When Love and Hate Collide

CHAPTER 19

BRIDGETTE
Dior

"Have you seen her?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko kay Bobby. He shook his head, a sad expression on his face was visible.

"T-tinawagan mo na ba? Nagriring naman? Alam naman niyang ngayon yung event 'di ba?" I asked him one question after another. I was feeling anxious because she still wasn't here, and the Dior show was starting in just twenty minutes!

Bobby sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked at me with concern. "Oo, tinawagan ko na, pero hindi siya sumasagot. Alam naman niyang importante ito, lalo na sa'yo."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Twenty minutes na lang, Babe. This is Dior we’re talking about! She knows how big this is for us. She wouldn’t just disappear like this, would she?"

His brows furrowed, and he shook his head again. "Hindi ko rin alam, B. Baka naman may nangyari lang na hindi natin alam."

I bit my lip, my anxiety climbing higher by the second. I wanted to believe that there was a valid reason behind her absence, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. What if she purposely did this?

Kakalbuhin talaga kita!

"I already called her a few minutes ago, it just keeps ringing. Why don't you try calling Oliver?" Bobby suggested, looking even more stressed than I was. He was in charge of our models and had just finished handling their arrangements and briefing them with Patricia's help.

Hannah was with us earlier, but she had a family emergency and had to leave. I had no choice but to let her go. She was invited as a guest to watch the Dior show, but unfortunately, she won't be able to witness it now.

"Hay nako talaga, ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko! I've told you all many times not to overlook her attendance, haven't I? Look at us now. We're missing a model because she's not here! And now, I have to start contacting people to know where she is. Tsk!" Sermon ko sa mga ito.

Ito na nga ba kasi ang dati ko pang pinag-aalala eh. Ang bigla na lang siyang hindi sumipot sa mismong araw pa. I've already witnessed this kind of behaviour. Madalas pa naman siyang wala, mabuti na lang kahit nagtetraining pa siya ay may kumukuha sa kanya for endorsements na ongoing pa rin ang process right now, but given today's situation, I think I should cancel all of it and give the opportunity to others who show more interest and willingness to do this kind of work, rather than to someone who lacks commitment.

This is not for her. Magturo na lang siya sa Pilipinas at doon magsungit kaysa dito sa America at nanggugulo ng buhay ko.

"Hays!" Inis kong usal nang wala akong makuhang sagot sa kanilang dalawa ni Patricia. Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa bulsa ko at bahagyang lumayo sa dalawa habang hinihilot ang sentido ko.

Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa mga trip niya sa buhay.

I first tried calling her number, but they were right—she wasn’t picking up. I cursed under my breath and tried to inhale and exhale deeply to calm myself down.

"Tang ina talaga." Bulong ko sa sarili dahil naririnig ko na ang host sa stage na nag-uumpisa nang mag-introduce.

I then decided to dial Oliver's number, and to my luck, he picked up immediately.