Captured Through The Lenses

Capture 23: Claim What Is Yours

Capture Twenty Three

That's why people have been looking at my hand. Kagagawan ni Isaac! Pero ayon kay Heidi ay nobya lamang ang pakilala sa akin ni Isaac sa publiko. Bakit ang mga kaibigan niya ay asawa na ang turing sa akin? Is he telling another story to his friends?

Napakagaling nga rin naman ng lalaking 'yon! Nobyo ko siya nang hindi ko alam?

But the thought made me feel butterflies in my stomach.

Tita Mildred and Gwyneth are aware of me being in Nueva Ecija. Kung ganoong impormasyon ang pinapakalat ni Isaac, I'm surprised that they didn't barge into our home all these years to confront me about the alleged relationship.

Nagsabay na kami ni Heidi na gumamit ng elevator papunta sa seventh floor kung nasaan ang studio na paggaganapan ng campaign shoot.

People who occupied the studio took my breath away. I was expecting the models to be like any other. Tall, sexy and fair. I'm certain that some models here have the same height as me. I smiled, seeing morena girls , and also models of various body types, and some even had acnes like I do.

"Wow," I let out a breath.

"Yep! I know, Lilly. I know," Heidi smiled proudly at the sight.

"This," I gestured to the room full of models. "It screams power," I chuckled in disbelief.

It's a good thing that their agency became more open to diversity. Maraming nangangarap maging modelo at may potential ngunit hindi nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon due to standards and requirements. The modeling industry is intoxicating. They display dolls instead of actual people.

"Simula nang magtake over si sir Isaac, ganito na ang naging sistema. Pero syempre ay sinisigurado pa rin namin na they're able to execute well. Medyo naging controversial ito noong una, ngunit naging trend kalaunan. Other agencies started copying RMM," paliwanag sa akin ni Heidi.

Hinanap ng aking mata ang kliyente ko.

"Sino ba ang client mo?" tanong sa akin ni Heidi.

"Michaela Bugnos," sagot ko habang lumilinga linga pa rin.

Hinawakan ni Heidi ang balikat ko at iniharap ako sa direksyon kung nasaan si Michaela.

"She's there," lahad ng kamay ni Heidi kay Michaela. "Pihikan yan si Michaela. Meron naman kaming makeup artists dito sa RMM pero gusto niya ay make up artist of choice. That's saying something,Lilly."

Humalakhak ako dahil sa ginawa ni Ms Heidi.

"Salamat ate Heids," hinawakan ko ang kamay niya na nasa balikat ko.

"Anytime ganda," she winked at me and went on her own way.

Natahimik ang buong studio kaya naman napalingon ako upang makita kung ano ang meron.

"Good afternoon, sir Isaac," bati ng mga staff sa kanya. Tumango lamang si Isaac, maintaining minimal eye contact to each one, habang inaayos ang kanyang wrist watch. He wore a denim jacket with plain white t-shirt inside. Sa pang ibaba naman ay naka black jeans siya at white shoes.

When his eyes went to me, it stayed longer. Nagtaas siya ng kilay.

"So you're the make up artist," aniya. Parang hindi ko siya kilala sa kanyang tono.

I nodded.

"You should know, Ms Austria, that make up artists should always arrive first before the model. Kanina pa akong pabalik balik dito at kanina pa ang model mo riyan," he gestured to Michaela.