Astonishing Us

XIX

THERE IS A FROWN ON MY FOREHEAD as I scrolled through my Facebook's newsfeed. Ang laman non ay puro chismis.

Chismis at kung ano-ano pa, about sa panghuhula ng mga fan ko at mga teenagers' man na kababaihan na fan na fan naman ni Ridge, panghuhula sa relasiyon namin ni Ridge.

I shake my head as I scroll farther. Until a chuckle escaped my lips.

The post contains a screenshot of my IG story and Ridge's story. Magkapareho daw ang tiles at kulay ng wall na parang nasa iisang bahay kaming dalawa ni Ridge.

Nakatira naman talaga kami sa iisang bahay. Mas lalo akong natawa ng mabasa ang debate sa comment section may iilang sumang-ayon sa caption ng nag-post at may mga kababaihang ayaw maniwala, single daw ang chupapi nilang si Ridge.

Paano naging single para sa kanila iyon? Halata naman na may karelasyon si Ridge sa mga Story, shared post at of course sa relationship status nitong naka engaged na nga.

Napa-iling akong muli, as I left the post and scroll again. Until my eyes fell to the picture that was taken exactly a year ago and a screenshot of Ridge's hand holding a beer if I'm not mistaken it was his story in New Year's Eve, that he spent with me and my family.

The photo that was taken a year ago was me, with the manager of the jewelry store where I bought the Love ring cartier for Ridge. I smiled when I remembered how shy the manager was that time to ask me for a photo with him. My eyes fell on the caption.

'This is my uncle, he's the manager of Caldwell Jewelry's, the first photo was taken exactly a year ago! My uncle told me that Miss. Ae, bought a gold Love ring cartier for men, and you can see the gold love ring cartier Miss. Ae bought is the same as what in Ridge's ring finger, OMG! Miss Ae and Sir Ridge pakigalaw ang baso!'

Pakigalaw ang baso? Natawa ako saka sinara ang phone ko.

I stared at the mirror in front of me, the used to be jet black flat straight short hair is now blonde and wavy and its way shorter than before, my black short hair before had a length that reaches the skin of my shoulder blades at ang bago kong hairstyle ngayong ay may haba lang nasasapat upang pantayan ang jawline ko. My eyes— no, my whole face that used to be so innocent becomes much fierce.

My appearance matured within a year. My personality got stronger, and I guess the best thing that happened to me is when my height increased.

I'm much taller now than before, much sexier and much prettier, the management said they watched me grow in modeling industry. I've grown, not just my career but also all of me.

Within a year I've earn millions of supporters, runways after runways, commercial ads after commercial ads, photoshoots after photoshoots, sometimes guessing in TV shows whether it is Local or International TV and sometimes being secondary characters in some movies.

That is how my new life cycle works and what happened within a year, how the spotlight brought my world to peak. Modeling did not only brought fame to me; it also gave me a chance to provide for my family and for myself.

Being engaged with a billionaire didn't stop me from earning money for myself, for providing my own needs although sometimes, sobrang mapilit ni Ridge na hayaan ko s'yang gastusan ako na magbigay din ng kailangan ko. Hindi n'ya ata alam kung gaano na kasapat ang presensya n'ya lang sa tabi ko.

Thinking of Ridge, a soft genuine smile crept on my lips. Miss ko na ang lalaking iyon, I've been busy the whole week.

I was out of the country as he needs to stay at home for local businesses, nagkaroon kasi ako ng runway sa Hongkong at isang guessing sa isang international TV sa Hongkong din, Ito ang unang beses na hindi n'ya ko nasamahan dahil may tinatayo s'yang hotel and resorts sa Siargao at Cebu na kailangan ng monitoring n'ya.