That Place Called Luneta

Chapter 5Make Over

Usap-usapan din sa school kinabukasan ang pagpapalit ko ng status. At bilang isang short-time celebrity, sinagot ko sila ng totoo at walang halong eklavooh. Kapag tinatanong nila kung bakit kami naghiwalay, short and simple lang ang sagot ko.

"Lack of time." Nakasmile na sagot ko. Showbiz ko noh?

Supportive naman sila. Nagyakag pa nga ang isa kong co-teacher, si Jam, ng girls' night out. I said no kasi sa totoo lang naman, hindi na ako ganun kalungkot at all.

Natapos ang Monday ko ng payapa. Tapos nagyakag na naman si Jam. Magpunta na lang daw kami sa salon at spa para makapagrelax. Tutal may oras ako at naisip kong mahaba na nga ang buhok kong kulot, I said yes. Nagpaschedule kami for Wednesday kasi yun ang maaga ang uwi namin.

Wednesday came up, nasa isang kilalang salon and spa na nga kami ng mga kasamahan ko. I had my hair cut up to my shoulders. Nagpakulay na din ako ng buhok, chocolate red para hindi ganun kaobvious unless nasa ilalim ako ng araw.

Nagpapapedicure ako ng biglang tumunog ang phone ko. It's Alex, the man I met at Luneta.

"Hello," I greeted him joyfully.

"Oh hi Star, si Alex ito, yung nameet mo sa Luneta," magalang namang sagot niya.

"Yeah, I saved your number. How are things?,"

"I'm good, I'm good. Just want to talk to you about something. I know we are not that close yet to each other but I have a favor to ask." Walang paligoy-ligoy niyang sagot.

Nacurious ako bigla. "Why? Can I help you with something?"

"Well, actually yes. Do you remember when I said you can be a model? Can you be one now?,"

Medyo nagulat ako. "I thought you're just kidding."

"Star, I'm not kidding. Don't worry, all my photoshoots are wholesome."

Iniexplain niya sa akin ang lahat. He joined a photo contest entitled "The Evolution of the Filipina Beauty". It was set for the end of the month and he wants me to be his subject.

"Why me?," I asked.

"I told you. You have this exotic Pinay beauty that is suited for the contest. If you have doubts about my shots, you can check out my website and Facebook page."

"Can I still think about this?,"

"Sure, sure but I'm hoping you'll say yes."

After the call, I started looking for his website and Facebook account. Wow, his shots are good. Hindi ako ganun kahusay sa pagkilatis ng magagandang larawan pero I can say na maganda ang mga kuha niya. Pumayag na kaya ako?

Napatingin tuloy ako kina Jam at sa iba kong kasama.

"Guys, do you think I can be a model?" seryoso kong tanong.

Halatang nagulat sila pero ngumiti din after. "Oo,maganda ka eh. Sexy pa kahit medyo kinapos sa height" sagot ni Ruby kaya nagkatawanan kaming lahat.

"Weh?," medyo may pagdududa kong tanong.

"Oo nga Tala, pwede naman. Bakit, may plano ka ba?" tanong ni Jam.

Ngumiti ako. "Wala, nagtatanong lang."

Bakit hindi ko nga subukan? I need something new, maybe this could help at all. But of course I have to keep this a secret, at least kung hindi man pumatok ang beauty ko, konti lang ang nakakaalam. Hahaha just a joke, ayoko lang talagang ipaalam sa iba ang papasukin kong model-modelan kunwari. Baka kasi ipagkalat pa ng mga magulang ko sa buong barangay. Baka igawa pa ako ng fanpage ng mga friends at students ko. Ayoko ng sobrang attention. A hobby, something new to do yes, pero hindi ang super attention.

Alex called me later that night. Yes, I agreed. Magpapaphotoshoot ako, wala namang mawawala sa akin kung susubukan ko.I agreed to meet him and his sister na siyang stylist ng nasabing photoshoot to personally talk about the matter. Nagkasundo kaming sa MOA na lang magkita sa darating na Sabado.

After I said yes, nagusap pa kami that night. Kwela kasi siyang kausap and he also knows a lot of good books. Napansin niya kasi ang pagbabasa ko that day na nakita niya ako sa Luneta. He suggested a few titles na sinabi ko naming susubukan ko.

I made a new friend. I'm actually happy, very happy. This is another phase of the new me.

Alex's POV

I'm very happy after talking to Tala on the phone. Hindi siya dull kausap, nakakasabay siya sa pagpapalit-palit ng mga topics namin. One smart and pretty teacher indeed.

Bumaba ako sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig ng mapansin ko ang kapatid kong si Anastasia aka Asia. Malungkot pa rin ang kapatid ko habang kumakain ng ice cream sa dining table pero ngumiti siya ng makita ako.

"Hello kuya, kumusta yung bago mong prospect? Pumayag na ba?," bati niya sa akin.

Tinabihan ko siya after kong kumuha ng tubig. "Yeah, pumayag naman siya. Magkikita kami sa Sabado sa MOA, sama ka huh?"

Tumango lang ang kapatid ko. Months after that accident na kinasangkutan niya, malulungkutin pa rin siya. I cannot blame her though. Her life really changed after that accident. Inakbayan ko siya. "Hey sis, time to move on. It's been what, five months? Kayanin mo kapatid."

Ngumiti siya bago yumakap sa akin. "Yes kuya, para sa'yo at kay mama."

I smiled at her. Asia is my only sibling and seeing her sad makes me feel sad too. We're very close dahil seven years bago ako nasundan. Our dad died six years ago and that's why ako palagi ang nasa tabi niya. My mom decided to join church missions here in the country and even abroad para mabawasan daw ang pagkamiss niya kay Daddy. That's why Asia is very spoiled by me and I have no regrets about it until that accident five months ago. Masyado ko siyang pinalaya and it leads to that. Asia don't deserve the pain of that memory.

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