#NewClassicNRO

Chapter 31
Reassurance

The sound of the audience's applause rang in my ears once the series of short films ended. I could hear positive and encouraging reactions and reviews around me. It felt like someone just light a fire in my heart. It was very heartwarming to see and hear in person how people enjoyed the film I directed and worked hard on.

I was filled with pride. I was feeling confident like no one can stop me from dreaming and pursuing my goals.

With tears of joy suppressed inside my eyes, I turned to Nico who was at the front. When our eyes met, he smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I smiled back because he also did a great job with the editing.

Nico sent me a message three days ago. He invited me to join the watch party he organized at the café. Many people signed up but only fifty customers were accommodated. Lahat ng taong nandito ay inaabangan ang pinakahuling short film ng series na prinoduce namin. Ang ginawa ni Nico sa watch party ay pinanood ulit mula sa umpisa para tuloy-tuloy hanggang sa katapusan nito. It was indeed the best way to end series we produced.

Noong una ay nagdalawang-isip pa ako pumayag. Nico's confession made me hesitate. Inisip ko kung makakabuti ba sa kanya kung magkakasama kami. But he was in his usual self when we met again. Walang nagbago sa kanya kaya naging kumportable rin ako agad.

"Nag-enjoy ka ba?" tanong sa akin ni Nico nang makalapit sa akin matapos ang watch party.

Ngiting-ngiti ako habang tumatango. "Masaya pala iyong ganito."

"Buti naman..." A smile touched his lips as he slid both his hands in his pockets. "Let's go. I'll walk you home."

Magsisimula na sanang maglakad si Nico patungo sa daan papunta sa bed space nang mabilis ko siyang hinila upang manatili. Mukhang nabigla siya at agad akong nilingon.

"Hindi na ako sa bed space nakatira kaya huwag na," pagtanggi ko sa kanya. "Lumipat na kasi ako."

Jirro succeeded to make me move out of the bed space. He helped me moved my things to the condo unit he bought for me. Kahit na alam kong magulo ang pagkakasunduan naming dalawa ay tinanggap ko pa rin ang kanyang alok. I settled in paying him five thousand a month, instead of nothing at all.

He wore a very mischievous and arrogant smile on his face when I finally agreed to him. He looked like he just received a very prestigious award that he could brag about.

Wala na rin akong problema dahil kaya ko namang bayaran ang rentang hinihingi sa akin ni Jirro. Nakapagbudget na rin ako nang maayos sa aking isipan. I was confident that I could still save money while paying for my rent, food, and other bills. Nakasave na rin ako sa pamasahe dahil halos walking distance lang ang Top Star Records sa condo. Like what Jirro told me, it has really a lot of advantages.

"Ganoon ba? Saan ka na nakatira?" Mukhang hindi inaasahan ni Nico ang paglipat ko.

"Medyo malapit din dito," sagot ko. "Kaya ayos lang kung huwag mo na ako ihatid."

"It's already quarter to ten. Ihahatid na kita dahil gabi na," sabi niya. "Just wait here. Kukuhanin ko lang saglit ang sasakyan ko."

Bumalik si Nico saglit sa loob ng café. Kita kong kinausap niya nang mabilis ang isang staff para siguro magbilin bago siya muling lumabas at pumunta sa parking. Wala pang five minutes ay sinundo na ako ni Nico mula sa harapan ng café.

While we were on the road, Nico talked about the high engagements we received from the first two short films that we released. Nadinig niya rin ang ibang mga umattend sa watch party na umaasang magkakaroon ng sequel.

I was very thrilled to hear that, but I was also feeling pressured. I had no idea when I could direct and produce a film again. I was anxious that I might not be able to surpass their expectations once we do the sequel. But despite all those worries, I knew that I wanted to do it again no matter what.

Naging mabilis ang biyahe lalo na't dahil malapit lang talaga ang condo sa café. Nico pulled up his car in front of the tower's lobby. He was very quick as he got out of his car to open the door for me before I could even do it myself.

"Salamat sa paghatid, Nico," nakangiti kong pasasalamat sa kanya.

"You're welcome." He smiled back. "See you around."

Tumango na lamang ako at hinayaan na siyang umalis. Pagkaalis na pagkaalis niya ay may dumaan na explorer van sa drive way. The van was familiar to me. Sinundan ko iyon ng tingin hanggang sa lumiko ito pababa sa basement parking ng tower.

Ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lamang iyon. Pumasok na ako sa lobby. I greeted the friendly guard before standing in front of the elevator. I pressed the up button and waited for the lift.

I was a bit shocked to see Jirro when the elevator doors opened. Though he was wearing a ballcap which covered his eyes, I knew it was him. Lalo na nang pumasok ako at naamoy ang kanyang pamilyar na bango, alam kong hindi ako nagkakamali.

Nakalimutang kong ngayong araw ang dating niya galing Miami para sa pagshoot ng isang music video. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung bakit dito siya dumiretso kaysa umuwi agad upang magpahinga.

"Did Nico drive you home?" Jirro asked quietly as soon as the elevator doors closed.

Mabilis ko siyang nilingon. "Uhm, oo."

"Where did you two go?" The tone of his voice gave me chills. It was so cold and indifferent. He wasn't blaming me nor anything, but I was already feeling guilty.

"May watch party roon sa café niya. Inimbita niya lang ako. Wala kaming ibang pinuntahan," paliwanag ko, natatakot na baka kung ano ang isipin ni Jirro. "Hinatid niya rin ako kasi gabi na."

After hearing my answer, Jirro just calmly nodded his head. He seemed tired from the long flight, or maybe he just wasn't really in the mood.

Sa gitna ng katahimikan, tumunog ang elevator nang makarating kami sa tamang palapag. Walang salitang lumabas si Jirro. Napakunot ang noo ko. Dapat ay dumiretso na lang siyang umuwi para makapagpahinga agad.

Mabilis ko siyang sinundan. "Jirro, umuwi ka kaya muna?" suwestyon ko sa kanya. "Alam kong pagod ka dahil sa mahabang biyahe."

Jirro halted in front of a door, then spun around. "I'm already home," he stated and pointed at the unit number on the door.

My eyes widened. I quickly looked around the hallway. I could only see three units. We were on the second to the top floor. Hindi ko napansin kanina ang floor sa elevator.

I thought he came to visit me before going home. I had no idea that he was also living here. I should've known. That explained why he got to shower and change his clothes that day. Iyon din siguro ang dahilan kung bakit gusto niya akong lumipat dito.

"Dito ka rin nakatira?" It was a question with such an obvious answer, but I didn't know what else to say.

Jirro nonchalantly nodded. "Magpapahinga na ako. Night."

Masungit siyang nagpaalam at saka pumasok na sa loob ng kanyang unit. He didn't bother explaining at all.

There was a rush of embarrassment inside me. My cheeks were flushed as I walked back to the elevator. I was eight floors below him. Hanggang patulog na ako ay hindi mawala sa isipan ko na sa iisang tower lang kami nakatira ni Jirro.

I was flustered at first, but when I thought of why he persuaded me to live there, I couldn't stop myself from smiling. He's still clingy like before. He always wants me close to him. Gagawin niya ang lahat para mangyari 'yon.

I brought that smile with me to work the next day. My teammates were teasing me. Ang sabi nila ay blooming daw ako. However, the smile didn't last though. Nang makasalubong ko si Jirro sa kompanya ay hindi niya ako pinansin. Sinasadya niyang sungitan ako.

It was unfortunate that I had no time to confront him about it. They were busy. We couldn't talk and settle our issues. I couldn't ask him, but I had thought of a reason why he was acting that way. I was sure that it was because of Nico. Kung hindi ako nag-assume lamang ay masasabi kong nagseselos siya.

Kaya naman habang 'di kami nagkakausap nang masinsinan ay patuloy ang pagsusungit niya sa akin. It lasted for days that I was already feeling frustrated. Naisip kong baka puntahan ko siya sa kanyang unit ng gabi dahil wala silang schedule.

Sa gitna ng pag-iisip ko tungkol kay Jirro ay natigil ako nang nadinig ang bulungan sa loob ng opisina. I looked around the office to know what they were whispering about, but the moment I saw Ike and Sic approaching my cubicle, it wasn't hard to guess why they were interrupted from doing their work.

"Hi, Cloétte!" Sic excitedly greeted me once they got near. His voice was loud that it almost echoed inside our quiet workplace.

Ike also looked surprised to hear Sic's voice. He gave his friend a death glare before looking at me.

"Can we talk to you outside, Cloe?" mahinang sabi ni Ike.

Agad akong tumango. I didn't want to disturb my workmates. Nauna akong lumabas. Nadinig kong humingi ng pasensya si Ike sa lahat bago ako sinundan kasama si Sic.

"Bakit?" tanong ko sa kanila nang nakalabas na kaming lahat.

"We are planning for a welcome party for Zendaya. You should come and help us!" Kahit kay Ike ko idinirekta ang tanong ay si Sic ang sumagot. "Kailangan namin ng artistic skills mo sa pag-aayos ng lounge."

Napakunot ang aking noo. "Sino si Zendaya?"

Bago pa makapagsalita si Sic ay inunahan na siya ni Ike. Para bang nakaramdaman na si Ike na may masasabing mali si Sic kaya nakipag-unahan na siya.

"She used to be the president of our fanclub," Ike answered. "She went on hiatus because of a tragedy. Malapit na kaibigan din siya ni Isaiah kaya naisip niyang ipaghanda ang pagbabalik nito. Dawn will also help us prepare for the party."

Kilala ko si Dawn. Siya ang presidente ng fanclub ng New Classic. Hindi ko alam na may nauna pala sa kanya. Kailan ko lang din kasi siya nakilala.

"Okay lang sana pero―"

"Huwag mo nang isipin si Jirro! Nag-iinarte lang 'yon kasi nagselos―" Sic couldn't finish his words when Ike elbowed him on his stomach to stop him from speaking.

"Uhm, hindi naman si Jirro ang problema... Iyong trabaho ko..." paglilinaw ko, punong-puno ng pag-aalalangan. "Saka hindi ba nakakahiya kay Zendaya? Hindi ko naman siya kilala..."

Ike gave me a reassuring smile, while Sic looked a bit embarrassed that it was a bit refreshing to see him like that. Naalala ko tuloy noong nahiya rin siya sa akin dahil sa mga sinabi niya para kay Jirro noong ako ang sumagot ng tawag. It's a rare sight seeing him perplexed and awkward.

"You don't have to worry about your job. We'll ask Mr. Joel to talk to Sir Rick. Ipapasabi ko na kailangan ka namin," Ike told me. "As for Zendaya, she's a very kind woman. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

Tumango-tango ako at ngumiti na rin. "Kung ganoon ay payag ako," sabi ko. "Aayusin ko lang ang gamit ko sa loob."

"Okay. We'll wait for you here," sabi na lang ni Ike.

Nagmadali na ako sa pag-aayos ng aking gamit. Pagkatapos kong magpaalam kay Flora ay lumabas na ako kung saang naghihintay pa rin sa akin sina Sic at Ike.

Habang papunta sa lounge ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin ulit ang pagkadulas ni Sic. I never thought that I'd be grateful because of his talkativeness. His slip of the tongue confirmed my assumption that Jirro was really jealous of Nico when he took me home the other night.

I just couldn't fathom why he would be jealous. When we were still in high school, I already made it clear to him that I see Nico only as a friend. Nothing changed. The line had been drawn between Nico and me the moment I rejected him. He was even the one who handed me the pen in order to draw it.

I thought my feelings for him were transparent. I believed it was. Even Nico told me that it only took one look to know that I was still in love with Jirro.

I wondered if he just couldn't see nor feel it. But I guessed he needed the reassurance from me. He just wouldn't trust his guts because, maybe, he was afraid that I would only hurt him again; that I could leave him again just like before.

It pained me to think about that. I was guilty because I knew it's my fault why he lost his faith in my love for him. It was only right that I should be the one to put his trust back in me. And so, I decided that I have to reassure him that he's still the one; that I'm never really over him.

Pagkapasok sa lounge ay agad nahanap ng aking mga mata si Jirro na tinutulungan si Isaiah sa paglalagay ng hangin sa loob ng mga maliliit na lobo. He seemed to notice my arrival with Ike and Sic right away, like he was waiting for it.

Once he lifted his head to see me, I saw a spark in his eyes which was immediately concealed with his cold façade. He looked like he was uninterested in me. He even rolled his eyes as he averted his gaze away and focused on the balloons.

Knowing that he was just really suffering from jealousy, it didn't bother me anymore. Rather, I found his crankiness cute and adorable. The frustration melted into adoration.

My lips twitched, and I tightly pursed it before I break into a smile and piss him more.