Chapter 30
1637 Words
Kuya Iulian went to meet the secretary of James for the safety arrangements. JaCu contacted me when they found out that I am back again in modeling and asked if I would like to endorse their new sets of jewelry for the next season.
They only knew that I quit being an escort because of being busy handling the agency and endorsing the brands. Only a few people knew what happened to the Masquerade Gala. My parents did everything to stop the media from leaking the incident. The perpetrators got away from the case we filed because they had big names and connections.
I was supposed to have Elise as my personal assistant but she is still working under my mother's management. That's why I have Kuya Iulian temporarily since he is having the internship by next month at the agency.
"Do you know that JaCu Company will be having a collaboration with Lauren?" tanong ni Kuya Iulian.
"Lauren as in Lauren in New York?" tanong ko dahil isa lang kilala kong Lauren
"Yes! Your friend... Sooo the two of you will be reunited if you accept their offer," nakangising sambit ni Kuya Iulian.
"Of course! I would love to work with her," excited na sagot ko rito.
I can't wait to see Lauren again, how many months have been passed? I hope we don't get awkward when we meet again.
Palawan ulit ang location ng shoots at hindi makakasama si Kuya Iulian dahil may pasok siya sa mga araw na 'yon. Sinabihan ko naman siya na hindi niya kailangan sumama sa lahat ng lakad ko dahil may mga kasama rin naman ako sa trabaho. Umaandar na naman pagiging overprotective nila kahit si Dad ay hanggang ngayon tutol pa rin sa pagbalik ko sa trabaho. Gusto niya ibalik na ulit ni Mom ang agency sa'kin na tinanggihan ko naman dahil marami pa akong gustong gawin at hindi kasama sa priority ko ang paghawak ulit ng agency baka mapabayaan ko lang ito.
Kaya kinuha ni Mom si Kuya Iulian para siya na ang hahawak kapag retired na ito. Wala naman issue sa akin na kay Kuya mapunta ang agency dahil family business naman ito.
*beep* *beep* *beep* *beep*
Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto kaya napatingin ako sa orasan. Mabuti na lang nagluto si Kuya Iulian dahil pagod na rin ako para magluto pa dahil may last shoot ako kanina.
"Babe?" rinig kong tawag ni Benjamin.
"Babeee, kitchen!" tukoy ko sa kinaroroonan ko.
"Babe— oh! Hindi ko alam may bisita tayo?" nagtatakang sambit ni Benjamin.
"Babe, si Kuya Iulian!" pakilala ko sa kanya. Nangunot pa ang noo niya dahil hindi niya mamukhaan si Kuya Iulian parang first and last encounter nila ay noong unang beses nag-dinner si Benjamin sa bahay namin.
"Really? Wow—I... I didn't know... that you're?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Benjamin.
"Yes. I'm gay," pagkumpirma ni Kuya Iulian. Hindi masabi ni Benjamin ang dapat sabihin dahil baka mainsulto ang kuya ko.
"Oh! sorry if I offended you," hingi ng tawad ni Benjamin.
"I'm not naman since sanay ako," sambit ni Kuya Iulian.
"By the way, Babe... Okay lang ba mag-stay ulit si Ads dito?" paalam ni Benjamin.
"Paano 'yan? Kuya will stay here too... Saan sila matutulog?" tanong ko.
Nagkasundo naman si Kuya Iulian at Adrian na matulog sa iisang kwarto. Wala naman daw problema dahil pareho silang lalaki, akala ko noong una hindi papayag si Kuya dahil nga lalaki si Adrian.
×————×
JaCu Company already announced through press media the collaborative project together with supermodel Laurel. The theme of the project is about saving the sea since the next jewelry set to be launched is made of sea pearls.
Lauren doesn't have the idea that I will be part of this project. She sends me a message that she will be having a project in the country and wanted to meet me if we both have free time. I want to surprise her that's why I didn't tell her yet.
They planned to make commercial ads since they want to level up their marketing campaign. Lauren will be the core of this project.
"Okay everyone please gather around," utos ng Director. We will have a meeting today to meet Lauren.
"Please be nice and stay professional, okay? Lauren, come here sweetheart." Pagpasok ni Lauren ay binati namin siyang lahat. Hindi agad ako lumapit sa kanya dahil marami na ang nakipag-unahan para kamayan siya.
Ilan sandali pa ay nagawi ang paningin niya sa direksyon ko. Unti-unti niya napagtanto kung sino ang natitigan niya. Mabilis siyang lumapit sa'kin at nabigla ako sa pagyakap nito samantalang natigil naman ang mga kasamahan namin sa pag-iingay.
"Oh my god, is it really you??" tanong pa niya.
"Of course! I want to surprise you," sambit ko sa kanya at binalikan din ng yakap.
"How are you?" hindi pa rin makapaniwalang tanong niya.
"ehem... ehem... what's happening?" Lumapit ang director sa'min.
"Well... Anne here is my friend in New York," sagot ni Lauren sa director.
"Have you heard? We walked the runway together at Paris Fashion Week," habol niya.
Nagtatakang tumingin sa akin ang director na parang gusto niyang kumpirmahin ko ang sinabi ni Lauren.
"Yes... it's true," pagkumpirma ko.
"I thought you were pregnant that's why you went hiatus from modeling?" Hindi ko inaasahan na naniniwala siya sa mga rumors.
"No, I'm not... You can ask Lauren for that."
"Wait... Are you pregnant? since when?" nagtatakang tanong naman ni Lauren. Hindi niya pala alam na may 'ganon na rumors tungkol sa'kin.
"Remember I told you that I took a break and went to Brooklyn? Have you seen me having baby bumps or any signs that I'm pregnant?" paliwanag ko sa kanya.
Nag-isip pa ito ng maigi bago sumagot. "Oh no! You almost danger your life for saving my personal assistant," she claimed.
I heard everyone grasp their breath when they found out what happened.
"Well... rumors are just rumors!" depensa ng isa sa mga model na sinang-ayunan naman ng lahat.
We just had a meeting to discuss the details of the project. I invited Lauren for dinner to catch up with each other's lives. I brought her to my favorite restaurant where they served the best seafood pasta in town.
"So what happened to you after leaving Brooklyn?" tanong ni Lauren.
"A lot... a looot really happened... I'm really sorry for not telling you first," sagot ko.
"You know... I'm living with my partner in a new place... oh, you still haven't met him right?" Hindi nga pala niya ito kilala.
Kinuha ko ang phone sa bag at binuksan ang folder ng camera para ipakita sa kanya mukha ng boyfriend ko.
"This is Benjamin, a civil engineer in one of the popular firms in this country," pakita ko sa kanya ng picture ng boyfriend ko.
"I thought your parents were against your relationship with him? Your brother told me," sambit nito.
"It's my choice to stay with him... they do not have the right to meddle my relationship with my partner."
"If you....are happy... then I'm happy for you," lahad niya habang nakangiti.
Lauren helped me to settle the trouble I made with the other designers for leaving without telling them first. I am supposed to have at least two to three promotional shoots with them but I didn't make it.
Nakita kong dumating na si Kuya Iulian kaya kinawayan ko ito para makita ako. "Hi girls, um-order na ba kayo?" tanong niya pagkalapit sa'min. Tinanguan ko naman siya bilang pagsang-ayon.
"Where are you staying, Lauren... Do you need a ride?" tanong ni Kuya Iulian.
"Oh! I'm staying at Oxox Hotel... The company provided me an accommodation," sagot niya kay kuya.
Nilingon naman ako ni Kuya. "Malapit lang pala sa condo niyo, Anne."
"I mean... Your hotel is near where Anne is living," sambit ni Kuya kay Lauren dahil hindi siya naintindihan ang sinabi nito kanina.
"Really? Maybe I can visit your place... if it's okay?"
"Sure why not... maybe you can visit before we go to Palawan next week," alok ko kay Lauren.
"Let's have dinner... I'm staying at her place but unfortunately, the best friend of her partner is staying too," reklamo ni Kuya Iulian.
"I thought you guys agreed?" nagtatakang tanong ko. Hindi naman sila nagreklamo noong una ni Adrian.
Hindi na sinagot ni Kuya Iulian kung bakit nagbago ang ihip ng hangin sa pagitan nilang dalawa ni Adrian. Kung makapagreklamo ito ay parang gustong masuka dahil kasama niya si Adrian sa iisang kwarto.
"What happened ba?" tanong ko pa sa kanya baka makumbinsi kong magkwento.
"Lauren, try this soup... it's best to mix with the pasta," turo niya kay Lauren kung paano kainin ito. Iniba niya ang topic para makaiwas.
Marami pa kaming napag-usapan ni Lauren habang kumakain ng dinner hanggang sa hinatid na namin siya sa hotel kung saan siya tumutuloy.
Pagdating sa condo ay naalala ko ang itatanong ko kay Kuya. Tinawag ko siya pero hindi ako pinansin at tuloy-tuloy siyang naglakad papasok sa kwarto.
"You're here na, Babe... How was your day?" Naabutan ko si Benjamin na nagbabasa ng libro habang nakasandal sa headboard ng kama.
"Okay lang naman. Nagkita ulit kami ni Lauren... Kumain ka na ng dinner?" tanong ko.
Tinigil niya ang pagbabasa sa libro at tiningnan ako. "Lauren who?"
"Lauren is a friend I made when I was in Brooklyn... also a supermodel in New York," paliwanag ko.
"... and she's here for?" tanong pa niya.
"I have a shoots nextweek in Palawan... and Lauren is part of the project," sambit ko at paalam na rin.
"You're going to Palawan again?" naiinis na sambit niya.
Noong una ay nainis si Benjamin, ayaw niya raw na nalalayo ako sa kanya at kinilig naman ako. Nakumbinse ko naman siya na parte ito ng trabaho ko.
- Writer
