Reckless Night with the Hot Governor (SPG)

Chapter 1

TRIXIE'S POV:

MASAKIT na ang mga mata ko na nasisilaw sa flash ng camera. Ilang oras na akong nakatayo at nagpo-posing. Nangangalay na rin ang mga binti ko.

“Trixie, lean into the light– yes, like that! Give me that ‘I own this room and every dress in it’ vibe!” Marcus, my photographer, yells into his headset.

I shift my pose, adjusting my facial expression just like he asked. I let my arm drop, letting the velvet of my winter gown slide down my shoulder. Naka-pokerface ako pero nang-aakit ang tingin sa camera.

This is my life now. Waking up at 4 AM, back-to-back studio shoots, runway shows in Montreal and Toronto, commercial tapings. Halos wala akong pahinga buong araw. I’m in a downtown Toronto studio right now.

The air smells like hairspray and expensive perfume. Apat na oras na akong nagpo-posing nang tuloy-tuloy. My feet are screaming in these heels I'm wearing.

“Okay, last take– and ta-dah! Perfect! Nice one, Trixie!” Marcus shouts.

I let out a long breath. Damn. Finally, the shoot’s over. Nakahinga na ako nang maluwag. Liza, my assistant, is already by my side with sneakers and a bottle of iced tea for me.

“You’re amazing, Trix. Good job. You’re so lucky to have that face,” she said, handing me the drink. “Anyway, the client emailed– they want to use your shots for the global campaign cover.” She added.

I sit down on my assigned chair, enjoying sipping the cold iced tea. Sobrang uhaw na ako na kanina pa nagtatrabaho.

“Tell them we can do extra retakes after lunch,” I replied. “But we only have 45 minutes– where’s my phone? May mgamessages ba ko?”

She nods, typing on her tablet. “Speaking of messages, your notifications from the Philippines are blowing up. From mom, dad, and Lucas. May voicemail at video message pa siya para sa ‘yo.”

My smile fades. Lucas rarely does this unless it's important. I grab my phone from the vanity table beside me and check my notifications. The video message is at the top, I tap it, and Lucas face pops up on the screen, with a wide smile. He’s in his fireman uniform, standing in front of a truck. He's really cool and hot specially when he's wearing his uniform.

“Trixie! Ate!” he yells into the camera, making me smile. “I’m getting married! This time, it's for real. Dapat dumalo ka ha? Wala ka noong unang kasal namin ni Nicolette, kaya dapat bumawi ka. Anyway, ikaw ang maid of honor namin ha? Ayoko kay Jane e. Mas maganda ang Ate Trix ko kaya umuwi ka, hmm? I miss you, ate. I love you– muwah muwah muwah!”

The video ends. Nangilid ang luha ko na napakalambing pa rin ni Lucas sa akin kahit mag-aasawa na siya. Time flies so fast. Parang kailan lang noong mga bata pa kami nila Lucas, Kuya Matteo at ang bunso namin, si Jane. Masayang naglalaro buong araw. Sinusuway nila mommy dahil madalas kaming makasira ng gamit sa mansion. Pero gano'n pa man, mahal na mahal kami nila mommy at daddy. Madalas nga ay makisali sila sa kulitan naming magkakapatid. But everything changed when we grow up. Ako lang naman ang nalayo sa kanila. Dahil nag-focus ako sa dream career ko– ang maging isang international model.

I wipe my tears and tap the voicemail button, it's from my Mom Tarah, her voice is soft, worried, at napakalambing niyang magsalita. I close my eyes and let my tears drop.

“Trixie, anak, how's your day? Have you eaten? Anyway, Lucas sent the video to all of us. Uuwi ka naman, right? Namimis ka na namin, sweetheart. Uuwi ka naman, ‘di ba? Please, spend the week with us. I love you, my princess. Please, come home.”

I set down my phone. Napayuko na hinayaan na munang maubos ang luha ko. Ito ang isang mahirap kapag nasa abroad ka. Kapag nagpaparamdam ang pamilya mo at nilalambing kang umuwi ka. Napapahid ako ng luha, running my hand through my wavy hair. Zambales. Next week. That’s barely enough time to finish my current projects. The winter campaign, Toronto Fashion Week runway, the some photoshoot for Vogue Philippines.

I look around the studio– racks of gowns, lights set up for the next shoot, Liza talking to stylists about accessories. This is my life in Canada. Successful, famous, busy but happy. I’ve been single for almost a decade, at ayoko nang sumubok pa.

I used to believe in love, once. I was 23, fresh off my first international contract, head over heels for Gelo who said all the right things. “You’re my muse,” he’d told me. “We’ll build a life together. I’ll support your dreams even if they take you across the world.”

So when he lost his job in Manila, I didn’t hesitate to fly him to Canada, let him stay in my condo, feed him, give him an allowance, tinulungan ko pa siyang maghanap ng trabaho. I took care of him like a family for two years.

Then our anniversary came. I’d spent weeks planning– reserved his favorite restaurant, bought the watch he’d been wanting for ages that cost million. I came home early to surprise him, but I was the one who got shocked. I walked into my condo where he lives and found him with my best friend, Waynona– having intimate s*x in the living room!

That was the day I decided love was a lie. I promised myself never to fall inlove again. I threw Gelo’s luggage out of my condo, binawi ko ang ATM, car key at ang condo ko. I cut off all contact with them, and poured every minute into my work.

Ten years later, I’m one of Canada’s top international models– on magazine covers, walking in New York and Paris, working with names I used. I have everything I want. . . except, sometimes, when I’m in my big empty condo. Naiisip ko ang masaya at maingay na pamilyang nakasanayan ko when I was young.

“Trixie? Are you with us?” Marcus asks, standing in front of me with worry in his brown eyes.

“Yeah, just. . . family stuff,” I said. “Lucas is getting married. In Zambales. They want me to come home next week.” I added.

“Whoa, that’s great! Congrats to him,” he answered with a smile. “Are you going?”

I shrug, twisting the diamond ring on my finger. Regalo ko sa sarili ko for my tenth year in modeling. I pouted my lips na nakatulala sa kawalan.

“I don’t know. I have so much schedule for this month. The winter campaign needs to be done next month, final shots for the Vogue spread, at ang Montreal runway na ilang linggo na lang.” Sagot ko na napahinga nang malalim sabay iling.

Marcus sits down next to the vanity, crossing his arms on his broad chest. “Trixie, you work harder than anyone I know. You deserve a break. And besides– how many times does your brother get married? This time, pasayahin mo naman ang pamilya mo. Pamilya pa rin ang pinakamahalagang meron tayo, Trix. Ang swerte mo nga e, may supportive family ka na dinadalaw ka pa dito. Bakit hindi naman sila ang dalawin mo ngayon?” pagpapayo niya.

He’s right, my family support me well. Dating international model din ang mommy ko. Sa kanya ako nagmana ng passion. Pero mahirap malayo sa kanila. Once every two months, dumadalaw ang pamilya ko dito sa Toronto para makasama nila ako. Kapag birthday ko, kapag Christmas season, New Year, dumadalaw sila dahil alam nilang wala akong ibang kaanak dito to spend the Christmas and New Year.

“Okay,” I replied. “I’ll go. Pero kailangan kong tapusin lahat dito bago friday. Para hindi tambak ang trabaho ko pagbalik ko.”

Marcus smile, taping my shoulder. “That’s my girl. I’ll rearrange the schedule– we’ll wrap the winter campaign tomorrow, do the Vogue shots on thursday, and put Montreal's schedule when you come back from your short vacation. Your brother’s wedding comes first.” Aniya.

“Thank you, Mar.” I thank him, then look at Liza. “Can you book the flight that my mom mentioned? Direct to Manila this weekend.”

Tumango-tango naman ito. Nakatuon ang attention sa iPad niya para ayusin ang mga schedule ko.

“Already booked,” she says, not looking up from her tablet. “Also, the client sent a bonus for the velvet gown shoot. They said your shots are iconic and amazing. I set aside half for Lucas’s wedding gift, tulad ng palagi mong ginagawa.” She added.

I smiled. “You’re the best, Liza. You really know me.”

Kumindat lang naman ito na napangiti sa akin.

The day flies by. We finish the afternoon shoot– more gowns, more flashes, more directions to ‘look fierce but soft’. By the time we’re done, it’s 8 o'clock PM already. I grab my bag and walk out of the studio into Toronto’s cold night. The streets are filled with people heading home, couples holding hands, friends laughing on their way to bars. A normal, happy scene– ‘yong uri ng buhay na dating pinangarap ko kasama si Gelo dati.

I get in a taxi and give the driver my address. As we drive through the city, I pull out my phone and text Lucas.

“Congratulations, my little bro, I'm so happy for you! Finally, you found your woman. I can't wait to see you all, love you!” I texted him.

He replies immediately that makes me smile.

“Wah, thank you, ate! You have no idea how happy I am right now that you're coming home! Alam mo, ibinibida kita kay Nicolette, na isang famous international model ang ate ko!”

I giggled when I read his reply. “Famous ka d'yan. Ordinaryo lang ako pagdating sa inyo. Binabatukan mo nga ako e,” ingos ko.

Nagkulitan pa kami ni Lucas sa convo habang nasa byahe ako pauwi. When I get to my condo– a clean, modern space with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Lake Ontario. I drop my bag on the sofa and head to the kitchen for a glass of red wine. As I pour it, I look at the photos on my fridge. Me with Lucas at his fireman graduation, me with mom and dad at my first Toronto runway show, our family picture together, me with Liza and Marcus at last year’s New Year’s party. No photos of boyfriends, no romantic trip snaps. Ako lang at ang mga taong mahalaga sa buhay ko. Family and friends.

I take a sip of wine, then open my laptop and pull up my calendar. I start planning for the next few days– back to back shoots, client meetings, packing for the trip home. It’s going to be a crazy week, pero alam kong sulit ito. Lucas’s wedding is a big deal.

As I type, my phone rings. A text from Red– a billionaire who’s been asking me out for months. “Hey Trixie, I heard you done the shoot. Want to celebrate a dinner with me tomorrow? I got a reservation at that new Italian place you loved.” He said.

“Thank you so much for the offer, Red, but I’m so busy this week,” I text back. “Maybe another time?”

I know there’s no ‘another time’. He’ll get the message, like everyone else. They see me as the famous model, the pretty face of me, the successful career– Pero hindi nila nakikita ang babae na takot na hayaan ang sinuman na mapalapit sa kanya para saktan siyang muli. They don’t understand that I built my life on independence, at hindi na magbabago ang prinsipyo kong walang forever.

I finish my wine, then headed to my room to get ready for bed. Tomorrow will be long again– early shoot, lots of meetings, more planning for the trip to come home. After a quick shower and doing my night routine, I lie on my bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Zambales. The hot sun, the smell of fresh fish by the beach, Lucas, Kuya Matteo and Jane’s laugh echoing through our family house. Going home will be good. Isa pa, hindi ko pa nakikilala personally ang mga naidagdag sa pamilya namin. Ang asawa ni Kuya Mat, mga anak nila, pamilya ni Ate Gabby at syempre–si Nicollete na mapapangasawa ni Lucas. Mapait akong napangiti na naidantay ang braso sa noo. Bigla akong nakadama ng inggit. Unti-unti nang nagkakaroon ng pamilya ang mga kapatid ko, pero ako? Heto at napag-iiwanan. Hindi ko alam pero– bigla akong nalungkot.

I close my eyes, trying to push those thoughts away. For now, I just need to focus on work, on getting ready for the trip, on being there for Lucas on his wedding day. Love can wait. It always has. Or maybe, there’s no man for me at all. Kung ganon, hindi na mahalaga kung manatili akong single forever. Ang mahalaga, I'm happy.