Napayuko si Matt, hiding his amusement sa masiglang scenario ng rehearsals. Everyone was pumped up to start. It seemed that the rehearsals are way overdue.
"Good take, guys!" sabi ni Via over the megaphone. It was a one shot take for Belle's part with her co-actress. The scene is nasa ugly state ang bidang prinsesa and she was being comforted by her right hand maiden. "Let's all take 5 and we'll go on the next scene."
Lumingon si Via turned around and looked at Matt seating on the back of the director's chair. Nagbabasa ito ng script. "That means you, prince charming."
The next scene is easy. Lalabas lang siya sa stage, ipapakilalang prince charming because there will be a dancing ball. Basically, nod, courtesy and single liners lang ang eksena niya.
"I can do that."
"Ofcourse you can. So get ready with your dancing shoes, because you're going to the ball," ani Via.
"Dancing Shoes?" Mabilis niyang tinignan ang script. Then he saw the scene. Oo nga pala may eksena that he would dance with the princess. And syempre they have to rehearse it. "Samantha is not here, how am I supposed to do it?"
Sasagot na sana si Via but Samantha rushed in the theater room. Dire-diretso ito kay Matt.
"Matt, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were to be my leading man. I have a meeting kasi this afternoon, but when I heard that you will be replaci---"
"That's a good start," putol ni Via sa mahaba-haba sanang litanya ng bagong dating na aktres. "Atleast you now have the interest in the project."
Napatingin sa kaniya si Matt at Samantha. She didn't bother to care kung nasasarcastikan sa kaniya ang aktres or si Matt or anyone who is within at hearing point. It's clear that Samantha only went to first rehearsal dahil kay Matt. She was apologetic to Matt when she arrive. When in fact, hindi lang naman si Matt ang naabala nito. The rehearsals started 11am, 3pm na nang mga oras na yun.
"Kung hindi naman nakakahiya sayo, we are about to rehearse the ball scene. If your not that tired or if you don't need any make over or whatever, can you go to the stage and start the rehearsal?" ani Via. Everyone was quiet.
Matt purse his lips in amusement. He didn't realize Via has a bitchy side. Pinigilan niya ang mapatawa.
Samantha smiled. Isang plastic na ngiti. She's probably trying to avoid any embarassment na pwedeng gawin ni Via. Bigla itong naging mabait sa kaniya.
"You know I was born ready. Anong eksena ba tayo?" tanong ni Samantha. Pagkuwa'y humarap sa PA nito. "Asan ang script ko?"
"Eh, hindi ko po nadala kasi sabi niyo po di kayo aattend ng rehearsal?" turan ng alalay nito na kakamot-kamot. Napailing si Via. A sarcastic smirk was definitely on her face. Napatingin naman si Samantha kay Matt which is looking at Via's direction. Ibinaling ni Samantha ang matalim na tingin sa alalay.
"I don't care what I said. Find a way to get my script!" She was clenching her teeth na sinabihan ang alalay.
"Don't bother, Samantha," singit ni Via. "Just get on the stage, you'll rehearse the choreography," simpleng turan niya.
"Oh really, so we'll dance?" ani Samantha with a tone of excitement.
"Just the waltz," ani Via.
"Okay, tara!" ani ng actress at nauna ng tumungo sa stage.
Matt remained sitting looking at Via. Napatingin dito ang director.
"What? Get up!" ani Via.
Tumayo si Matt. Dumukwang sa kaniya and whispered. "You know, I'm kinda scared."
"With Sam?" Via asked with one eyebrow raised.
"No." mabilis na sagot ni Matt. "With you." pabulong na sabi nito sa kaniya saka ngingiti-ngiting tumungo sa stage.
The next two hours was the hardest hours of the first rehearsal. Samantha maybe a talented actress and Matt was a handsome and princely but the two doesn't really fit. The choreography was just a simple waltz. It's a 3minutes scenario. And its taking them 2hours rehearsing. And it hasn't been perfect yet. No near to good. Halos namamaos na nga ang choreographer kakasigaw ng bilang. It seemed that a 1-2 step was really hard.
"Ouch!" sigaw ni Samantha as Matt stepped on her for the nth time.
"I'm sorry," ani Matt holding the crouching Samantha. Mali kasi ang ginawang hakbang nito. It should've been left, she stepped on her right kaya niya ito natapakan.
"You now owe me a pedicure," ani Samantha in her flirty self. In fact kanina pa ito nagpaparinig kay Matt. Tila nagpapahapyaw to invite Matt on a date. Matt would just smile and does not majorly interact with her.
"Are you ok Sam?" tanong ni Brent, the choreographer.
"Can I take a break?" Samantha said trying to hide her irritations.
Via can feel na tila gusto ng maghurumentado ng katinuan ni Samantha. Hindi lang ito makapagwala since masyado itong nagpapa-impress kay Aguimatt. Ilang beses na itong natatapakan and it's because they don't have that rythm.
Napatingin si Brent kay Via.
"Ok. Let's take a break. 30minutes."
"Ummm... it's past 5 already. I'm sorry but I still have shoot at 7pm. Can we move the rehearsals?" Pahabol ni Samanta.
Via looked at her clock. She forgot the time. Samantha might have been sounding like gusto na nitong kumawala sa mga masasakit na tapak ng paa ni Matt but she has a point.
"Right. I'm sorry everyone. When you're enjoying, you do forget the time. We'll pack up for now. See you tomorrow at 11am," Via said directly looking at Samantha.
Everybody hustled up to go home.
"I'm sorry, Matt. I really need to leave. I'll meet you tomorrow, ok?" ani Samantha kay Matt as if Matt was trying to stop her. Matt didn't even respond. Nakatingin lang ito sa papalayong actress. Umalis ito na ni walang paalam sa kahit sinuman maliban sa kaniya.
"Wow! Iba talaga charisma mo, prince charming," turan ni Monique na lumapit kay Matt. "She never treated anyone as special as you from the very first time we met her."
"Really? Why keep her then?" tanong ni Aguimatt.
"Ask Vi. She decides everything," kibit balikat na sagot ni Monique. Saka ito umalis.
Matt didn't saw where Via left off. Inikot nito ang tingin sa buong teatro and he didn't saw Via. Nang dumaan sa harap niya si Brent, hinarang niya ito.
"Have you seen, Via?" he asked.
"Andun o!" pangusong turo ni Brent sa kinaroroonan ng techbooth since he was holding some costume props.
Nilingon ni Matt ang tinuro ni Brent and he saw Via with his team. Nakatalikod ang director that's why hindi siya nito matanaw. It's as if they were in a very serious meeting. He get off the stage and sat on the theater seat. He decided to wait for Via. Hinagilap niya ang script. He will do memorizing habang nag-aantay.
Hindi na namalayan ni Matt ang oras. Nakaidlip na rin siya sa kakaantay. Halos wala ng tao sa buong theatro. Via went out of the techbooth. Tahimik na sa theatro pero namataan niya na bukas pa ang ilaw sa stage and she saw a man seating malapit sa techbooth. Napakunot noo siya and went towards the man. Nakilala niya si Matt. Sleeping. She gave a slight grin. Inaantay ba siya nito? Lumapit siya rito.
"Aguimatt," mahinang tapik niya rito. Naalimpungatan si Matt. Napadilat ang mata and sat properly.
"Oh, tapos na kayo?" anito in a groggy tone.
"What are you still doing here?" natatawang tanong ni Via. The meeting took 45mins. But she didn't expect Matt will stay.
"I wasn't told to leave so I stayed," simpleng sagot nito na uminat pa.
"I said pack up. That means go home, leave or whatever. Go!"
"Oh, if that's the case, you have to teach me showbiz vocabs," pacute na turan ni Matt. Napapailing na natatawa na lang si Via. Umupo siya sa tabi nito. Pinatong ang paa sa unahang upuan.
"Buti na lang nakita kita, kung hindi bukas ka na lalabas," biro ni Via.
Napalinga si Matt sa paligid. Tila sila na lang ang tao.
"Did everyone left?"
Tumango lang si Via.
"So why are you still here?"
"Taga-sara ako ng building. Sideline ko," ani Via. Still teasing Matt.
"May opening pa ba? Parang ganun na lang gusto kong role," sakay naman ni Matt. Napahalakhak si Via.
"Was it hard for you?" biglang seryosong tanong ni Via.
"What?" nilingon siya ni Matt.
"Dancing," turan ni Via looking back at Matt. Matt gave a deep sigh.
"Not really. It's just that..." he don't know how to say it.
"You and Sam doesn't fit," dugtong ni Via. Matt just looked back at her shyly smiling. Kahit pa dalawa lng sila ni Via, he doesn't want to speak ill about Samantha. Umiiral ang pagka-gentleman niya. "I thought you like her?"
"She's a good actress. There could be something to like about her. It's just that I feel different when she's there. It's as if I couldn't play the part," amin ni Matt.
"Different in a good or bad way?"
"Just different," diin ni Matt.
Napabuntong hininga si Via. "Well, you're not the first. But I still believe she is a great contribution to this project. And I know she'll do good. Why don't you go out with her? Bond with her?"
"That's risky!" apila agad ni Matt. Hindi kaila sa lahat ang special attention ni Samantha when Matt is around. It's definitely risky. But for the sake of production, minsan talaga, two different people need to bond.
"I know you're just doing this for the opening night. Pero gusto mo bang mamaga yung paa ng isa kakatapak mo bago ang opening night? Atleast create some spark."
"As if your saying, that I can't dance?" paglilihis ni Matt sa ibig tukuyin ni Via. He don't want to entertain any potential feelings with Samantha. And it hurt him inside knowing na pinagtutulukan siya ni Via rito. It only means, she doesn't have a spark yet when it comes to Via.
"You sound challenged," nakangiting turan ni Via.
Matt stood up. "Let's go at the stage," aya ni Matt as he gesture Via to come. He walked out of the aisle. Via just stared. Humarap ulit si Matt sa direction niya. "Commo'n."
Via just sighed and heed out to Matt's wishes. Nagtungo sila sa hall. The stage was being designed as a palace hall that's why they don't really need to go all the way back. Lumapit si Matt sa speaker they were using for rehearsals. He pressed a button. It played the waltz.
"Waltz goes all the way back from 13th century," Matt said as the music plays from the speaker. He walk slowly towards Via. "It is stately, most elegant and beautiful dance which stipulates a legendary love." He stop closely at Via. He grab her by the waist and she was caught off guard. He slowly swayed and Via can't help but follow thru.
Matt was guiding her thru and she oblige. They were waltzing in perfect rhythm. When Matt turned, she wrapped her arms arounds Matt's neck as if clinging for support. It was like a natural steps. She doesn't have that practice but Matt was able to guide her accordingly and she just let Matt dominate her. They took one step to another just like a total well-rehearsed scene.
They were waltzing one step to another. And again she can't help but to be amaze of what Matt is doing. She had the same feeling when Matt played for him. She had her eyes looking straight back at Matt's. And she can't hide her admiration. She was simply swept off her feet, literally.
The music eventually ended with Matt's arms still wrapped around her waist. Ni hindi niya namalayang nakaangat pala siya for Matt had lift him softly. Soft breathes came out from their mouths. Feeling niya hiningal siya not with the dancing but for trying to hide off her emotions. She have lost for words.
Matt stared straight at Via, openly showing his true feelings. His stares insists that he wants her if only Via can see that. Hindi niya kinikontrol ang sarili to admire Via's desirable traits. Ni hindi siya nailang na mahalata yun nga dalaga. He looked at her intently. But then, he is hardly mustering his control not to kiss Via after the dance. He swallowed hard to pushed his controls.
Then the lights went off. Pareho silang napalingon sa paligid at sabay na napatawa.
"When you said ikaw ang tagasara ng building, do you really mean it?" tanong ni Matt.
"In this case, oo nga yata," sakay ni Via. "Let's go before someone locks us in here."
They both run outside the theater room. They were still laughing as they walk in the parking lot. Eventually medyo naglie low ang romantic atmosphere nila kanina.
"Oh I forgot!" Via exclaimed. "My keys in the tech table."
"Do you want us to go back?"
"Ulit? No way! Masakit na paa ko. You drive a roll royce. I'm giving you the privilege na ihatid ako," turan ni Via. Lumapad ang ngiti ni Matt.
"It is my pleasure."
This is one of those chances. He'll definitely grab it. They walk towards Matt's Roll Royce car.