Crush.
Time flies. We can't notice how fast the days passes by until we realize we're getting old.
Nasaan na ba ang bruhang yon?
Kanina pa ako nandito sa starbucks naghihintay kay Becca para sa usapan namin.
Weekend ngayon at sa hinaba-haba ng panahon ngayon niya lang naisipan sumali sa modeling agency na pinapasukan ko.
Rebecca's no longer wearing glasses only contact lens.
Mas lalo lang nag bloom ang beauty niya at nag mature naman ang bruha, yun nga lang madalas ay sabaw pa din ito.
From: Rebeccaraulolo <3
Gaga, sabi ko Chinese Restaurant hindi Starbucks!
I was about to reply but then there's a brat na padabog umupo sa harap ko.
"Bruhilda ka!" It was her.
Si Rebecca lang talaga ang hinahayaan kong magsalita sa akin ng ganyan nang hindi ko nasasampal.
Well, because we've been with each other for years already!
"Mas bruha ka! bulag ka ba? gaga ka! I texted you earlier about the sudden change of plans Rebecca."
I roll my eyes on her, she then check her phone at dahan-dahan nag peace sign sa akin nang makumpirmang totoo ang sinasabi ko.
I let it pass at nag order nalang ng dalawang vanilla latte and blueberry muffins.
May pinag usapan kaming ganap sa school habang kumakain.
After eating, dumeretso na kami sa HAL Modeling Agency building para sa contract signing ng bruha.
Hindi niya na kailangan mag hintay pa ng open call dahil andito naman ako pero hindi ko pa siya na inform tungkol don.
"You think makakapasa kaya ako sa auditions penny?" Nag aalalang tanong niya habang nasa loob kami ng sasakyan.
"Tinawagan ko na si Mommyta kagabi and when I mentioned your name ang sabi niya there's no need for you to go an auditions naman na."
"But you'll have to undergo two weeks training. But no worries, I got your back. Besides, they have the best mentors and handlers for HAL models." I winked at her.
I went inside the tower wearing mustard khaleesi dress paired with a gold ankle strap wedge and a silver metal round glass from Chanel that's perfect for my shape.
Habang nakasunod naman sa akin ang naka white ribbed sleeveless crop top with pink office coat and pegged russet pink pants matched with a white gladiator heels na si Rebecca.
When we reach Mommyta's office I was about to hold the door knob nang bigla itong bumukas.
"KUYA?!"
Katulad ni Becca ay nagulat rin ako nang makita ko si Shawn galing sa loob.
Ever since noong grade 12 pa ako ay wala na akong balita sa unggoy na ito bukod sa sinabi sa akin ni Becca na he's studying in Spain for architecture kahit pa na Business Ad ang gusto nila tita for him.
He was my crush back when I was grade 9, but he rejected me! no malice, I've moved on now, duhh.
Nang matauhan ako ay agad naman akong umiwas ng tingin pero nakikita ko sa gilid ng aking mga mata na hindi niya inaalis ang tingin niya sa akin.
Tumabi ako para sana palayasin na ang unggoy na ito pero bigla naman siyang nagsalita.
"What are you doing here?" Muli akong napabaling ng tingin sa kanya but he's now looking at Rebecca.
Rebecca gave me the 'please-save-my-ass' look, kaya pinandilatan ko siya.
'bwesit kang bruha ka! akala ko nagpaalam ka na!'
"U-uhm, Shawn.... Well, you see kasi I've been working here since before pa and Rebecca wants to work with me, as her part time job?"
The haul with that?!
Okay! I wasn't prepared what to say that's why hindi ko alam ang mga pinagsasabi ko!
He just stared at me waiting for me to explain more.
'wala na akong masabi!'
Sa halip na mag explain pa ako ay inirapan ko nalang siya at tinulak para makapasok na ako ng tuluyan sa loob ng opisina.
"IHJA! DARLING! oh my gosh! come! come here, give your Mommyta a hug!"
Mommyta and her usual self.
I gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek. "Mommyta!"
I giggle when she squeeze me a bit, she's my parent's close friend and she's always been this clingy sa akin.
"Mommyta this is Rebecca Salazar, my best friend, yung kinwento ko sayo last night," Mommyta went to her and hugged her as well.
"Ikaw pala ang youngest child ni Godofredo! Ihja, it's nice to finally meet you! I met your brother earlier too!" kahit na medyo ilang pa si Becca she managed to greet her too.
I sat on the sofa and exhale all shits I have inside my stomach bago binalingan ng tingin ang nakasimangot na si Shawn at muling inirapan.
'epal ka talaga!'
nang matapos ang contract signing ni Rebecca ay nagkwentuhan muna kaming tatlo habang hinihintay rin namin ang mentor ko noon na magiging mentor ni Becca ngayon.
I was busy listening to Mommyta when my eyes drifted on the man standing near the door.
'wala ata tong balak umuwi!'
"Mommyta, what is he doing here po pala?" I pointed at Shawn while asking her.
"Oh my, Shawn! kanina ka pa ba jan?" Gulat na mommyta.
Gets kong medyo may edad na si Mommyta but I wasn't aware of how senseless siya sa paligid kapag naging busy sa chikahan.
"Yes ma'am, sorry, my sister owes me an explanation for-" hindi natapos ni Shawn ang sasabihin niya dahil biglang bumukas ang pintuan at iniluwa nito ang kanina pa namin hinihintay.
"OMG, Atlas!" Mabilis akong tumayo at tumakbo papunta sa kanya para yakapin siya ng mahigpit.
"You're alive!" I burst out laughing when he slighty pull my hair.
"Malamang! don't worry girl, ikaw una kong mumultuhin if mamamatay man ako," he joked and we all laugh at that, except sa epal na unggoy.
"One year ako sa New York and four months naman sa Thailand right after ng endorsement ni Penny and now I'm here again to mentor you Ms.Salazar."
Nasa sofa kaming lima habang kinekwento ni Atlas ang ganap sa vacation niya.
Atlas sat on my left while Rebecca's sitting on the right while nakaupo naman sa pang isahang sofa si Mommyta at sa katabing sofa naman si Shawn, tahimik lang at nakikinig.
Right after Rebecca signed the papers we were about to step out of Mommyta's office nang biglang mag ring ang phone ko.
Zekiki the sweet devil <3 Calling...
"Hey, where are you?" Tanong niya pagkasagot ko ng tawag.
"Nasa HAL ako ngayon, bakit?" We were already inside the elevator.
"I'll fetch you, pauwi ka na ba?" I pout and nodded.
"Yeah, but andito naman si mang Istel kaya okay lang kung hindi mo ako susunduin."
"No, tatawagan ko si manong, wait for me there ako susundo sayo."
Wala naman akong magagawa kung yun ang gusto niya, he's the boss.
"Okay, maghihintay ako sa lobby, btw kasama ko si Rebecca. bye, I love you," I ended the call without letting him react.
Alam kong may something between him and Rebecca but I'm not sure if it's love or hate.
Nang bumukas ang elevator sa ground floor ay dere-deretso ang lakad ko habang nakasunod ang tatlo sa akin.
"Girl, susunduin ka ba ni papa Zeki?" napalingon ako kay Atlas.
"Yeah, bakit? you want a ride home?" Tanong ko.
Madrama siyang umiling at ipinakita sa akin ang susi ng sasakyan niya. "I have my car with me maybe next time. Send my regards to papa Zeki ha, mauuna na ako sa inyo at kailangan ko pang mag beauty rest."
Nang makaalis na si Atlas binalingan ko ang magkakapatid na kanina pa maingay na nagtatalo sa likod.
"It's my fault Shawn," napalingon ang masungit na unggoy sa akin.
Rebecca mouthed 'thank you'.
I suddenly wanna regret it dahil lumapit ng bahagya si Shawn sa akin. Hindi ko magawang mag step back dahil ayoko na magmukha akong takot na tuta.
"What?" I frown para matakpan ang kaba ko.
"Hah, you really think you're good at lying?" I smirked at that and then I took a step even more closer to him.
I tiptoe a bit and whispered, "what made you think that I'm lying, hmm?" I mimic him in a very seductive way.
He was taken aback by my sudden move kaya napangiti ako. Lumayo ako ulit sa kanya at nagpatuloy mag salita.
"Why are you making this a big deal?"
"Look, your sister want this and sino ba naman ako para ipagkaita sa kanya ang trabahong nababagay naman sa kanya?" I tried to sound calm and collective.
"Shawn, she's not a little girl anymore. She's a woman now, isn't it right if you let her decide for herself?" Umigting ang kanyang panga.
"Isn't it ALSO right to ask permission first Penelope?" full hearted ko siyang inirapan.
"Gosh, ewan ko sayo! Wala ka naman nang magagawa because she already signed the contract! At pwede ba?! Trust her, okay?"
"I promise you, babantayan ko yan."
"No," he firmly said.
I was about to argue again pero muli siyang nagsalita. "Babantayan ko kayo."
What?!
Magsasalita pa sana ako but he walked out already, leaving me speechless.
"Pennywise I really have to follow him, he told me he signed a contract for the runway too!" She kissed my cheek and bid goodbye.
Naiwan akong gulantang habang naghihintay kay Zeki.
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☆