Make You Miss Me

02

MONIKA

"Are you sure that the one on the news is my Mama? Parang hindi naman, e."

My manager rolled her eyes before putting a glass of water on the table. "Everyone was speculating that it was her after that reporter posted a blind item. At isa pa, totoo naman na tinutukoy niya ang Mama mo."

"But there's no solid proof that it was really her," I said before pulling out my phone on my pocket.

Kung kanina ay ayaw kong magcheck ng social media accounts, kailangan ko ng magbukas ngayon.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bumungad ang pangalan ni Mama sa Trending list ko sa Twitter. Nasa spot number three pa ang pangalan niya.

"Hashtag cancel the homewrecker Melba Chavez," pagbasa ko sa hashtag na trending.

"See?" bulong ni Kia sa tabi ko.

Napailing naman ako bago binuksan ang mga tweets na nnakapaloob sa hashtag. Huwag ko lamang talaga makikita ang pangalan ko rito, patay talaga sa akin si Mama.

"Monika Chavez is a daughter of a homewrecker. Such a disgrace."

I bit my lower lip before I balled my hand into fist out of irritation. Sinasabi ko na nga ba.

"Ugh, Mama!"

"And uh. . . Mayroon ka pang kailangang malaman."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at tinaasan siya ng kilay. "What is it?"

"'Yung Mama mo kasi, umalis na ng bansa kasama ang kinakasama niya—"

"Ano kamo? Umalis si Mama ng bansa kasama 'yung panibagong kinakasama niya?!"

My manager slowly nod her head. "Hindi pa alam ng media ang tungkol diyan."

"At talagang matapos niyang idamay ang pangalan ko sa kalokohan niya, bigla nalang siyang aalis?"

"Pero mas mabuti na rin namang umalis siya para makalayo siya sa media at humupa ang issue."

I rolled my eyes and folded my hand over my chest. "Paano kapag nalaman ng media na umalis siya kasama ang lalaking iyon? Paano ang career ko kung ako lang mag-isa ang itinira niya rito?"

"Saka mo na problemahin 'yan kapag nangyari na. Ang problemahin mo na lamang ay career mo dahil wala pa ring nagb-book sa'yo," Kia said.

I let out a harsh breath. "Si Papa, anong sabi niya?" tanong kong muli.

"He doesn't want to get involve. Lalo pa at malapit na ang kasal nila ng fiancé niya," she said, almost a mumble but enough for me to hear.

Napatango ako kasabay ng pagbuntong hininga. "Right. May fiancé na nga pala siya."

"Monika, don't be too grumpy about it. Instead of thinking about them, just focus on yourself."

"Of course, I should. Ako lang naman ang mayroon para sa sarili ko."

****

"Hindi ka ba talaga sasama sa akin?"

Kia shook her head lightly while arranging tons of papers on the table. "You can do your go-sees alone. You don't need me there."

"But my line up for today are Inara Magazine and Solasta Magazine. Do you think they'll give me a yes?" I asked consciously.

"Kailangan mo talagang matanggap lalo na sa Inara. Who knows, maybe their company might hire you if you did well, 'di ba?"

I nodded. "I really need something as big as Inara for me to be able to pursue Modelling abroad."

"But I doubt that they'll hire me because of the recent issue about my mother," dagdag ko.

Melba Chavez, my mother, was one of the most famous actress during her time. However, during the peak of her career, she got pregnant. Without her noticing, her name immediately faded in the industry. Before she got labelled as a homewrecker, she was once labelled as a young mother.

Ako ang dahilan kung bakit nasira ang career niya pero hindi ako makapapayag na sirain niya rin ang akin. We are different from each other and I will prove to everyone that I am not like her.

I wanted to establish my name just by myself. Hindi ako papayag na buong buhay na lamang akong magiging si Monika Chavez na anak ni Melba Chavez. Gusto kong maging si Monika Chavez na sikat na model at hindi bilang anak niya lamang.

"You should go now," utos ni Kia.

Tumango lamang ako at tumayo na mula sa kinauupuan ko. "You won't drive for me?'

He chuckled as she shook her head. "Marami akong ginagawa at isa pa, kaya mo namang mag-drive mag-isa."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine."

****

"That was such a nice job, Miss Chavez."

Ngumiti naman ako sa nagsabi noon. That was Zhione Destura, the owner of Solasta Magazine. Hindi ko alam kung kasing edad ko lamang ba siya o mas matanda sa akin ng ilang taon. Mukha kasi siyang bata na palaging nakangiti. He's quite playful despite being the owner of one of the most famous magazine in the country.

"Am I done, Sir?" tanong ko matapos rumampa sa harapan niya.

I also trained to walk for atleast a year para maisabak din ako sa mga runway shows. Hindi naman puwedeng puro photoshoot lamang ako.

"Miss Chavez, are you the one who became the endorser of a famous diet drink?"

Tumango naman ako at tipid na ngumiti. "Ako nga po 'yun."

"My team are already interested with you even before."

"That's a pleasure, Sir."

"Anyway, I'll go for a yes. Kailan ka free para makapag-book na kami ng photoshoot?" he asked as he fiddled a pen loosely on his hand.

My lips parted. "Tanggap na po ako? Agad-agad?"

"May iba ka pa bang pupuntahan na magazine company?" tanong niya.

I smiled awkwardly before I nod my head. "Inara," sagot ko.

Bahagya naman siyang napatango. "Then call me after applying in Inara."

I looked at him confusedly. "Kayo po ang tatawagan ko?"

He chuckled. "I mean the company."

****

"May appoinment po kayo, Ma'am?"

I nodded. "I'm scheduled for a go-see today. I'm Monika Chavez."

"Just go the room 406, Ma'am. Pabalik na po si Sir galing sa meeting."

Tumango akong muli at bahagyang ngumiti. "Sige. Maraming salamat."

"A-Ah, Ma'am," pagtawag niya sa akin.

Lumingon naman ako para tumingin sa kaniya. "Yes?"

"Kayo po ba si Monika Chavez, 'yung anak ni Melba Chavez?"

I smiled at her. "Just Monika Chavez."

"Ganoon po ba? Sorry po, Ma'am. Magpapapicture po sana ako kasi idol ng kapatid ko si Melba Chavez."

"Pasensya na," sabi ko at nagsimula ng mag-lakad.

Gusto ko sanang sabihin niya sa kapatid niya na maling tao ang inidolo niya. Pero siyempre, hindi ko sinabi. Baka mas lalo pang lumaki ang gulo.

Nang makapasok ako sa loob ng room 406 ay wala pang tao. Mukhang ako lamang ang may naka-schedule na go-see.

Go-sees are common in models. Paraan iyon ng mga brands o ng magazine company para pumili ng mga models. Karaniwan ay isusukat ng model ang damit at rarampa sa harap ng pipili. Dahil doon ay makikita kung angkop ba sa katawan at kakayahan ng model ang brand na ieendorse.

I subsconsciously smoothed down my top and pressed my heels into the ground mainly because of anticipation and nervousness.

"Good afternoon, Miss Chavez."

My eyes widened upon hearing a familiar voice. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay sakto namang nakatingin din siya sa akin.

"What are you doing here?!"

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