"Ano ba kasing nangyari?" Alex asked me, his concern evident in his voice.
I sighed, my sadness still weighing heavily on me. "Wala naman kaming ginagawang masama. I'll admit, I'm the one in the picture, and I was looking at him, but I didn't have any ulterior motives," I explained sadly. "Natutuwa lang ako sakaniya, dahil nago-open na siya sa akin, na e-express niya kong anong nararamdaman niya na hindi alam ng ibang tao, 'yon lang 'yon." paliwanag ko na may lungkot na tono.
"Naiintindihan ka namin, naniniwala kami sa'yo, dahil alam namin na kahit fan ka ni Jackson, napaka professional mo pa rin at alam namin 'yon at masaya kami dahil kahit papaano nagagawa mong pasayahin si Jackson, but in a professional way." sagot ni Athena
I appreciated their understanding, but the guilt still gnawed at me. "I know, but I never wanted to cause any trouble. I didn't think it would blow up like this," I admitted.
Alex placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Sometimes, things get out of control, even when we have the best intentions. The important thing now is how we handle it and make amends."
"Gano’n lang siguro ‘yong buhay ng mga sikat, ‘yong tipong wala naman silang alam sa kabuuang kwento, kung ano lang ‘yong nakita nila ‘yon lang ‘yong paniniwalaan nila." dagdag naman ni Athena "Kahit nga hindi ka sikat, may makita lang ng mali, palalakihin na nila ‘yong problema. Hays, buhay nga naman."
I nodded in agreement with Athena's words. "Oo nga eh, minsan masyadong mabilis ang pag-judge ng mga tao base sa mga nakikita nila sa social media. Parang hindi na iniisip 'yong buong kwento, makapang judge lang."
Alex chimed in, "Kaya importante na maging maingat tayo sa mga actions natin, lalo na kapag public figures tayo, kahit sa simpleng paraan lang. May mga tao talagang naghahanap ng butas para mang-bash."
Athena nodded. "Kaya Zani, it's a learning experience for all of us. Now you know how quickly things can spiral out of control. Pero alam namin na gagawin mo ang tama para maayos ang lahat."
Tinabihan nila ako, reminding me of the strength of our friendship. "Salamat, mga bes," I said, feeling grateful for their understanding and support.
Athena smiled. "Walang anuman. Basta alam namin na may pakay ka naman na mabuti."
With their encouragement, I felt more determined to make amends and set things right with Jackson.
Ilang minuto ng pag-uusap naming magkakaibigan ay umuwi na sila, mag-isa nalang ako at nagiisip kung ano pang susunod na mangyayari. First time lang sa buhay ko ang magyari ito na mapag-usapan sa social media kahit na sa sarili ko wala naman akong maling ginagawa.
Kaya nag-off muna ako ng mga social media ko para hindi ko makita ‘yong mga masasakit na comments nila sa akin, habang nag-iisip ay nakita ko na tumatawag sa akin si sir Jackson pero hindi ko sinasagot nakailang missed call na rin pala siya. Nang matapos siyang tumawag ay bigla ulit tumunog ang cellphone ko pagtingin ko sa caller ID ko ay si Mama na ang tumatawag, for sure alam na ni Mama ang balita.
Ayoko man sagutin pero, ayoko naman mag-alala siya, kaya sinagot ko na "Ma?" panimula ko.
"Nak, kumusta kana? Nabalitaan ko ‘yong nangyari, ano bang nangyari?" sabi niya, na may bahid na pag-aalala.
My mother's voice on the other end of the line was filled with concern, and it tugged at my heartstrings. I could hear the worry in her words, and I wanted to assure her that I was okay.
"Okay lang po ako, Ma," I replied, trying to sound as calm as possible. "Huwag na po kayong mag-alala, sanay na po ako do'n."
There was a brief pause on the line, as if Mama was absorbing my words. I knew she was relieved to hear my voice and to know that I was physically unharmed. But mothers always had a way of sensing when something was amiss, even when their children tried to hide it.
"Anak, kung gusto mo, balik ka na dito sa bahay natin," she suggested, her tone gentle but insistent.
I appreciated her concern, and the thought of returning to the safety of our home was tempting. But I also knew that I had responsibilities to shoulder, especially when it came to my father's medical expenses.
"Ma, okay lang po," I replied, my voice filled with a hint of sadness. "Kailangan ko pong magtrabaho para sa panggamot ni Papa. Kaya 'wag na po kayong mag-alala, kaya ko po ito."
I could almost hear the sigh of understanding on the other end of the line. My mother was a strong woman who had faced her share of challenges, and she knew the importance of resilience and determination.
"Anak, alam mo na andito lang kami para sa'yo," she reassured me. "Kahit anong mangyari, pamilya tayo, at mahal na mahal ka namin."
Her words brought comfort to my heart, and I felt a renewed sense of strength. No matter what obstacles lay ahead, I had the support and love of my family to guide me through.
"Salamat po, Ma," I whispered, my voice filled with gratitude.
"Basta, pumunta ka lang dito ha," Mama reiterated, her concern evident in her voice.
"Opo," I replied, my heart touched by her unwavering support. "Kumusta na po si Papa?" I asked, my voice tinged with sadness.
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and I could sense the heaviness in Mama's heart. My father had been battling a serious illness for quite some time now, and it weighed on all of us.
"Mahina pa rin siya, anak," Mama replied, her voice filled with a mixture of resignation and hope. "Pero okay lang. Mahirap man, lagi kaming magkakasama at nagtutulungan."
I closed my eyes for a moment, picturing my father's kind face and warm smile. He had always been my pillar of strength, and seeing him in his current condition was heartbreaking. But I also knew that I had to stay strong for him and our family.
"Tell Papa I love him," I said softly, my voice filled with emotion.
"I will, Anak," Mama replied, her voice gentle and reassuring. "We'll be waiting for you when you're ready to come home."
The call ended, and I was left with a bittersweet feeling. The love and support of my family were a source of comfort, but the challenges that lay ahead were daunting. I knew that I needed to find a way to resolve the situation with Jackson and navigate the turbulent waters of my career.
After the conversation with Mama, I decided to lie down and clear my mind. The weight of the situation, along with the comments online and the tension with Sir Jackson, had taken its toll on me. I knew I had to confront these issues, but for the moment, I needed rest.
As I lay there, my mind wandered back to the events of the day. It was like a whirlwind, from the joyful moments at the Nexus Painting to the shock of discovering our pictures online and then the heated argument with Sir Mark. I couldn't help but replay it all in my head.
After some time, my thoughts drifted to Sir Jackson. I knew I had to talk to him and try to explain the situation, but I was afraid of his reaction. What if he blamed me for everything? What if our professional relationship was ruined because of those pictures?
Despite my worries, I couldn't deny the feelings that had developed between us. It was as if a connection had formed, one that went beyond the boundaries of our roles as employer and personal assistant. But now, with everything that had happened, I wondered if that connection was still there or if it had been severed by the controversy.
Before I knew it, sleep had overtaken me. I drifted into a restless slumber, my dreams filled with uncertainties and questions about the future.