Adoring July

Chapter 6

July Consunji's POV

Stressed and tired. Ganiyan ang hitsura ng aming professional automobile photographer dahil kanina pa ito hindi makakuha ng magandang shots namin ni Rocco.

Everything is set perfectly— from the blue car we'll use, the props, white backdrop, studio lighting, even the couple shirt we are wearing... it's perfect. It's us, we are the problem.

"Come on, lovebirds! Give me your loving smiles. Por dios por santo— magta-tatlong oras na tayong ganito. Mayroon pa tayong golden hour shoot mamaya."

Pilit niya kaming pinagdidikit ngunit kami itong mas lalo pang lumalayo. Indoor naman ang shooting at limitado ang nakakikita na mas mukha kaming magka-away.

"Sa paanong paraan ko kayo makukuhanan ng mala-pantasyang shots sa outdoor shoot kung ngayon pa lang ay ganiyan na kayo? Maaari ba na isantabi n'yo muna ang quarrel na iyan?" Kaunti na lang mauubos na ang pasensya ng photographer sa amin.

How did we end up here?

A week before the shoot.

Kumatok ako sa study room ni Rocco upang i-update siya sa naisipang event. I'm still a rookie in this industry, he's a veteran. Hindi siguro masama na i-konsulta sa kaniya ang balak kong gawin.

"I suggest a race competition to be held on the 15th of next month. What do you think?" tanong ko kaagad paglapit ko sa table niya't nilapag ang papel na naglalaman ng detalye.

He closes the book he's reading to check on the details of the said event. "What do you think will motivate them to join once they see the invitation?" he asked, removing his reading glasses to look at my confused face. "Cash prize," he answered his own question.

"But giving them our latest released model is not an easy feat. It cost a bucket..."

Hindi ako nito pinatapos magsalita dahil tumayo siya upang umupo lang ulit sa sofa. "People are easy to read nowadays. They love money— cash they could count, and touch will be the catch here."

I sat down across from him and crossed my arms. "But giving them the latest model is also a catch to market our brand."

"That's why you invite the media during the race— to market the brand, it's their job. Offering contestants, a new car which they already have is kind of a bore for them. Cash is good publicity, and the only prize that is not aging."

Good publicity... speaking of which. "Do you know what else a good publicity is?" I grinned.

I could see a question mark in his face, so I replied, "us doing the brand commercial. Alam mo namang may bad publicity ako, to cover that I need a good one. May nakapagsabi sa akin na makakatulong daw 'yun para bumango pa lalo ang pangalan ng company."

"Commercial? It is the ambassador's job." Tumayo ulit ito at nagbulsa ng dalawang kamay. Sabi ko nga hindi ito papayag, ba't ko pa nga ba sinubukan?

I sighed. "I will heed your advice na lang. Money over the latest car model," sabi ko at saka tumayo na rin.

Pero bago pa man ako humakbang ay nagsalita ito. "When is that?" Nakatalikod nitong tanong.

"Next month nga."

"Not that. The commercial..."

I was taken aback for a minute. "P-pumapayag ka??"

Nakita ko ang pagtaas-baba ng kaniyang balikat. "If it helps the company, why not try?"

Unti-unting lumawak ang ngiti ko. "Ipa-schedule ko by next week."

"Just tell me the date and time," he said, I nodded at his back.