#DS3Unscripted #BelayaxPierce #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 1: DAWSON

BELAYA'S POV

Binaba ko ang suklay na hawak ko at ngumiti ako sa repleksyon ko sa salamin. My mother once said to me before, it doesn't matter if you look good to other people if you don't feel good alone. I believe her just like I always do. She's the wisest woman I know and that's a lot to say since I grow up surrounded by them.

Napatingin ako sa pintuan nang bumukas iyon at sumilip ang isang babae. Pinigilan kong mapataas ang kilay nang makita ko kung sino ang nandoon. It was one of my co-actress.

I became an actress in a very young age. It was the only thing that I wanted. At that time it was for a different reason pero hindi naman nagtagal ay nagustuhan ko rin ang trabaho na kinamulatan ko. I enjoy the glamour of the industry but most of all I enjoy living different lives. Sa pag-aartista kasi ang dami kong karakter na hinahawakan. Karakter na nagiging ako kahit sa maikling panahon lang.

My father was once a child actor. His family even bought their own station for him. When I started acting they thought it was just a phase. After all my family has their business. My parents, Triton and Dawniella Lawrence are both the former leaders of an investigative and security company that is currently the top detective agency in the country. My older sister, Vodka Lawrence is now the one handling the business. Nagtatrabaho rin doon ang isa ko pang kapatid na si Kuya Ram. Kuya Cross and I however travelled different paths. I became an actress and my brother pursued a career in medicine. Our youngest, Reika, is still undecided.

They were expecting me to get tired of acting. Hindi rin naman kasi madali ang industriya na ito. But now I'm twenty-five years old and I'm still here. I worked for our own channel for awhile but now I don't really have a contract for any stations. Mas gusto ko kasi na malaya ako. Isa pa mas nag-po-pokus na kasi sa balita ang channel na pag-aari ng pamilya ko.

Everyone thought that it was a bad decision not having any contract. After all I was offered a lot of money from companies but I turned them all down. Priority kasi siyempre iyong mga exclusive sa kanila. My manager almost lost his mind but I defied all odds against me.

Rather than me waiting for them to assign a project for me, it's them that are running after me. I'm one of the most pursued actress in the country as of now. The only contract that I'm obligated to sign is the agreement for each project. Ilang taon na rin naman pero hindi ko pa nararanasan na mabakante ang schedule. I party hard but I work hard as well.

"I just want to say bye. Gusto ko sana lumabas pa tayo mamaya pero sinusundo na ako ng bodyguard ko."

Kensi Martinez. She's one of the new face in the industry. Mabilis siyang sumikat dahil naging personality siya sa Youtube pa lang. She was known even before she started acting. Kaya nga hindi na nakakapagtaka na kahit bago pa lang siya ay para bang laging masama ang panahon kapag nasa set siya.

I met a lot of complicated people dahil sa trabaho na ito. She's one of them.

"It was nice working with you." Hindi ko siya nilapitan para bumeso na isang bagay na sa tingin ko ay inaasahan niya at sa halip ay muli akong nagsalita. "See you around."

I saw a flash in her eyes but she just smiled sweetly and close the door again. Nang marinig ko ang tunog ng mga takong niya na palayo ay pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko.

No one will survive in this industry if you don't know how to pretend to like everyone. Bihira naman akong makisalamuha sa lahat kapag hindi rumorolyo ang mga kamera kaya hindi naman gano'n kadalas akong napipilitan na makipagplastikan sa kanila. I only hang out around those people that I like.

Usually I can tolerate the kinds of Kensi, pero sa kaniya talaga mismo nahihirapan akong pakisamahan. Siya kasi iyong klase ng tao na nabubusog kapag may issue na umiikot sa kaniya. Iyong kahit halata naman na ang team niya lang din ang may gawa ng mga gulo ay nagagawa niyang mapaniwala ang mga tao.

It's natural for people to be gullible especially doon sa mga tingin nila ay kilala nila dahil nandoon sila noong nagsisimula pa lang ang tao na iyon. But the truth hurts. No one is perfect and everyone is capable of doing great things and great things doesn't always equate to good things.

Mula nang makasama namin siya sa set ng movie namin na A Lust To Last ay puro gulo na lang ata ang nangyayari. Iyong mga hindi na nga in good terms ay tuluyan ng nag-aaway dahil sa kabalimbingan ni Kensi, mayroong nag leak na scene dahil sinama niya sa vlog niya, at kumakailan lang ay sinabi niya sa social media na meron daw siyang stalker at siyang dahilan kung bakit kinakailangan na mag lie low muna siya. Which is so not true.

Imbes kasi na may ilang scenes pa ang character niya ay napilitan ang director na paikliin iyon para maialis na siya sa set. I mean with the kind of attitude that she has, good luck na lang kung makatagal kaming lahat ngayon pang may ilang buwan pa kami na taping.

Infernes kumuwa pa ng bodyguard talaga.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko at isinukbit ko iyon sa balikat ko bago ako naglakad palabas ng changing room ko. My manager, Sebastian Chavez, was supposed to talk to the director for my schedule. He's probably already waiting in the car.

Imbes na lumiko sa isang pasilyo ay napahinto ako nang marinig ko ang hindi man lang hininaan na usapan. With a knotted forehead I look at the changing room on my right lalo pa at nakita kong nakaawang ang pintuan no'n. Pinaparinig ba talaga nila kay Mia ang pinag-uusapan nila?

The voices are familiar. One is Mirene Garcia, Tara Cabas, and of course si Kensi na mukkhang walang balak umalis na hindi nag-iiwan ng negative vibes.

"Lagi kasing may delivery ng pagkain. If I know gusto niya lang talaga kumain- ay lamon pala," narinig kong sabi ni Tara.

Kaagad naman sumang-ayon si Kensi. "Di ba? I mean it's okay naman to eat but she's so chubby na. Hindi na siya dapat kumakain."

"Hindi mo pa diniretso. She's mataba not chubby."

Hindi makapaniwalang umiling ako. Kahit saan talagang parte ng mundo hindi nawawala ang mga katulad ng tatlong 'to. Their roles are as small as the fame that they have pero pakiramdam nila may karapatan sila na husgahan ang ibang tao. Can fame buy the right to be obnoxious?

Mia is not fat. She's curvy. At kung mataba man siya, bakit kailangan maging negatibo? Kapag ba payat ka ibig sabihin maganda ka na? Mia is healthier than all of us combine. She's a health buff and she exercise more in a month than I exercise for maybe about three months. She doesn't drink, she doesn't smoke, and she has a proper sleep because she's OC when it comes to that. Women's body is not supposed to be the same anyway.

Itinulak ko ang pintuan ng changing room ni Mia at nakita kong nakaupo siya sa harapan ng vanity mirror niya at namumula ang mga mata. Napapabuntong-hininga na tinignan ko siya ng direkta mula sa repleksyon ng salamin. She shouldn't cry because of these bitches when her career will obviously last longer than the amount of time these three will bask under the lights of fame combined. No matter how beautiful you are, in this world if you don't have the talent, you will not last.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad at huminto ulit ako nang pagliko ko ay naroon ang tatlo. I don't know if the other two knows that Mia can hear them but what I'm sure of is that Kensi staged this. Nagpaalam siya sa lahat kaya for sure sinadiya niya na hindi isarado ang pintuan ni Mia.

Bumuka ang bibig ko para magsalita pero naagaw ang pansin ko ng isang lalaki na nakatayo sa dulo ng hallway. He's looking at our direction and by the way his jaw is set, I can see that he's not happy with what he's hearing.

For a moment all my thoughts halted into a stand still as I look at the man. I've been surrounded by gorgeous people for how many years but this is the first time that I ever felt like this. Iyong para bang hindi ko magawang ialis ang mga mata ko dahil gusto ko lang siyang tignan. There's not a description that would be perfect for him except that he's beautiful. Maybe too beautiful that I swear it hurts to look at him because I know I can't do it forever.

But I want to.

I'm not like this. I dated a lot of men and for a long time I never felt anything close to what I am feeling now while looking at him. Kahit nga sa boyfriend ko ngayon ay hindi ganito ang nararamdaman ko. Iyon bang parang ayaw ko siyang mawala sa paningin ko.

Napakurap ako nang umangat ang tingin niya at nagtama ang mga mata namin. He look pissed not just of the three but now looks like at me too. He must have thought that I'm just like them.

Kung kanina si Mia lang ang dahilan sa balak kong gawin ngayon ay may isa pa. I can't let him go with him thinking that I'm like these three. Lalo pa at malakas ang pakiramdam ko kung bakit nandito siya.

I'm not a likable person and there's only few people that liked me the first time they saw me. Una roon ang mga magulang ko, sumunod ang mga kapatid ko, at ang huli ay ang iba pang miyembro ng malaki naming pamilya. I'm not likable not because I'm aloof. I like being around people. Iyon nga lang katulad ng description ng ate ko, masyado raw matalim ang dila ko.

That doesn't mean that I want this man to think that I'm a bitch. Not for the wrong reasons. Hindi ko naman itinatanggi na bitchessa din ako. Iyon nga lang lumalabas lang iyon kapag hindi ko gusto ang mga kaharap ko.

"You're still here," bati ko sa mga babae. My eyes landed to Kensi. "Akala ko nakaalis ka na."

"Napa-chika lang. Alam mo na, mamimiss ko pa naman kayo," sabi ni Kensi.

I can't say the same. Binalingan ko ang dalawa pang babae at matamis na nginitian ko sila. Mukhang masaya naman sila sa paglapit ko dahil hindi naman ito normal. I usually stay away from people like them.

"Congratulations pala Tara. I forgot kanina."

Kumunot ang noo ng babae, "Congrats para saan?"

"I didn't know that you and Matthew were trying but congrats anyway. You're pregnant!"

"I'm... I'm not pregnant."

Bahagya kong pinalaki ang mga mata ko at nilagay ko ang isa kong kamay sa tapat ng dibdib ko, "Hindi ba? Akala ko pa naman. You're looking a little pudgy kasi. Must be the stress." Her jaw dropped to the ground and with a satisfied smile I turn to Mirene. "I'm all about that "your body, your choice" thing and I think there's nothing wrong with plastic surgery but you really need to tell me the name of your doctor."

"Hindi ako-"

"I would sue him for you. Hindi maganda ang pagkakagawa sa ilong mo. Parang tabingi."

Last one. Si Kensi naman ang hinarap ko na hindi na magawang itago ang inis sa mukha. Umangat ang kamay ko sa direksyon niya at nakita kong bahagya siyang napaatras pero hindi naman sampal ang binigay ko sa kaniya. Tinapik ko lang siya sa balikat.

"Ingat ka. Nandiyan na iyong bodyguard mo di ba? I hope na iyong kinuha mo magaling. I don't know kung alam mo pero kasi my family owns the top investigation and security agency in the country and I wanted to offer your case to them pero puno na kasi ang schedule the last time I talked to my sister. Sana kumuha ka pa rin nung nasa top din. Para mas mabilis maiayos ang issue with your stalker."

"I did-"

"I grew up around people working in an environment like that so I know na they really take their jobs seriously. Ang pinakaayaw nila iyong mga ginagawang joke ang trabaho nila. Ang dali pa naman na mapatunayan 'yon. Everything leaves a trace anyway. Unless you're good at hiding things."

Just like what I'm planning.

If there's one thing about me, it's that I'm a multitasker. Hindi ko kailangan ng matagal na panahon para makapagplano at makapagdesisyon. Lalo pa sa mga bagay na gusto ko at alam kong hindi matatahimik ang pagkatao ko kapag nawala sa akin. But planning... planning might take awhile.

"So... take care then. I'll see you around." Nilagpasan ko siya pero sinigurado ko na maririnig niya ang huli kong sinabi. "Or not."

Hindi ko na pinansin pa ang tatlo kahit na naririnig ko ang mga bulalas nila ng hindi pagkapaniwala sa mga sinabi ko sa kanila. I don't really care. I already said what I needed to say to them. Mahirap makipagtalo sa mga katulad nila kaya nga hindi ko sila binigyan ng chance na may sabihin sa akin pabalik. Bullies don't usually respond well to arguments because in the first place they don't want to talk. Gusto lang nilang maging tama.

Isa pa ay may mas mahalaga akong kailangan na gawin.

I stopped in front of the man who now also has his eyes on me. Buti na lang pala nag-ayos ako bago umalis. "You're Kensi's bodyguard."

"And how do you know?"

If I could record his voice, I don't think I will listen to anything else anymore. His voice sounded rough and hard and yet it's so pleasing to the ears. Parang gusto ko na lang manatili sa tabi niya para lang marinig ko ang boses niya. I wonder if there's more to that rough and hard voice... maybe it's the same with the way he fuc-

Pilit na winaksi ko sa utak ko ang mga senaryong isa-isang pumapasok doon at sa halip ay sinagot ko siya. "Ilan lang naman ang pinapapasok nila dito bukod sa mga staff at artista. One is if your girlfriend or wife is inside, you're a manager, or you have a business to attend to and that business would be the actors."

"You don't think I'm a manager?"

"No. Kasi dapat nakita na kita noon." Nakangiting humalukipkip ako. "I think you're here for Kensi."

"I could be her boyfriend."

"God, I hope not."

Surprise crossed his eyes at my straight forwardness. His lips twitched and I was hoping for him to smile pero hindi iyon nangyari. A challenge. The kind of man like him is a puzzle that I would like to solve. Iyong para bang kapag ngumiti siya ay isang malaking regalo.

"Why don't you just work for me?" I asked.

"I only work for cases na kailangan talaga ng security."

Tumango-tango ako habang hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi. I think from now on I have a lot of reason to smile. But I shouldn't push it today. A great result needs a great planning. And I still have a boyfriend.

Inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya. "Belaya Lawrence."

There's no recognition in his eyes. If he's just faking then he's good but if he really doesn't know me, it's not a surprise too. Hindi naman kasi siya mukhang iyong klase ng tao na laging nakaharap sa telebisyon o sumusubaybay sa mga romantic film na kadalasan ay project ko.

I remain standing even though it feels like my knees are going to give out when he took my outstretch hand. His was veiny, rough, and big compared to mine, but if I have a choice I wouldn't let go.

"Pierce Dawson."

"Nice to meet you, Pierce."

Tinanguhan niya ako at pinakawalan ang kamay ko. Despite my entirety telling me to stay, I continued walking without looking back.

This is not the time. May tamang oras para sa lahat ng bagay. I shouldn't rush. Ang kailangan ko ay matawagan ang kapatid ko at ang boyfriend ko. For now... I need to walk away from the beautiful man behind me. Kasi sa susunod hindi na siya basta mawawala sa paningin ko.

Belaya Dawson. Hmm. That sounded nice.

Inabot ko ang cellphone ko mula sa bag ko at may ngiti sa mga labi na tumipa ako roon. It didn't take even a minute for the person on the other line to reply to me.

FR: KAISER THE TWO TIMING ASS

Sure, babe. I'll meet you there.

Great.