What Becomes Of Us (An Anthology)

Always You - 6

"Nic, can you please get the order from table 12?" Anne, one of the waitresses asked.

"Sure, Anne." She answered quietly.

"Thanks. And please smile. You're too pretty to be keeping your head low like that." Anne smiled.

Nic gave her a little smile. "Okay."

She made her way to the table and greeted the group of three guys. She tried her best to be friendly and smile but three months on the job still couldn't get her used to dealing with a lot of people.

"May I take your order?" She asked with a shy smile.

"Sure, Nic." The guy in a red shirt with hair pushed back with what looks like a ton of hair products said reading her name tag.

She prepared her pen and notepad and waited for their order.

"Don't just stare at her. Tell her what we're having." The guy in the blue shirt next to him said.

"Nic, how long have you been working here?" The guy in the red shirt asked, shrugging off his friend's remark.

"Three months." Nic answered plainly. "What drinks are you having? Beer? Cocktails? Shots?" She offered.

"Are you still in school? You look young. How old are you?" The guy prodded.

"Excuse me. I'm sorry but I think that's too many personal questions to ask the girl whose only job is to get and serve your orders." Chad answered as he walked behind Nic and placed his hand protectively over her shoulders.

He had been observing the group as soon as Nic approached them because of the guy in red who seemed to be staring too much.

"Now, who is this handsome fellow?" The guy in red smiled and winked.

"I'm Chad, her boyfriend." Chad said.

"Oh, okay. I'm sorry. I see what's going on here. I'm not that kind of guy. I only asked those questions because I'm interested in offering Nic a job." The guy in red said.

"What job? She already has one." Chad answered.

"You know your girlfriend is really beautiful but I'm not really into girls." The guy laughed. "I'm Mike. I have a modeling agency and I was wondering if Nic here would be interested to join us. Here's my card."

Mike handed Chad his business card.

"Mike Perez... Trend Models... You own Trends?" Chad asked instantly, recognizing the name of the country's top modeling agency.

"Yes. Nic here has a lot of potential. I can see her face on billboards representing the top brands in the country. Her beauty is relatable and yet striking. Her eyes are an ocean of expressions that I'm sure the cameras would love to swim in and those lips... Do you know how many models will kill to have those naturally plump and pouty lips?"

Nic hid herself behind Chad and whispered, "I don't know, Babe."

"I don't think she'll be interested." Chad told Mike.

"Please think about it first, Nic." Mike peered over Chad's shoulder. "It's way better than what you have here. You could really make it big. I'm sure of it. Your boyfriend can be a model too if he likes."

"I'm not interested. I'm not the modeling type. If anything, I'd like to focus on my music." Chad said.

"Okay then. Goodluck on your music career... but please Nic, think about it and call me? " Mike said.

Nic took the card from Chad. "I'll talk to my Mom." She answered softly.

"Great! Thank you." Mike sighed in relief. "Oh and we'll have three Tequila shots to start please." He added.

"I'll go get them now. Thank you." Nic smiled.

***

Her mom was more than happy to hear about the offer and encouraged Nic to call the agency.

One phone call and a video audition later, Nic landed her first modeling gig for a famous clothing company.

Her face graced the covers of magazines and billboards. She walked on catwalks and shot TV ads. She instantly became the most recognizable model in the country.

Her social media accounts gained millions of followers and the behind the scenes videos posted of her are most watched.

One modeling job turned to five then eight then fifteen in a span of four months. She became the country's most in demand endorser in a short amount of time and had received numerous offers to act on TV and movies.

Despite all the attention she was getting, Nic stayed humble, timid and simple. She would shoot TVCs and speak the lines required, giving them the best that she could give then retreat to her usual self right after.

All those times, she went home to the small apartment she lived in with her Mom, went to school and made good grades to keep her scholarship and supported Chad in his gigs by watching the band's shows in bars and clubs.

Still unaware of her popularity, she would go to Chad's gigs and sit in the audience. Within minutes, people will start swarming around her asking for pictures or autographs, which she graciously obliged.

Most of the audience's attention turned to her instead of the band playing on stage and quite a few times the show needed to be stopped because the fans became out of control and Chad would get off the stage to jump in and take her away from the crowd.

"I'm sorry, Babe." Nic would apologize.

"Don't be, Babe. My girlfriend is the country's most famous supermodel. I should start getting used to it." He would smile proudly and kiss her lovingly while he held her tight reassuringly.

That was the case for the first few months but frustration started to creep in as Nic gained popularity and Chad's one-year deal with his father was coming to an end.

***

"Nic, come on, last layout. It's almost a wrap." Pat, the photographer, called as she stepped into the set.

She stood in the middle of a red rose garden set up in her white dress and posed according to Pat's instructions.

Nic moved and posed gracefully and beautifully as usual while Chad's concert started it's second half and their music played in the background.

***

Chad, who changed into a black leather jacket, stepped on stage with the band, causing an uproar in the audience.

As if on cue, the crowd hushed as Chad softly strummed his guitar to play their band's next song cover about asking for a second chance for love.

What About Love

By Lemar

What if I took my time to love you?

What if I put no one above you?

What if I did the things

That really mattered?

He sang every word, filled with regret of the things he had done to her, hoping against all hopes that Nic hears his song and feels how sorry he was for everything.

There is no room to

Blame one another

We just need time to

Forgive each other

***

"Okay, Nic, last few frames. Give me melancholy as you touch that rose in front of you. There. That's perfect. Look at the camera with those sad eyes please. Wonderful. Wow. Tears. You are amazing, Nic. There you go." Pat said as he snapped the photos away.

Nic was not acting at all, the sadness was real and the tears were true as Chad's song reminded her of the time things ended between them.

What about love?

What about feeling?

What about all the things that make life worth living?

What about faith?

What about trust?

And tell me baby...

What about us?

***

Nic was called in for her first couple shoot for a magazine with a male model.

The staff initially asked Chad to pose with her so she would be more comfortable but the day of the shoot was a big day for The Chainbreakers. They landed their first big break as an opening act for a mainstream band.

Nic was very happy for Chad and asked for an earlier time for the shoot so she could watch their first big show.

"Babe! This is great! Of course I'll be there. You guys have been waiting for this for so long! I'm so happy for you, Babe." She cheered as she threw her arms over his shoulders and hugged him upon hearing the news.

"It is. Thank you, Babe. I love you." He smiled as he watched her bright smile against the city's night sky from his pad's window.

"I love you too, Babe." She grinned and stood on her toes to kiss his lips gently.

"I think this rocking news deserves a rocking celebration, don't you think so, Babe?" Chad smirked as he swept Nic off her feet and carried her to bed while he kissed her passionately.

***

The day of the shoot, Nic sat in John's makeup chair as nervous as could be. She didn't know who the male model was.

"Hi Nic-nic!" A jolly male voice greeted from behind her.

She quickly turned. "Steve? What are you doing here?"

"Hey Steve! Good, you're already here. Nic, this is Steve, the male model you're posing with today." Brenna, the magazine's editor, introduced them.

"I didn't know you modeled." Nic said in surprise.

"Just trying it out before burying myself in the family business plus Ma always wondered how her baobei would look like in magazines." Steve laughed.

"Well, I'm glad it's you that I have to work with and not some stranger." Nic smiled.

"You two know each other?" Brenna asked.

"We grew up together." Steve said. "Practically, best friends until my parents scared her off with a marriage proposal." He added with a grin.

"Oooh... Interesting. That I'd like to see in your photos. The theme is Young Love so all fun and sweet shots against colorful backdrops." Brenna said.

The photoshoot went well and everyone was pleased with the results.

"Wow. You two look really cute together. The chemistry really shows in these photos." Brenna said as they were checking out the frames on a laptop.

"Nicely done, Nic-nic." Steve grinned as he dotingly pinched her cheek and she laughed.

"You seem to be having a really nice time here." They heard Chad's stern voice say from behind.

"Babe! I thought you're rehearsing for the show tonight?" Nic said as she smiled and walked towards her boyfriend.

"I was but then I thought I'd check out how you were doing during our break because I knew how uncomfortable you might be working with a stranger but as it turns out you're here having a great time with Steve Chan." He grumbled behind clenched teeth, his eyes glued threateningly at Steve.

"It's just work, Babe. Plus Steve is still my friend despite everything." Nic explained.

Chad turned his angry eyes at Nic. "You like him so much, why didn't you just stay and marry him when his parents told you to?"

Nic couldn't stop the tears from flowing from her eyes with Chad's hurtful words and reaction.

"You know why." She sobbed.

"Do I?" Chad spat.

"Dude, you got this all wrong. Don't make a scene here. Give Nic-nic a break." Steve stepped in and patted Chad's shoulder.

"Stay out of this!" Chad yelled and punched the other guy in the face. He was even more irritated to hear Steve call his girlfriend affectionately by his nickname for her.

"Chad, stop it!" Nic begged as Chad was going for another swing at Steve's face.

"So? You're defending him now?"

"Chad, Babe, please just listen to me first."

By that time, security had started to walk in their direction.

"No. I've seen enough. Go live your happy life here becoming this famous supermodel while I rot in a dingy bar playing for an audience who wouldn't listen as my dreams die down each night." Chad said and started walking out.

"Chad please..." Nic quickly followed him and grabbed his hand.

Chad pushed her hand away. "Not now, Nic." He said coldly and left.

How can I give this

Love a new beginning?

How can I stop the rain?

It's never ending

How do I keep my soul believing?

Memories of how we

Should be keep calling 

***

Backstage while waiting for their cue for their opening act for The Erasers concert, Chad sat in the dressing room and thought of the events earlier at Nic's shoot. He started to regret his actions. He knew he should have let Nic explain first.

He was aware that Steve and Nic were childhood friends before the whole arranged marriage fiasco but he still let his jealousy and insecurity take over him.

"Care for a beer?" Stefanie, The Erasers record producer, sat beside him and offered him a beer.

"No, thanks." He said quietly, still deep in thought.

"You know, Chad. I can help you." Stefanie whispered in his ear as the woman touched his arm.

He knew all too well what that meant.

"I'm sorry, Stefanie but I have a girlfriend."

Stefanie, a beautiful, strong woman who was ten years his senior, was not swayed.

"I know. I know your girlfriend is a famous supermodel." She said as she stood in front of Chad in her dangerously low cut black dress.

"I also know you have a deal with your Dad and it's about to end in a month's time. Your friends ratted you out." She smirked as she leaned towards Chad leaving her face only inches from his.

"What do you want?" Chad asked directly, ignoring the woman's advances.

"One night. One night, Chad. No strings attached and I sign your band up for a record deal and make you the biggest band in the country just like that." She spoke sultrily on his neck.

"I'm sorry. I can't do that to Nic." He answered.

"Fine." Stefanie backed away, raised her eyebrow and straightened her dress. "If you're happy living in your famous girlfriend's shadow while your hopes and dreams fade away. Suit yourself." She said and started to walk away.

Chad was once again flooded with a mix of confusing emotions, mostly of desperation as the year off he asked to fulfill his dreams was turning out to be a failure and insecurities of having a more famous girlfriend grew stronger.

"Wait." Chad said and stood up.

Stefanie turned to face him.

Before he could think and stop himself, Chad pulled Stefanie by the waist. She smirked and moved closer to him. “Do we have a deal?” She asked in a sultry voice as she ran her hands over his well-defined chest. 

Chad looked at her with complicated eyes. She was the easiest chance he and his friends had to land a real break. It was just one night. Nobody needed to know. 

When he didn’t move or say anything, Stephanie moved one hand to cup his jaw and slowly inched her face closer to kiss him but before their lips touched, a sharp pang hit his heart as a loud voice in his head reminded him, “No! Stop! This is wrong!” as the image of Nicia flashed in his head.

He roughly pushed Stefanie away and hurriedly stepped back. He clutched his chest as his heart ached with guilt over his almost betrayal of the woman he loves and anger to himself. 

Something pulled him to look in the direction of the door and froze in shock at the sight of Nic standing there. He hoped she didn’t see the scene of his entanglement to Stephanie moments before but when she stared at him quietly with eyes filled with hurt and disappointment, he knew his hopes were in vain.

"Nic… Babe, it's not what you think." Chad attempted to explain but didn’t know exactly how..

Nic shook her head violently as tears streamed down her face.

"Babe..." Chad walked towards her.

"Stay away from me." She whispered icily and trembled, repressing the turmoil of emotions that was attempting to drown her.

"Babe please..." He reached out to hold her hand but she quickly turned and ran away.

That was the last time they ever saw each other.

Six months…

One hundred and eighty returned flower bouquets…

Thousands of missed calls… 

And countless unanswered messages later…

Chad and his band had signed up with a different recording company and were now onstage for their first major concert while Nic had become one of the top models in Asia and sitting on an offer to work for a major New York based fashion empire.

***

"And that's a wrap!" The editor declared. "Thank you, everyone."

Nic said her thanks and went straight to the dressing room just when Chad was singing the final lines from the song.

I'll take the rivers rise

I'll take the happy times

I'll take the moments of disaster

What about love?

What about feeling?

What about all the things that make life worth living?

What about faith?

What about trust?

And tell me baby...

What about us?

Nic watched as Chad strummed the last chords of the song then softly whispered. "I'm sorry, Babe."

She suddenly felt a lump of emotion block her throat and squeeze her heart. Nic picked up her purse and ran for the door in tears, still in her last costume.

Her vision was blurred and she was too caught up in her emotions when she bumped into someone's chest.

She looked up.

"Steve!" She cried and buried her face in his shoulder.

"Hey... It's okay." He said, patting her back. "Come here. Let me drive you home."