Waves of Life (Quiseo Girls #1)

Chapter 20: Game over

Chapter 20: Game over

When I thought things are going my way, life will always have something to give me pain.

"Signing of contract na?" mahina ngunit pasigaw kong sambit sa sobrang gulat.

Nakailang pikit at dilat pa ko para siguraduhing hindi ako namamalikmata— na tama 'yong nakikita ko sa phone ko. I even zoomed in the sender's email address, my indicated name, and the message itself.

Pero totoo talaga. Real na real!

Halo-halo 'yong emosyon na nararamdaman ko ngayon but all these emotions lie to an overflowing happiness.

"Yes, yes, yes!" tuwang-tuwa kong sigaw. Napatayo pa ko sa higaan ko at saka nagtatatalon habang hawak 'yong cellphone ko.

"Elise! You're being too loud again," narinig kong saway ni Laurice mula sa labas ng kwarto ko kaya napatigil ako sa pagtalon.

Imbes na mainis sa pagiging killjoy niya, I jumped out of my bed at dali-daling tumakbo sa pintuan. I immediately opened the door at nakita kong hindi pa siya nakakalayo.

Tinakbo ko 'yong pagitan namin at saka ko siya hinawakan sa kaliwang braso. Napahinto naman siya sa paglalakad.

"Nakuha ako! Nakuha ako," sobrang sayang balita ko sa kaniya.

Mula sa masungit niyang mukha, her face suddenly lightened. "Where? What?" naguguluhan niyang tanong pero ramdam ko 'yong excitement sa boses niya.

I leaned towards her ear to whisper, "Ambassadress of a cosmetics company."

Ngiting-ngiti ako nang lumayo ako sa kaniya para tignan 'yong reaksyon niya. I saw how a smile formed on her lips.

"Congrats, Elise," maikli niyang bati but that was more than enough to bring me so much joy. It makes me happy knowing that someone is celebrating my victory with me today.

Hindi naman kasi pwedeng ipagsigawan, I am afraid that mommy will know about it. If it happens? That'd be a disaster!

Sinukbit ko 'yong kanan kong braso sa kaliwa niyang braso. At kahit nakita kong naaasiwa 'yong mukha niya sa ginawa ko, hindi ako nagpatinag.

"La, la, la, la, la," nakangiting kanta ko habang sabay kaming naglalakad ni Laurice pababa. "Elise will finally get photographed again," natutuwa ko pang bulong.

I can't help but to picture out myself in the studio, posing in front of the cameras, and having a long list of connections again.

Biglang tumigil si Laurice sa paglalakad nang makababa na kami kaya napatigil din ako. Nilingon ko siya only to see worry wrapping her face kaya napakunot ako ng noo.

Nagtataka ko siyang tinanong, "Bakit?"

Dahan-dahan niya kong tinignan bago mahinang sinabi, "Have you read the contract already? Ambassadors need to help a brand through publicity, mind you, Elise."

Napakagat ako sa ibaba kong labi. Hindi ko 'yon naisip. Being a fashion model is way different from being an ambassador. I forgot that fact because of excitement.

I haven't read the contract yet and the CEO wasn't able to discuss that too.

"That's common sense, Elise. Aren't you aware about that?" mahinang tanong ulit ni Laurice that left me dumbfounded for a second or two.

Good thing, a bright idea suddenly popped on my head.

Napangiti ako nang maisip 'yon.

Tinignan ko nang maigi si Laurice at saka nakangiting sinabi, "May private account naman ako sa isang social media platform. Walang account d'on sina mommy, so I'm safe. I'll make things work!"