When We Happened

Chapter 20: The Hand Model (pt. 1)

Napatulala ako sa kanya at sa nakangiti niyang mukha... the relief I felt was so visceral. Kung hindi siguro ako nakaupo ngayon, baka natumba na ako sa pag-gaan ng pakiramdam ko at sa saya dahil finally nandito na siya!

"Ano 'yan? Bakit ang dami mong dala?" I found myself asking my best friend once he was standing next to my chair.

Still grinning, he offered me a simple answer. "I just thought you guys would love something to eat." May budget naman kami for food, in fact, meron pa ngang pinahanda na catering service si Sir Simon. But here he is, bringing pizzas and donuts for everyone. Well, except me na bawal mag-bloat before the shoot.

I almost pouted at the thought. "Bawal pa ko kumain, I'll get bloated."

He just shrugged. "Then, I'll save you some for later." His eyes roamed around my face and a worried frown etched on his face. "You okay?"

I took my first relaxed breath of the day, finally seeing him here with me in the photoshoot. Akala ko talaga... "Akala ko hindi ka darating," I admitted to him.

"I'm not going to bail on you, Asher," he said to me as if he was taking an oath to me. "Not anymore."

"The Asher Whisperer is back," sabi ni Shea pagsulpot niya galing sa table na puno ng mga pagkain. "Kaya mo ba pakalmahin 'tong si Asher, Yap? Kanina pa 'to kinakabakahan."

Ibinalik ni Yap ang atensyon niya sa akin at kita ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya. "Is that true?"

Ngumisi na lang ako sa kanya para hindi na siya mag-alala. "Konti... pero ngayon hindi na."

Tumango ito at ngumiti na rin muli. "That's my—I mean, that's great."

Did he just...? No, I don't think so. Anyway, we have to continue doing this makeup look for my first layout. Ayokong maging cause of delay pa lalo.

Itinuro ko ang upuan na malapit sa mga gamit ko."Sige na, umupo ka na muna doon sa gilid. Kailangan na ko ayusan nina Shea. Sunod ka sa studio mamaya ha?"

"Alright. No problem."

***

Doing a ten-layout editorial photoshoot is hell on wheels. Don't get me wrong, it's really fun! But all the costume and makeup changes that we had to do, it was so exhausting! Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit hindi umaabot sa limang layouts per photoshoots. Sobrang nakakapagod!

There's also so many moving parts! Bukod sa pagpapalit ko ng wardrobe at pagpapalit ko ngf mukha every layout, syempre magpapalit rin kami ng setup. Mabuti na lang at mababait at masisipag ang mga tauhan ng TMA pati na rin ang staff ng studio na inupahan para dito sa ginagawa naming editorial photoshoots.

"Ash?"

Napalingon ako nang marinig ang boses ni Yap. "Bakit?" tanong ko nang lumapit siya sa akin sa kakabuo pa lang na setup for the next layout.

Napansin kong sobra ang pagkakunot ng noo nito at nakatutok lang sa mukha ko ang kanyang mga mata. "Why didn't you tell me you're going to wear lingerie today?"

"I didn't know I had to update you," pilosopo kong sagot sa kanya. Oh, my gosh. It's about the dominatrix outfit, right? Ano 'to? Eeksena talaga ang protective big brother self niya? Eww, Tigilan niya nga ako. "Tsaka, isa pa, hindi naman 'to super sexy. Kita mo nga, balot na balot ako sa stockings at leather."

He suddenly groaned in despair. "Oh, God. It's worse..."

"What? Why?" Worse in what way? Napatingin ako sa suot kong red leather one-piece bodysuit and red tights. Hindi ba bagay na magpakita ako ng cleavage? Masagwa ba?

"You're not just wearing simple lingerie," he hissed at me as if it was an obvious answer. "You approved this BDSM layout?"

Oh. That. I didn't know he didn't like this kind of theme...