MANAGER LEXIE’S POV

“YG good morning po. Pinapatawag nyo daw po ako.”

“Ah oo. Maupo ka. May kailangan tayong pag-usapan.”

Agad naman akong sumunod. Ako si Manager Lexie Demor, nagtatrabaho sa isa sa pinakasikat na entertainment company. Walang iba kundi YG Entertainment.

Actually may meeting ako ngayon sa mga bata ko pero kinancel ko muna dahil sa emergency meeting ni boss. Pakiramdam ko itatanong niya saken yung mga umiikot na tsismis dito sa building. Well it’s confirmed now.

“Lexie.. How’s those kids?”

Kids? Yeah right. With their attitudes they are still consider kids. They are headache.

“Ah YG they are still practicing and working well for their comeback.”

Tikom labing tumango si YG para bang may iniisip.

“I heard nagkaproblema kayo last time. Can you explain to me what happened?”

Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko… Sa bagay, kailangan na rin namang masolusyunan ang problemang yun.

“YG actually it was identified that those 2 personal assistants that we had for the kids are saesang fans. They applied here to take stolen pictures and videos and to know each schedule to inform other saesangs.”

“Do those saesangs know they are already identified?”

“Not yet YG.”

“That’s good. I’ll call the company lawyer for a plan of action for that.”

“Thank you YG.”

Napahinga naman ako ng maluwag. At least nasabi ko na ang isang problema. Kaya lang because of that problem, nagkaroon na naman ako ng isang problema.

“Ah YG there is still another problem.”

“I know. You’ll need a new personal assistant.”

Buti naman nakuha niya agad. Di ko na kailangang mag explain.

“No worries, we’ll hire another one. I think one is enough since there are still other staffs that can work on to the job which will be left by those two.”

Sa bagay tama… Yung tinatrabaho lang naman ng 2 yun ay yung sa mismong every set lang ng performance which is actually kaya namang gampanan ng ibang staffs.

“With that, I will have an assignment to you Lexie.”

“Assignment YG?”

Kinabahan ata ako bigla. Kakaiba kasing magpaassignment si boss. Kadalasan Mission Impossible.

“You’ll be the one to look personally for the new personal assistant who will check those  kids 24/7.”

“Ah Y-YG can’t we just give the job to the HR Team?”

“No. Since you’re the manager of those kids, I know you are aware of their attitude so for sure you’ll have the best choice for them.”

Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko Mission Impossible. Tsk.. Those kids.. Sa harap ng camera napakawholesome talaga nila kumbaga boy next door talaga kaya lang once na wala na ang camera, my gosh… I can’t imagine. But what will be my best option on this assignment? Wait..

“Ah YG I will look for a male personal assistant. For sure that will work.”

Oo magandang ideya yun at least ligtas sa mga saesang fans. Kadalasan naman kasing saesangs mga babae since boygroup handle ko.

“No. No. Look for a female assistant.”

Female assistant? Paano kung saesang na naman makuha? Isa pa isang babae ang kukunin para maging tagapagbantay 24/7. That’s IMPOSSIBLE..

“But sir, I think that’s not a good idea knowing that…”

“No more buts. After one week, I want you to bring here your complete assignment, okay?”

He smiled at me but his smile is saying that I have no choice but to do it or else I’ll gonna lose my job.

“Ah y-yes”

 

Lumabas na ko ng office at napahampas na lang ako sa noo ko. Saan naman ako maghahanap ng babaeng magiging personal assistant ng magugulong yun. I think 99% can fall for them in a minute  once they work with them. And that will be another problem.

I continue walking and go to the practice room. I think they are having their break. Napansin naman agad ako ni Hyunsuk at tinipon ang myembro nya. Yes Choi Hyunsuk. I’m the manager of these kids. I’m the manager of Boy Group named TREASURE.

Nakaupo lang silang lahat sa harap ko at hinihintay akong magsalita. Napabuntong hininga naman ako habang tinitingnan mga ito, naalala ko na naman assignment ko.

 

“Manager may problema ba?” tanong ni Hyunsuk habang nagpupunas ng pawis niya.

“Tsk.. Ya! Hyung huwag mong sabihing may naiisue na naman sa’yong babae.” May pag-aakusang sigaw ni Jeongwoo kay Jihoon habang nanlalaki ang mata niya.

“Ya! Jeongwoo, natural ang dating scandal sa mga gwapong kagaya ko.” Ngiting ngiting salita ni Jihoon.

“Hindi na yun natural kung kada linggo may nakadikit sa pangalan mo. Haha…”

Hinayaan ko lang silang magbangayan. Susko maagang matutuyo ang utak ko sa mga batang ‘to.

“Okay makinig na kayo. Kinausap ako ni YG in regards dun sa dalawang PA ninyo.”

“Ah yung dalawang babaeng nagpipic ng hindi namin alam.” ani ni Jaehyuk.

“Haha.. Grabe pinicturan ba namang topless si Jaehyuk. Haha..” hindi pa rin talaga paawat ‘tong si Jeongwoo.

“Haha.. tapos si Asahi vinivideohan sa mga kawirduahan nya sa mundo.” Habol naman ni Jihoon

“Haha.. yung malala yung kinidnap si Sinchan ni Haruto. Hahahahaha… Epic yung pagpapanic ni Haruto” di magkamayaw na tawa ni Junkyu

Kapag ang mga ito talaga nagsama-sama, lahat ng usap tawa muna.

 “Well it was verified that they are really saesangs. Pumasok sila dito para makunan kayo ng pictures and to track your schedules.”

“Ah manager ano pong mangyayari sa kanila?” Tanong naman ni Junghwan habang ngumunguya ng tinapay.

“YG will call the company lawyer at sila na bahala gumawa ng aksyon dun. For sure tapos ang problemang yun this day.”

“Eh bakit parang problemado pa rin kayo manager?” takang tanong ni Doyoung

“Huwag mong sabihing heartbroken kayo manager?” pang aalaska nitong si Jihoon

“Joke lang po manager.” Napansin niya atang wala ako sa mood makipagbiruan.

“Well I’ll deal to that problem. I’m just here for an update to your practice. Hyunsuk ano na?”

“Ah maayos naman po manager. Pinopolish lang namen ngayon yung last part ng dance break, then pupuntahan daw kame mamaya dito to be checked by DK sunbaenim.”

Tumango na lang ako. When it comes to practice, I know they are all dedicated to this.

“Well that’s good. By the way, I’m here to announce something regarding your different schedules.

Inilabas ko na ang notes ko na naglalaman ng schedules nila for this month.

“Okay makinig kayong mabuti. Ready yourself because you’ll be guesting on your Dara sunbaenim show, Get It Beauty, this coming Tuesday.”

“Jinja???”

Halatang halata ang pagkagulat sa mukha ni Yoshi. Crush niyan si Dara since elementary siya kaya hindi na nakapagtataka.

“Junkyu, Yedam, Jeongwoo, Mashiho you’ll guest on the Radio Star on Wednesday.”

“Hyunsuk, Doyoung, Junghwan, and Jaehyuk you’ll be guests on the Dance Avenue. Later your dance choreo will meet you.”

“Ya manager! Bakit hindi ako kasali?” naniningkit naman mata nitong si kaingayan.

“Haha.. Parusa yan. Dami mong kalandian.” pang-aasar namn nitong si Junkyu.

“As for you Jihoon, you’ll meet the director of School 2021, they want you to have a cameo in that drama.”

“Jinja??”

“Actually gusto nila lahat kayo include sa drama but that cannot be because of your comeback and you have full schedules for the coming months.”

Maraming kumukuha sa kanila na maging actor but these kids just  decline all the offers kasi mas gusto nilang magfocus sa music. Ito lang si Jihoon medyo nahihilig sa pag-arte kaya pinagbigyan ni YG yung offer.

“Ready yourself manager dahil magiging Actor of the Year ‘tong anak nyo.”

“Cameo lang Jihoon. Wag kang OA.” Pahabol nitong si Junkyu.

“Okay let me continue. For Yoshi, you’ll be the new model of Penshoppe.”

“Wow! Daebak!” Ngangang ngangang sabi nitong si Junghwan. Halos mabulunan na sa kinakain niyang tinapay.

“T-That’s the brand endorse by Dara sunbaenim.”

“Yeah. You’ll have the contract signing next Monday.”

Mukhang nashock si Yoshi sa narinig niya. Sa bagay makakamit na niya isa niyang pangarap na makasama si Dara sa isang trabaho.

“As for Asahi.. wait. Where’s Asahi?”

Nagpalinga linga ako. Nasaan ang robot na yun.

“I’m here manager.”

I look at my back and he was there sipping a cola.

“Yah Asahi, I told you no to cola.”

“I just taste it. I’m just concerned to those who will drink this cola. I’m just making sure that it isn’t expired.”

What a lame excuse with his poker face. I’ll just let it slide for today.

“Whatever you say. As for you, you’ll be the model for the next magazine of Vogue.”

“Yah Asahi! You hit a jackpot!” Tuwang tuwa ang mukha ni Yedam na may pagpalakpak pa pero itong si Asahi.

“Okay po manager.” Di na bago yan. Robot nga e. Masaya, malungkot, o excited iisa lang hitsura niyan.

“And for the last schedule…”

I look to the one who is still busy typing on his phone. Aba at talagang ngiting ngiti pa

“Haruto, pay attention.”

Agad naman niyang itinago sa bulsa niya ang phone niya.

“Mianhe Manager Lex, nagchat lang po si Mama.”

Hinayaan ko na lang. Minsan lang din nila nakakausap magulang nila sa tindi ng schedules nila.

“As for you Haruto, you’ll be signing a contract to Channel next Wednesday.”

“Daebak!!!” sabay-sabay na sigaw ng mga bata

“Pogi e…” nakangising sabi nitong si Haruto. Ito talaga nakalunok ng confidence since YGTB.

“Uwe na tayo… Ang lakas ng hangin…” Sigaw nitong si Jihoon na talagang binitbit yung bag niya. Sabay-sabay namang nagtayuan ang mga uto-uto at sa halip na lumabas ay kinuha ang mga unan na nasa gilid at sabay-sabay na binato si Haruto.”

“Yah!!!”

Tatawa -tawa naman yung mga kagrupo niya. Naghabulan pa talaga at nagbatuhan  ule ng unan. Dinaig pa talaga ang mga kinder.

“Haruto.”

Napatigil naman siya sa pakikipaghilahan ng unan kay Jeongwoo.

“Never try to escape again after the shoot or else..”

“Yeah manager, don’t be worried.”

Mukhang tinatablan na siya ng mga sermon ko. Good Lex.. Nagbunga na ang…

 

“I will.” Nakangisi niyang sabi

 

 

“WHATTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Halos pumutok ang ugat ko sa inis ko dito kay Haruto. Agad naman akong hinawakan nina JIhoon, Yoshi at Hyunsuk noong nakita nilang susugudin ko si Haruto.

“Babaliwin mo talaga akong bata ka! Lumapit ka dito!!!”

“Manager Lex kalma lang.” takot na sabi nitong si Yoshi.

“No! This kid should have a beating!”

“Yah Haruto! Tigil mo ng pagbibiro mo.” sigaw nitong si Hyunsuk habang hila hila ang braso ko.

“Haha… Calm down manager Lex. Joke lang yun.”

 

Hihinga hinga akong naupo ule sa pwesto ko. Masyado ata akong nadala ng emosyon sa batang ‘to.

 

“Make sure Haruto.”

“Deh..”

Tumayo si Haruto at naglakad na palabas ng pintuan at biglang lingon ule saken

 

“Manager Lex do you know this saying?”

“What?”

“That jokes are half meant”

Sabay kindat saken at diretsong lumabas.

“That jokes are half meant”

“That jokes are half meant”

“That jokes are half meant”

 

Nagpaulit ulit sa utak ko huli niyang sinabi. Does he mean….

 

“HARUTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”