Her Unwanted Marriage | MikhAiah

Chapter 2

AIAH.

"Hold still, Aiah. Ganda ng angle mo!"

I let out a small smile as the photographer clicked away. The blinding lights of the studio, the constant sound of the camera shutter, and the flurry of staff moving around me—it was almost comforting. Sa kahit saglit, I felt like myself again.

Mama Jovy stood to the side, giving directions to the crew and occasionally glancing my way. She was one of the few people in my life who understood me, who didn't look at me with judgment or disappointment. Her presence alone made me feel a little safer, kahit na deep down, alam kong pagod na pagod na rin ako.

"Perfect! Aiah, tilt your head to the right. Yes, that's it! Keep that look!"

I posed as instructed, ang focus ko nasa trabaho. Modeling was one of the few things that made me feel alive. Sa harap ng camera, I wasn't just "Aiah Arceta," the unwanted daughter or the replacement bride. I was someone else—someone confident, someone who belonged.

But even in this space, I couldn't fully escape.

"Break muna tayo for five minutes!" the photographer announced. I immediately stepped away from the set, my heels clicking against the tiled floor as I headed to the corner where Mama Jovy was waiting.

"Okay ka lang ba?" she asked softly, handing me a bottle of water.

I nodded, though I knew she could see through me. "I'm fine," I lied, taking a sip of the water.

"Hindi ka mukhang fine, Aiah," she said, crossing her arms. "Mabigat pa rin ba sa bahay?"

I glanced down, unable to meet her eyes. "You already know the answer to that," I muttered.

She sighed, her expression softening. "Aiah, you don't have to carry all of this on your own. If you need time, sabihin mo lang. I can reschedule your shoots."

I shook my head. "No. I need this. I need to work, Mama Jovy. At least dito, I feel like I'm in control of something."

She nodded, understanding. 'Okay. But remember, I'm here. Kung hindi mo kaya, sabihin mo lang, ha?"

"Thank you," I said, forcing a small smile.

I sat down in the corner, scrolling through my phone while the staff adjusted the lights for the next set. My finger hovered over Mikhael's name in my contacts list. A part of me wanted to text her, to tell her I was out working, to see if she even cared. But I knew better.

I locked my phone and leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment. I could still hear the whispers of some of the crew as they passed by.

"Siya ba 'yung Arceta sister na nagpakasal kay Mikhael Lim?"

"Grabe no, replacement lang daw siya?"

"Sayang, ang ganda pa naman niya."

My hands clenched into fists. No matter where I went, I couldn't escape it. I was always the replacement.

"Ready na tayo, Aiah!" the photographer called out, breaking me from my thoughts.

I stood up, smoothing down the elegant dress I was wearing for the shoot. I walked back to the set, taking my place under the harsh studio lights. The whispers faded, and for a moment, I let myself disappear into the camera's lens.