Alluring Glances (Soaring Courage #1)

27.

"Turn to the right and look here, Vanessa!" The photographer shouted so, I did what he asked. I shot a fierce look at the camera and the photographer smiled in satisfaction.

"One more!" he shouted so, I showed him different pose and when he showed me thumbs up, I smiled and thanked him.

Rea immediately came to me and offered me a water bottle. Sa likod niya ay naroon si Tito Kobi kaya kaagad akong napangiti at sumalubong.

"Ang galing talaga ng pamangkin ko!" Tito Kobi exclaimed. Yumakap ako at nagpasalamat sa kaniya. "Ayos ka lang ba, Vanessa? Hindi ka ba napagod? Galing kang event kagabi tapos, dumiretso ka dito. Magpahinga ka muna kaya?"

I smiled at him. "Kaya ko pa po, Tito Kobi!"

DreamZone Entertainment accepted me as their model when I got back here in Laguna. I'm now settling in Manila and working for DZE. Nang makabalik ako noon ay agad kong pinuntahan ang mga magulang ko na nasa bahay nila Tito Yuri noon. I hugged them and I was relieved to know that they're safe. Leisarus was safe.

I did a facebook live wherein I confessed what happened. I still remember how I bravely managed to say everything in front of the camera.

"Good day to all of you..." I started. "I know, it's been a while but, I'm back now. Nag-live ako ngayon para ipaalam na sa inyo lahat. I want to talk about the issue spreading and clear things out," sabi ko at hindi muna pinansin ang mga comments.

"The reason of my hiatus is not about a boyfriend. I don't even have a boyfriend when I went on hiatus so, the rumors spreading was fake. I left Starshines because of some issues. I'm overworked there, I don't have the time to rest and it's making my health worst so, I left the agency. Hindi ako na-kick out o anuman. Umalis ako nang kusa roon," sabi ko at tumingin sa comments. I saw several questions to answer but, I chose to just speak again.

"I went to a province to rest and I met him. The guy with me in the photo. Hindi ko siya boyfriend nang mag-hiatus ako dahil nakilala ko siya nang pumunta ako sa probinsyang 'yon. The headlines is fake," sabi ko. "Sinabi ko ito dahil ayokong guluhin niyo pa siya. Ayokong madamay pa siya dito. Wala na kaming dalawa kaya sana, 'wag niyo na siyang guguluhin. He's a good man and he doesn't deserve all the bullshit comments."

I ended the live after telling them all of that. Kuntento na ako na inamin ko sa maraming tao ang totoo. Sana lang ay tigilan na nila si Kaloy o ang pagbato ng salita sa kanya na hindi naman totoo.

"Parker and I are tracing the origin of the post, 'nak. 'Wag kang mag-alala," Tito Jeoniel said. Tumango ako at sumandal kay mama na nasa tabi ko.

"It's okay, you can cry to me," bulong ni mama. Her words triggered my tears. Yumakap ako sa nanay ko at umiyak, ramdam pa rin ang hapdi at sakit nang maalala kung gaano ko nasaktan si Kaloy na walang ginawa kung hindi ang mahalin ako.

"Vanessa," I felt someone sat beside me and hugged me. Mabilis ko siyang niyakap pabalik. "Ayos lang 'yan, nandito kami," bulong niya at hinaplos ang ulo ko.

"Salamat, ate."

After my live got viral, I didn't bother opening my social media again. Bumalik ako sa pagmomodelo pero, sa DZE na ako nagtatrabaho. Tito Kobi was the one who helped me get into the agency and I requested for Rea to be my assistant and manager again.

Ngayon, limang buwan na akong nasa DZE. Limang buwan na akong walang balita sa kaniya. Limang buwan na akong nangungulila sa kaniya.

Sunod-sunod ang naging endorsements ko pero, nagagawa kong makapagpahinga. Tito Kobi is giving me the priviledge to rest unlike my former agency.