Chapter 2
Chapter 2
"Who would have thought, huh?" Andrea said in amazement while watching my reflection in the mirror.
"Thought what?" I asked. Mula sa repleksyon ay nakita kong abala ang mga stylist sa pag-ayos ng buhok ko.
"Na dati bangag ka lang tapos ngayon model ka na."
Nawala na ang ngiti ko sa sinabi niya, I heard her chuckling, miski ang stylist ko ay napatawa roon nang marinig siya.
"Inaaway ka na naman ni Ms. Andrea, Ma'am Rylee..." aniya kaya nailing ako.
I took the perfume bottle from the side and sprayed it on my wrist. "She's bullying me again, grabe maka-bangag, ganda ko kaya dati?" I raised my brow at tinawanan lang ako ni Andrea, hinila ang upuan para makatabi sa akin.
"Yes, sabi ko nga noon na...okay lang naman ang itsura mo," she teased.
"Well, actually, I admit na hindi naman ako palaayos noon, ano?" I smiled. "My braces are gone now and I can do makeup by myself. That's what you call 'glow up', Drea."
"Awww, yabang..." She smirked and elbowed me. Ngumisi naman ako at pabirong kumindat kaya nagkatawanan kaming dalawa.
Physically, I'd changed. My braces were gone and I learned how to take care of my body, mag-ayos, and the once shy Rylee slowly faded as I gained confidence. But not everything changed—the feelings I had for that certain man were still the same until now.
I think old habits didn't die, huh? It stayed with you. No matter what.
"Ms. Rylee? Take na po!" I heard the assistant call, so I pop out of my seat and smiled, glancing at her.
"I'm coming!"
Drea tugged my arm. "Uy, gusto ko sanang tapusin itong shoot mo, Ry, kaso my mom called. I will just accompany her to the salon, is it okay na you'll be alone here?"
"Okay lang, ano ka ba," I told her gently. "Malaki na ako, hindi na ako kagaya noon na naloloka kapag mag-isa!"
"Asus, nagsalita ang baby." She pinched my nose. "E, hindi ka pa nga marunong tumawid sa kalsada!"
My shoulders fell. Bumusangot ako sa kanya pero tinawanan lang ako ng loka-loka at kumapit sa braso ko.
"Marunong na ako, ano!" I said, but I really didn't. "'Tsaka...palagi kong tinatandaan 'yong bilin mo noon kapag tatawid."
Ngumisi siya kaya sabay kaming nagsalita, "Tatawid sa pedestrian para may bayad kapag nasagasaan!" Natawa rin ang parte ng staff na nakarinig.
"Tama 'yan, Ms. Rylee. Ganyan din ang sabi sa akin ng mama ko," ani ng kasama namin.
Nagpaalam ako sa kanila na ihahatid ko saglit ang kaibigan sa exit at kaagad siyang natigilan nang makitang malakas ang buhos ng ulan sa labas.
"Will you take a cab?" I asked and she nodded, glancing at her watch.
"Yes." She sighed. "I didn't know it'll rain like this, mabuti na lang at may sakayan d'yan sa may shed. Kung hindi, paniguradong basa na ako. Ikaw ba?"
"I asked the driver to fetch me later after the shoot kaya ayos na ako, Drea." I smiled. "Sige, ingat ka sa byahe, pasok na ako."
She kissed my cheek before waving goodbye, and the team immediately prepped me when I got back, instructing me about what to do for today's shoot.
It was a wardrobe photoshoot for a well-known magazine. The clothes the stylists chose were placed on the rack—different for every frame.
"Nice angle, Rylee...there you go!" The photographer was all praises for me while I smile for him, posing naturally, flexing the designs of the clothes I was wearing.
"This is what I love about you, Ry. You pose naturally, walang kahirap-hirap!" baling niya na tinitingnan ang mga larawan ko na nasa screen kaya napangiti na ako.
"Thank you, A," I said gently. "But I think I should really work on more poses, don't you think?"
"Yes, maybe, para sa ibang shoot with different themes. Right now, I love the poses you've been doing—it emphasizes the designs more and you have a pretty angelic face, probably one of the reasons why the camera loves you, Ry." Kinalabit niya ang ilong ko. "Bravo!"
Ever since I was young, my mom and I dreamt for me to be a model, kaya kahit noong wala pa akong pakialam sa sarili ko'y todong ayos siya sa akin. She asked me to put in braces para pantay ang ngipin ko at maganda, and we often had our derma sessions that were annoying before. But now I realize they were helpful, lalo na ngayon ay nasa larangan na ako ng industriya.
"Ma'am, here..." Nagmamadaling tinulungan ako ng staff na magbihis sa panibagong mga damit at itinaas ang buhok ko.
Meanwhile, I kept on glancing at the window and saw raindrops falling on the glass, forming mist. Mahal ko ang ulan kapag nasa bahay lang ako pero kapag lumalabas ay nakaka-stress, lalo na kapag may shoot ako. Madalas pa naman ay binabaha ang sa main road dito sa may studio kahit kaunting ulan lang.
"Ms. Rylee, tumawag po ang mommy n'yo, naiwan n'yo raw po ang isa sa wardrobe na pinadala kahapon?"
"Yes," I answered. "But I think it's on the way now, I texted kanina na pakidala rito."
"Ah," aniya at sumulyap sa phone. "Sige po, hihintayin ko na lang. 'Yon kasi ang huli mong susuotin bago tayo matapos."
I smiled and gave her my thanks. Muli kaming nagsimula sa shoot habang hinihintay ang pinadala ni mommy na damit na naiwan ko kanina papunta rito sa shoot.
"Fiercer, Rylee. Give me a fiercer look," the photographer said kaya ikinondisyon ko ang sarili.
I touched my other shoulder, preparing a proper posture for a pose I wanted to convey to the camera, my eye expressions turning neutral.
"There, gorgeous!" he exclaimed. Halos masilaw na ako sa sunod-sunod na kislap ng camera pero nasanay na ako kaya hindi na ako napapapikit kaagad kagaya dati.
"Next pose," he said kaya humawak ako sa baywang at ipinaglayo ang dalawang paa habang malamig na nakatingin sa camera.
Time passed with me posing, dancing to the beating music inside the studio, and smiling at the camera.
"Ma'am, dumating na po ang damit!" my stylist called happily kaya bumaling ako sa kanila.
"Rylee, look here," he called, and I was about to look at the camera when someone caught my attention.
My body froze when I saw a glimpse of the tall man behind my stylist, walking towards us.
He was wearing a formal white dress shirt tucked in his black slacks. Malinis ang pagkakagupit ng kanyang buhok. His jaw was highlighted when the light from the back touched that beautiful face. His black eyes wandered around and I felt my knees almost wobbling when they met mine.
My heart skipped a beat, his mouth parted a bit when he licked his lower lip unconsciously and my throat dried up.
While looking at him walking with his hands in his pockets towards me, I felt like heaven opened and the angels were singing for me.
"Rylee! What's with you? Wake up!"
The angels singing in my head vanished. Mabilis akong napabaling sa photographer kong si Adrian na nakatikwas na ang kilay sa akin.
"You okay?" he asked, confused.
I jumped, nodding and muttering, "Yes."
Gulat pa rin ay bumaling ako sa camera at muling inulit ang pose ko, pero medyo nawala na ang poise ko. I felt like my knees were shaking with the pair of intense black eyes watching me from the right side, sitting on the plastic chair.
What was he doing here? Siya ba ang naghatid sa damit? Akala ko ba ang driver? Was he the one who offered help?
Oh my God...could it possible that he fell for me?
"Ano bang tinitingnan mo r'yan sa malayo?" biglang tanong ni Sir Adrian kaya nilingon ko na siya.
"Y-Yes?"
"Baling-bali na ang ulo mo, Rylee." Tumikwas ang kilay niya. "Ano bang tinitingnan mo r'yan?" Ibinaling niya ang tingin niya.
"N-Nothing!" I exclaimed loudly pero huli na ako. Nalingon na niya ang pwesto at kaagad na tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang labi.
"Ah, kaya pala, nand'yan si Dream Boy—"
"Adrian!" I hissed kaya mas natawa na siya sa akin.
Naiiling niyang tinaas ang kamay niya. "North, tara nga—"
Tinakbo ko na siya at kinurot. "Isa..." I hissed kaya mas tinawanan niya ako.
"Bakit?" he whispered. "As if naman hindi alam ng mga tao rito na ayan si Mr. Dream Boy—"
"Pabebe tayo ngayon!" I hissed at hinawakan niya ang braso ko. Sabay kaming napabaling kay North na malamig ang tingin sa pwesto namin.
"OMG! OMG! Mukha siyang nagseselos!" I whispered. Nakipagtitigan ako kay North pero tumaas lang ang isang kilay niya at malamig na bumaling sa phone.
"Ayan, asyumera kang bakla ka!" Halos batukan na ako ni Adrian.
"Tss...mukhang nagseselos kanina, right? Ang lamig ng mata habang nakatingin sa atin, don't tell me I'm imagining things!" I gasped.
"Boba, malamig naman talagang tumingin 'yang si Hilaga," ngisi niya.
"Hilaga? What?"
"North." Ginalaw niya ang kilay niya kaya bumusangot na ako at pinalo siya.
"Why are you making fun of my baby?" I hissed and ngumiwi siya.
"Maka-baby, may kayo 'te? Wala!" He smirked when my shoulders fell. "Loka, bumalik ka na roon sa gitna at photographer ako ngayon. Bilis, pronto! Umuulan at baka maging shokoy ka paglabas!"
Pouting, I went back to the center, glancing at North sitting while scrolling on his phone.
Adrian turned serious again while doing the shoot. Noong nagsabi siya ng quick break ay kaagad kong tinakbo ang pwesto niya.
"Hello, North ko!" I said in a singsong voice, at kaagad siyang nag-angat ng tingin, ang malamig na mata'y nakatitig.
"What?"
"Hmm...bakit ikaw ang naghatid?" I asked, smiling widely. I sat on the chair beside his habang inaabot ng stylist ang buhok ko para sa final look.
"Zoren asked me, dinala ng mommy mo ang driver sa airport," he said coldly and glanced at his phone again.
Ngumiti naman ako at nakidungaw. "Ano 'yan—"
"What are you looking at?" Kumunot na ang noo niya at binalingan ako.
"Nakiki-chika lang!" I chuckled. "Sungit naman po, Mr. Alvarado." Hindi siya umimik kaya muli akong ngumuso. "Last look na lang naman, hintayin mo ako, ah?"
"I'm busy, aalis ako maya-maya," mahina niyang sagot.
"Oh?" I said sadly. "E 'di habang 'di ka pa aalis, nood ka muna?" I smiled.
"I'm going in a bit," sagot niya kaagad.
"E, malapit na rin naman ako matapos," I said. "Sige na, please?"
"I'm not into watching photoshoots, Rylee," aniya at bumaling sa akin.
"Sige na, please?" I asked. "Love mo naman ako, right?"
My heart pounded when I saw his eyes. Unti-unti kong inilagay ang palad sa ilalim ng baba at ngumiti sa kanya. I watched him dreamily, and if it were possible, I think my eyes would have a visible heart shapes all over them.
"Dream on, kid." His lips lifted into a sly smile.
"I'm not a kid!" I pouted. "Have you seen me pose? Seducing, right—"
"I think I'm watching a children's photoshoot," he cut me off kaya nahulog na ang panga ko.
"Boom!" biglang sabi ni Adrian kaya nilingon ko na siya at pinanliitan ng mata. Natahimik pero natatawa na siya roon.
"Huh, I'll show you I look like a lady! Tingnan mo kasi!" laban ko at nailing lang siya.
"Brat..."
"What? I am not! Grabe ka sa akin," I whined. "Watch me!"
Competitive ako. Nang matapos akong bihisan sa final look, I was smirking when I went out of the room and glanced at North. Kumunot ang kanyang noo when he saw me with a smug look.
"What's with the smirk?" he asked me, mukhang naghahamon pa kaya mas ngumisi ako.
"Wala lang, pinapatandaan ko lang sa 'yo ang itsura ko bago ka ma-in love sa akin," I said confidently.
I heard, "Ohhh!" from the crowd kaya ngumiti ako at humawak sa baywang. I flipped my hair and walked confidently to the center for the last frames today.
Naghahamon ang mga matang bumaling ako kay North doon. I saw the amused look on Adrian's eyes while glancing at me, almost shaking his head.
"Competitive ka, girl?" he teased kaya ngumisi ako, hinawakan ang dibdib para mas i-push ang dibdib pataas.
"Ano 'yan?" tawa niya.
"Dibdibang labanan." I winked at tinawanan lang ako habang ini-re-ready ang kanyang camera.
I was nervous at first, but upon seeing North watching me do a pose now, I felt more confident. His face had no reaction at all kaya mas na-challenge ako.
"Show him what you got, Ry," ngisi ni Adrian kaya kumindat na ako at hinawi ang buhok.
Itinapat nila sa akin ang malaking fan para lumilipad ang buhok ko at feel na feel ko naman. I felt like a model on a runway while tilting my body from side to side, my eyes fixed at the camera.
I knew he was watching me kaya pasimple akong tumitingin, at nakikita ko siyang nakasandal sa may pader malapit sa amin, nakahalukipkip at seryosong nanunuod.
He licked his lower lip when he saw me watching. Kumaway ako at kumindat sa kanya kasabay ng pagtugtog ng nakakaindak na music nang magsabi si Adrian.
"Just enjoy the music, Ry," ani Adrian. "Paibigin mo si Mr. Dream Boy."
I gave him a thumbs-up, and when the music played, I did nothing but enjoy it. It was a natural thing for me so I smiled while dancing to the music.
The fan blew my hair while I made a twirl and posed for the camera. I could hear Adrian's praises.
"Make a quick turn, Rylee!" utos ni Adrian kaya tumango ako. I waited for the music cue and when I heard it, I made a quick yet flawless turn.
Nilipad ang buhok ko. I was flashing a sweet smile at saktong pag-ikot ko ay nasalubong ko ang mata ni North kaya kumindat ako at nagbigay ng flying kiss.
I saw how stunned he was when I did that. His mouth parted a bit kaya mas napangisi ako.
"Wala na, na-fall na..." I teased and his eyes widened.
"Dream on," he scoffed and looked away, clearing his throat pero malaki lang ang ngiti ko.
He was affected by that, obviously. He was affected by me! OMG!
Luckily, matagal yata ang appointment ni North kaya natapos na kami't lahat-lahat ay naroon pa siya. Tahimik at nakabusangot siya sa pang-aasar ko kaya nakakaaliw.
"Nasiraan daw si manong no'ng papunta rito," I told him while standing side by side. Nakatayo kami sa may exit at pinagmamasdan ang ulan na bumabagsak mula sa langit. "Baka naman pwedeng makisabay?"
"I have work, kid," aniya na tumingin sa watch. "And I don't have an umbrella, wait for him here."
"Pero nasiraan nga raw," I pouted. Sumusulyap ako sa medyo mataas na tubig sa daanan.
"Nagtawag na ba ng tulong?" he asked, glancing at me kaya tumango ako.
"Oo, pero gusto ko na kasi umuwi—"
"Then take a cab," he said and pointed at the cabs nearby.
"Umuulan, North." I sighed. "And maraming tao, oh? You think I can hail one and—"
"Then wait." Kumunot ang noo niya.
"E, ayaw ko nga mag-wait—"
"Stop bothering me," aniyang seryoso kaya natahimik na ako. "I have work to do, nautusan lang ako ng kapatid mo kaya ako nandito. If not for him, like hell I'd ever come here."
I saw the annoyance in his eyes and it pained me. Napalunok ako, marahang tumango, at sumulyap sa daan.
"Sorry..." I said softly and lifted my face to smile. "Sige, ayos lang. I'll try to wait for Manong."
I saw something in his dark serious eyes.
"Sa...sa bahay n'yo ba?" aniyang seryoso kaya nagulat ako nang bahagya pero tumango.
"Yeah," I said and glanced at the cabs. "Sige, pila na lang ako sa mga cab, masakit na kasi ang paa ko sa heels kaya gusto ko na umuwi."
I turned around to walk but he said, "Wala kang payong, mababasa ka."
"Okay lang, takbo na lang ako," I answered at diretso nang naglakad.
When the cold water from the rain touched my skin, it made me shiver. Dinig ko ang tawag niya pero hindi na ako lumingon. I walked, muntik pang madulas kaya napadaing nang bahagya, at napahawak sa paa ko.
I frowned. Umayos ako ng tayo at bahagyang basa na sa ulan ay walang pakialam sumubok muling maglakad, pero nagitla nang maramdaman ang pag-angat ko sa ere.
"W-What..." My eyes widened dramatically when I was carried bridal style and I met his serious black eyes.
"N-North?" My voice almost faded.
"Ihahatid kita," aniyang seryoso at walang pasabing tinakbo ang sasakyan niya habang buhat ako sa kanyang braso.
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