"look that way, please."
"Nice.. perfect. One more, look at me.. lower your chin a bit.. excellent! Good job! That's it!"
After a few flashes of the camera and instructions from my photographer, the photoshoot ends.
"Stacey, you're next." Ian, our photographer said. I saw Stacey walking towards the booth with much class and sophistication.
I'm new to the industry of modeling and one of the models I always admire is Stacey.
Everybody knows her. Maraming brand ang kumukuha sa kaniya. Different magazines ay siya ang cover photo. Hindi ko nga mabilang kung ilang contract na ang napirmahan niya para maging model nila.
Paalis ako ng booth and halos kumawala ang puso ko sa dibdib ko ng magtama ang mga mata namin. Hindi rin nakatulong ang simpleng pagngiti niya sa'kin.
I played it cool and smiled back pero nagwawala na ang laman loob ko dahil sa kilig.
"You did great, Aiah. By the way, gusto ka makausap ni Phil, it's about the perfume brand. I told you before na isa ka sa mga model, right?" Shaira said, my manager.
"Yep. Magpapalit lang ako and then we can go na."
"Okay. I'll wait for you, dear."
Umalis na ako and pumunta sa dressing room ko para magpalit ng damit. I've been wearing this black feathered gothic style dress mula kaninang umaga and gustong-gusto ko na mahubad ito.
After changing to a much more comfortable outfit, lumabas na ako ng dressing room para puntahan si Shaira.
I was on my way to the main hall when I saw Stacey getting a drink from a vendo machine. Hindi ko alam kung kakausapin ko ba siya or lalagpasan na lang na parang hindi ko siya nakita.
I decided na gawin 'yung last option. Binilisan ko ng konti ang paglalakad para hindi niya ako makita pero bigla rin akong napahinto dahil nagsalita siya.
"Aiah, right?"
Ito na naman puso ko, Lord.. nagiging baliw na naman.
Dahan-dahan akong tumalikod para harapin siya. She's smiling at me sweetly and I swear, ang ganda niya sobra.
"Y-yes. I'm Aiah.. Aiah Arceta."
Dahil sa kaba, I extended my arm for a handshake which is very uncool dahil mukha akong tangang parang nakikipag-deal ng business.
Tinignan niya ang kamay ko ng may pagtataka and parang gusto ko na lang magpakain sa lupa.
"Stacey, Stacey Sevilleja." She gently replied and took my hand for a handshake. "Didn't know na you're so formal."
I tightly shut my eyes and move my head to the side out of embarrassment. Humarap ako sa kaniya and tried to act cool.
"I don't even know why I did that. I'm not a formal person.. chill lang ako.. parang hotdog sa ref.. super chill."
What the fuck are you saying, Maraiah Queen Arceta!!!
"Cool.." Sabi niya habang nakangiti sa'kin. "Hindi ka ba nangangalay? Kanina pa nasa ere mga kamay natin."
Bigla kong binawi kamay ko dahil sa hiya. "Sorry."
"No worries, I don't mind naman. I'm just worried baka nangangalay ka lang."
Before I could say something, nakita kong paparating si Shaira and nilapitan ako.
"Aiah, tapos ka na pala. Phil is waiting for us." She said. She saw Stacey so she acknowledged her presence.
