Chasing Ephemeral Whispers

CHAPTER 4: Strike Me A Pose

"Elise, you'll be sharing a room with Yvonne and Perla," pa sigaw na sabi ni Jules while we're gathered outside the resort. "You can go to your room now at ayusin ang gamit niyo. You guys can rest dahil bukas pa tayo magsisimula ng mga events."

I mumbled a soft thank you dahil kani - kanina pa nanghihingi ng pahinga ang katawan ko.

"Who are you looking for?" Jules asked ng makapasok kami sa loob. "Ah, na sa kabilang hotel siya, sa mamahalin."

And I shot up a curious glare at him with my eyebrows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh nothing, I thought you're trying to find our model."

"I don't care about her, Jules. Lubayan mo nga ako," he only let out a chuckle when I pushed him away at sumampa ng elevator pataas sa kwartong kahati ko sa dalawang kasama.

Nauna na akong umakyat dahil nag picture picture pa iyong mga kasama ko at nagpa iwan sa ilalim.

Upon arranging my things and taking a quick shower ay kinuha ko ang camera sa lalagyan nito and wear the strap of it around my neck. Binuksan ko ang pinto na siyang konektado sa balkonahe and with a lungs filled with fresh and salty air, I bought my camera to my face and took some photos.

The people walking, the wind gustling the trees, the crashing waves on the shore and the woman who'll be my subject for the whole week.

Nakaupo ito sa deck chair hindi kalayuan sa resort namin at halatang kakadating lang din niya. She's still wearing the same clothes earlier at nakadikit ang cellphone nito sa tenga.

Even from a far, I can tell that she's getting frustrated with the person she's talking on the other line given the gestures that she is still doing after all this years.

I quickly shook my head now and went back inside. Agad akong nahiga sa kama pagkatapos binalik ang camera sa taas ng vanity table.

I didn't know I fell asleep kung hindi ko lang naramdaman ang kamay ng kasama kong shaking me to wake up.

"Oh Yvonne?"

"It's dinner time, ikaw nalang ang hinihintay sa baba."

"Oh talaga?" I lift my phone to watch the time and it was indeed seven in the evening. "Sorry, baba agad ako. I'll just wash my face. Thank you ulit Yvonne."

"No problem, see you Elise."

Pagkatapos kong maghilamos ay agad akong bumaba. My eyes immediately spotted the table of my supervisor and he's raising his hands up to get my attention.

But I halted when I saw an unexpected person sitting on the table where Jules was sitting.

What the hell is she doing here?

Inilibot ko ang mata sa paligid to find some vacant chair pero halos may nakaupo lahat. Letting out a sigh, I continued on my track at umupo sa bakanteng upuan, sa harapan mismo ng modelo.

"Sleeping beauty tayo ngayon ah," Jules said, giving me an extra plate and set of utensils.

"Pagod lang sa biyahe," I simply replied and served myself a spoon of rice.

"Diet ka teh? Bakit isang kutsarang kanin lang?"

"I don't have an appetite eh," habang kumukuha ako ng ulam ay siyang ramdam na ramdam ko ang tingin na ipinupukol sa akin ng modelo.

And I was proven right when I lift my head to look at her just for her to raised an eyebrow when our eyes met. Magkacross ang kamay nito sa kanyang dibdib as her eyes went down on my plate and shook her head.