I accepted Irina's invitation to be one of her models in her fashion show so I could at least take my mind off my engagement. I heard my dad was already planning the engagement party to inform people about the marriage alliance between the Sokolov and the Aslanov, especially to the enemies so they wouldn't have any thought of using me against the Bratva again.
I didn't want to do anything with it. I never cared about it kaya hinahayaan ko na lang si Dad. Alamko naman na kahit anong pigil at tanggi ang gawin ko, it won't change anything. Dad had already made up his mind. There was nothing that could stop him, especially since this marriage alliance was approved by the Pakhan.
But it doesn't mean that I wanted it to happen. Ayokong maikasal sa Vissarion na 'yon. But I didn't know what to do. I felt so helpless. Tapios si Devlin... hindi ko pa rin alam kung nasaan na hanggang ngayon. I hadn't seen him since that night, and he told me he would be back.
He never came back! I have been so alone since then. Devlin never broke his promise to me. Ngayon lang. And now that I was alone, I realized that Devlin was always by my side. Nasanay na ako sa presensya n'ya kaya ngayong wala s'ya sa tabi ko at hindi ko s'ya makita kahit anong paghahanap at paghihintay ang gawin, mas lalo kong naramdaman na wala akong kakampi ngayon.
Did something happen to him? He wouldn't leave me alone for so long like this. Dati, kahit anong taboy ko sa kanya noon, hindi pa rin s'ya umaalis sa tabi ko and would constantly annoy me. But now that I was looking for me, he was nowhere to be found.
"Yeliz, dear..."
Napatingin ako kay Arty na inabutan ako ng cucumber smoothie. I said my thanks kahit wala akong ganang inumin iyon. Lately, kahit ang kumain ay wala akong gana. Kung hindi lang talaga kailangan ng katawan ko ay hindi ako kakain. I didn't have the will or energy to do anything, and I always felt tired. But I figured that this fashion show was what I needed to take my mind off my problems.
"Are you okay?" Arty asked. Kanina pa yata nakakahalata sa nararamdaman ko.
I forced a smile at him. He sat beside me in the audience seat as my turn was already done. Today was just a dress rehearsal. Ipinasukat sa 'kin ni Irina ang damit and she matched some accessories. I did a quick practice walk just to see if there was a need to alter anything for my comfort.
"You don't look okay," sabi pa ni Arty nang ngitian ko lang s'ya.
"I'm fine..." I said. "I just don't have the energy to move."
"You should've told me. I could've asked Irina to let you just attend the final rehearsal instead."
"It's alright... I want to come here today. I have nothing to do anyway."
Nakatitig pa rin si Arty. Halata ang pag-aalala sa mga mata n'ya. He might've had an idea why I was feeling this way and what the real reason was kung bakit tamad na tamad ako at parang pagod pa. But he was trying to dodge the topic. Parang nakakahalata ring hindi ko gustong pag-usapan iyon.
Of course, he would notice. I was his talent. Alagang-alaga n'ya ako. Mas s'ya pa nga ang nag-aalaga sa 'kin noon instead of my dad. He was always looking out for me. At first, I knew that he was just doing his job. He needed to make sure of my well-being. After all, ang appearance ko ang ibinebenta ko.
But as time went by, his concern became genuine. And Arty became more than just a manager to me.
Kaya alam kong gustong-gusto n'yang itanong kung bakit hindi ko na kasama si Devlin, and three bodyguards came with me instead. Arty might've noticed my relationship with Devlin too. Imposibleng hindi. Pero nananahimik lang s'ya dahil nakikita n'yang hindi naman nagiging problema iyon sa career ko.
