The Love Affair

Prologue "Pose a strike in three, two, and one!" *Camera click* "Okay, wrap up na. Good job, models. Rest na kayo!" The photographer shouted which made all of us go down from the platform where our model shoot is. Apat kaming modelo ang magkakasabay na kinuhanan para sa cover ng isang magazine. "Avery!" I immediately stopped walking after hearing the voice of my manager. Nilingon ko naman ito nang may hindi maipintang mukha dahil sa pagod na nararamdaman. "What is it?" may halong pagka-asar na wika ko. "Nasa labas ang isa sa mga owner ng DHZ mag, kanina ka pa hinahanap. Labasin mo muna at kausapin. Mukhang another modelling job na naman for you!" Masayang wika nito na ikina-irap ko na lamang. "Ferdz kakatapos lang ng shoot ko. I need to rest right now. It was a 3 hours shoot, pagpahingahin mo naman ako." I said, using a very tired voice of mine. Totoo naman iyon. We shooted for about 3-hours and ngayon lang ako makakapag-pahinga ng maayos tapos may ganito 'pang eksena bigla. Ferdz—my manager immediately raised his brows and gave me a narrow look. "Come on, Avery! Its an opportunity that you should grab. Mismong owner na ng DHZ ang sumadya para kausapin ka about a project, tatanggihan mo pa ba? Paano kapag may ibang nakuha iyon dahil nainip na kakahintay sayo? Its a blessing, and blessing should be grabbed. Sayang iyon!" He tries persuading me. I rolled my eyes once again,"Ferdz, pagod ako. Pagpahingahin mo muna ako kahit sag—" "Good morning, Sir Ren!" A man from the crew shouted that caught the attention of my ear. Mabilis akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon. "Good morning, Sir Finneld!" The other staffs and crews greeted when noticed the arrival of our company agency's CEO. Si Rencis Finneld Delos Santos. Like a hawk, my eyes was pinned unto the man whose waking elegantly wearing a pair of silver gray tuxedo, who wrapped his body perfectly, screaming gentleness and elegance. His black hair is perfectly combed sideways, that matches his thick eyebrows and long lashes. Itim na itim ang kanyang mata, na pinarisan ng matangos na ilong at sobrang pulang labi. Which I pray na nawa ay mahalikan ko balang-araw. I gulped as I continued staring at our boss. He is now talking with the photographer, and partly checking the result of our shoot for today. "Isipin mo na lang kung gaano magiging masaya si Sir Finneld kapag may isang magazine project ka 'pang gagawin. Tiyak na matutuwa iyan, at mapapansin ka na ng sobra." rinig 'kong wika ni Ferdz na may bahid pa rin ng pangungumbinsi at ngiti. Alam 'kong alam niya na mapapasunod nya ako ngayon dahil na rin sa presensya ni Sir Finneld. Nilingon ko si Ferdz. "Okay fine, but I don't wanna go out there. Gusto 'kong sila ang pumunta dito para makita mismo ni Sir Finneld na kinakausap nila ako." I said as the condition. Syempre, kung tatanggap man ako ng project, gusto ko'y harap-harapang makita ni Sir Finneld iyon, para makuha ko ang atensyon nya. Ferdz laugh because of it. "Ang wicked talaga ng alaga ko!" Anito, bago tuluyang naglakad palabas ng shooting room. Ako naman ay agad 'kong ibinalik ang tingin kay Sir Finneld ngunit hindi ko napigilang mapa-ismid ng makitang pinagku-kumpulan ito ng mga kasama 'kong babaeng modelo. Halatang mga nagpapa-pansin lang sa boss namin. I somehow find it annoying why some of the girls in this field of work can get close to Sir Finneld just as easy as possible, samantalang ako...heto at hiyang-hiya pa. I just stared at them as I silently prayed for Ferdz to come around together with the owner of DHZ that he was telling. Gusto 'kong mapunta sakin ang atensyon ni Sir Finneld nang kusa, hindi iyong nagpapa-pansin pa ako sa kanya katulad ng iba. "Miss Fajardo?" anang mababa at makisig na tinig mula sa aking likuran ang siyang nagpa-lingon sa akin. I was expecting an old wealthy man who has a wrinkled skin to appear in front of me, but I expected wrong. Dahil imbes na matandang lalaki, isang makisig na binata ang nasa harapan ko ngayon. He has a white skin complexion, thick eye brows, black hair, a pointed nose, a manly aura, and a pink delectable lips. Mukhang napansin nito ang paninitig ko kaya't nagpakawala ito ng isang matamis na ngiti, dahilan para lumitaw ang dalawa nitong dimples. Shit. Ang cute nya! "Flowers for you, Miss Fajardo." wika nito na siyang nakapagpa-baba ng tingin ko. Niyon ko lang din napansin may hawak nga itong kumpol ng kulay pulang rosas. I slowly lifted my arms to accept the flowers while a sweet genuine smile is flashing on my lips. "Thank you..." I whispered. "What's going on here?" Ang tinig na iyon ang nakapawi ng ngiti ko at agad na nagpalingon muli sa aking likuran. Naabutan ko roon, di kalayuan mula sa akin na nakatayo si Sir Finneld habang magkasalubong ang dalawang makakapal na kilay, na akala mo'y naka-saksi ng di kanais-nais na pangyayari. Which is I think ay false hopes ko lamang. "Sir Finneld, this is Mr. Guzman. I know you already know him but I'll introduce him mo—" "He's a good friend of mine so no need to introduce him more, Ferdz." Putol ni Sir Finneld sa pananalita ng manager ko. Seryoso ang tingin na ipinukol nito kay Mr. Guzman. "What is the reason you're here?" Mr. Guzman smiled more before taking a single glance at me. "Well, we are launching a magazine months from now. It will tackle about woman empowerment, and the boards decided to take Ms. Fajardo here to be our model for that magazine." wika nito bago muli akong tinanaw at binigyan ng matamis na ngiti, kasabay ng matingkad na uri ng titig. Mr. Guzman looked so cute while doing those reactions, and I can't help not to feel butterflies in my stomach. Nakakakilig naman kasi talaga ang mga ngiti nito. Nakaka-fall! I smiled back to Mr. Guzman when I suddenly heard Mr. Finneld's clearing of throat. Napunta dito ang atensyon ko at natagpuan ko siyang mas lalong naging magkasalubong ang kilay habang nakatitig sa akin. Para tuloy akong pinangapusan ng hininga dahil sa katotohanan na halos katabi ko lang ang boss namin na crush na crush ko simula pa nuon, at bonus pa na nakatitig sa akin. Lord, pwede na akong mamatay! Ackkkkk! "Before you talk to the model herself, you should talk to me first. I need to know more about the magazine you will be launching and I'll get to decide whether I'll let my artist to work under you. Might as well we proceed to my office to talk further about it? Shall we?" Paanyaya ni Sir Finneld na ngayon ay na kay Sir Guzman na ang paningin. Sayang! "Sure. Let's do that," Mr. Guzman respond politely as Sir Finneld showed him the way out of the shooting room, ngunit bago pa man sila makapag-simulang lumakad paalis ay nagsalita na ako. "Mind if I join the meeting?" I asked, that caught Mr. Finneld's attention, and once again, his eyes are back at me. His jawline moved. "Why would you join us?" He asked, and I just shrugged first before talking. "Well,I think it is just right for me to be present since ako naman ang modelong gusto nilang kunin para sa magazine na ilo-launch nila. I should hear them out, so I can also decide about it. Tama ba, Mr. Finneld?" Matapang 'kong wika. Mr. Finneld stared at me for about 10 seconds before releasing a heavy breath. "Its not necessary—" "Well I think its just right, Rencis. Ms. Fajardo here should hear what's our plan so she can also decide about it. Let's take her with us." Mr. Guzman said, supporting me which made me smile. I look at Mr. Guzman and gave her my most alluring and genuine smile. Bukod sa gusto ko naman talagang marinig ang pag-uusapan nila lalo na't related naman iyon sakin, gusto ko 'ring mas makasama pa ng matagal si Mr. Finneld! "Ms. Fajard—" "I'll just listen. I promise," I said, not letting him finish his words. Nakita ko ang panlalaki ng mata ni Ferdz dahil sa ginawa ko. I just cut Mr. Finneld's words, knowing na boss pa rin namin sya. Gosh, Avery! Patay ka na naman mamaya! Mr. Finneld stared at me again then back at Mr. Guzman who I found staring at me intently while having a cute smile. Mukhang na-inlove na ata sakin 'to,ah. Naku naku! Magseselos ang bebe Rencis ko niyan, e! Mr. Finneld cleared his throat again before turning around. "Fine." He said, in a deep and annoyed tone. Tuluy-tuloy ang paglakad nito palabas, wala man lang lingon-lingon kung sumunod ba kami sa kanya. Iritado na lang bigla, parang nagseselos nga. I just smiled secretly because of what I thought.