The Snow Made in France

10: Model

Elaine's POV

After another month has passed ay successful naming natapos ang lahat ng apparel na irarampa sa runway. We stayed all night nitong buong linggo in order to finish all the apparel before deadline. At nang matapos namin ito ay feeling ko nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

At ngayon ay inaasikaso na nila Madame ang fittings ng mga apparel sa mga models. Sa London kasi gaganapin ang fashion show kaya tinitignan na if tama ba ang fittings ng mga damit sa models. Magrerehearse din kasi ang mga models doon sa London before the fashion show. Everything should be perfect sabi nga ni Madame. Magkakaroon din kasi muna ng pictorial ngayon for the magazine and posters for advertisement kaya nireready na nila Madame ang models.

"Here." sabi ni Ahl sabay abot sa akin ng iced coffee. Alam niya kasing mahilig ako sa iced coffee kaya ever since eh ito na ang lagi niyang inoorder for me.

"Thanks." sagot ko sabay pinanood na namin ang mga model na kasalukuyang nagfifittings. Madame seems stressed kanina pa kaya mas minabuti na lang naming manood at hindi na makialam. Hahaha!

"Argh! Qu'est-ce que je t'ai dit?! J'ai dit que tu devrais surveiller ton alimentation car la robe ne s'ajustera pas d'elle-même!" (T: Argh! What did I told you?! I said you should watch your diet because the dress won't adjust itself!)

"Anong sabi ni Madame?" I whispered to Ahl. Hindi ko kasi maintindihan ang sinasabi ni Madame.

"She's mad because the dress won't fit to the model." nakangising sabi ni Ahl sabay inom ng kape niya.

"Bawal ba kumuha ng ibang model?" tanong ko.

"Well, we can. But the problem is walang model ang magkasya sa size nung dress. At ayaw na iparepair pa ni Madame because the photoshoot will start in 15 minutes." paliwanag niya.

Napatingin kami nang biglang lumapit kay Madame ang assistant niya tila may sinabi ito na hindi nagustuhan ni Madame kaya napapikit ng mariin si Madame.

"Comment ça, il a reculé?!" (T: What do you mean he backed out?!)

"Désolé madame. Il a dit que c'était une urgence. Sa mère a été emmenée à l'hôpital et il n'y a personne d'autre que lui qui puisse s'occuper de sa mère." (T: Sorry Madame. He said it was an emergency. His mother was brought to the hospital and there's no one but him who can attend his mother.)

"Le tournage va commencer dans 15 minutes! Où diable devrais-je trouver un modèle en 15 minutes!" (T: The shoot will start in 15 minutes! Where the hell should I get a model in 15 minutes!)

Suddenly biglang napatingin sa direksyon namin ni Ahl si Madame. She suddenly smiled when she saw us. Hindi ko alam kung bakit dahil hindi ko naintindihan ang pinag-usapan nila ng assistant niya. Pero bakit parang hindi maganda ang kutob ko? Hehe.

"Merde. Nous sommes condamnés." (T: s**t. We're doomed.) biglang sabi ni Ahl na hindi ko naintindihan pero sa tingin ko eh iba din ang kutob niya.

"Hello to the both of you." bungad ni Madame sa amin nang makalapit ito.

"Hello, madame." sabay na bati namin ni Ahl.

"As you can see, there's a problem. The dress won't fit to my model. And my other model has backed out for some important reasons. And now, I don't know anyone to substitute those two models. So, I'm hoping that the both of you will be a good employee to me and be the substitute. I guess with that stats of yours Elaine, the dress will fit perfectly. And you, Ahl. I know you will nail the shoot with that suit because you're tall." sabi ni Madame. Nagkatinginan kami ni Ahl. Wala kaming nagawa kundi ang umoo kasi sa aura pa lang ni Madame eh she won't take no as an answer.

Kaya nga agad na kaming pinapunta ni Madame sa dressing room. Sinimulan na akong ayusan ng make up artist. Tapos ay sinuot ko na ang dress para sa photoshoot. The dress was a little bit daring. It was a cowl neck bodycon dress. Backless din siya. The fabric is silk, and the color is champagne. They made me wear a 4 inches heels kaya medyo hindi ako sanay. I need to wear those daw para daw hindi ako lubog sa kapartner ko sa photoshoot. Well, gaano ba katangkad iyong kapartner ko? Mas matangkad ba kay Ahl?

Nang lumabas na ako sa dressing room ay saktong nagkasabay kami ni Ahl sa paglabas ng dressing room. Katapat lang kasi ng ladies' dressing room yung para sa mga lalaki.

Napatigil kami parehas nang makita ang isa't-isa. Nagkatitigan kami parehas. Tila hindi inaasahan na makikita namin ang isa't-isa na nakaayos. Hahaha!

Ahl is wearing a color teal turtle neck inner and coat. His hair was styled nicely and his face was retouched kaya mas lalong napansin ang features niya. He's also wearing a silver earrings on his left ear which made him more attractive.

"Y-You look nice." sabi niya. Ngumiti naman ako.

"You too." sabi ko. Sakto namang tinawag na kami kaya agad na kaming pumunta doon kung saan gagawin ang photoshoot. May mga model na kasalakuyan ng pinipicture'an ng photographer kaya parehas lang namin itong pinanood ni Ahl.

My palms are sweaty dahil sa sobrang kaba. First time kong magpopose sa camera and hindi ko alam kung paano yung gagawin ko once na nakasalang na ako. I hope I won't embarass my partner.

"You two are next, okay?" sabi ng assistant ni Madame. Nagkatinginan na lang ulit kami ni Ahl saka napatango.

"Well, tayo pala ang magpartner after all?" Ahl said.

"Good thing. Hindi na ako magwoworry na baka matapakan ko ang paa mo." sabi ko.

"Don't worry. We're going to nail this shoot." he chuckled. After a few shots ay kami na ang pinasalang for the photoshoot. Napansin ni Ahl na medyo hirap ako sa heels ko kaya inalalayan niya ako. Hindi na ako nagworry about sa poses kasi iniinstruct naman ng photographer sa amin ang magandang pose na gagawin naming dalawa. We just need to follow it and do it perfectly.

Ang pose namin ni Ahl ngayon ay fierce. Kasalukuyan niyang hawak ang baba ko habang nakatitig siya sa akin. Samantalang ako naman ay nakahawak sa kamay niya habang nakatitig sa camera. The photographer took a few shots saka pinag-iba ulit kami ng poses.

"Move closer. I need some touch of seduction!" bilin sa amin ng photographer.

"Come on, Ahl and Elaine. Don't be shy to show your affection to us. We're all aware about your relationship." sabi ni Madame. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Ahl tila nagulat dahil sa sinabi ni Madame. Dahil sa pagkakatanda namin ay kay Manon lang namin sinabi ang kunwaring relasyon namin ni Ahl just to make him leave. And now, napunta dito sa office ang issue? What the heck?

I was about to move nang biglang nawala ang balance ko sa heels at babagsak na sana nang biglang sinapo ako ni Ahl. Kasalukuyan siya ngayong nakahawak sa likod ko, supporting my weight habang ako ay nakakapit sa batok niya. Napatitig kami sa isa't-isa dahil doon dahilan para bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko. Siguro dahil sa kaba na muntik na akong mahulog?

Natinag lang kami nang makarinig kami ng shutter sounds.

"That's it! What a good pose! Good job!" puri ng photographer. Umayos na kami ng pwesto saka umalis na sa background dahil may susunod pa sa aming models. Nakailang poses na din naman kasi kami.

"Told you. We're gonna nail it." Ahl winked at me. Napangiti na lang ako. Well, the photoshoot is fun. But totally not the heels.

"Sa tingin mo paano nalaman ni Madame yung about sa issue? Hindi ba kay Manon lang naman natin sinabi?" I asked Ahl. He's also curious like me. Kasi first of all wala naman kaming balak palakihin ito at paabutin sa office. Dahil first of all, hindi naman ito totoo.

"I don't know. Maybe Manon told someone in the agency. Tapos iyon, kumalat na ang chismis like wildfire." sagot niya.

"Hindi ka ba nagwoworry?" I asked kasi kalmado lang siya sa kabila ng issue.

"Why would I? It's not like we're going to be interrogated, right?" he chuckled.

"Hello, Ahl and Elaine. Madame wants you to go to her office right now." bilin ng assistant ni Madame. Napatango naman kami ni Ahl saka sabay na nagpunta sa office ni Madame.

"Have a seat." bungad sa amin ni Madame kaya naupo kami parehas ni Ahl.

"Well, you nailed the photoshoot today. The photographer was impressed kaya I want to congratulate you two. Not bad for newbies like you, Elaine. Si Ahl kasi kahit papaano may experience na sa industry." sabi ni Madame.

"Siguro nagtataka kayo kung bakit ko kaya pinatawag sa office ko, right?" Madame smiled at us sabay inom ng tsaa niya.

"Bakit nga ba, Madame?" tanong ni Ahl.

"Nabalitaan niyo naman na siguro na sa London gaganapin ang fashion show right?" tanong ni Madame. Tumango kami parehas ni Ahl.

"Hmm. What if sabihin ko na gusto kong sumama kayo sa London?" tanong ni Madame na ikinabigla ko. Parehas kaming nagkatinginan ni Ahl na tila hindi din ineexpect ang biglaang offer ni Madame.

"What do you mean, madame?" tanong ni Ahl.

"I know this is sudden but Elaine, I want you to be one of my models for the fashion show and walk in the runway. Since some of your designs ang irarampa sa runway. And you, Ahl. I want you to be the fashion advisor for the fashion show. So basically, you need to accompany Elaine there." sabi ni Madame na mas lalo kong kinagulat. Me? Modelling? Uh-oh. This is not a good idea. I can't even wear heels properly!

"P-Pero Madame, I'm not experienced like the other models. Hindi ko alam kung paano po ang gagawin doon. Baka masira ko pa ang fashion show." sagot ko.

"Oh, no worries Elaine. We have trainors there to teach you some basics about modelling. I know you can do it. Saka, sayang naman ang figure mo if hindi mo ishoshow iyan. Your body is nice for modelling. Height is the only problem. But yeah, we can fix that through wearing heels."

"B-But Madame--"

"Let's have a deal, Elaine. Once you successfully finished this offer, I will approve your contract immediately dito sa agency. At yung pinangako ko sa iyo na I will shoulder all your living expenses here in France? I will gladly do it after the fashion show. Basta accept my offer and finished the task. That's all you need to do." sabi ni Madame na ikinatigil ko.

"I know it's sudden so I will give you until tomorrow to decide. Sorry for rushing your decision but I need an answer tomorrow for the contract signing. Well, that's all. Thank you for your time. Both of you." sabi ni Madame kaya nagpaalam na kami at agad lumabas ng office niya.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako and looked at Ahl with a worried look on my face. Hindi ko alam kung bakit inofferan ako ni Madame na maging model. Isn't she worried about me ruining her fashion show?

"Ahl, what should I do? I want to accept the offer kasi ang ganda ng pinropose ni Madame na kapalit. But I'm worried because I can't even walk on heels. Tapos ngayon rarampa ako sa runway kasabay yung mga models na may experience na talaga. Magmumukha lang akong engot doon. Hindi ka ba nagtataka kay Madame? She's suddenly giving me opportunity. Ni hindi pa nga ako nakakaget over sa pagkuha niya sa akin as a fashion designer." sabi ko.

"Wala namang mawawala if susubukan mo Elaine. And besides, si Madame na mismo ang nagsabi. May trainor naman na magtuturo sa iyo doon kung paano ang tamang gagawin. And, yep. Nakakapagtaka nga ang rush decisions ni Madame. But I don't doubt your abilities. I know you can do it." sabi ni Ahl.

"I know. But I'm still scared. Bago lang sa akin ito. Ni wala pa nga akong isang taon sa agency kaya sobrang naooverwhelmed ako sa sunod-sunod na opportunity. Not that I'm complaining ha?" sabi ko.

"I understand you, Elaine. Don't worry kasama mo naman ako doon. I will help you like how I helped Cyleen nung nagsisimula pa lang siya." sabi ni Ahl kaya kahit papaano ay nakaramdam ako ng konting ginhawa. Good thing talaga at kasama siya.

"Thank you, Ahl." sabi ko. Napangiti na lang siya as a respond. Well nagkaroon na ako ng opportunity to be a fashion designer for the fashion show and now I have an opportunity naman to be one of the models? A double opportunity in one shot.