For His Entertainment

Chapter Thirty-three

I woke up extra early para kahit papaano, maayos ko ang sarili ko. They said they'd provide for the make-up kaya simpleng kilay at liptint lang ang nilagay ko. I didn't even applied foundation.

Pagbaba ko, nakita ko roon si Kuya Steven. I have been avoiding him since our last encounter and I intend to continue doing that. I know he's trying to reach out to me and tried to be casual with me but I just can't stand to be in the same room as him. Ayokong lalo kaming magkasakitan. Mukha rin namang wala siyang sinabi sa mga magulang namin because I didn't hear from them about it sa bihira nilang pag-uwi rito sa bahay.

"Going to school?" Simple niyang tanong.

I shook my head.

"Wala na kayong pasok?"

I shook my head once more.

"Where are you going?"

"May lakad ako." Dumiretso ako sa garage at hindi na siya pinansin pa. I didn't want to ruin the mood, lalo na kapag nalaman niyang I skipped another class for this day. I took a deep breath to relax myself before driving my way to the office.

Pagbaba ko ng sasakyan, ipinlantsa ko ang kamay ko sa suot kong fitted dress. Isang malaking ngiti ang bumuo sa mga labi ko. I've been preparing for this day! Naglakad na ako palapit sa building at agad akong sinalubong ng lalaki sa lobby.

"What office?" Tanong niya.

"Illimité, please." Ngumisi ako, feeling somewhat proud kahit alam kong I'm still not there.

"ID na lang tapos pa-sulat ng pangalan nila dito." May inabot siyang logbook at sinunod ko naman ang inutos niya. Itinuro niya sa akin ang elevator pagkatapos kahit na alam ko naman kung saan iyon. Muli akong ngumiti sa kan'ya at dumiretso na roon.

May mga taong naghihintay rin sa elevator, at agad kong napansin iyong pamilyar na lalaking nakita ko dati sa building na ito. He was one of the few guys during the first screening. Nakapamulsa siya at nakatitig lang sa kawalan habang tulad ko ay naghihintay.

Bumukas ang elevator at nauna siyang pumasok. Nang makapasok naman ako ay naramdaman ko agad ang titig niya sa akin. The elevator doors shut close and our eyes accidentally met on the mirror inside. He was behind the people at agaw pansin lang talaga siya because he's tall. Iiwas na sana ako ng tingin but he smiled at me.

Out of courtesy, I smiled back and avoided his stare. Kinuha ko ang phone ko and pretended I was busy. I also texted Spencer to update him.

Unti-unting lumuluwag ang elevator sa bawat palapag na nadadaanan namin hanggang sa tatlo na lang kaming naroon. Bumukas ito sa palapag ng office ng Illimité. Inayos ko ang bag na suot at naglakad na palabas.

"Hi!" A voice behind me said.

I looked back and saw the same guy. He was all smiles, his hands were in his pocket at ngayon ko lang siya nakita nang malapitan. He was wearing a black V-neck shirt and ripped jeans. I cringed at the smell of his cologne, it was too strong for the nose. He was taller than me kaya kailangan ko pang tumingala sa kan'ya.

"Yes?" I continued walking, and he walked beside me.

"Illimité, huh? Are you a model here?"

"Mag-aapply." Simpleng sagot ko.

Pumasok na kami sa double doors ng opisina. I went straight to the woman at the reception. "Miss, for second screening po?"

"For a while, ma'am," She typed something in her laptop. "Name, please?"

"Aleandra Margarette Estero," I said simply and offered her my ID. Saglit niya iyon tiningnan bago muling bumaling sa kanyang laptop. She nodded and looked at the guy beside me.