Through Days and Nights

26

“Congratulations Gabbie!”

Tita Daisy immediately hugged me as soon as I walked out the room. I smiled at her. Kung hindi dahil sa tulong at gabay niya, wala ako sa kinalalagyan ko ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakarating dito, pero ipinagpapasalamat ko na nakaya ko lahat ng sakit at lungkot.

“You’re the new face of Boy de’ Chanel!” Tita Daisy said. “That’s a big deal huh?”

“Thank you Tita.” I smiled at her. “Salamat sa paggabay at suporta mo.”

“Ano ka ba naman! I’m your manager, and I can be your second mother too, you know?”

We just laughed at her. Pagkatapos ng meeting namin with the Chanel management ay diretso kami ng airport para umuwi ng New York. Sa airport pa lang ay meron na agad na mga media na nag-aabang for interviews and to take pictures. Sinabihan na ni Tita Daisy ang driver na umiwas na lang sa mga ganyan. I was wearing a big black hoodie para hindi ako masyadong kapansin-pansin sa mga media. I also wore my shades to hide my face and also my dark under eyes. I’ve been working non-stop since the start of the month kaya naman wala ako masyadong tulog at pahinga. Pagbalik namin sa New York ay panibagong shoot na naman ako for a brand.

“Gabbie, you want some tea, coffee or juice?” Rica asked, my assistant.

She was hired by Tita Daisy to be my assistant. Since I moved to New York after the break up, I work full-time as a model. She’s also a Filipino kaya madali lang sa amin ang mag-usap. The schedule was freaking hectic so Tita Daisy hired Rica to be my assistant to help me in my needs. She was really efficient and she was a big help for me.

“A tea would do.” I smiled at her.

She immediately prepared some tea for me. I need to calmed and relax myself. It’s gonna be a long flight from Paris to New York. Rica gave me the tea. Tumabi siya sa akin at tiningnan ang susunod na schedule ko pagbalik ng New York. Pagkatapos kung uminom ng tsaa ay nag-cr ako to put on some sheet mask on my face. Lumabas ako sa banyo suot-suot ang sheet mask. Mabuti na lang at private jet ang sinasakyan namin. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Rica na inaayos parin ang schedule ko. Hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog ako suot-suot ang sheet mask. Nagising lang ako ng gisingin ako ni Tita Daisy at sinabing malapit na kami. Pumasok ulit ako sa banyo para mag-ayos.

“What’s my schedule today Rica?” I asked Rica beside me.

“Wala naman Gabbie.” She said. “Tita Daisy said that you need to rest.”

“Thank you. I badly need to rest.”

“By the way Gabbie, Dani said that she wants to see you for a dinner today.” She said at tumango naman ako.

Pagkapasok ko sa condo unit ko ay diretso sa kwarto para matulog. Si Rica naman ay inaayos ang gamit ko sa labas at hindi ko na siya natulungan pa. Sobrang pagod ako galing sa work at sa flight. Nagising ako ng bandang 2 p.m. dito sa New York. Wala si Rica paglabas ko, baka nasa agency namin. Kaya naman ako na lang ang nagluto ng makakain ko total naman ay marunong ako. I cooked some pasta for myself to dig in. Tinawagan ko ‘rin si Gianne para kamustahin.

“Hello Gianne.” Pagbati ko. “Kamusta diyan? Okay ka naman ba?”

[I’m okay here.] I can’t help but to rolled my eyes because she’s using her ‘accent’ once again. Lagi niya yang ginagawa kapag tumatawag ako sa kanya. [How ‘bout you brother? Naka-move on ka ba?] then she laugh.