Indulging With The Beast (ON-HOLD)

Kabanata 10

“Just do this pose. Be confident on your clothes and smile at the camera,” the photographer said to us. May pinakita rin na gagaying pose.

I feel that I can't do it right.

My breathing is not stable. I'm pretty shock pa rin dahil sa terror na lalaki na 'yon. I see that he still watching me and the thought of that made me feel uneasy.

Parang hindi ko talaga magagawa 'to.

“Hey, you okay?” Napatingin ako sa kanya. There's concern in his eyes.

I nodded as a reply.

“I'm just here, I know you can do it,” he said

Napangiti ako sa turan niya.

Why my friends so scared of him? He is such a nice guy, I guess. Sa pinapakita niyang concern sa akin, it made me realise that if you see such not pleasant behaviour in a person, that doesn't mean na masama na talaga ugali niya. I also believe na even a bad of baddest pa 'yan, merong kabutihan pa rin sa kanila.

And I'm wrong that I judge him too easily noong sinundo niya ako sa classroom. I was carried away sa mga haka-haka sa kanya.

“Shall we start?” ani Mr. Marcus na nagpabalik sa ulirat ko.

Why he is still here? I looked at him and our eyes met. He stared at me like he is analyzing the whole of me. I know that he knew who I was. Binabantayan niya ba ako? Bakit?

Naglakad na kami ni Logan sa may gitna. Sa likod namin ay ang background na green screen. And the lighting was place properly to highlight us.

“Ready, iyong pinakita kong picture sa inyo gayahin niyo lang.” saad ng photographer.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Logan. He smiled at me, his smile tells me that I can do it. Buti na lang talaga at nandyan siya. I smiled back and positioned ourselves.

I heard the giggles from the girls not so far from us. I took a quick glance at them. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga babae at nagbubulungan. They are crazily eyeing Logan. I saw Sam and Mateo also watching me and Logan.

Napairap na lang ako mentally dahil sa paglakas ng bulungan nila at hagikhikan.

We did the first pose na gusto nila. The second one is face to face kami ni Logan pero nakaharap sa camera. The third pose is naka cross arms ako at nasa gilid ko naman si Logan. The photographer was about to click the camera ngunit natigilan siya, gayon din ako. Ang kaliwang braso niya ay nakaakbay sa akin. And probably we look like a couple students.

I heard the gasping sounds of the girls sa ginawa ni Logan. Hindi na ako nagtangkang lingunin sila.

Nilingon ko na lang si Logan na nagtataka, pertaining to his action and he just smiled at me. “This pose looks good.” he shrugged. Mas lalong nanlambot ang tuhod ko sa ayos namin ngayon. His face was inch closer to mine. Kaunti na lang at maaari niya na akong mahalikan.

Napalunok ako sa lapit ng mukha niya. Agad naman ako nag-iwas ng tingin dahil alam kong namumula na ang pisngi sa lapit ng mukha niya. I maintain my composure at hindi pinahalata sa kanya na nahiya ako. If I want to be a model someday, I need to act professional. Alam kong mas malala pa ang mga nakikita ko sa magazines at social media.

I heard the clicked of the camera kaya agad akong lumayo at umiwas ng tingin.

Ibinaling ko na lang ang tingin ko sa harap, sa camera. I saw the photographer looking at Mr. Marcus. Parang nanghingi ng permiso, Tumango lang si Mr. Marcus pero ang tingin ay nasa amin, sa akin.