Chasing Him, My Dream (Runway of Love #1)

Prologue

Prologue

I PULLED the zipper of my ankle boots up. Ngayon ang unang rampa na sasalihan ko simula noong huminto ako sa pagmomodelo. It's been... long years since I quitted modeling.

Naririnig ko na ang ingay mula sa mga tao rito sa Paris. It's giving me this nostalgia feeling in my heart. I don't know why. Maybe because I just really missed walking on the runway while wearing these expensive clothes.

"Ready ka na ba, Aria? Ang tagal na simula noong huli mong rampa pero wala akong nakikitang kaba sa mukha mo... You're really something," anang Norleen Filler, ang lider naming mga Showzin Models. She is the eldest and the most matured one that's why we chose her to be our leader.

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. Umayos na rin ako ng tayo at hinawi ang aking buhok. "Kinakabahan nga ako... Nanginginig nga ang mga tuhod ko, eh, pero sana naman ay makaraos ako mamaya sa runway." Sinilip ko ang makintab na runway. May mga nakakasilaw din na ilaw mula sa itaas ng arena kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan.

Baka mamaya ay bigla akong mahimatay o matapilok!

Norleen chuckled lightly. Nakatitig na siya sa salamin ngayon habang marahang inaayos ang nakakulot na buhok. Her brown eyes look so angelic especially now that we're wearing light colored clothes for summer vibes.

"Just walk freely. Just like before. I'll exit now, the show has begun," she said and winked at me.

Nilapitan ako ng mga organizer at make-up artist. Inayos nila ang buhok ko at ni-retouch ang aking make-up. Marami pa namang mauuna. Ako ang huling rarampa kaya matagal-tagal pa ako.

"Good luck, honey. You can do it!" Mommy Valentina cheered me. He's my gay manager and he really helped me a lot for my come back in modeling business.

Nabawasan ang nakakaputol-hininga kong kaba. Nang makabalik sa backstage si Norleen, nakita kong binibihisan na siya ng panibagong damit sa susunod na theme mamaya pagkatapos ng commercial.

"Go, go, go now, honey! Ditch the runway like you own it! This is your come back after so many years, my God!" Walang kasing tinis ang boses ni Mommy Valentina kaya natatawa akong nag-unat ng baywang at pumikit ng mariin.

I held on the soft dark-red curtains and muttered a prayer. After that, I cheered myself. "Kaya mo ito, Aria... Kaya mo na..."

As the music banged all over this large arena, the whole crowd shouted so loud together with my steps out from the backstage.

I waved at them. Chin up, stomach in, and butt out, I tried to be light.

Doon na ako nakahinga ng maluwag nang nasa gitna na ako ng pagkahaba-habang runway. I'm wearing a boyfriend jeans with a yellow bikini top, hawak ko rin ang suot kong butterfly sunglasses.

My heart was beating so fast as I stared at the camera seductively.

"Arianna, you're so gorgeous!" sigaw ng kung sino. Kakaibang init sa puso ang namuno sa aking damdamin.

I smiled at the camera and turned my gaze on the another camera on my left side. My smile was wide and genuine but it all faded when a pair of dark and chinky eyes met mine.

Muntik na akong mapaupo sa makintab na runway nang makilala kung kaninong pares ng mga mata iyon. I shut my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung para saan ang pagpikit kong iyon gayong hindi naman nakadirekta sa mukha ko ang mga flash.

Am I hallucinating again?! Please, not now!

My breathing hitched and it seemed like the loud screams from the audiences vanished for moments.