Better Ghost Than Yesterday

Was relieved that MY MOMENT OF SHEER AWKWARDNESS at Wow Maliprobably wasn’t aired the other night. See, last week Thursday, I had this interview with 3i about that content editor job at Reuters (I already mentioned it last time) and it was about 12nn and I was walking down those metal steps at the Quezon Ave overpass when I saw this camera crew hanging around the 7-Eleven store.

I thought I’d just walk to the side so I wouldn’t disturb whatever it is their filming there. I figured it was a news thing and they’re using the overpass as the background. So I walked over to the left, out of camera sight when this short woman hurried over and shoved a mic at me.

No way, I thought, shaking my head to the woman. I don’t have time for this.

I was meeting my Tita Bing at Ayala so we could look for the 3i building together.

“Mabilis lang ‘to, sir,” (Just a minute) she said. I thought she looked kinda familiar. But then she launched into a question about Michael Jackson’s death. In my head I was having a say-what moment coz Michael Jackson was like dead for a year now. Why’s this reporter asking me about—

And then I figured, oh maybe it’s his death anniversary or something. So I answered the question, blah blah blah, coz I already forgot what I said. And then: “Kung nasa harap mo siya ngayon, anong sasabihin mo?” (If MJ's here right now, what'll say to him?)

Say what?

Again.

Really now, a message to a dead pop singer. I started to say something (because I really had to be going) when this guy in a weird outfit sneaked up behind us (I saw him peripherally) and just started dancing and singing all over the place.

It took about a moment for me to realize that it was actually a Michael Jackson impersonator. I looked over to the reporter, recognizing her now, glanced briefly at the cameras, put two and two together and just thought: “Oh shit, Wow Mali.”

I smiled a little, looked down and stood there all awkward as MJ danced and sang beside me. Shortly afterwards, I shook MJ’s hand and got outta there to catch the next train to Ayala. I was still red in the face and smiling; embarrassed.

Of course I texted my sisters immediately. I couldn’t get over it. I was just bursting to tell somebody.

The day came, yesterday actually, and my Ate (big sister) called me from downstairs coz the gag show was starting. I was just a bit curious to see how I’d look on TV, awkward I might’ve looked or whatever. When the show started its opening theme song, my Ate switched channels. When she got back, the MJ joke was almost over.

I sighed with relief when I didn’t show. Then my Ma texted from Bicol and she told me they too switched channels at the show’s opening theme and the gag was almost over when they tuned in again. I laughed.

After all, maybe my reaction to the joke wasn’t good enough for the TV show. I’m still smiling about it now.

Anyway, back to the here and now, Ate Linda, the maid from my aunt’s house down the street called me up coz my cousin, Bianca just got back from Bicol and she has my monthly allowance from my Ma. Bianca was, like the messenger. I got the money, thanked her and went back to breakfast.

I was supposed to shower before FB but I decided what the hell, I’ll just check my email first. Two hours later, I was still sitting on my bed in only a towel, chatting away with Jonalyn in FB, managing my games and working on my Tumblr. By 12:30nn, I got out of the bathroom, put on clothes and ate lunch. I watched a bit of Eat Bulaga (I’d watch something else if we had cable TV) and then went back to the laptop. Wrote my Day Two, which is about crushes, you know, the love stuff.

My cousin, Kuya Marvin, was going back to Sorsogon a few days to accompany my Lolo’s sister, who can’t travel alone. As he was leaving for the Cubao terminal, Kuya Marvin said, “I’m going now,” I nodded and told him, “TC,” and I went back to Tumblr. I was home alone until my sisters arrived.

Ate Jing got home first. She told me she bought me something for lunch tomorrow. (I had to learn to work the stove so I can eat. I don’t have anyone to cook my meals for me, more so now that Kuya Marvin’s left) Sometimes my Ate would leave out some canned food, or something that’s easy to heat up. Well, at least I knew how to open the can. :D

“Chicken hotdog?” I asked her.

“Dili,” (No) she said, shaking her head and smiling.

“Ulam burger?”

“Dili.” (No)

“Tocino?”

“Dili.” (No)

I thought a moment and the light dawned. I gaped at her.

“Tuna Paella?!”

She laughed.

“Ate, joke lang idto!” (Ate, I was kidding!)