“Hello, Sir Marc, wow, I’ve heard nice things about you. Nice to meet you, sir.” Matteo told Marc and shook hands with the known photographer.
“Hi, Matteo, me too,me too. So this is Sarah..Sarah?” Tawag sa kanya ni Marc. Hindi niya namamalayang matagal na pala siyang nakatitig sa lalakeng kausap ngayon ng photographer nila. Halos walang nabago sa itsura nito. Well, he got matured a bit, nawala na ang chubby cheeks nito, bansag niya sa pisngi nitong lagi niyang kinukurot at pinanggigigilan noon. She also noticed his nice biceps although he’s wearing a loose shirt. But one thing that has not changed about this man is his grin, that grin which always makes her weak.
“Oh, I’m sorry, hi, Matteo, I am Sarah..” Sarah offered her hand to shake hands with him. He did, but not only that, he softly caresses her hand before letting it go..
“I know, baby..” Bulong na sabi ni Matteo sa kanya. Siya naman ay biglang napatingin kay Marc, tinitignan nya kung narinig nito ang sinabi ng binata sa kanya. Laking pasasalamat niya pagkat sine-set up na ni Marc ang camera nito. Muli siyang napatingin kay Matteo, napasinghap siya nang kinindatan siya nito.
“Bebe, you are about to start, dito ka muna, we’re gonna take off your robe now.” Sabi ni Kaye sa kanya na nasa gilid lamang pala ng studio, Crap! Did she see us? I mean, my reaction towards him? Oh God, of all places, why here? Why now?
Y-Yes, ate, Matteo, Sir Marc, excuse me.”
“Yes, sure. “ Sabay na sabi ni Marc at Matteo.
Habang papalapit si Sarah kay Kaye ay narinig pa niya ang sinabi ni Matteo kay Marc, “Buti na lang ako, sir, wala na gaanong preparations, I heard shorts lang ang isusuot ko eh.” Dinig ni Sarah ang halakhak ni Matteo. Nanlaki ang mata niya, muntik na niyang makalimutan na summer ang theme ng pictorial nila. Gusto ko nang mag-back out! I’m not like this, this is not me!
“Ate Kaye, ayoko na..” Unang sinabi ni Sarah kay Kaye pagkalapit niya dito.
“Ano? Sarah, ito na tayo. Ngayon ka pa ba magbaback-out?” Kaye told her while helping her to undress
her robe. Mukhang wala naman itong napansin sa kanya base sa reaksyon nito.
“Eh, ate.. ano kasi..”
“Ano?”
“Si Matteo..ano..” He’s my ex! Yes, hindi si Gerry ang first boyfriend ko okay? Pero this is not the time to tell you, I just can’t work with him. Kinakabahan ako sa magiging reaksyon ko.. “..ano kasi..baka pagselosan ni Gerry..”
Nagulat si Sarah sa reaksyon ni Kaye nang tumawa ito. “Si Gerry o Gerald o Papa Riri magseselos? Eh takot na takot nga sayo iyon, magseselos pa sya? Sarah..” Bumuntong-hininga ito. “I think Matteo’s a nice guy, pagbigyan mo na muna yung tao, nagsisimula pa lang siya sa showbiz, alam mo bang international racer yan? Pero bumalik sa Pinas dahil gustong mag-artista. Medyo misteryoso pa ang dating niya sa akin because he’s new..but he seems to be a nice guy.
Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya. Mukhang wala naman na syang magagawa kaya nagdesisyon na lamang siya na ituloy ang pictorial, ano nga ba ang mawawala? Two to five hours of being with him, wala naman sigurong mangyayaring dapat niyang ikabahala. Nang tignan niyang muli si Matteo ay nagsimula na itong pumwesto sa ginawang set-up ng pictorial nila. Napatingin ito sa kanya at ngumiti sa kanya. Siya naman ay biglang nag-iwas ng tingin, at nagsimulang kumabog ang dibdib niya.
“You can do it, Sars.. Ikaw pa! Go, take off your robe now and show to the world how beautiful you are..” Sabi ni Kaye sa kanya.
Then she took off her robe, showing her yellow one piece swimsuit, she felt her cheeks turned red as she walk towards Matteo.
Umiwas siyang tumingin sa mga mata ni Matteo, tinignan na lang niya ang nasa paligid nila. Nasa maliit lang sila na studio at binilang niya kung ilan silang nasa studio, they were just five, they are Matteo, Kaye, Marc, isang assistant,nito, at siya.
Naglakad bigla si Matteo papunta sa kanya, at laking gulat niya nang bigla itong bumulong sa kanya.
“It will be alright, baby. Nandito na ako. I’ll be nice, trust me..”
“Stop it, stop what you are doing.” Bulong ngunit madiin na pagkakasabi niya.
“What? I’m just saying what I’m saying.”
“Then stop it, naiilang lang ako. Let’s start this para matapos na..” Tinignan niya si Marc, she signalled that she’s ready.
“Okay, Sarah and Matteo, this is my instruction. Madali lang, pretend that you are lovers at the beach. I want you to be sweet, I want some kisses, soft but tight hug there.. Okay? Kaya ba?
“What?!” Sarah exclaimed.
“Kaya po, Sir!” Matteo gladly agreed.
“Sir Marc, bakit po naman ganun------“
“Nag-usap na po kami ni Sarah, Sir. I promised not to take advantage of her..” He winked at her and whispered again.. “But I won’t promise that I won’t kiss you later...”
“Ang kapal mo...” She gave him a fake smile.
Sinabi ni Marc kung ano ang magiging set-up nila, Matteo’s hugging her from behind. Inilapit ni Matteo ang mukha nito sa bandang leeg niya. They can talk if they wanted to, wala gaanong instructions si Marc except sa mga nasabi nito kanina kaya masasabing relaxed lang ang pictorial. Although Sarah does not feel the same way.
“Won’t you give me a goodbye kiss later? Sa cheeks lang naman ah. Oh, iba yata ang naiimagine mo, baby..” Sabi ni Matteo sa kanya, she felt his warm breath and it gave her goosebumps. Alam niyang nahalata nito iyon base sa ngising kumurba sa labi nito. “I am glad that I can still make you feel this way, baby.” He tightens his hug and slightly sniffed her neck. Tila wala namang napapansing kakaiba si Marc sa kanila, he just kept saying “Perfect” whenever he clicks the camera.
Okay, you won this time, Matteo.. I will let you win this time.. just wait..
“You wanna know what I’m thinking, baby? Hmm? I wanna kiss you, because I missed you so damn much..” Sarah told him while caressing his face. Biglang nagbago ang reaksyon ni Matteo. Napalunok ito sa nasabi niya.. “Don’t you believe me, baby? I can’t wait to finish this and talk to you...
“I-I can’t wait as well, I, I missed you too...so much...”
