On The Edge (Girlfriends Series No.2)

Chapter 17

Paris Winter Fashion Week

I wore a lavish black one-shoulder dress that has a thigh-high slit. I maintained my straight hair as it is and put a clip in my hair on both sides near my ears.

"You look gorgeous, Lauren!" I said when I saw her. Lauren wore a black pantsuit that makes her more sophisticated and intimidating. Her ginger curly hair stands out because of her pale skin. She put a light make-up that make it looks natural

"We have a problem!" sigaw ng staff sa backstage. Sinama ako ni Lauren dito sa backstage to meet the models and the designers. Some of the designers are her friends and used to work with.

It's really different if you're a supermodel since you were famous worldwide, it gives you a privilege and connections to different people.

"Mary Anne?"

"Hey, I'm here!" Lauren is calling out my name at the crowd and I waved my hands for her to see me.

Lumapit agad ito sa'kin na medyo nababahala ang mukha. "We need a favor to ask," sambit into.

"What is it? Is there a problem?" tanong ko.

"We need another model... Some of the models were unable to walk... I'm walking too," she begged.

Parang may bumukas na ilaw sa puso ko nang banggitin niya ito. "H-Hey, I never done this before... international— modelling?"

Hinawakan niya ang dalawang kamay ko na parang may kuminang sa kanyang mga mata. "Then it's time for you to get out of your comfort zone and try new things!"

"Can I pull it off? What if I make a mistake? What if—"

"Shh... Sh... Trust yourself! I have faith in you... You got this!" I was moved by her words.

Unfortunately, two of their models had food poisoning earlier this morning. I give in to Lauren's favor, she really wanted to help her friends to have a successful event.

We still have ten minutes to makeovers and change clothes. I felt like I am sweating but when I saw myself in the mirror, I almost forgot how I looks when wearing heavy make-up. It's been almost half a year when I decided to take off from modeling and now I'm randomly going to the catwalk at the runway ramp again.

"You are really beautiful!" Lauren complimented me.

Lumapit ang isa sa designer friends ni Lauren para makita ako. "You look stunning, Miss Anne... Thank you for doing us a favor."

"Lau, told me that you used to be a model? Why don't you try modeling here?" he offered.

"I would love to, but I had a lot of circumstances right now... That's why I'm on break," maayos na pagtanggi ko.

Lauren took away her friend to lessen the pressure building up on me. She send me a hand signal to smile, I didn't realize I was stiff a moment ago.

"The model is ready!" sigaw ng make-up artist sa lahat.

Pumila na ang mga model at inayusan para sa final retouch bago sumabak sa runway. Magkasunod kami ni Lauren sa paglabas. Ako ang huling maglalakad dahil sa akin sumakto ang sukat ng model na magsusuot sana sa final design ng designer. Si Lauren dapat ang magsusuot pero bitin sa kanya ang damit dahil na rin sa height niya.

I exercise my facial expression while waiting for my turn. Pakiramdam ko pati mukha nanigas sa tagal ko nang hindi humaharap sa maraming tao. Naalala ko tuloy 'yung mga ginagawa ko bago sumabak sa runway o sa mga photoshoot katulad nang meditation para mawala ang stress at kaba ko.

"Okay let's go everyone! Let's do this... 3... 2... 1.... Go!" Pagkabigay ng signal ay sunod-sunod na naglabasan ang models. Gagabayan lang ako ng designer kung lalabas na ako dahil gusto niyang kaabang-abang ang huling lalakad.

Habang papalapit ako sa harap ay lalong lumalakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Hinarap ako ni Lauren at hinawakan ulit ang kamay ko. "You can do this... I will wait for you on the other side," sambit niya bago tuluyang rumampa sa runway. Narinig ko ang palakpakan sa labas na lalong nagpakaba sa akin dahil baka paglabas ko ay bumagsak ang energy ng mga tao. Sino ba ako 'di ba? Hindi ako kilala internationally.

Hinawakan ng designer ang magkabilang balikat ko. "Your turn, Anne. Goodluck!" sambit niya habang nakangiti.

I held up my chin and finalize my posture before going out. I will think of this as a now or never experience. Whatever happens on the outside.

The warm lighting greets my eyes again. The cold ambiance embrace my skin and to my surprise, I received warm applause My heart skipped a beat when I saw the people in the crowd smiling widely and Lauren is waiting for me at the end of the runway ramp. She excitingly hugged me when I reached her.

×————×

We came back to New York three days after the event. I originally have plans with Kuya Iulian when I came back to the apartment but it was canceled because I have to get back to my therapy. So far, I'm doing fine.

After the fashion week, I got an offer from the three designers to have collaborated with them. All of them are based in NYC that's why Lauren pursues me to give it a try. Since I'm a freelance model, I considered their offer and one of the three designers is a Filipino-American from Ortiguerra Co. which pique my interest because it's my kababayan.

The Ortiguerra Co. will have an upcoming event for their designed clothes. They want me to be part of the summer outfits new season.

"Anne, I'm grateful for considering us," sambit ni Viktoria. She's the designer who offered me a job in the company.

"Isn't strange to pick me?" curious na tanong ko.

"Why? You are morena... And we rarely find a morena to fit the job... And you got the crowd's taste last time," explain niya.

Magkakaroon muna ng photoshoots para sa advertisement at saka kami rarampa sa mismong event. It's literally a summer outfits, no swimsuits or lewd outfits.

"Wow! I finally meet you, My savior!" I

Lauren brought Agnes to help me. She will be my temporary personal assistant. I was hesitant at first because what about Lauren's well-being.

"Thank you for lending me a help, Lauren... Agnes."

Lauren refuse to take the offer because she was tied up with other commitments and don't want to be a burden if something came up in the middle of this project.

"Let's go ladies and gents! We are going to start now," sigaw ng isa sa mga photographers.

Nauna akong kuhaan ng pictures at ginawa ko ang best ko para bigyan sila ng magandang pose. Noong una ay awkward ako dahil ngayon lang ulit ako haharap sa camera pero mababait ang mga kasama ko kaya unti-unting bumabalik ang confidence ko sa sarili.

Pinayuhan nga ako ng doctor na ituloy ko lang ang ginagawa ko at masasanay na ulit ako na walang halong takot.

*snaps*

*snaps*

"Great look, Anne... Keep going!" utos ng photographer.

*snaps*

*snaps*

I am wearing a peach off-shoulder dress with sleeves and black flats while sitting on the white bench. I really love doing this.

Pagkatapos ng turn ko ay nilapitan agad ako ni Agnes para abutan ng tubig dahil medyo mataas na ang araw lalo na at sa beach ang settings.

"You are natural," sambit ni Agnes habang nakangiti ng malawak. She's like a little sister to me maybe because of our heights.

"Natural of what?" tanong ko habang nakangiti rin. Nakakahawa talaga ang ngiti ng isang tao.

"You have natural talent in modeling."

"Thank you...by the way where is Lauren?" Napansin kong nawala ito.

"She has a talk with Viktoria."

I see. Sumilong na ako sa may tent at naghubad para magpalit ng susunod na outfit. Wala naman malisya ito dahil lahat ng tao rito ay professional sa trabaho. It's part of being a model.

White dress na ang suot ko habang hawak ang wedges sandals with ankle ties. Mag-aapak lang ako sa buhangin sa mga unang pose ko at sa sunod ay nakahiga na kunwaring nagre-relax sa beach.

Mabuti na lang pagkatapos ng photoshoots ng isang model ay pwede na umalis lalo na kung walang problema sa mga shots na kinuha ng photographer.

Lauren asked me for a dinner as a celebration for doing the job. Agnes came with us. It seems the two of them are close not just a boss and assistant kind of relationship.

"Agnes is my long-distance niece," banggit ni Lauren out of the blue.

"You might be curious why we are so close?" Mind reading ba 'tong si Lauren.

"Your face expression is asking." Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko at napatakip sa bibig. Obvious pala sa mukha ko.

"Congratulations for today, Miss Anne!" bati ni Agnes at inabutan ako nilagyan ang baso ko ng champagne na inorder nila.

Pagkatapos namin kumain ay hinatid na nila ako sa apartment ko. I ask them nicely to come over and have some tea or coffee but they didn't bother and told me to have a rest after a long tiring day.

×————×

Nagising ako nang maramdaman ko ang vibration ng cellphone ko. Sinilip ko ito para makita kung sino ang istorbo sa tulog ko ngunit nagising ang pagkatao ko nang makita ko ang pangalan ni Benjamin. Ang saya na naramdaman ko ay biglang nawala dahil sa nabasa ko.

From: My Engineer

I'm sorry, Anne. Let's break up.

Take care and goodbye.

"N-No... T-This is just a d-dream," bulong ko sa sarili at bahagyang kinurot ang braso ko ngunit nasaktan lang ako. Tinawagan ko agad si Benjamin pero out of reach na ito.

Nabitiwan ko ang cellphone at tuluyang napahahulgol. What happened to us? I wanted to go home but I still have commitments here.