Courting Mr. Panget (Vhong-Anne)-REVISING

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

NIKOLAS' POV

I am getting ready for the pictorials. Nasa labas na sila at ako na lang ang naiwan sa kwarto. It's okay 'coz matagal pa naman ako. I think they're preparing now for the setting. I got my attires from closet at isinuot iyon. I walked in front of the mirror while staring at my reflection. I don't know why! Upon looking at my face. .what happened last night passed through my brain. Her tears and pains registered in my mind, parang nalilito na ako sa pinapakita niya.

'Mahal kita'

Na naman! Nadinig ko na ang mga salitang iyon. That was the words she said to me at the party way back in college. How can I believe her? Tell me! Kung kayo ang nasa posisyon ko, after paglaruan ang inyong damdamin by the person you love most? After making you believe na ang relasyong kinaiingatan mo ay isa lang palang kasinungalingan at laro, would you still believe that person? Hindi. Kase kahit gustuhin mo, may humihila sa'yo para layuin siya. Believing that by avoiding that person will lessen the probability of getting lied again.

Sige! Sabihin na nga nating. .may natira pa ---kahit konti---- na pagmamahal sa kanya. There are nights that I dreamt about her, reminiscing the old days. Pero alam niyo, natatakpan lahat yun ng hinanakit and her lies.

How can you love again when trust is already gone?

I straigtened the crease in my suit and kept my hair in tousled. Naglakad ako papuntang kama para kunin ang ibang gamit ko. Kung mananatili ako sa kwartong ito, with all the silence and dimmy environment. .maaalala ko na naman siya. And I woudn't like that! Pagkalagpas ko ng bintana, hindi ko maiwasang sumilip. I saw them laughing and talking while taking pictures. Mukhang nageenjoy na sila sa kanilang ginagawa.

I walked to the door when my phone beeped in my pocket.

T'was AJ.

"Hello? Yeah! We're doin' our photoshoot right now. --I'm okay, don't worry! --She's here ---I was shocked too -- Sige. take care"

AJ called, asking if I'm doing good here. She's also shocked when she heared about Dianne joining us. She thought, kasama lang nito ngayon ang mga kaibigan kaya wala sa bahay. I think, sinabihan lang si AJ ng Presidente.

I still wonder why she's doing this. Pwede naman siyang himindi.

"Hey Neigh! I thought you'll gonna lock yourself in the room", Joross laughed while reaching my shoulder. Ngumiti na rin ako.

"By the way, Did they already started?". I said not minding his remarks. Ngumiti naman si Joross while rubbing his bare neck.

"Yeah. . I think the three models are now in. Look!", tinuro ni Joross ang nasa di kalayuan habang nakaakbay ang kanyang kamay sa balikat ko.

Sinundan ko ang turo niya. I saw Erwan na nakasandal sa isang malaking bato na nakaturok sa dalampasigan habang ang isang kamay ni Dianne ay nakadampi sa pisngi ni Erwan with her other knee flexed a bit.

She's wet,  wearing a two-piece swimsuit while Erwan is on his boxers.

My eyes squited sa nakita ko. 'Yan?! Yan ba ang gusto mo? Na ibalandra ang pagmumukha at katawan mo sa magazine at  hayaang paghayukan ka ng manyak sa buong mundo?!

I was looking at her when  she caught my eyes. Her eyes quivered as she saw me. Binawi ko ang tingin sa kanya. Maybe she's happy flirting with Erwan in that pose! Mukhang enjoy na enjoy naman siya e!

The photographer complemented them at busy sa pagsho-shot ng maraming pictures in different poses. Kada click ng camera, my heart leaped inside-- parang nagwawala. Gusto ko siyang hilahin mula dito at ilayo mula sa flash ng camera. But something, was preventing me from doing it.

"Very good! I didn't expect that you're that good Dianne given that you're a newbie in this field". Sabi ng photographer while taking her hand para i-congratulate.

After ilang minutes, tinawag ako ng photographer  together wih Sandra, our other female model. Siya ang kapartner ko for the photoshoot.

The make up artist placed some light shades on me para hindi lang magmukhang maputla sa camera. I'm wearing a loose grey shirt with a V neck and a summer short. The photographer instructed us to do some pose and we followed his lead. Maganda naman ang kinalabasan, not until my eyes accidentally met Dianne's eyes. Parang natigilan ako and was not able to show the right emotions. Ilang beses ako napagsabihan ng photographer. Mabuti na lang that I was able to catch up.

Tinitignan-tignan niya ang shots sa camera while we're taking a rest.

"Hmm. I think, It'll be nice if we try to change partners ulit. Neigh, you're shots are not so good. Some emotions are lacking. I don't know kung ano----Dianne!!", nagulat na lang ako when the photogapher called her. Nanlaki din ang mata niya.

"Y-es. .sir?"

"Can you be Neigh's partner just for now? I think you two will look good together. I've heard that you're schoolmate in college, so maybe you've developed some sort of connection with each other"

"Sir, si Sandra na lang po or Jaycee. .I'll try to be good this time"

Hindi ko kayang makapartner si Dianne. Knowing sa nangyari sa amin kagabi and our past relationship .this is just --absurd and awkward.

Napataas ang kilay ng photographer na nagpatahimik sa akin. I guess, I have left with no other choice.

I can see also in her face, that she was forced. But for the sake na para matapos na 'to, I tried to do what our photographer instructed us. He asked us na humiga sa buhanginan with our hands intertwined while staring directly on each other's eyes. That was the most awkward and disturbing pose that I've ever done. Coming in close with ex-girlfriend: ang taong iniiwasan ko sa lahat.

Kinunan nila kami ng picture mula sa taas.

"Very good, wag niyo lang tanggalin ang tingin!", utos niya sa amin.

My eyes quivered as I look at her again. I saw the same with her eyes. Her hands tightened with mine, pero hindi ako gumalaw. Then,  seconds after . .I come to see tears forming around her eyes. I don't know why she's acting like this? Is this for the sake of the photoshoot? I heard the photographer says 'very good'.

I don't know kung bakit ako naapektuhan sa iyak ni Dianne ngayon? Parang sumisikip ang puso ko upon seeing her na ganito.

Why is she doing this? Why is she trying to make me believe all her lies? Ano bang punto niya? Why all of a sudden, after kong binaon si Nikolas and all his remanants in grave. .pilit niya paring hinahalungkat lang ahat? Bakit all my effort seem to be wasted dahil sa ginagawa niya? The f^ck!!

"Well done!!"

After pumalakpak ng photographer, kinuha ko agad ang kamay ko mula kay Dianne at tumayo. I started running away from them. Leaving them, confuse sa ginawa ko.

I can't take it anymore, para akong sasabog. I am like a criminal afraid of being discovered by anyone. Takot na baka sa buka ng mata ko, sa bawat galaw ko, sa bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko. .baka. . they'll soon discover what I really feel. That she'll soon discover that NIKOLAS is starting to reappear sa katauhan ni Neigh. I'm afraid to experience again all the pain. Hindi niyo lang alam kung gaano ako nasaktan sa ginawa niya. Hindi niyo alam kung paano niya pinatay ang katauhan ko dahil sa kasinungaling niya at lalong hindi niyo alam kung paano niya ibinaon ang puso ko dahil sa pagmamahal ko sa kanya.

A/N: Hindi ko po alam kung when ang next UD ko. Pasensya na. Thanks for reading. :)

PS. Patience is a virtue. Hehe.