Drunk
"Nice shots!" natutuwang sigaw ng photographer sa harapan ko habang sunod-sunod ang nakakasilaw na flash ng camera sa akin.
I smiled seductively and looked intently at the camera.
Hinahangin ang buhok habang patuloy sa pagkuha ng litrato ang photographer, inilapit niya pa lalo ang camera sa akin at tumitig ako roon ng mas malalim.
"One more!" sabi niya at yumuko ng kaunti para mas lumapit pa sa akin ang camera. I slowly caressed my deep collarbone and parted my reddened lips a little.
"Damn.. you got it, Farida!" sigaw ng manager ko na nasa gilid at nakatayong nanonood sa akin.
I'm standing in front of them wearing a paneled bodice mesh mini dress with victoria line necklace and Tiffany & Co. earrings, and paired with black pumps.
The dress was fine... I posed in different angles.
"Okay, good job, Farida!" ngumiti ang photographer at nag-thumbs up sa akin bago niya ibinalik ang atensyon sa camera.
That was the last shot of me before my photoshoot is finally ended, pumalakpak ang mga staff maging ang ibang modelo at maligaya akong binati puno ng paghanga.
Lumapit sa akin ang manager ko at ibinalot ako sa puting towel na dala niya. "You're so beautiful, ang galing-galing mo!" masayang sabi niya at inalalayan ako paalis ng studio.
Iginiya niya ako paalis doon at hinatid ako ng pasok sa dressing room. Umupo ako at hinintay siyang lumapit sa malapit na table at inabot sa akin ang bottled water. "Your shots is really amazing! You look really beautiful in it..." she smiles.
"You have a new endorsement." she said suddenly and got busy choosing on what I'm going to wear.
"What kind of endorsement?" I asked curiously and didn't move from my seat.
She chuckles. "Let's say I made a few phone calls... but I think this is good for your career, you are a really talented girl. I would like to see you in more interviews, more magazines.. and this brand suits you perfectly." may hinila siyang isang dress at ipinakita sa akin, umiling ako at muli siyang pumili ng bago.
"But that also means, you need another photoshoot soon, so we need to work again." she smiles and winks at me.
"What kind of endorsement?" ulit na tanong ko at hinintay ang magiging sagot niya.
"But if you really want to know... It's an endorsement for an expensive cosmetic brand. We shoot photos and a short commercial, and you will be their new face, for the first time. And you will get paid a lot for it and... if you would be interested... we could do it again in the future." I was surprised and stared at her for a moment.
"Are you sure? I mean-" she cut me off.
"Of course, when have I ever been unsure? Listen, no one can resist you Farida.. you're always striking in ravishing beauty. I'm not saying this because I am your manager... I'm saying this because you have a bright future ahead." I smiled, looking for this in the future.
"When will I start?" tanong ko.
"Well... maybe next week? The exact day hasn't been said yet so I'll wait for an update." she answered, may kinuha siyang bagong dress naka-hanger pa iyon at ipinakita sa akin.
She smiles. "Maybe we get another photoshoot for this project. I mean, that's what they would ask me to do.. so, what do you say? Are you in?" my answer was a nod. Inabot niya sa akin ang dress na nagustuhan ko at nagsimulang hubarin ang suot ko.
"Alright, let's leave it for now.. but in the meantime, relax and enjoy."
Nagbihis ako sa harapan niya habang patuloy siyang nagsasalita. "How about my other schedules?" tanong ko.
"Your other schedules have been taken into consideration when planning this photoshoot." she smiles and pats my shoulder. "Don't worry, your manager has thought of everything. So there isn't a problem." she chuckles.
"Are you excited? Are you ready to become the face of this brand?" she smiled and clapped her hands excitedly.
"Yes, supper.."
"Great! But you know that means you also have to behave like a real celebrity, right?" she stared at me like she's giving me a warning look.
"No more dating, no parties or bad behavior... you need to act like a star!" she said. "And if you behave like a good girl from now on, maybe I can make you more deals like this... what do you say?" she smiles again.
"About that.." hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi ko at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.
"I'm glad you like it. Of course, this also means a lot of new responsibilities, but I will help you with that, I just want you to become even more successful. So don't be frightened, this is not hard.. I will always be here for you and take care of everything." I know that one, she's my loyal and trusted manager, lahat ng ginagawa ko ay dumaan sa kaniya... dumaan sa maraming debate at ilang away.
"And you just need to concentrate on your fans, your fans want to feel special and see you all the time. They want to talk to you, and you need to answer them. They want pictures, maybe a few nice words sometimes... I'm sure you can do that, right?" tanong naman niya at wala akong nagawa kundi ang tumango.
"Good, this will be so much fun." she chuckles and pats my shoulder again.
"You will be the face of the brand and you will appear in ads, you can be in TV commercials, and you will be on the cover of magazines." she smiles and chuckles again.
"You know, I think you have what it takes to make it really big... I will help you in a way that other managers can only dream off. If you do it right, your future is bright."
"Ilang endorsement ba ang tinanggap mo?" tanong ko naman.
She laughs. "Only one for now, but this will be a big one. This brand is very important and they chose you.. you will be the ambassador."
"I will try to get you more deals with big brands like this one.. to make you bigger and bigger." she winks at me.
"For now, we will just concentrate on this one brand, get some new experience and try out new things.. I think you will do just fine. Are you looking forward to it?" she smiles.
"Yes, but for now.. I want to go with my friends." pagkasabi ko pa lang niyan ay mabilis na nabura ang masayang ekspresyon ng mukha niya.
Nangunot ang noo niya at mukhang alam na kung saan patungo ang sunod na sasabihin ko.
"Wag mong sabihing..." tinignan niya ako ng may diin at kita ang di-gusto sa mukha niya.
"Saglit lang naman."
"Anong saglit lang?! Ang huling inom mo ay nagkaroon ka ng issues kinabukasan! Kaya hindi ka iinom, walang iinom." sagot niya at mas tumalim ang tingin sa akin.
"I'm not going to say yes to you, and it's one of my friends birthday and I was invited to come." tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay.
"Gusto mo talaga lagi akong ma-kunsumisyon sa tuwing nasasangkot ka sa mga issues mo, Farida!"
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm always telling you! I'm not doing anything wrong!" depensa ko sa sarili.
"Anong wala? Baka nakakalimutan mo kung sino ka, at kung saan ka nagmula?!" pinanlakihan niya ako ng mga mata.
Nayayamot na suminghap ako. "I'm not... I'm Farida Mulier, and I don't forget everything."
With a sense of purpose and confidence, I entered the vibrant XYLO bar, leaving my car parked and secure outside. The dim lighting seemed to highlight the luxurious surroundings.
With a swirl of my dress. I moved confidently, presenting my entry card to the bouncer with a seductive smile. And I turned head as I made my way through the lounge with my head held high and an air of elegance, I made my way to a table with a group of friends.
"Omg! Our girlfriend is here!" sigaw ni
Ingrid at itinaas ang smirnoff na hawak.
"Farida.. Farida! Farida!" Calla approached me with a warm smile and an upbeat chant of my name.
"Happy birthday." I smiled and gave my gift to her.
"Thank you so much!" she hug me, hinila niya ako papunta sa table nila at binigyan ako ng bacardi.
"Farida! How are you? It's been a while."
tanong ni Linzi pagkalapit namin sa kanila.
I smiled and answered her question. "I'm good, busy with photoshoots."
"I'm pretty sure, sold out kaagad ang mga yan." sambit Teza at umiling.
"Well... Farida had a unique charisma that was impossible to resist, she had the ability to inspire and motivate others with her presence, and it was a quality that was truly inspiring and breathtaking." napapangiti akong umiling sa mga sinabi nila. Hindi talaga sila mauubusan ng papuri sa akin.
"Hey! Why did you give her a hard drink? She might have a photoshoot tomorrow!" tanong na suway ni Linzi kay Calla.
Ngumuso si Calla. "Oo nga pala... yari tayo kay Chloi."
"Mukhang dragon pa naman magalit yang manager niya kaya iba na lang ibigay mo." sabi ni Linzi.
I shook my head, they were referring to my manager, Chloi. "It's fine, wala naman akong trabaho bukas."
"Bawal ka malasing ng subra, nagiging ibang tao ka kapag lasing." sabi ni Ingrid at ininom ang hawak na smirnoff.
"Oo, shit. Nagiging wild e..." sang-ayon ni Teza, nanlaki ang mga mata ko.
"It's Calla's birthday and I don't want to be killjoy!" sagot ko naman.
"Killjoy? Killjoy ba siya?" tanong ni Linzi at binalingan si Calla.
Biglang tumawa si Calla. "No naman.. we need lang natin sundin ang sinabi ni Chloi, you know... Farida's fans is so aggressive and brutals."
"Oa lang talaga kayo." hirit ni Teza sa kanila.
"Oa na maganda?" nakangising tanong ni Ingrid, namamasa ang mapulang labi dahil sa alak.
"Yuck, ang pangit mo." sagot ni Teza sa kaniya. Tumalim naman ang mga mata ni Ingrid.
We were in the middle of laughing and joking when Linzi's finger suddenly pointed at my back.
"Your cousin." and right there, I saw Wynx, coming to our table.
"You guys didn't invite." sabi niya at umupo sa tabi ko.
"You're not invited." sagot ko.
She looked at me with a grimace and turned her head to Calla. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks, Wynx." Calla smiles at her and drinks her bacardi.
"Anyways, I won't be here for long.. I just passed by because I saw this woman." tumingin siya sa akin at umirap.
"No worries." sagot ni Ingrid.
"Happy birthday again Calla, enjoy the party." she bid her goodbye and left our table.
Linzi and Calla, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Nakakatakot kausapin pinsan mo." sabi ni Teza at nailing.
Ngumuso si Calla. "Nakaka intimidate, feeling ko susugurin ako sa taray ng mata niya."
"She's nice, ganoon lang talaga 'yon." sagot ko.
"Sayo lang." sabi naman ni Linzi, hindi na ako sumagot pa at uminom na lang.
Hours passed by and I didn't notice that the alcohol was hitting my whole system.
As time went by, more people came and flocked, the dance floor got louder and the people became wild. And I was grinding down and down, unable to control myself, not caring who gets hit and bumped into.
I jumped up and down with the others on the dance floor and went along with the beat of the music.
The bar was buzzing with energy, and I started to feel the beat of the music deep in my bones. It was hard to resist the urge to dance, and as I did, I felt my body move in ways I had never felt before. It was a feeling that seemed to transcend reality itself and take me to a place of pure ecstasy.
Until I felt heat all over my body when I felt large rough hands on my thighs and waist. He pulled me closer to him and my back pressed against his broad and hard chest.
I closed my eyes with a strange sensation and felt the hardness and warmth of his body. I didn't stop dancing and grinded on him more and more.
His scent was luscious to sniff, his smell was addictive, suddenly I wanted to put my face on his neck and smell him more.
My hair stood up on end when I heard his seductive rasp and aggressive curses.
I don't know what happened next, the only thing I saw was him dragging me out of the bar and kissing me aggressively in the parking lot.
"Ah.. uh..." I let out soft moans.
I felt his hand go inside my dress and grabbed my chest, his warm and soft lips slid down my neck and reached my deep collarbone.
Hindi siya tumigil, pinanggigilan niya pa ako kaya mas lalo akong nag-init.
"Please..." I'm begging and don't know why I said that.
"Please, what?" I heard his baritone and raspy voice asking me a question.
"Don't stop." I said breathlessly. I can't hold back anymore.
He stops kissing my collarbone for a moment, he leans closer to my face and whispers. "Ready to take this as far as possible?"