lies // ricci rivero

61

Habang hinihintay ko sila dumating, I received an email from a modeling agency in New York. It will start a week or month after Ricci and I are done with our contract, but I am still hesitant whether or not should I accept it or not.

Camila was the first one who came into my apartment kaya sa kanya ko lang muna masasabi.

"Hey! Uh I need to tell you something," I said as soon as she entered my unit.

"Ano 'yon? Dali habang wala pa yung nga chismosong mga lalake. Girl, go tell me!"

"I received an opportunity in New York at this modeling agency..." I paused. "You know Emily Ratajkowski's agency. They emailed me and the contract will start I think next year," I told her with no hesitations, kahit naman ngayon ko lang siya naging kaibigan, she instantly became a bestie to me.

"Oh my Gosh! I'm so happy for you! Alam ba nila? You know we should celebrate. Oh God! Ricci would be so proud!" She exclaimed.

"You cannot tell anyone about this muna, I don't know if I'll even consider it. Lalo na si Ricci, please, not now, I'll tell him kapag nakapag decide na ako," I told her and sat down.

Sakto naman pagkatapos namin mag-usap dumating si Ricci with nuggets.

"Hi!" Tumayo ako para lumapit sa kanya, nilapag naman niya yung paper bag at niyakap ako.

"You look stressed. Are you okay?" He asked, I just hugged him tighter and nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."

Camila just looked at me with a concerned look, I just gave her a reassuring look that it's all good.

"Tagal naman nila," Reklamo ni Camila. "Ay! Oo nga pala, girl, birthday mo bukas, saan tayo?" dagdag niya, tumingin naman sa akin si Ricci.

"Birthday mo?"

"Gago ka! Hindi mo alam?" Tanong ni Camila.

"Of course, I knew, marami lang ako iniisip, trainings, acads and stuffs. What do you want, babe?" Tanong sa akin ni Ricci.

"Ikaw." I said with a wink. "Kahit wala na, I'm good lang," I added.

When I gave him my gift, he almost didn't accept it. Kasi, masyado raw mahal but in the end he still accepted it.

"Pero wala akong gift sa'yo nung anniversary tapos ikaw meron ang mahal pa," He reasoned out.

"Yung lunch? Diba gift 'yon?"

"Oh my Gosh naman talaga Rivero! Ang hina mo naman, ang mahal mahal ng gift ni Rafaela sa'yo tapos ikaw wala. Eh kay Anna halos ibigay mo na ang mundo," She said. Kilala niya si Anna?

"Oops." Dagdag niya when she realized what she just said.

"No worries, I'm not materialistic." I said with a straight face. "So you and Anna were close?" Dagdag na tanong ko while giving Ricci a glance.

"Uhm yes.. Uh ano uhm, sa totoo lang, I never liked her. Pero ayon..." She stopped midway at may nag doorbell. "Ayon may nag doorbell!" Sabi niya bigla, diverting my attention to whoever is at the door.

"Saved by the bell." Sabi naman ni Camila.

"You didn't tell me kilala nila si Anna. So she's in UP?" I asked him while my friends are busy preparing for the foods they brought.

"Yeah... before, she transferred in UST before I met you. We were lowkey, so there's that." He said.

"Ah okay." Sabi ko at tumayo na sa sofa pero hinila niya yung kamay ko para makaupo ako ulit.

"Wag ka na mag-selos, kaya ko rin ibigay sa'yo halos ang mundo," He said.

"No thanks, I don't like nor accept leftovers." I said and stood up at the sofa to greet my friends.