Make You Miss Me

03

MONIKA

"Isn't it quite disrespecful that you're already yelling at me?"

My lips parted out of shock. Ilang segundo kong tinitigan ang mukha niya para muling makasiguro na siya nga ang kaharap ko.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito, Darius?" tanong ko.

He looked at me and flashed a playful smirk. "So you already decided to drop the formalities, huh?"

"Uh. . ." I trailed off, not knowing what to say next.

"Are you the boss?" I asked unconsciously.

He shove his hands onto the pocket of his suit before giving me a cold stare, gone the playful Darius that I met.

He soon handed me a card. A business card, I assumed. Tama nga ang hula ko nang basahin ko ang nakasulat sa card.

Darius Fontanilla, owner of Inara.

"B-But. . . How?" Bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Instead of answering me, he went sraight to a chair infront and sat there. "Should we start our business now?"

I clamped my lips together before nodding at him. "What do you want to see first?" I asked and handed him my portfolio.

"The walk," simpleng sagot niya.

I nodded before going at the other side of the room. Matapos niyon ay nagsimula na akong rumampa. I never trembled in my whole modeling career but my knees almost went weak when I saw that he's staring at me.

I kept saying to myself that I am a professional. That I should set aside my personal life because I am working. Kahit na gusto ko siya, mas gusto ko ng trabaho.

"How is it?" tanong ko nang makarating ako sa harapan niya.

He gave me a half-shrug. "It looks fine but something is lacking."

My brows furrowed. Gusto ko sanang itanong kung ano pero baka magmukha naman akong bastos sa kaniya. He's the boss after all.

"You can now pick some clothes on the rack and showcase it," utos niya.

"Uh, how many?'

"Three is enough," he answered while taking a look at some of my photos.

Agad naman akong naglakad papunta sa clothing rack at pumili ng tatlong damit. Hindi naman ako masyadong nahirapan dahil alam ko na agad ang mga dapat piliin. The boss of Solasta taught me a while ago. Sana lamang ay parehas sila ng hinahanap sa model.

I picked a pair of tuxedo for women, a toe-length dress na backless at tanging string ang nagdudugtong to showcase my upper body, and a above the knee satin red dress to showcase my lower body.

Matapos kong isuot ang unang fit ay agad din akong lumabas para rumampa sa harapan niya. Medyo nahirapan ako sa unang fit sa kadahilanang masiyadong malaki sa akin ang damit. Hindi ko alam kung sadyang payat lamang talaga ako o malaki talaga ang pagkakagawa sa damit.

Matapos ang unang fit ay agad akong dumiretso sa fitting room para magpalit. Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa pangalawa dahil sanay na akong magsuot ng ganoong damit tuwing may special events. I'm confident with my body especially my upper body. My collar bones are visible with my bare neck. kapag tumalikod naman ako ay makikita ang aking nakalabas na likod showcasing my curves. It's the perfect fit for the type of body that I have.

Nang makalabas ako ay saktong kakatapos niya lamang tingnan ang laman ng portfolio ko. I just walked like what I did earlier and did a variety of poses and facial expression.

Matapos niyon ay muli akong pumunta sa fitting room para isuot ang huling damit. Halos katulad lang ang huling damit ng pangalawa kong isinuot. Ang kaibahan ay maikli ito at hindi labas ang likod.

Katulad kanina ay rumampa lamang ako sa harapan niya at nag-pose bago ako muling bumalik sa fitting room para isuot ang damit na suot ko kanina pagdating ko rito. Fitted jeans at fitted white na top.

Nang makalabas ako ay naabutan ko siyang muling tinitingnan ang portfolio ko. Mukha namang napansin niyang nasa harapan na niya ako kaya't dali-dali niyang isinara ang portfolio ko.

"How is it, Sir?"

He cleared his throat before he spoke. "The first fit is fine but I don't like the second and the last one."

Kumunot ang noo ko. But in my own opinion, the first fit was horrible!

"Can I ask why, Sir?'

"The second and third fits are too daring. It seems like you're seducing the client," he answered.

I can't help but to chuckle silently. Is he implying that he is seduced?

"I don't think it's not my problem that you're seduced, Sir."

"But isn't it disrespectful that you are already seducing your client during work?"

I heaved a sigh. "I am not seducing anyone, Sir. My body is just too beautiful."

He chuckled. "Ang secretary ko nalang ang tatawag sa iyo kung naanggap ka," sabi niya at inilapag ang portfolio ko.

"Wala ka na naman sigurong pinag-applyan, hindi ba?" dagdag niya.

"I was accepted in Solasta before I went here, Sir," sagot ko.

"Solasta is already a big company. Why didn't you just accept it?"

I gave him a half-smile. "I am going to accept their offer if you decided to fail me."

"All right. You passed."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at gulat na tumingin sa kaniya. Sinabi niya ba na pumasa ako?

"I beg your pardon, Sir?"

"I said, you passed," pag-uulit niya.

My lips parted. Did I just passed Inara?

"Uh. . . Can I talk to my manager first, Sir?"

"If you're doubting about our credebility, then fret none. I can assure you that our company is legit," he said.

I smiled awkwardly. "It's not about that, Sir. I just need her opinion."

"All right." He shrugged.

"Give me a minute, Sir," paalam ko bago lumabas ng kuwartong iyon.

Sunod-sunod akong bumuntong hininga. This felt so surreal. Agad ko namang inilabas ang phone ko at tinawagan si Kia na agad naman niyang sinagot.

"Yes? Any problem?" tanong niya matapos sagutin ang tawag.

"May good news ako," panimula ko.

"What is it?"

"I passed Solasta and Inara."

"What? Is that true? How?" Sunod-sunod na tanong niya.

"I don't know how did I passed but I need to make a decision now. What should I choose?"

"Tinatanong pa ba 'yan? Siyempre Inara!" Malakas na sagot niya. Bahagya ko namang inilayo sa tainga ko ang phone ko sa lakas ng boses niya.

"But I have a problem. . ." I trailed off.

"Ano?"

"Darius is here. He is the owner of Inara."

"What?!" Muli kong inilayo ang phone s akaing tainga nang sumigaw siya ng malakas.

"What should I do?"

"Siyempre tanggapin mo pa rin. Ano 'yan, landi muna bago trabaho, ganoon? Siyempre trabaho dapat," sagot niya.

"But how can he miss me if he's my boss?"

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