Stolen Glances

Chapter 16

[Navy's POV]

Hindi ko inakala na ang bakasyo na inaasahan kong magiging tahimik, paulit-ulit, at medyo boring ang magiging simula ng pinakamalaking pagbabago sa buhay ko.

School year just ended a few days ago, at hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako sanay sa katahimikan. Walang alarm ng 5 AM, walang uniform na kailangang plantsahin, walang teachers na magtatawag ng pangalan ko. It felt… strange. Free, but also unfamiliar.

Nakaupo ako sa terrace ng bahay namin, hawak ang malamig na baso ng iced coffee habang pinapanood ang kalangitan na unti-unting nagiging kulay kahel. The sunset was calm, almost too calm, like it was hiding something.

“Ganito na lang ba buong bakasyon ko?” bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Wala naman akong plano. Solenne was out of town, si Marcos nasa province, at si Jace… hindi ko rin alam. Everything felt paused. Parang ako lang ang naiwan sa isang mundo na biglang tumigil.

I sighed and leaned back on my chair.

“Baka kailangan ko lang masanay,” I whispered.

Pero hindi ko alam na may paparating pala—isang bagay na hindi ko hiniling, pero babaguhin ako.

****

Kinabukasan, napagdesisyunan kong lumabas. I went to a small café near the plaza, the kind of place na tahimik, hindi matao, at perfect para mag-isip.

I ordered a drink and sat by the window.

People passed by, laughing, talking, living their lives.

“Ang bilis ng panahon,” I murmured.

“Or maybe… you’re just standing still.” Napalingon ako.

May babaeng nakatayo sa tabi ng table ko. She looked… different. Hindi siya mukhang ordinaryong customer.

There was something about her—her posture, her eyes, the way she held herself.

“Sorry?” I said, a bit confused.

She smiled. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. But I’ve been observing you.”

Napakunot ang noo ko. “Observing me?”

“Yes,” she said calmly, then extended her hand. “I’m Ms. Althea. I work with a modeling company.”

For a moment, I thought I misheard.

“Modeling… company?” I repeated slowly.

“Yes,” she nodded. “And I think you have potential.”

Parang biglang naging mabigat ang hangin sa paligid ko. “Po… ako?” I asked, almost laughing at the idea. And she didn’t laugh.

“I’m serious,” she said. “You have a natural look. Hindi pilit. And there’s something in your eyes, quiet but expressive.”

Hindi ako agad nakasagot. My fingers tightened around my cup. “This doesn’t make sense,” I whispered.

“I get that a lot,” she smiled. “But sometimes, the best opportunities don’t make sense at first.” She handed me a card.

“Think about it. We’re currently scouting new faces for a summer campaign. Perfect timing, since it’s your vacation.” Yeah vacation.

That word hit differently now.

Before I could say anything else, she walked away.

And just like that, everything changed.

****

Buong araw, hindi ako mapakali.

I kept replaying the moment in my head.

“Ako? Model?” I muttered habang nakahiga sa kama.

I looked at the card again.

Her name, the company, and the contact details...it felt real. Too real.

Napatingin ako sa salamin sa kwarto ko. I stood up and walked closer.

“This is me,” I said softly. Simple girl, walang special.

“What if she’s wrong?” I whispered.

But another voice answered—

Haysttt“What if she’s not?”Umupo ako sa kama, napahawak sa buhok ko.

“Ang gulo,” I sighed.

My phone buzzed.

📩 From Solenne: “Miss mo na ba ako? 😌”

Napangiti ako kahit papaano.

📩 To Solenne: “Oo… at may ikukwento ako.”

📩 From Solenne: “Ay naku, mukhang maganda iyan.”I hesitated for a second.

📩 To Solenne: “May nag-offer sakin maging model.”

Three dots appeared instantly.

📩 From Solenne: “ANO?!”

📩 To Solenne: “I’m serious.”

📩 From Solenne: “TANGGAPIN MO.”

Ganun lang.

“Ang dali mo namang magdesisyon para sa’kin,” I muttered.

But deep inside… I was thinking the same thing.

______________________________________

The next few days were filled with overthinking.

Every morning, gigising ako na iniisip kung tatawag ba ako. Every night, matutulog akong hindi pa rin sigurado.

“What if I fail?” I asked myself.

“What if I embarrass myself?”

“What if… this isn’t for me?”

But then...

“What if it is?”

Isang gabi, habang nakaupo ako sa terrace ulit, same spot, same sky and

I took a deep breath.

“I can’t stay like this,” I whispered.

I picked up my phone.

My hands were slightly shaking.

📞 “Hello… Ms. Althea?”

“Yes?”

There was a pause, then I said it.

“I’ll take the opportunity.”

The moment I said yes, everything started moving fast.

Meetings, schedules, instructions.

Parang hindi na ako makahabol.

But at the same time… I felt alive.

“Welcome to the team,” Ms. Althea said when I arrived at their studio for the first time.

Even the word felt unfamiliar.

The place was bright, busy, filled with people who looked like they knew exactly what they were doing.

And then there was me.

Standing there, trying not to panic.

“Relax,” someone said beside me. “First time?”I nodded.

“Makakasanayan mo rin,” she smiled.

I hoped she was right.

****

“Hair and makeup!” someone called.

I sat down, feeling my heartbeat in my ears.

As they started fixing my hair, applying makeup,

I watched myself in the mirror.

Slowly… I didn’t recognize the girl anymore.

Or maybe,

I was finally seeing her.

“Beautiful,” the stylist said.

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Me?” I asked.

“Yes, you.”Hindi ako nakasagot.

“Ready?” the photographer asked.

I stepped forward.

Lights, camera and silence.

“Just be yourself,” he said.

That was the problem.I didn’t know which version of myself to be.

Click.

Awkward.

Click.

Still unsure.

Then I remembered something.

“You took this opportunity for a reason.”

I closed my eyes for a second.

Then opened them again.

Click.

This time… different. I moved naturally, not perfect but real.

“That’s it,” the photographer said. “You have something.”

Something.

I didn’t know what it was.

But I felt it.

****

After the shoot, I sat quietly in a corner.

Everything felt surreal.

“Hindi ko akalain,” I whispered.

Na ang bakasyon na inaakala kong magiging walang kwenta....

Ang magbibigay pala sa’kin ng ganitong pagkakataon.

Ms. Althea sat beside me.

“So, Navy,” she said. “Any regrets?”

I shook my head slowly.

“No po,” I said then I smiled.

“Just… disbelief.”She laughed softly.

“That’s normal.”

[FLASHBACK]

That night, tahimik ang bahay. The kind of quiet na parang hinihintay ka magsalita. Nasa dining table kami simple lang, dinner like any other day.

Pero para sa’kin, hindi siya ordinaryo.

I kept staring at my food, hindi makasubo nang maayos.

“Sweetheart?” Mom called me softly. “What's wrong bakit ang tahimik mo?.”

I looked up, forcing a small smile. “Ah… wala po. Pagod lang.”But she knew, she always knew me.

“Sweetheart,” dad said, putting his spoon down. “May gusto ka bang sabihin sa amin ng mom mo?”

There it was, that moment.

Iswallowed.

“Mom… dad…” I started, my voice a little shaky. “May… nag-offer po kasi sa’kin.” They exchanged a quick glance.

“Offer?” Mom asked gently. “Anong offer, anak?”

I took a deep breath.“To become a model.” Silence at nagtinginan silang dalawa, but the kind that feels heavy, waiting.

I couldn’t read their expressions.

So I looked down.

“Galing po siya sa isang company,” I continued. “They said may potential daw ako… and since bakasyon naman po… they want me to try po.”

Still no response, my chest tightened at nagmamadaling niyakap ako ni mommy.

Tinignan ko sila“Is it okay lang po ba or kung hindi niyo gusto,” I added quickly. “Hindi ko rin naman po sure kung kaya ko—”

“Sweetheart.”putol ni mom sa sasabihin ko.

Napatingin ako kay mom, she was smiling. Not just smiling, she looked proud.

“Take that opportunity sweetheart, at bakit mo iniisip na hindi namin magugustuhan?” she asked softly.

I blinked.“Po?”

Dad leaned back slightly, crossing his arms, but there was a gentle look in his eyes.

“Sweetheart,” he said, “matagal na naming gusto na pumasok ka sa modelling, pero ayaw namin pilitin ka sa hindi mo naman gusto...but now it seems that you want it so bakit naman kami hi-hindi, diba???.”

“Ha? Gusto niyo po ako na pumasok sa modelling” I whispered.

Mom reached for my hand.

“You’ve always been beautiful,” she said. “Hindi lang sa panlabas but the way you carry yourself, the way you see the world.”

My throat tightened. “But mom… hindi naman po ako—” I started.

“Hindi ka ano?” Dad interrupted gently. “Hindi ka ‘yung typical na nakikita mo sa TV?” I nodded slowly.

He smiled.“Yeah, you’re not meant to be typical,” he continued. “ Because you’re unique and that’s something no one can copy you, sweetheart.”

Napatahimik ako. Mom squeezed my hand.

“Sweetheart,” she said, her voice soft but sure, “opportunities like that don’t come to everyone. Someone saw you...and believed in you.”

I felt my eyes sting a little. “But what if I fail?” I whispered.

Dad chuckled lightly. “Then you learn,” he said. “That’s life.”

Mom nodded. “And we’ll be here no matter what.”

I looked at them.

They weren’t doubtful, they weren’t scared, and they believed in me.

More than I believed in myself.

“Sa totoo lang,” Mom added, smiling warmly, “matagal na naming gustong sabihin sa’yo ‘to.”

I frowned slightly. “Ano po?”

“You’re more than what you think you are.” mom said. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

“Hindi ko lang po kasi nakikita,” I admitted.

Dad stood up and walked closer, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Hindi mo kailangang makita agad,” he said. “Minsan, kailangan mo lang magtiwala lalo na sa sarili mo.”

Mama smiled.

“And if this opportunity helps you see your worth… then why not take it?”

I let out a shaky breath,. My heart felt full, warm and safe.

“So…” dad said, raising an eyebrow playfully. “Anong plano mo?”

I wiped my tears and smiled.

“I think…” I paused.

Then finally—“I want to say yes.”

Mom’s eyes lit up.

“That’s our girl.”Dad nodded proudly.

“We’re proud of you, sweet heart.”

And in that moment,

I realized something.

Before the world could see me…

Before I could even see myself,

My parents already did.

And maybe,

That was enough to start believing, too.

[END OF THE FLASHBACK]

I smiled softly.

______________________________________

Days passed, then weeks.

Photoshoots became less scary.

The mirrors became less intimidating.

At ako....

Mas naging kampante.

“I think I’m changing,” I told myself one night.

But not in a bad way.

I was growing.

One afternoon, bumalik ako sa café kung saan nagsimula ang lahat.

Same table, same window but not the same me.

I sat down and smiled.

“Ang bilis,” I whispered.

From a girl with no plans,

To someone who took a chance.

And as I looked outside, watching people pass by again....

I realized something.

Minsan, hindi mo kailangan planuhin ang lahat.

Minsan, may darating na pagkakataon....na pipiliin ka.

At sa pagkakataong iyon....kailangan mong piliin ang sarili mo, and I did.

I chose to say yes.

And that “yes”

Changed everything.