Last Shot at Love

CHAPTER FOUR

MAKI LOPEZ

This is it. In an hour or so, magkikita na naman kami.  Why am I so nervous? Relax, Maki. I wore a simple black pencil skirt with a white blouse. I matched my outfit with a nude colored killer heels to look sophisticated and professional. I took a deep breath and went to my car and drive.

Agad akong sinalubong ni Greg at Alex sa isa sa mini conference room sa building namin.

"Hindi ka masyadong excited, Pinsan ah! You're 30 minutes early. Usually 5 minutes before appointment ka pa narating." Tukso ni Greg sa akin.

Hindi ko na ito pinansin. I need to brace myself. Hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari.

"Maki, chill ka lang. Hindi naman nangangain ng tao si Mj. Masyado kang tense diyan, I can feel it." Alex told me.

"Can't help it. Buti nga, wala pa yung iba niyong kaibigan. Sigurado akong mas matetense ako kapag ganon." Alam ko namang galit ang ibang kaibigan nila sa akin. Truth to be told, galit din dati sa akin si Alex. Luckily, na convince ito ni Greg na pakinggan ang side ko kaya naintindihan ako nito. I told her na wag ng sabihin sa iba nilang kaibigan dahil ayaw kong malaman ni Mj sa iba iyon.

"I'm sorry, Maki. Kung alam lang nila, for sure maiintindihan ka rin nila." Malungkot na saad nito. May isang incident kasi na nagkasalubong kami sa isang restaurant ng barkada nila. I remember Sarah threw passive attacks on me.

"Naiintindihan ko sila, Alex. Don't worry." I smiled faintly.

After a few chitchats, someone knocked on the door. A tall blonde short haired girl wearing a simple button down shirt and skinny jeans with matching white sneakers entered the room. May simpleng make up ito sa mukha pero natatakluban ng shades ang mga mata. She have a black leather attache case on her left hand and an iced coffee on her right.

"Morning, everyone." That voice, I missed it. Napakacasual ng pagkakasabi nito. I saw her stiffened a bit when she saw me at umiwas naman ako ng tingin.

"Long time, no see, Mj!" Greg broke the silence.

"Hi, Gregyboy! Congrats!" She said smiling. A smile that didn't reached her eyes.

"Mj, I hope you don't mind my cousin joining the meeting. I asked for her help kasi for the production para wala ka ng poproblemahin. They'll take care of all the things you need for the shoot." Explain ni Greg dito.

"No, I don't mind. So, let's get to business?" Maigsing tugon nito.

She opened her attache case and took out  four portfolios at inilatag sa conference table.

"So, this is my pre-nup portfolio. Para may idea kayo kung saan kayo magsisimula ng idea niyo. I want you to take a look at that so you'll give me those things you want at pag-iisipan natin ng concept na kayo lang ang meron." Explain nito kina Alex.

Greg handed me one of the porfolio. I was amazed at what I saw. Old hollywood ang theme ng shoot. It was a pre-nup shoot of a hollywood actress and a known businessman. Sa mga kasunod na pages naman ay anak ng isang Hotelier. Sobrang artistic talaga ng taong to! All of her shots were amazing. Lalo na yung mga black and white, dramatic pero happy pa rin ang vibe ng pictures.

"Wow, Mj! Ikaw pala ang nagshoot nung pre-nup ni Allison Barter?! I saw a magazine na fineature iyon. Oh my gosh!" Hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Alex.

"I have here some of the portraits that I did. Might as well take a look at it. Gusto ko rin kasi kayong magkaroon ng studio shots." Paliwanag pa nito at naglabas pa ng ibang portfolios niya.

"Wow! Ang galing mo naman pala talaga, Mj!" Hindi makapaniwala si Greg sa mga nakikiga niya.

"So, may naisip na kayo?" Tanong ni Mj.

"I want something na ilalabas yung personality namin pareho, M. Not just our professions pero yung kami talaga." Alex said.

"As much as possible, ayaw ko ng formal. I want something like sa bahay lang or sa beach. Maki, may naiisip ka ba?" Baling sa akin ng pinsan ko.

"We'll we can do a shoot like a play day with a dolphin sa Subic. It incorporates Greg's love for swimming and Alex's love for animals. We can also do a remaking of how you two met." I suggested.

"Noted." Tipid na sagot ni  Mj. "Anything else?" Tanong nito.

"Ikaw, M. What do you think?" Balik tanong ni  Alex.

"I kind of think the concept of opposites. Lahat ng personality traits niyo na magkabaliktad. We just need to talk about it and narrow down." Saad nito.