Sometimes, when you least expect it, strange things happen to you.

Some people would explain these phenomena as supernatural or kababalaghan.

I always have encounters with this sort but never of like this. They say I have a third eye.

Maybe I do. In the end ‘nakakatakot ‘ if this happens to you. Be vigilant.

It was a quiet afternoon when my phone rang and the voice from the other end was a woman’s high-pitched voice that sounds like fingernails on a blackboard.

“Friendship! How are you? Busy ka?” she said.

“Hello Bakla. Long-time no hear. What can I do for you,

that you can never do for me?” I asked.

The woman on the other end is a client,

but she has been a friend even before I was a photographer.

We shall call her, Imbyernadette, ang babaeng bakla with a heart of gold.

She knows all the tricks in the business.

That is why anyone who works with her is always careful.

“Naku friend, may requirement ako next week,

sabi ng agency ko di ka daw available next Wednesday. It’s a hard shoot.

Mahirap yon celebrity and demanding ang requirements.

Only you know how to manage this kind of a shoot.

Sige na friend, move mo na yon sa Wednesday to accommodate me..” Imbyernadette said

with no boundaries, but still malambing.

“Wait check ko sa schedule ko ha… (I checked)

Mars, wala akong naka-schedule that day, free ako.

What’s the name of the agency or the secret Project Name?

Baka nagkamali lang ako” I answered bewildered.

She gave the agency name, the contact person and the secret project name… all of which did not show up in my schedule, text, email and other message venues.

“Huh? Wait wag kang aalis. I will put the phone down but wait for my call again.” Imbyernadette said. She hangs up and in two minutes the phone rang again.

“Hello Raymund?” It was Imbyernadette again.

“Wait ha, don’t talk till I say so.” This was strange.

I heard a faint click on the other end of the line and Imbyernadette started talking again,

“Hello Diane? (not her real name of course).

Did you call Raymund Isaac for the shoot next week?” she asked.

“Yes Ma’am. Di daw siya available for the shoot.” Diane said.

“Ah, at sino ang naka-usap mo?” Imbyernadette asked.

“Si Raymund mismo, Ma’am.” Diane said confidently.

“O, Raymund, ikaw pala ang kausap ni Diane. Sabi mo daw di ka available.”

Imbyernadette now reveals to Diane that I was in a conference call all this time.

“Diane? Hello. Ako ba talaga ang kausap mo?” I asked.

“Ay, hello poh sir. Kayo po pala yan. Naku di ko maalala. Parang ibang boses ho yon.

Basta may kausap ako 3 days ago, di daw kayo available.” Diane nervously said.

“Diane, imposible yata yan. Wala akong schedule this whole week,

so I could have accommodated you.” I said.

“So Raymund, anong tutuo?” Imbyernadette was pissed that this girl was lying to her.

“Diane, let’s be clear about a few things.

One, Raymund has been a friend for the longest time. If I wanted to schedule him, I could do so in one phone call. But that is your job and that is what I am paying agency to do.

Second, Raymund has the skill, experience and wisdom to do this job. Now I don’t care if you have a commission or a cut with the photographer you guys recommended, but please try that trick on some other client who does not know any better. Kung uso or sikat ang photographer mo sa social media I don’t care. That does not automatically qualify him as a good photographer. Hindi porque uso magaling na.

And, thirdly, either sinungaling si Raymund or may nakausap kang MULTO sa studio niya. If that were the case at may MULTO kang kausap, please add budget sa C.E. mo ang isang EXORCIST! Kelangan natin yan before the shoot para mawala ang mga evil spirits.” Imbyenadette finishes.

“Mam, Let me explain…” Diane said.

“I don’t want to hear it. Make sure our shoot pushes thru with Raymund.

And Raymund?” Imbyernadette said.

“Yes?” I answered quickly.

“Name your price. Bahala sila maghanap ng budget.

Diane, that will be all. Goodbye.” Imbyernadette finishes.