The Unnoticed (FILIPINO/ COMPLETED)

Boss

WE KISSED again, but that was just all. We both parted ways, as he goes inside his office while I was accompanied by his secretary, Michel Lee.

"Someone from the production team will be going to assist you. I will be around for about two hours then I will leave you to them," she explained very coldly. Her eyes and voice were like Iceland, somehow she reminded me of Ms. Minchin. A Korean version, way young, fair, and beautiful.

Tumango ako bago sumunod sa kanya sa loob ng Hotel... pala. Sa panglabas kasi nitong anyo ay mukhang museum. Nagtungo kami sa ikatlong palapag. Naabutan naming ginagawa palang ang set.

Michel fluently spoke French with the locals, while I noticed most of them were Filipinos.

Tinuro ako ni Michel, may mahabang pag-uusap bago ako nilingon at dinala sa loob ng isang kuwarto. There were three men in a three-piece suit. Behind them was the jewelry I bet I will wear later for the rehearsal. After checking each palette, she brought me to the dressing room. I saw my outfit. They were simple and not branded but the fabric was high end.

May lumapit na pinay. Kinausap ito saglit ni Michel bago kami iniwang dalawa.

"Filipino?"

Tumango ako, kalakip ng palakaibigan na ngiti.

"Buti naman. Ako nga pala si Marie. Naku, ang strikta ng amo mo. Kanina nga, pinagalitan 'yung ibang department."

"Hindi kasi ako nakakaintindi ng French... kaya hindi ko alam na nagagalit na pala siya kanina." Gaya nalang kanina, seryoso niyang kinausap si Frank. Hindi ko buong narinig ang sinabi niya, pero nagagalit ito dahil sa pagtakas ng huli sa kung saan. Buong biyahe namin patungo rito ay napakatahimik. Hindi manlang niya ako kinakausap.

I watched the Filipina go behind me and started doing something with my hair.

"The last time ang modelo ng Lazarde ay ibang lahi. Ang ganda pero super arte. Ayaw niya ng make-up brand na gamit namin. Nakipagsagutan pa riyan kay Madam Michel. Hayan! Natanggal tuloy."

Maarte? Possible ba 'yon? Hindi ako umimik. Sinilip ko lang ang cellphone ko kung may message ni Frank.

"Hula ko, hindi ka pure Filipino."

Mula sa screen ay tinanaw ko ang babae sa salamin sa aking harapan. "Siguro." Nagkibit balikat ako.

"Akala ko kanina ibang lahi ka dahil sa kulay ng mata mo. Pero nang sabihin mong po, nakuha mo ang atensyon namin."

Hindi ko napansin ang oras habang inaayusan ako ni Marie. Marami siyang kuwento, lalo kay Miss Minchin. Gaya nalang ng minsang event ng Lazarde ay nahuli nitong pinigil ng babae ang boss upang sumunod sa isa pang babae. Tinanong ko siya kung sino 'yung babae, pero local model daw sa Pinas.

Ang unang sumagi sa isip ko ay si Bridgette.

Nagtanong ako kung Kaylan pa 'yon. Sabi niya ay nakaraang taon pa. Tapos isang celebration noon, hindi niya sure dahil may tama na siya. Nakita niyang hinalikan ni Miss Minchin ang boss.

Iisang tao lang ang kilala kong boss nila. Si Frank 'yon!

Hindi ako mapakali habang nasa rehearsal. Lalo nang hindi ko na makita si Miss Minchin sa paligid. Naalala kong sinabi nito na dalawang oras lang siya. Bakit? Dahil ba nasa opisina na si Boss. Nagalit siya dahil tumakas si Boss at hindi siya mapapalagay kapag wala ito?

"Can you seat on the grass, Juls?"

"Yes! Sure, Mr. Bailey."

I did as he said, for now, they were checking my details. Which spot will give impact? How do I express my emotion? Which tone should be good on that set?

It took us one hour because I am not alone for this photoshoot. There is another model that shocked me when she came. Lapeetah Meyerk, my girlfriend. I literally rejoice and hugged her.

"I was very happy, Peet that you are here!"

"Me too! But I don't know that you were here." Umiling ito. "You're really here! With me doing the same job I thought you'll never want to be in."

If only I can explain to her how I came here, but I shouldn't. Besides, no one here knows that I had a relationship with their boss. Plus the fact that it was my first time, even if I use with camera and blogging. This is the same but my photos will be more professional and purposely business important.

Twenty minutes of preparation then we started the photoshoot. I was wearing a black dress with a sequence around. Kind of flashy but for me, the deep neckline was too much revealing.

Lapeetah was up to while I'm still in my dressing room. Marie was busy curling the ends of my long hair. Sinilip ko ang aking cellphone nang makatanggap ng message sa i********:.

FrankAldrich: What could be my baby doing right now?

Hindi ko alam kung bakit imahe niya at ni Michel na naghahalikan ang sumagi sa isip ko.

Cielo.JRI: I'm ready for my shoot.

Sa unang salang ko ay kabadong-kabado ako. Nanibago akong wala si Gatus. Maraming tao sa harapan at lahat sila ay pinapanood ako. Tumagal ng dalawang minuto o higit bago ako nakawala sa aking kaba. Sa ikalawa at ikatlong salang ko at palit ng outfit ay nagagamay ko na. May pagkakataong nananatiling stiff pero mabait si Mr. Bailey. Sa ikaapat ay magkasama kami ni Lapeetah.

Our backdrop was a dark forest. My make-up and mood at that moment were intimate.

Bago kami pinagsama ay solo. Inaayos ni Marie ang aking suot nang mahanap ng aking atensyon ang paparating na si Frank. He is serious, dashing, and unpleasant when stopping in front, near Mr. Bailey. Some of the staff gave respect to him, greeted him, but he just gave a grim nod then his eyes drifted on my outfit.

Icy spikes scattered on my body as his eyes remained on the slit of my dress and revealing cleavage. Lumapit ang scout ni Lapeetah kasama si Miss Minchin. May sinasabi sila kay Frank, pero ang huli ay mariing nakatitig lang sa akin.

"Alright, Juls. Let's do it. Give me your sexiest and playful side. Own this place!"

Tumango ako bago nagpakawala nang malalim na hininga. Nang makita ko ang pagpula na senyales na simula na ay inisip kong wala silang lahat dito kung 'di ay ako lang. May paghawi sa aking buhok. Lakad. Kagat labi habang hawak ang pinakamahal na kuwintas na nasuot ko sa unang pagkakataon.

Matapos ng solo ay pinagsama na kami ni Lapeetah. Mas lalong na-boost ang confidence ko nang i-cheer up niya ako.

"Woah! You two are hotter than I thought. That's wrapped!" Mr. Bailey said.

Napayakap ako kay Lapeetah. Siya naman ay tinulungan ako sa pag-ayos ng aking damit. Nalalaglag kasi sa balikat ko ang kabilang side dahil sa lalim ng neckline nito. Nagmumukhang off shoulder.

"That's one intense. Do you know each other?"

"Yes, Mr. Bailey. We're friends, but this is our first time to be together... doing this all. I was really surprised. She's good in it," Lapeetah answered.

Nanatili akong tikom sa gilid. Nangingiti kahit pa kabado talaga dahil sa paninitig ni Frank at kasama nitong babae. May lumapit na lalaking parte ng production team. Nagbigay ito ng water sa amin ni Lapeetah, may sinabing hindi ko nakuha dahil namataan kong palapit na si Frank.

"Thanks for the invitation. I don't think, Juls would be fine—"

"Sir. Frank," everyone including the guy who approached us greeted him.

My heart is about to explode when Frank stayed behind me, his one hand rested at the small of my back. Declaring something he owned. Lapeetah's lip curved into o, while I found Miss Minchin's death-defying glare.

Tingin ko. Hindi ko na kailangang buksan ang topic tungkol sa kanila ni Frank. He is mine after all. Nothing but only for me and for Miss Minchin, she is just a secretary.

Mr. Bailey gave us a playful glare. "Julienne Reese Imperial had a potential. She had an immediate impact. She'll be going to worth like crazy. So sexy stunning. When I turned on my lens, she's like talking to you through eyes. I suggest a commercial for Elegance with them, what do you think Mr. Aldrich?"

"I agree. We'll do that definitely, Mr. Bailey," he answered, his tone were far from the boyfriend material I love. This side of him is powerful, the Boss, and full of authority.

Iniwan ko si Frank na kausap si Mr. Bailey. Kami ni Lapeetah ay dumiretso sa Dressing Room para magpalit.

"You owe me an explanation with everything, Sweet chich!"

Nabitin ang pagtali ko sa buhok upang patahimikin siya. "Ssshh. They can hear you."

Tumingin sa paligid si Lapeetah bago bumulong, "This is crazy. Your savior is the owner of Elegance... and now you two had a relationship. I'm on your side." Lumapit siya at inayos ang damit ko. "He is a Filipino too, right?"

Tumango ako. Hindi na nakayanang itago ang ngiti sa aking mga labi.

"I knew it. So, how it happen? The last time I saw your picture, you were with Red."

"Yeah. Frank was in there too. He literally followed me," paliwanag ko. Kahit pa ang totoo ay ako yata ang nag-pursue sa relasyon namin.

Kumunto ang noo niya. "Did Red saw him too?"

"I think so... but I don't have the chance to confess to him that we are just friends. It's hard, Peet."

"Cheer up, Sweet Chic. He'll understand later, that's for sure."

We parted ways. I used the escalator going to the Lobby where he said he'll going to wait for me. She used the secret elevator to go to the basement. Immediately I found Frank talking with an old man under his corporate attire too. They were shaking their hands before they bid goodbye, then Frank turned his gaze on me.

I smiled with him, meanwhile, he didn't smile back.

May problema ba kami?

Sinalubong niya ako sa dulo ng escalator. Tahimik akong inakbayan at sinabay sa paglalakad. I saw different faces turned their heads on our side. Some of them took photos while some buzz a topic. When we seated on the backseat, Frank started to talk.

"I'll go back to the office to finish some of my work. You still had more time... for leisure."

Napahinto siya nang bumaling ako sa kanya. "Hindi ka pa tapos sa trabaho?"

Malungkot siyang tumango. Nahawa tuloy ako. Inaasahan ko pa naman na makakasama ko siya kapag narito ako. Hindi rin naman pala. "Wala naman akong gusto na puntahan. Puwede bang sumama ako sa opisina mo. Pangako, hindi kita guguluhin."

Huminga siya nang malalim. "Fine."

Bumalik ang sigla ko dahil doon. Iyon nga lang nang makita ko ang pagmumukha ni Miss Minchin, pumapait ang timpla ko. Naka-upo ako sa sofa. Naka-cross ang mga binti habang abala sa pag-scan ng mga comment sa picture ko sa i********:. Nang pumasok ang masungit na sekretarya.

Ang dami niyang dokumento na dala. Bago lumagpas ay sinulyapan ako.

"These are the documents for approval, Sir. The first three were urgent. By the way, Mr. Devon Shin confirmed with me the thirty percent success of the game. If you wanted to check on them I had the link on my email. I can send it to you anytime. Reminder, Sir that Mr. Malik Hetch is our additional private investor. He gave us a proposal collaboration with Mr. Shawn Fris for the project, railway. They were waiting for your time when you can do the mapping and discuss further the project."

Sa dami ng sinabi niya ay napakurap ako. Hindi man ako nakatingin kay Frank, nakikita ko ang marahan niyang pagtango. Nakuha kaya niya ang lahat ng 'yon? Ganoon ba lagi ang ginagawa niya rito? Mag-isa ang siya pero ang trabaho niya ay pang-walong tao. Ang sakit sa ulo!

I massaged my temple when he talked. Hindi ko nasundan dahil kumikirot ang sentido ko.

"Hey? Are you alright?"

Gulat akong napatingin kay Frank. He squatted in front me, his right palm on my knees while the other one on my arm. He pinched it. Through his eyes, lies the worriedness and exhaustion.

"O-okay lang ako, Frank." Luminga ako at napansing wala na si sungit!

Umusog ako nang maupo siya sa tabi ko. "Do you want me to send you home?"

Mabilis akong umiling. Ako pa ang inalala niya, siya nga itong kailangan ng tulong. Marami siyang ginagawa rito. Tapos nagagawa ko pa siyang abalahin. Kapag inuna niya ako, madadagdagan ang trabaho niya. Magkakapatong-patong hanggang sa baka ako pa ang maging sanhi ng pagkasira niya bilang head ng kumpanya na ito.

Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay at umiling. "Baka gutom lang ako. Kumain ka na ba?" Sinulyapan ko ang mga dokumento sa mesa niya. "Gawin mo na 'yon. Babalik ako para kumuha ng makakain natin."

Pagod siyang tumango. Inilahad sa akin ang titanium card niya. "Use this. I'll wait for you, okay?"

Ibinalik ko sa kanya iyon at umiling. "May pera ako, Frank."

"No, baby. Take this with you, please."

Matigil lang ang usapan ay kinuha ko na. Humalik ako sa pisngi niya bago lumabas sa automatic glass panel sliding door. Nakakalayo na ako ng kaunti nang may tumawag sa akin. Paglingon ko ay si Miss Sungit pala.

"Julienne Reese Imperial, hindi ba?"

Shoot! Nagtatagalog pala ang isang ito! "Yes, Ma'am?"

"Ikaw pala ang dahilan kung bakit siya laging nawawala."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin? Hindi kita maintindihan."

"Alam mo bang dahil sa'yo ay nagkaroon ng problema. Pinuntahan ka niya sa Palawan para sa mababaw na dahilan."