed in life amidst my backstory? I rate 200% in resourcefulness. Madiskarte akong tao and I usually get by with just a few trick," mapagmalaking turan ni Via.
Matt laughed. "I think so too."
"I'll show you when we get to Sta. Clarita. But can we do drive thru? I ate nothing since this morning and mahaba-haba pa byahe natin," aniya.
"As you wish," turan ni Matt na nagpatuloy lang sa pagmamaneho.