Falling to the Spotlight

Prologue

Prologue 

Chantal Jimenez 

"Okay, this is a good shot Chantal!" The photographer said and I just smile before going to my dressing room to change my clothes. 

I'm tired but this is what they want me to do. Pinasok ko ang modeling because I really see myself having one spotlight that will never stop pointing at me at nagawa ko naman yun even after everything that happen in my life.  

Hindi ako nangarap maging model dahil lang gusto kong sumikat I also want to be an inspiration to those people who easily give up on their dreams. I may not be so open about my life story kasi ayoko ng balikan yun pero I never stop reminding people to never stop dreaming and see me as their inspiration. I didn't dream about the spotlight I have for nothing. 

I didn't want people just to admire me but I also want to be there inspiration but sometimes inspiring is tiring. 

Bago pa man ako mapunta sa ganitong sitwasyon hindi din naging maganda ang buhay ko at pakiramdam ko in this industry I am free pero mali pala because when time passes by hanggang sa nakikilala na ako ng mga tao ang hirap pala maging malaya.  

Dahil habang sa umaangat ako mas lalong nagiging mahirap ang lahat. When I started buong akala ko hindi ako dadating sa ganitong sitwasyon but because of my hard work natupad ko ang pangarap ko noon pa man. 

It's funny na nagawa ko pang mangarap kahit na ganun na kahirap ang naging buhay ko. I experience hardship and pain while growing but I never forget to dream big even though I am in that situation. 

Umuwi ako ng pilipinas to pursue my dream kahit na alam kong mas malaki ang oppurtunity ang pwede kong makuha if I started in New York but I choose to go back to the Philippines and left my mom there. I become a model kasabay ng pag-aaral ko ng Bachelor of Arts in Film and I just let my mom do what she wants to do. Like pay my tuition and everything. I just let her and do my own thing. 

Kahit na noon pa lang naman mag-isa na ako but I am fine with it I'm happy that way at wala na sa'kin if I don't have friend as long as I know that I have myself. 

And I just graduated this year at tinambak na agad nila yung schedules ko at first it's okay with me dahil sila naman ang nag-adjust sa schedule ko pag may pasok ako but once I graduated last month sinasagad na nila ako. 

I am the kind of woman na if there is an opportunities I will definitely take it but not when I am really tired that is why when I got invited sa Victoria Secret I turn it down because even though that is a big opportunity ayokong itake yun ng napipilitan lang ako. I want to take every opportunities whole heartedly hindi dahil lang sa kailangan. 

"Is this the last one?" I ask Evelyn at malungkot naman siyang umiling sa'kin. She is the one who knows how tired I am already. 

Isang buwan pa lang simula ng makatapos ako pero grabe na lahat ng schedule at photoshoots ang nagawa ko and Evelyn on the other side na naawa na sa'kin pero wala din naman siyang magawa dahil PA ko lang naman siya at ang gumigipit talaga sa'kin ay yung manager at boss ng agency kung saan ako nakapirma. 

Hindi ko gustong sabihin 'to at ayokong ipagmalaki but for me this the truth anyway kung hindi naman talaga dahil sa'kin hindi aangat ang agency nila I am their first model who really got famous simula ng magsimula sila pero ngayon parang nakakalimutan na nila na ako ang umahon sa kanila noon kaya ganito nila ako ginigipit sa schedule ko. 

"Quinn and Bethany are really testing me are they?" I ask her and smile weakly because I am really tired. 

Ilang linggo na akong walang matinong tulog kung magkakaroon man ilang oras lang then may schedule na naman ako. Ayokong dumating sa point na pagsisihan ko ang pagpasok sa mundong 'to dahil sa buong buhay ko alam kong ito lang ang tamang nangyari.