"What did you say?!" Napatayo sa gulat si Shane at muntikan pang matapon ang kape nya. We're in a coffee shop and I told her that I was fired.
"He fired me because I didn't apologise to his little cat." I sipped my frappe casually. Umupo sya habang hinihilot ang ulo.
"Why didn't you just apologise." I just looked at her.
"Right, I know why." she surrendered.
"Look Shane I know you are my manager for three years and maiintindihan ko kung magsstay ka sa company. Sana lang ay di brat ang susunod na mahahandle mo." She rolled her eyes on me.
"Walang tatalo sa kamalditahan mo. If he fired you then I'm quitting."
"You don't need to do that." She just smile and hold my hand.
"Huwag ka matouch actually sa iyo ko nakikita future ko. Alam mo ba na sobrang daming sikat na kompanya ang gustong makuha ka, mas maganda pa offer nila. You just don't want it when I bring it up before so I didn't pursue it any further. Or pwede rin naman na magfreelance ka, madami naman talagang gustong kumuha sayo makakapili ka pa ng client. " We both laugh. Chantal is really popular.
" Well ako pa ba." I flipped my hair and we both laugh again.
Tumunog ang cellphone ko. I looked at the notification and Radon message me. We've been exchanging message kapag hindi ako sobrang busy. It means seldom. I curtly replied at him and put my phone back.
"Who is that?" I just smiled at her.
"Is that the Tagaytay guy? Ikaw ha magmomove on ka na talaga ata a." Actually, I'm keeping it minimal. He's a good guy but I don't want to be attach in this world. I will leave this place soon.
"Don't tease me I saw you with your Tagaytay guy din last week. Parehas lang tayo." Nabigla naman sya dahil hindi nya siguro inasahan na alam ko.
"Well baka kasi mausog kaya sure thing na dapat bago ikwento." I laugh at her reason. After a while ay pumunta na kami sa spa.
Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nag-asikaso dahil ngayon ang start ng rehearsal. It's monday now and the event will be held next sunday. Pagkarating ko sa venue ay agad akong sinalubong ng organizer ng program.
"Good morning Ms. Chantal. I am Trixie it is so nice to finally meet you personally." We shake our hands and we walk together.
"Thank you. Hindi naman siguro ako late?" Medyo madami na din kasing tao.
"Of course not. Miss, you are so pretty mas maganda ka sa personal. I mean you look stunning in pictures, but in flesh? Just wow. No wonder ikaw ang inspiration ni Ma'am Gray sa kanyang masterpiece. " I blushed even tho it's not my own body. She just look so amuse by me.Her compliments is really sincere. But wait? Chantal is the inspiration for that masterpiece?
" Thank you, you flatter me so much. " Patuloy lang kaming nag-usap hanggang sa makarating kami sa make up room.
Nagpaalam muna siya sa akin dahil may a asikasuhin muna syang iba.
Agad naman akong nilapitan ni Shane at ng glam team ng company ni Shawn sila din ang staffs na kasama ko sa Tagaytay events.
"Girl we heard what happened." tiningnan ko si Shane at nag peace sign lang sya.
"Gaga napaalis ka talaga ng company dahil sa babaeng iyon?" Maanghang na sabi ni Tristan/Trisha. Nasa akin ang sentiments nila, I guess they are not nit fond of innocent fragile woman too. Besides we are together for a long time na din.
"That is not fair. Ang laki ng ipinapasok mong revenue sa kompanya." Dugtong ni Ella. Well it's true tho. But Shawn is filthy rich, hindi lamang ito ang business nya. He belong to some underground mafia business something. It was briefly stated in the book.
" It's fine everyone. I can't do anything about it. I already signed the paper so that's that." Patuloy naman silang nagrant about sa nangyari.
"I just don't like her. Did you see her? Kung umakto sya ay kala mo ay laging nawawalang tuta. I heard di rin sya gusto ng mga kasamahan nya nung receptionist pa lamang sya." Muling maktol ni Trisha/Tristan.
"Yeah narinig ko na muntikan ding mafire yung mga iyon. Umiyak iyak lang ulit yung Alessa kaya binigyan na lang ng warning at nilipat sya sa office ni Sir." dagdag pa ni Shiela.
"Shhh quiet mamaya may spy dito tapos magsumbong kay Sir, ifire pa tayong lahat." Pabirong sabi ni Jonah and they all laugh.
"Dapat pala ganyan na lang ginawa mo Chantal e. Umiyak ka lang pala dapat ng umiyak." We all cringe from Shane's word at sabay sabay ulit kaming tumawa.
"Ew! No way itatakwil talaga kita. Ayoko sa iyakin no." maarteng sabi ni Trisha.
Matapos akong ayusan ay lumabas na ako para sa rehearsal.
"Iha there you are. It's so good to see you again." nagbeso kaming dalwa and I smile sweetly at her.
"Nice to meet you too again, Mrs. Gray." In Chantal's memory they met last year sa isang fashion event sa Italy. Alexa Gray is a very known Phil-American designer. Her dress are very known and of course, quite pricey. She had a very strong legacy and her popularity rises as she age. Nasa mid 40's na sya and she's still at the top for the past 10 years.
"Lalo kang gumanda mula nung huli kitang makita. I really wanna snatch you from Mr. Montero."
"Well, I am not working under him anymore." She gasped and held my hand.
"Really? Why? What happened?"
"My contract got terminated." She is evidently happy.
"Now I think I have my chance. Last year I offered you but you politely declined." well it's true. Chantal disregard anything but Shawn.
"Well, I think I'll take it slow for now. Magf-freelance muna siguro ako Ma'am bago ako magsign ng new contract."
"That's great I also did that before." Right, she was a model/designer before. Pinili na lamang nya mag full time designer sa huli. We talk quite a bit bago magsimula ang rehearsal. We will just practice our walk and the arrangements. Nung ako na ang rarampa ay ginawa ko ito with full of confidence. Her body remembers everything. From the walk, how to carry herself and how to keep the audiences hooked and that's why I did it perfectly. As I walk, I can see people admiration.
See? 'Chantal you are a great woman', if you only know that. I want to say it to the real owner of this body. I want her to realise that Shawn is not everything and she has so much potential without him.
