Chasing Ms. Disaster

New York University

Chapter 5

Saphie's POV

"Nice! Another one!"

"Gorgeous! One more shot!"

"Perfect!"

"Last one!"

"Got it! Excellent!"

Napatingin ako sa paligid ko. For the past two years, this is my home. Every day of my life, I am surrounded by lights, cameras, pictures, beautiful clothes. Almost all of my memories here in NYU happened in this studio.

"Oh my gosh, Saphie! Can I see the pictures?"

"Oh, sure!"

Magiliw kong iniharap sa kanya ang SLR ko at tuwang-tuwa naman niya itong tinignan. Krisha's been my partner in crime since my day 1 here. We're both studying here in New York University. Model siya habang photography naman ang course ko. Half -Filipina, Half-American. Maybe that's the reason kung bakit madali kaming nagkasundo.

"You know what? You're really a great photographer."

I smiled at her.

"Not yet. I'm still studying. Just a 2nd year, remember?"

I laughed when she rolled her eyes.

"2nd year their a*s. Don't believe those b*tches. They're just insecure with your photography skills."

Meron kasing mga higher level sa akin na binu-bully ako. I don't know why. Pero hayaan na natin sila. As if namang papatalo ako diba?

"But you know what.."

Ibinalik na niya sa akin ang SLR ko kaya agad ko naman itong isinukbit sa leeg ko.

"I'm impress with your photography skills but I'm still looking forward to be your co-model."

I rolled my eyes.

"Krisha, I'm not a model."

"But I saw some of your shots for your magazines and it's fabulous! What makes you believe that you don't fit modeling? You have the face, the height, the perfect skin tone, everything! You even have the brain!"

I laughed with her compliments.

"Masyado mo naman akong binobola."

"Wait. What?! Oh gosh, Saphie! How many times will I tell you to never speak Filipino when you're talking to me? You know I'm bad at it!"

Nakakatawa talaga ang frustrated reaction niya sa tuwing magtatagalog ako. I tried to teach her before pero wala eh.

"Perks of living there just for 2 years."

I teasingly said.

"Yeah, right. How about you? Not missing your homeland?"

Napatigil ako at napatingin sa kanya.

Nami-miss ko ba ang Pilipinas?

"You know what? Whatever you say, you can't force me to be a model. I am more comfortable at the back of the camera while playing it than being captured by it."