Stolen Glances

Chapter 20

[Navy's POV]

3 years later after our graduation, the silence felt unfamiliar. Wala na ‘yung ingay ng classrooms, deadlines, and late-night cramming. In its place was something bigger responsibility. I told myself this was the beginning of the life I chose.

I didn’t give myself much time to rest. Alam kong once I slowed down, baka matakot ako. So I moved forward immediately diving into my engineering career while continuing my modeling work.

“Grabe ka naman sweetheart. Hindi ka ba napapagod?” my mom asked one morning while we were eating breakfast.

I smiled softly. “Napapagod po… pero mas nakakatakot pong hindi subukan.”

My days became structured chaos. Mornings were for engineering plans, site visits, meetings. Afternoons and evenings were for modeling fittings, shoots, castings.

There were moments I felt like I was living two lives. Pero hindi ako nalilito. Both worlds shaped me, and I refused to choose just one.

One afternoon, habang nagche-check ako ng emails, something caught my eye. An invitation, paris Fashion Week.

My heart skipped. “Paris…?” I whispered, reading it multiple times.

I immediately called my best friend. “Solenne, guess what,” I said, trying to stay calm.

“Huwag mo sabihin.....Paris?” she screamed on the other line.

I laughed nervously. “Oo… Paris.”

“I knew it! Navy, this is your moment. Don’t overthink it grab it na.”

After that call, I sat quietly. Hindi na ito pangarap lang. It was real and that scared me just as much as it excited me.

****

Preparation started immediately. My schedule became tighter, my routines stricter. There was no room for excuses.

I worked closely with my coach. “Your walk needs to be sharper,” she said during practice.

I nodded. “Again?” I asked.

“Again. And again, until it becomes effortless.”

My diet changed drastically. I had to be disciplined. No random cravings, no shortcuts. Just consistency.

One evening, I stared at a slice of cake in the fridge. “Just one bite…” I murmured.

Then I closed it. “No. Not today.”

The gym became my daily ritual. Every rep, every stretch, every drop of sweat reminded me why I started.

“Last set,” my trainer said.

I shook my head, breathing heavily. “Add one more.”

He smirked. “That’s the Navy I know.”

My body grew stronger, but so did my mind. Hindi lang pala katawan ang hinuhubog ko pati disiplina at control.

Then came the interviews. Cameras flashing, questions thrown at me from every direction.

“How do you manage both engineering and modeling?” one interviewer asked.

I smiled confidently. “I don’t try to separate them. They both require dedication. I just give my best in both worlds.”

Another interviewer leaned forward. “Do you ever feel pressure?”

I paused, then answered honestly. “Yes. But I’ve learned to turn pressure into motivation.”

Then finally, we arrived in Paris. I stepped out of the car and the air of Paris felt different cool, light, and filled with something I couldn’t quite explain. Parang every breath carries a quiet kind of magic. This is it. I’m really here. I stood outside the venue, taking it all in.

Backstage was overwhelming. Models, designers, stylists everyone moving fast.

A stylist approached me. “You’re Navy, right? You’ll be wearing this piece.”

I touched the fabric gently. “It’s beautiful,” I said.

“So are you,” she replied with a smile. “Now go show them.”

When it was my turn, I stepped onto the runway. The lights blinded me for a second, but I kept walking.

“Breathe,” I told myself. “You’ve done this before.”

But this time, it felt different. This wasn’t just another show. This was Paris.

Every step I took felt powerful. Hindi na ako ‘yung Navy na nangangarap lang. I was the Navy who made it happen.

After the show, I stood backstage, my heart still racing. A fellow model smiled at me.

“You were amazing out there,” she said.

I laughed softly. “I was terrified.”

“We all here,” she replied. “That’s what makes it real.”

Later that night, I stepped outside, staring at the Paris skyline.

I called my mom. “Mom… tapos na po.”

“How was it?” she asked excitedly.

I smiled, tears forming. “It felt like a dream… pero gising po ako.”

She chuckled. “We’re so proud of you, anak.”

I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in.

Because for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t just chasing dreams. I was living them.

KINABUKASAN

This my second day in Paris, mag to-tour kami ngayon and also photoshoot sa mga places dito sa Paris.

“Welcome to your first day of tour, Navy,” my manager said, smiling as she handed me my schedule.

I glanced at it and almost laughed. “Full day agad? No warm-up?” She chuckled.

“This is your warm-up.”

I shook my head, smiling, but deep inside, I felt the excitement building up. Eto na ‘yon.

The city I used to only see in magazines now I’m walking in it, working in it.

We drove past streets lined with old buildings, cafés, and people casually living their lives. I pressed my forehead lightly against the window, watching everything.

“Ang ganda…” I whispered to myself.

My stylist leaned closer. “Wait till you see your shoot location.”

I turned to her. “Mas maganda pa dito?”

She just smirked. “Way better.”

And when the car finally stopped, I understood what she meant.

I stepped out and there it was, the Eiffel Tower.

I froze for a second, my breath catching. “Oh my God…

“Surprise,” my photographer said.

I laughed softly, shaking my head.“Hindi ako ready dito.”

“You are,” he replied confidently. “You’ve been ready.”

They started preparing everything lights, camera, outfits. Meanwhile, I stood there for a moment, just looking up at the tower.

Four years ago, I was just dreaming.

Now I’m here.

“Okay Navy, first outfit!” my stylist called.

“Coming!” I said, snapping back into focus.

They handed me a sleek, elegant dress simple but powerful, very Parisian.

As they fixed my hair and makeup, I looked at myself in the mirror.

“Do I look okay?” I asked.

My makeup artist smiled. “You don’t look okay. You look expensive.”

I laughed. “I’ll take that.”

I walked to my mark, heels clicking softly against the pavement.

“Alright, Navy,” the photographer called out. “Give me strong, but effortless. Like you belong here.”

I inhaled slowly.

Then I stepped into it. Pose after pose, I let myself flow. Hindi na ako nahihiya. Hindi na ako kinakabahan. I owned every movement, every glance.

“Beautiful!”

“Yes, that’s it!”

“Hold that, perfect!”

I turned slightly, letting the Eiffel Tower frame me perfectly behind.

Click.

“Wow,” someone whispered.

I heard it, but I didn’t look. I stayed in character.

Because this isn’t just a photoshoot. This is proof, proof that I made it.

After a few takes, the photographer lowered his camera and smiled.

“You’re not just modeling the clothes… you’re telling a story.”

I walked closer, catching my breath. “What kind of story?”

He looked at me, thoughtful. “A girl who turned her dreams into reality.”I paused.

Then I smiled softly. “That sounds about right.”

We changed into another outfit this time something bolder.

“Ready for round two?” my manager asked.

I smirked. “I was born ready.”

She laughed. “I like that confidence.”

As the shoot continued, I felt more and more like this place....this moment was meant for me.

Hindi na ako yung Navy na nangangarap lang.

I’m Navy who’s living it.

And as I stood there, with the Eiffel Tower behind me, camera flashing, people watching,

I whispered quietly to myself,

“This is just the beginning.”