When We Happened

Chapter 24: Run-away Model

Pero imbes na magalit sa reaction ko. Ngumisi lang ito. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself, have I?"

Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay. Sino bang nagsabing gusto ko siyang magpakilala?

Inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin at tumango. "Felix Bonsignore."

Napatingin ako sa binigay niyang panyo. JFTB. Felix Bonsignore for the F and B in his name. "So what does the J and T mean?" I couldn't help but ask. Unlike him, aminado naman akong tsismosa.

He squinted at me in confusion. "Huh?"

I raised his hanky. "Your handkerchief, it says JFTB."

I saw his upper lip quirked, like he's holding off a smile. Like he knows something important that I should know, but he's not planning to share it. "It's Jose and Tatlonghari."

But before I could make the connection, Sir Red and Sir Simon suddenly showed up at the aisle and were smiling at us. "I see, you guys have already met," said Sir Simon.

I pointed at the stranger as I answered my bosses. "Uhh, he just sat down po."

Umiling lang si Sir Red at nagpatuloy na magsalita si Sir Simon. "Anyway, let's just get the formal introductions out of the way. Felix, this is Asher. Our wonder girl slash future supermodel."

Tumingin sa akin si Sir Simon at itinuro ang katabi ko. "Ash, anak, this is Felix Tatlonghari. Our friend and business partner. TMA's CEO."

TMA's CEO?

"It's Jose and Tatlonghari."

Wait. Is it the same Tatlonghari in the Tatlonghari Modeling Agency?

Oh, fuck. I was talking to my other boss the whole time?! Teka, I thought his name was Felix Bonsignore?

Pero bago pa ako makapag-react ay inunahan na akong magtanong ni... Sir Felix. "So, why is our talent crying in the airplane?"

Shit. He's not just asking as a tsismosong seatmate earlier, he's asking because he's my boss!

"Felix, do we have to change seats?" said Sir Simon, he sounded so done but still protective.

The strange man beside me flashed them an irreverent grin. "Alright, I'll behave."

"Did you plan this?" Sir Simon just sighed as he continued his barrage of questions. "Did you really had the seating arrangement changed?"

Sir Red gave me an apologetic look, I just smiled at him. I don't think ginusto naman nila itong seating arrangement namin.

Felix—I mean, Sir Felix, raised his hands in surrender. "You have to ask Rachel."

Sir Red sighed. "Don't bring your executive assistant into this. We know you orchestrated this, Felix. You have your own plane, for Christ's sake." Then he looked at me. "Ash, you can change seats with me. You don't have to sit with him and endure him the entire flight."

But before I could answer, a smiling flight attendant showed up next to them and started ushering them down to their seats.

I smiled at them, telling them it's okay. Hindi ko lang sure kung anong hitsura ng mukha ko dahil sigurado akong namamaga pa rin ito dahil sa pag-iyak. Matapos na makita silang tumango ay sumandal na ako sa aking upuan at pumikit.

Akala ko ay makakapag-pahinga na ako sa gulo ng isipan ko. Ngunit sa pagpikit ng aking mga mata, nakita ko ang mukha ni Yap. Sa isang iglap ay nagsimula na naman akong maluha.

"You can keep my handkerchief."

Idinilat ko ang aking mga mata at lumingon sa seatmate ko, sa aking boss.