"Yes! That's perfect, babe! You've got a perfect face and body, huh? One more time! Put your fingers on your lips and bring me a fierce pose!"
I did what I was told. I put my fingers on my lips as I looked at the camera. Aster clapped her hands when she's finally satisfied. "Okay! Let's take a break!" she said as if she's really my photographer. I chuckled.
I smiled at the staffs and went to Aster. She was busy looking at my photos. I sat down beside her. "Are they good?" I asked.
"These are..." She seriously looked at me.
I bit my lips. "Aren't they good?" I lowered my voice.
"These photos are perfect! Ganda mo, marecakes!" Mahina niya akong siniko kaya nagpakawala ako nang mahinang pagtawa.
"You shouldn't be here. Bakit nandito ka?" Binuksan ko ang bottled water at tinignan siya. She was still busy.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I was bored. Kasi naman! Palagi na lang akong nakakulong sa bahay. Gumraduate na ako't lahat wala pa rin akong jowa. Teh! Napag-iiwan na ako. Walang nanliligaw! Ubusan ng hotdog kaya dapat bilisan ang paghahanap!" She rested her back on the back of the chair.
"Kailan ka pa nahumaling sa pagkakaroon ng boyfriend?"
She rolled her eyes. "Bawal mag jowa, teh? Gusto ko lang ng jowa, e."
I just shook my head. "Are you busy, As?"
"Inangyan. Parang tunog pwet talaga ang tawag mo sa'kin, Yen," she said without giving me a look.
Natawa ako nang malakas dahil sa sinabi niya. "Sorry na. Ano ba kasing pinagkakaabalahan mo?"
"Itong mga followers ko sa Instagram. Parang mga boang. Nag pa-question and answer kasi ako tapos may isa rito na nagtanong. Ang kalat kasi ng tanong nakakahiya naman 'tong followers ko, hindi ko kayang sagutin 'to," problemadong sambit niya.
"What's her question?"
"Morning sex or late night sex?"
I arched my eyebrow. May mga ngiti sa labi niya. Aster is my friend. Alam kong gusto niya ang tanong na iyon. "And what's your answer?"
She wore her Retro Squared sunglasses like a savage queen as she said, "Every hour."
I chuckled. "You and your jokes." I shook my head.
"Sa true lang, marecakes. NBSB nga ako, e, 'di ba sobrang tumal ng buhay. Malapit na nga bahayan ng sapot 'tong petchay ko." She pouted her lips.
Napailing na lang ako. "Why don't you get a boyfriend then?" I asked.
She heaved a heavy sigh and punched the air. Para bang bigla siyang napikon. "Parang tanga 'to! Yen, 'di ka ba nakikinig? Tatampalin na kita. Kailangan ulit-ulit? Walang nanliligaw, teh!" She then rolled her eyes.
I chuckled again. "Edi ikaw ang manligaw?" I suggested.
She looked at me again with her sparkling eyes. "Owemji, Yen! Nag-iisip ka na! Oo nga 'no? Ako na lang kaya ang lumandi sa mga lalaki?"
My brows wiggled. "It's not flirting, Aster. You have no suitors so why don't you just court the one you like?" I clarified.
Mahina niya akong hinampas. "Pareho na rin 'yon! Osya, lalarga na me. Wiz pa lafang ma. Lalafang muna akis ng hotdog, okeh? Mag pose ka na ro'n!" She stood up and kissed my cheeks.
I stood up and waved my hands at her. Nang tuluyan siyang makalabas ay siyang pagdating ng totoong photographer ko.
"Shucks! I'm sorry, I'm late, Yen!" There was nervousness in her eyes so I smiled.
"It's okay, Shana. Aster took some pics of mine. Can you check them out?" I favored her.
"Why are you asking that? Nag tatrabaho ako sa'yo kaya gagawin ko. Ikaw talaga! Napakabait mong bata ka!" natatawang sabi niya kaya napangiti ako.
The staffs were busy so I've decided to went outside. I want a coffee and I didn't bother them to buy me what I want so I headed to the coffee shop and bought myself a coffee.
Bahagya kong ibinaba ang aviators ko to check my e-mails. People are messaging me to congratulate me on my up-coming ramp. Napangiti na lang ako. I wanted to thank them but they're so many. Sa Instagram na lang ako magpapasalamat. I'll take a video later and will thank them for congratulating me.
I kept my phone and stood up. I was about to go outside pero napahinto ako nang may nakita akong lalaki na gumagamit ng vape sa loob ng Starbucks. Nasa bandang dulo siya at mukhang may binabasa na newspaper. My eyes squinted because I couldn't see him properly. The smoke was sorrounding him so I couldn't see his face.
Tumingin ako sa paligid. Wala bang magpapatigil sa kanya? This is a public place. Nakikita ko ang mga taong naiilang dahil sa makapal na usok ng vape niya.
I just let out a sigh. Ayoko na lang makialam. May kanya-kanya namang trip ang mga tao. I was about to go out but my eyes hit his tattoo below his elbow. Tatlong arrow. Mukhang 5 inches ang laki ng nasa gitnang arrow habang ang sa dalawang gilid ay 4 inches. Arrow? Pumapana ba siya?
I just shook my head and went outside. I didn't see his face. Wait a minute, what am I doing right now? Why am I thinking about that guy? He just smoked, Yen.
I went inside my car and started the engine. Is he an archer? Pana kasi ang tattoo niya so baka archer siya?
Wait! Why can't I stop thinking about him? Come to your senses, Yen.
Pagdating ko sa bahay ay binati ako ng mga kasambahay kaya nginitian ko sila at binati rin. This house feels so empty. Halos hindi na kasi kami nagkikita ng buong pamilya ko dahil busy sila sa kanya-kanyang trabaho.
My Dad is the Chairman of L Group of Companies or LGC. Minsanan na lang kaming magkita and we're not even close but I understand him. He's just doing his job for the sake of our family. To provide our needs.
My Mom is a famous fashion designer here in the Philippines and in New York. Minsan na lang din siya umuwi. Kadalasan kasi ay puro sa New York ang trabaho niya.
And my sister is a painter. Ahead lang ako ng isang taon sa kanya at nasa Michigan siya ngayon. Vacation.
I went to my room and threw myself on my bed. My day was not tiring but I'm tired. Parang ang dami kong ginawa.
My phone vibrated so I looked at it. There was a message from Aster.
Aster:
girl jubis ang marecakes mo busog sa hotdog hihihi
I chuckled and shook my head. I started to type a message.
Me:
Did you really eat 'it? Hmm... hotdog? Don't tell me?
Aster:
patola mo talaga mars. nakauwi ka na?
Me:
Yes, I'm home. What are you up to?
Aster:
ito maghahanap ng lalafangin
Me:
I thought you had eaten?
Aster:
yup, i ate my food. iba naman ngayon, gusto ko gwapo tas matangkad tas maputi. lafang agad sakin yan
I laughed out loud. She never failed to make me laugh. Nakakatawa kasi ang mga jokes niya.
Me:
Okay then. Good luck. Eat well, Aster.
Hindi na siya nag reply. I stood up and took a shower. Amoy na amoy ang shower gel sa akin nang lumabas ako. Itinali ko ang tali sa bathrobe ko at tinanggal ang puting towel sa buhok ko.
I sat down on my chair, sa harap ng malaking salamin. Kinuha ko ang L'oreal at pinahiran ang mukha ko. After that, I dried my hair.
Like I've said earlier, I took a video on my phone and thanked everyone who congratulated me. Nakakataba talaga sila ng puso.
I was busy the whole week because I will be having a ramp. My manager wants it to be perfect so I did everything he told me. Hindi naman ako nahirapan because I'm doing this for 8 years.
And when the day came, I was really busy. I was now wearing a gold sleeveless and backless gown. My hair was straight and it was dancing as I moved.
Maraming tao sa magkabilang gilid na tutok na tutok sa akin. I wanted to smile at them but I couldn't because I need to finish this ramp without smiling. Kailangan kasi naka fierce lang.
Ilang minuto lang akong rumampa sa gitna. Pagkatapos ay iba't-ibang damit na ang sinuot ko. I was really nervous at first because this is my solo ramp and this is my first time. Lagi kasi akong may kasabay but this time, the spotlight was focused on me.
After ramping, I could see the reporters waiting for me. Ngumiti ako at kumaway sa kanila pero hindi pa ako pwedeng mag pa-interview. Pinuntahan ko ang mga malalaking tao o mayayaman sa industriya. Nanood kasi sila.
"You're so gorgeous, Yen! How did you manage to maintain that intimidating face while ramping? What a perfection!" Mrs. Alexandra said.
She's my role model because she was really cool. Nahinto nga lang ang pagmomodel niya noong nagkaroon siya ng asawa't anak. But she's still pretty and elegant.
"I'm just used to it. Thank you, Mrs. Alexandra." I smiled at her.
"You're so professional, Yen. Tama nga ang mga tao na mabait at maganda ka." Napatingin ako sa isang lalaki. I know him. He's a celebrity... and very famous.
"Thanks, Ethan." I don't know what I should say because this is the first time I saw him. He's really handsome, huh?
Lahat sila ay pinuri ako hanggang sa tumingin sila sa isang lalaki sa dulo. He was wearing a sunglasses so I couldn't see his face. All I could see was his red lips. Nakayuko kasi siya at nakahalukipkip.
"Mr. Damian, aren't you gonna approach her?" Mrs. Alexandra said.
I swallowed to clear my throat. Dahan-dahang umangat ang ulo ng lalaki at tumayo. Oh God. I could feel his cold aura. He was wearing a white long sleeve polo and black suit. The first three button of his white long sleeve polo were unbuttoned. Wala rin siyang suot na necktie... and magulo ang buhok pero bumagay naman sa kanya.
Lumapit siya sa amin at dahan-dahang tinanggal ang sunglasses niya. "That was great... what's your name?"
Halos manlambot ako nang marinig ang boses niya. It was baritone! Napakalalim. Nakakapanghina ng mga tuhod. How old is he? Grabe ang boses niya.
And his face... his face is perfect!
Is he a model? He could be a model because he has such a perfect and handsome face. O artista rin siya kagaya ni Ethan?
"I'm... Chayenne Hope Levisay."