When We Happened

Chapter 17: New Opportunities, Old Life

"Sir, can I say something?" biglang sabat ni Miss Karel, isa sa mga bumubuo ng team ko. I believe she's on the PR side of things.

Tumango si Sir Simon at binigyan siya ng permiso na magsalita. Humarap sa akin si Miss Karel. "I know that you're still new to this, Asher, so maybe you don't know. But some brands directly reach out to models, celebrities, and influencers now. Most of the time, they don't talk to the management. I'm just wondering baka meron nag-DM sa'yo with offers at hindi mo alam kasi hindi ka na nagbabasa ng message requests sa'yo."

"Yeah, hindi talaga ako nag-chi-check."

"We can check right now if that's okay with you," sabi pa nito. "I do that for TMA's other talents. I handle their social media accounts."

Hmm.. Why not? Wala naman scandalous shit sa accounts ko, except sa mga natatanggap kong pictures galing sa mga epal na lalaki.

"Sure, you can check now," I said with a shrug. "But okay lang ako mag-handle ng sarili kong social media accounts."

Ngumiti ito at tumango. "Gotcha."

"Here." Inabot ko sa kanya ang aking phone matapos itong buksan.

"Thanks, Asher," sabi nito pagtanggap niya ng aking phone. "Okay lang if I delete and block the dirty messages?"

"Feel free to delete them, just don't read my primary messages."

Muli itong tumango at inumpisahan na ang pag-tackle sa message requests ko. In fairness to her, kitang-kita ko naman lahat ng ginagawa niya sa phone ko dahil nakalapag ito sa mesa habang kinakalikot niya.

"Okay, so kumusta ka naman, Asher? I mean, mentally, emotionally, and physically, how are you?"

Muli akong napatingin kay Sir Simon dahil sa kakaiba na naman nitong mga tanong. I still answered him as honestly as I could because I know he's just worried about me. Lalo na't nakita niyang namumugto pa rin ang mga mata ko.

Yup, I cried again last night.

"I'm still going to my rehab, my PT thinks I'm doing great with the recovery and all that bullshit."

"Kumusta kayo ni Yap?" Sir Simon asked, cutting right through the chase.

I shrugged. "Same-same lang."

"Are you still not talking to him?"

Natawa ako sa tanong niya. "Sabi mo bigyan ko siya ng space?!'

Inismiran ako nito. "I think you've given him enough space. Tawagan mo na mamaya 'yung bestfriend mo at makipag-ayos ka na."

I playfully rolled my eyes at him. "Pati ba naman personal life ko, mamanduhan niyo ko?"

Tumango ito. "Yup. It's for your own good, my darling."

"Pero paano kung ayaw na niya makipag-ayos sa akin?" hamon ko sa kanya.

"Edi hahanap tayo ng bago mong best friend," mabilis nitong sagot. "There are so many people who would love to be friends with you—"

"Sa New York!" biglang sigaw ni Miss Karel habang nanlalaki ang mga mata niya sa phone ko.

"Huh? Are you okay, Miss Karel?"

She looked up at me and pointed to my phone. "Oh, my God, Asher! We should've checked your message requests sooner!"

Ma'am, why are you being so weird right now?

I stared at her blankly. "Uhh... Bakit?"

"Fortune Models New York messaged you last week!" muling sigaw nito. "They want to talk to you about your international representation."