When We Happened

Chapter 21: Bon Voyage

Chapter 21

Bon Voyage

The weeks after my editorial photoshoot passed me like a blur.

Life went by so fast, it was literally all a blur to me.

Sobrang daming nangyari sa loob ng three weeks na lumipas. I went to every modeling class Sir Simon and Sir Red enrolled me in. I practiced my runway walk, I continued learning how to do my own makeup and hair, and I also attended every media-training session and personality development classes I had.

Lahat ng go-sees na ibinato nila sa akin ay pinuntahan ko and whenever I have downtime, I either read up on everything fashion. I know I needed all the education I could get. Learning everything I had to know about modeling and the fashion industry is the least thing I could do.

After all the strings the TMI pulled to have my visa approved and shouldering my expenses for the meantime, maliit na bagay lang ito. Babawi naman ako sa kanila. I promised myself babawi ako sa lahat ng taong nagtiwala at sumugal sa akin.

I will make them proud.

"Hey, are you sure it's okay for you to go out tonight? Considering bukas na flight mo to New York?" L asked through the phone. I'm still at my latest campaign shoot for a shampoo, I think in 3 months pa bago lumabas ito sa general public.

Anyway, going back to L... As one of my dearest friends, L and Kade decided to throw a "despedida party" for me tonight as if hindi na ako babalik ng Pilipinas after going to NYC. Ito lang ang time na naibigay ng manager ko, aka, Sir Simon.

"Don't worry, L. Sisipot pa rin ako! Sir Simon already booked a hotel room for me near The Ledge so we could go to the airport without hassle tomorrow."

"Are you sure? I don't want to cause any trouble with your management."

"Ako ka ba? Okay nga lang! They're excited to party to, you know," natatawang sagot ko sa kanya. "Thanks for inviting the team nga pala! Sir Simon booked them rooms, too. So solid plan na talaga 'yung mamaya. Wala nang atrasan 'yun, I promise."

I heard a very loud relieved sigh from the other line. "How about you? Are you excited to party with us tonight?"

Tinatanong pa ba 'yan? "Fuck yes, girl! I've been working for the whole month straight!" I mean, partying with my favorite people? Of course, excited ako! "Mababaliw ako kapag umalis ako ng bansa ng hindi man lang nakakapagsaya knowing na trabaho din naman ang pupuntahan ko doon."

"That's right!" sigaw ni L. "The goal tonight is to make you crawl your way back to your hotel."

"Huy! Ayokong mangamoy alak bukas sa flight ko!" mabilis kong paalala sa kanya. Ayoko ngang mag mukhang unprofessional bukas.

Hindi ako sinagot nito. Imbes ay iniba niya ang usapan. "Is Yap going with you pala?"

"Yup." Syempre naman. But his brothers, half-brothers, are going to be there. "Hindi naman siguro awkward later kapag magkakasama na 'yung tatlo?"

"Jamie and River will be there for a short while lang, since they have to go home agad. Wala naman problema with Kade as we've seen the last time, diba? They were civil naman," paliwanag ni L. "Wala rin naman 'yung nakaaway niya talaga."

Yeah, the missing Ongpauco brother is... missing. So bawas naman sa awkwardness siguro 'yun for Yap. "Speaking of, is Kim going?"

"I think so pero probably sasabay 'yun kila Jamie pauwi."

Figures.

Pero bago ko makalimutan, I need to tell her how much I appreciate what she and Kade are doing for me. I didn't ask for a party, they just decided that I needed one before I left. "Thank you for hosting this for me, L."