A Designer's Creation

35. Persistent

"No."

Jericho looked at me na parang sinasabi pang "See? I told you."

Bugbog-sarado ako, naroon na kami.

Nagagalaw ko ba nang maayos ang braso ko? Nagagalaw pero hindi pa maayos.

Naikikilos ko ba nang mabilis ang mga paa at binti ko? Kayang ikilos pero hindi mabilis.

Malinaw ba ang mata ko para humawak ng karayom at sumukat nang eksakto? Iyan ang hindi ko masiguro.

Nabubukas ko ba nang maayos ang bibig ko para magsalita? Nabubukas ko at nakakapagsalita ako, pero hindi pa ganoon kaayos at kalakas.

But I really wanted to join La Mari. I know Ty can pull some strings at ipa-disqualify ako, but as of this moment, mukhang hindi enough ang connections niya para ipatanggal ako sa competition. Probably because the other partners of La Mari wanted to show that I am a loser. Or maybe not because of me?

I was holding my phone, scrolling La Mari's site, and saw the votes of their models. And fuck numbers, Model #75 Echo Iglesias got 67.51% of votes and the rest of the models barely got a 1% of it.

Hindi naman sa sinasabi kong nadududa ako rito sa mga numero pero first time kong makakita ng flood votes para sa isang model na masyado nang obvious kung sino ang mananalo sa model category.

I mean, sa overall judging, thirty percent ng criteria ang voting poll. Automatically and uninamous decision na kung sino ang winner sa People's Choice Awards. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ang event, may winner na.

I checked La Mari's official social media sites for model category para sa voting album, and there was Jericho's photo—that one shot with him grinning and showing his sexy cuts and cool tattoos. He was wearing a black beanie and denim jeans too low to show his V-line. May kaunting profile silang inilagay sa kanya and I guess, they sold their votes for it.

"Model #75 Echo Iglesias. Interior Designer, Painter, Bar Owner, Barista, Model.

He was receiving a lot of comments saying positive response na nagsasabing sa lahat ng candidate, siya lang ang hindi model lang ang profession na stated sa profile. Ang ibang comments doon, mukhang kilala na siya.

"Echo, I miss you!"

"Kasama ko 'yan dati sa hotel!"

"Lah! Model ka na rin pala, bhie! Support!"

Since hindi naman gaanong sikat ang fashion modelling sa masa, expected nang puro mga elite ang makakakita ng catalog. And since hindi naman fan ng voting ang mga elite, sariling sikap ang mga model to promote themselves for the voting process. And Jericho really needs to attend this competition. Siya lang ang nakita kong tadtad ng support sa comment sections ng mga taong mukhang nakilala niya while working sa hospitality services. And these people even showed their support by mentioning other people's account to vote for him.

Nakakatakot ang impluwensiya niya to think na gusto na niyang magpa-disqualify.

"Cinnamon, nakikinig ka ba sa 'min?"

Napaangat agad ako ng mukha. Nagsasalita ba sila?

"Again?" sabi ko.

Jericho covered his face with his palm and shook his head. Tyrone sighed and placed his hands on his hips.

"Ayokong mag-away tayo nang ganito ang lagay mo, kaya please lang," sabi ni Tyrone at halatang pigil na pigil siyang sumigaw habang nakikita ko ang madalas kong makitang inis sa mukha niya kapag nagtatalo kami sa opisina niya sa Lion.