When We Happened

Chapter 26: Game Face On

Chapter 26

Game Face On

Sa sobrang kaba ko kanina, I asked Sir Simon to bring me here an hour earlier than our supposed time to meet. I couldn't help but watch the other models go in and out of the boardrooms, parang merong trade fair. Kung tutuusin, job interview naman talaga ito. I am aiming to be signed by this world-renowned agency.

At tulad sa isang malaking job fair, marami kang makakalaban para iisang pwesto. Competition. I have a lot of them here, giving me the stink eye. I shook my head and looked away at the 6th model who rolled her eyes at me.

Lumapit ako kay Jeric, na naghihintay rin sa tabi ko. "Is it just me or masama talaga tingin nila sa akin?" bulong ko sa kanya.

Pasimple siyang lumingon sa paligid bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. "Damn, oo nga no?"

Shit. What did I do now?

"Huwag mo na lang pansinin. Focus on the goal and just do your best. Let them eat shit, okay?"

Napangiti ako sa sinabi nito. "Thanks, Jeric." Sasagot pa sana ito sa akin nang biglang tinawag ng receptionist ang pangalan niya, it's his turn. "Galingan mo. Good luck!"

And an hour after, ako na ang tinawag nila.

"Hello, Asher. It's nice to finally meet you," said Lewis Ward, the mad who scouted me on Instagram and the same person who invited me to come here.

"This is Meredith Bower, my colleague and your soon-to-be manager if you choose to sign with us."

Scratch that. Did he just say 'If I choose to sign with them?'

I just stared at him, instead of opening my mouth and saying fucking something.

Lewis smiled. "We already decided we want to sign you, Asher. This meeting is just for posterity's sake."

Wait. What? You're telling me I already got this in the fucking bag? "I'm sorry, but that doesn't sound right."

Oh, God... no. Bakit ko sinabi 'yun?

Oh, God, I sound so ungrateful! But I know myself, this doesn't seem right. I know this would immediately turn into something bad for me. I need to do something! Say something!

"I wanted to work hard for this, I'd just feel like this was handed out to me without me lifting a finger for it."

Like this opportunity just landed on my fucking lap. Again.

"What do you mean?" Lewis asked, frowning in confusion.

"You're telling me I already got this in the bag?"

Oh, God. I am so dumb. Why am I doubting myself? Why am I sabotaging myself again?

"Well... yeah." He nodded his head. "We wouldn't waste your time and our resources if we were not sure with you."

"But I thought I needed to audition?"

They smiled at each other before Meredith looked at me with kind eyes. "You got it wrong, honey," she said. "We have seen your featured ads, watched some of your runway videos, and your hilarious interviews. You're a star, Asher. It would be a massive missed opportunity for us not to sign you right away."

"Oh. " Wow.

"Oh, yes," she grinned at me. "Do you have any questions for us?"

I blinked at her, blanking at her question. Nawala lahat ng mga pinag-praktisan ko kanina kasama nina Sir Simon at Sir Red!