Serendipity (Dauntless Series #3)

Chapter 22

Rainier moved into the mansion a week after. Nagkukulong lang ako sa kwarto kapag naroon ako kaya nakikita ko siya kapag pumupunta ako sa kusina. Mabuti na lamang at tila palasyo ang mansyon kaya madali ko siyang maiiwasan. Minsan ay nakikisleep-over ako sa mga kaibigan ko. Tonight, I will crash into Krystal's condo. We have a fashion photoshoot together and I'm sure it will end late so it was an advantage for me. Sa tuwing nasa mansyon ako ay nasusuffocate at nagpapanic ako.

Alas onse na kami nakarating sa studio. Anim kaming model na nandito, tatlong babae at tatlong lalaki, kasama na roon sina Krystal at Jesse. Si Seamus ang photographer namin. Gusto sanang sumama ni Sheena rito kaya lang natambakan naman siya ng gagawin. Binati kami ng mga staff pagpasok namin sa loob. Nakita ko si Seamus na nakaupo sa sofa at may kausap na babae. Nang makita niya kami ay agad itong tumayo kaya naman ganoon din ang ginawa ng kasama niya. I gulped when the woman's eyes and mine met.

"Hello," bati ko sa kanila nang makalapit ako. Nararamdaman kong nakatingin pa rin sa akin iyong babaeng kasama ni Seamus. Sa kabila ng malakas na pagkabog ng aking dibdib ay nilabanan ko pa rin iyon at binalingan ito. She's something else, that I cannot dare to not admit. She's wearing a dirty white collared blouse, trousers, and a Dr. Martens platform shoes. Each of her fingers is filled with rings, she has a septum piercing and an industrial on one ear. To complete her tomboy look, her brunette hair is in a pixie undercut style.

"It's been a while." sabi ni Seamus.

Tumawa ako. "You know how this industry works..."

Bumaling siya sa kasama niya. Napailing si Seamus at bumuntong hininga nang magkatinginan silang dalawa. He then introduced me to her.

"By the way, this is Manilka Desmarais. The Editor-In-Chief of Phenomena Magazine and also my best friend."

Manilka stepped forward and offered me her hand afterwards. I shook it without tearing my eyes apart from her. Tila nanghihipnotismo ang kaniyang mga mata dahilan para mahulog ako roon. And when she smiled at me, I lost it. Wow. What is happening to me?

"Nice meeting you, Guinevere,"

"Please, call me Guia." I smiled. She bit her lower lip and nodded.

"Okay, Guia. I'm happy to be working with you."

"Likewise."

Matapos ang usapang iyon ay nagsimula na akong ayusan ng hair and make-up artist na nakastandby. I decided to take a nap for a minute to ease my drowsiness. I was at the mansion last night and I couldn't sleep knowing that my rapist is living in the same house as I am. I spent all night guarding the door even if my room has already three locks in it.

I can't wait to buy a condo of my own so I won't have to wake up from a nightmare every night. My fear is devouring me and I will never be okay until I move out of the mansion.

I heaved a sigh. Kinuha ko ang kape ko na nakapatong sa table at mabilis na uminom habang busy pa ang make-up artist sa pagkuha ng eyebrow pencil. However, I almost jump out of the chair when somebody suddenly put their hands on my shoulder. When I look back, I saw Krystal beaming. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib.

"I wonder how deep your thoughts are..."

"It's as deep as the Pacific Ocean." pagbibiro ko. Napailing si Krystal ngunit natatawa pa rin. Her hand went down to mine and squeezed it afterwards. Naupo na siya sa katabing make-up station. But as I watch her settling down on her chair, I saw Manilka staring at me from my periphery. I tilted my head onto the other side and she just smiled at me.

Is she flirting with me? It's too soon to assume but the way she gawks at me says otherwise.

Today's shoot will feature the couture collection of Alba Yarbury, a famous fashion designer here in the Philippines for Phenomena Magazine's November issue. Manilka is here to oversee the process of the shoot and to make sure that everything goes according to plan. I looked at the whole studio to find Alba and it didn't take much of my time. She's with my ever casanova friend Jesse, whose arms are snaking up around her waist. Tumingin na lamang ako sa repleksyon ko sa salamin kesa mastress sa kalandian ng kaibigan ko.