The Billionaire's Contract Wife [COMPLETED]

Twelve: The Photoshoot

"We're done with the casual shots. This time we're doing the more intimate shots," said the French photographer who was doing our photoshoot.

Kinabahan naman ako doon sa intimate. I looked at Louie. He didn't seem bothered. 

We started really early today. We went to the Gothic Quarter for the first location. We did some casual shots in the picturesque narrow streets. We did some shots outside the very famous Cathedral of Barcelona, too. 

Nakailang palit din kami ng damit. Pero duda pa rin akong magagamit ko lahat ng damit na pinamili namin.

Pero sinadya yata talaga ni Mei 'yon para mas madaming pagpipilian 'yong team, depende na rin kung anong babagay sa suot ni Louie.

Then we went to Parc Güell for our second location. We mostly did fun shots there. Medyo matao sa lugar, being one of the most visited places in Barcelona, but our photographer knew how to make the crowd as a creative part of our background. 

I hate to admit it but I had fun so far. Casual at fun shots lang naman kasi. Para lang kaming nagpo-photoshoot for Instagram. Ganern.

Saka inaamin ko, magaling ang photographer namin. He made the ambiance light and fun. Pati nga si Louie mukhang nag-enjoy din. I saw him smile more than necessary today. 

Which is rare. Kasi usually lagi naman itong mukhang seryoso at madalas ay nakasimangot pa. But he looked like he's in a good mood today.

Now, for our third, and hopefully last location, we are here at Parc del Laberint d'Horta. This is known as the most romantic spot in Barcelona. 

This time they made me wear a vintage-looking gown. Even my hair and makeup was made to look like I came from the 60s. 

Medyo gumagabi na kaya the team had to put up faux torch lights and fairy lights in areas where we were supposed to shoot.

And I must admit the ambiance does not only feel romantic. It felt dreamy, too. Pakiramdam ko ay nasa fairytale ako. 

Having to shoot between these hedge mazes made me feel like I'm Juliet waiting for my Romeo to appear and sweep me off my feet. 

Hindi talaga ako hopeless romantic na tao pero ewan ko ba, I suddenly feel like I'm a princess in a fairytale. Louie looked very much like Prince Charming, too. He looked even more dashing in his vintage-looking tuxedo and hairdo. 

Whenever I look at him, I feel like I am looking at a real life prince who walked out from the pages of the fairytale book my grandma used to read to me when I was little.

It's crazy, I know.

It must be the ambiance, I convinced myself.

Yeah, of course. It must be the ambiance. What else could it be? 

"Closer. More. More. I need you to look at each other in the eyes! A little bit closer!" Narinig kong sigaw nung French photographer.

Naramdaman ko ang biglang paghapit ni Louie sa aking bewang, pulling me a little closer to him. Napasinghap ako. Pakiwari ko'y biglang tumigil sa pagtibok ang aking puso.

Napatukod ako sa malapad niyang dibdib. Literal na nakatingala ako sa kaniya dahil sa tangkad niya. 

At dahil nakatungo ito, medyo malapit pa rin ang mga mukha namin sa isa't-isa. This was the closest we were together since we started doing the photoshoot this morning.

I held my breath. Pakiwari ko'y nanigas lahat ng mga kalamnan ko sa katawan.

"Hey, relax," he whispered a couple of inches away from my face. "You look like you're about to faint. I am not gonna eat you alive."

What can I do? My heart was basically hammering down my chest. I couldn't even look him in the eyes for more than three seconds. Para akong napapaso. 

"You need to look at each other!" ang muling sigaw nung photographer.

It took all the courage I had to bring my eyes back to him. Nakakapaso ang mga titig nito. Para akong hinihigop sa kawalan.

"That's right. Hold that pose. Okay, perfect!" ang sigaw nung photographer. 

The reflection of the faux torch lights danced in Louie's eyes. It was enchanting and hypnotizing at the same time. 

"Okay, next pose!" said the photographer.

I stepped back from him the moment I heard it. Pakiwari ko kasi'y biglang 'di ako makahinga sa lapit namin sa isa't-isa. 

Parang wala ako sa sarili sa mga sumunod na oras. It seems like the photographer wasn't joking when he said earlier that we are to do daring poses this time. 

He made Louie hugged me from behind. Then we had to switch places at ako naman ang nakayakap dito mula sa likuran.

He even made me sit on Louie's lap! 

Honestly, hindi ko alam paano ko na-survive ang mga sumunod na oras. 

I just kept telling myself, "Trabaho lang 'to, girl. Trabaho lang 'to. Be professional." Pero deep inside, para na akong hihimatayin dahil sa samu't-saring emosyon. 

I've never been this intimate with anyone before! 

I had a boyfriend once when I was in high school pero naghiwalay din kami agad dahil nalaman ng lola ko. Eh, sobrang strict nun. May she rest in peace.

I never had a chance to get into a relationship after that. Even when I came here in Barcelona, hindi pa rin ako sinuwerteng magka-boyfriend.

I mean, there were instances when I thought I found "the one". Pero I would always find something that turns me off before things between us start to get serious. 

Isa pa, busy ako masyado sa studies at paghahanap-buhay. Wala akong oras at energy para maghanap ng love life.

It's funny how I am going to get married first before I was able to experience falling in love with anyone! The irony!

"Can we wrap this up now?" narinig kong wika ni Louie pagkuwan. To my relief.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag. Buti naman at mukhang matatapos na ang paghihirap kong ito. 

"No worries, señor. We're about to do the last shot," the photographer said. "Now, I need you to kiss."

Anudaw?! Naramdaman ko ang biglang paglaki ng aking mga mata.

"Kiss?! You want us to kiss?!" ang hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Don't worry, it doesn't have to be some French kissing. Though I don't really mind," ang pilyong sagot nung photographer. "But a peek on the lips will do."

"Wait, wait." I was supposed to object but the photographer led me to the spot where he wanted us to take the last shot.

"You have to bring your arms here. Good." He brought my arms to Louie's neck. "While you, señor, have to put your hands here." He also placed Louie's hand on my waist.

"Now you have to tilt your head a little," ang sabi pa nito habang iginigiya ang aking ulo pahilig ng konti. "Okay, this angle is perfect."

"But wait," I said. "Do we really have to kiss? I mean we can act like we're about to kiss and you can just ---" 

Ngunit hindi ko pa natapos ang aking sasabihin nang maramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Louie sa aking baba at saka iginiya akong paharap sa kaniya.

"Let's just get this over with. I'm tired," he said before he lowered his face to plant a kiss on my lips. 

I was shocked. I froze on my feet as I felt the camera flashes.