The next weekend, sinimulan na nina Lena ang prenuptial photoshoot. The first shoot would happen at her house. Julie broke the shoot down into three dates. The first one was that weekend. The second would be next weekend and the last would be at the end of the month, isang linggo, sa Singapore, Hongkong at Macau. She has not said yes to that yet. Wala kasi syang pera.
Nangako si Julie na tataasan nito ang bayad sa kanya dahil na-extend ang usapan nilang isang linggo para sa shoot, pero pagkatapos pa noon niya makukuha ang bayad. She could borrow some money from her parents, pero gagawin lamang niya iyon kapag walang-wala na talaga siyang pagkukunan ng pera.
She woke up early that day to clean her house. Cyrus came at about nine in the morning. Tumulong din ito sa paglilinis at pag-aayos ng bahay. Nothing has changed since they made the deal. There's no unnecessary display of feelings. What the deal did was the awareness that what they have could lead to something more, pero ayaw niyang ipilit kaya laking pasalamat niya dahil walang pagkailang na nangyari.
Julie and Blake came in at lunch. They brought food so it's a relief. Hindi pa kasi siya kumakain ng agahan. But before they could eat, Julie insisted to tour the house first. She examined every artwork and furniture. Like Cyrus, manghang-mangha rin ito, lalo na sa back wall niya.
"I love your house!" Julie exclaimed.
"Thanks!" She couldn't hide the pride in her voice.
"Kumain na tayo," pag-aaya ni Cyrus. He must have heard the growling of her stomach.
They headed to the kitchen to eat. Julie took interest of the stools around the table. The skeletons were made of wood and the seat cushions were of black leather. Pinatungan niya ang mga iyon ng black laces.
"I love these seats!"
"You love everything, Julie," Cyrus commented, rolling his eyes.
"Pwede bang mag-uwi ako ng isa?"
"Uhm..."
"Don't mind her. She's just kidding."
Julie glared at Cyrus, then turned to her and smiled. "Or you could design our future house!"
Cyrus told her no, which earn him a kick in the foot. Blake broke the argument so they could finally eat in peace.
After eating, Blake made coffee for the shoot. Barista pala ito dati doon sa café kung saan nito nakilala si Julie. Pagmamay-ari naman ng parents ni Joanna iyon. Julie brought Cyrus there one day, sakto namang nandoon si Joanna. The two were introduced and then the rest, they say, is history.
When Joanna died, the owners stopped the business and sold the place. Fastfood chain na raw ito ngayon.
--
Shooting the couple was a breeze. They took her instructions well and even did a few improvisations, which look so cute and candid. She specially liked their 'cuddling in the pit' moment. Hindi niya akalaing hindi siya maku-kornihan sa dalawa. For a sweet couple, the two seemed pretty cool.
The shoot lasted for only two hours. Mas matagal pa yata iyong naging pagkikwentuhan nilang apat. When the clock hit six thirty, nagpaalam na ang dalawa sa kanila ni Cyrus.
Cyrus stayed, of course. Tumulong ito sa kanya sa paglilinis at pag-aayos ng mga gamit.
"Gusto mo ng pizza?" she asked after everything's back to normal.
"Pizza na naman? Hindi ka nagsasawa sa pizza?"
Umiling siya. Kesa naman kasi magluto pa siya, umu-order na lamang siya ng pizza. Kaya nga halos hindi mabawasan iyong mga ipinadadalang pagkain ng lola niya sa kanya.
