[ WANTED: BFF ]

[ 10 ] Urgent Call

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Pagpasok pa lang namin ng building, ramdam ko na kaagad ang kakaibang aura ng paligid. Alam nyo yung feeling kapag nasa isang lugar ka na lahat ng tao parang gusto kang patayin? Yun. Ganung feeling.

"The meeting," matipid kong sabi sa receptionist at as usual, hindi na ako nag-abalang ngumiti. Wala din naman syang pakialam at sumulyap lang din sa computer monitor nya.

"Please proceed to the function hall. The meeting is about to start." I just nodded and continued walking. Alam nya naman na sigurong assistant ko si baklita kasi hindi na sya nagtanong at hinayaan na din syang pumasok. Mabilis lang din kaming nakarating sa function hall dahil nasa bungad lang ito ng building. Konting lakad, liko kaliwa tapos kanan, ganon. Pero bago pumasok, tumigil muna kami ni baklita sa harap ng double doors para makausap ko siya. We could already hear the loud murmurs of the people inside. Mukhang marami nang models ang nandito.

"People will stare and give you dirty looks, but they are just a bunch of insecure brats so ignore them. Just stay right behind me, and keep an eye on Cassandra. Tell me if you spot her, and notify me if you plan to do something, understood?"

"Gets na gets," tango nya, pero ramdam ko na kinakabahan sya. I nodded, and then took a deep breath as I pushed open one door.

The crowd turned silent as they turned to stare at me--out of awe, curiosity, or jealously--I don't care. They have no other choice but to feel my superior presence, anyway. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad--at si baklita syempre nakasunod lang--hanggang sa makaabot kami sa frontmost seats kung saan ang "significant figures" of the agency lang ang pwedeng umupo. Pero sa tabi ko na rin pinaupo si baklita dahil wala din naman silang magagawa. Alangan namang sa sahig ko paupuin yung tao, diba.

"Grabe, models nyo lahat ito?" Bulong ni baklita nang wala na yung atensyon ng mga tao sa amin. Halos mapuno na kasi itong function hall kahit na 350 seats ang capacity nito.

"Heavy pala talaga itong agency nyo, ha. Kaya pala basic lang sa'yo maging poster ng mamahaling brand! Baka mamaya, magulat na lang ako nasa cover ka na ng Cosmopolitan o kaya ng Philippine Star!"

Wow ha, kanina lang sobrang kabado sya tapos ngayon, daldal mode na sya. I gave him a look, and thankfully, he quickly shut his mouth. Buti naman at na gets nyang dapat syang tumahimik kung ayaw nyang makatikim ng takong ng sapatos. Pero teka.

Diba dyaryo yung Philippine Star? Ano namang gagawin ko dun? Headline ng latest murder story?

Kung sa bagay. Hindi na ako magugulat kung meron nang nag-iisip dito kung paano ako patayin.

"Good evening, dear models," nalipat ang tingin namin sa stage nang may biglang magsalita through the microphone. Much to our surprise, it was the president of the agency. Usually kasi, directors or managers lang ang kumakausap sa amin, so I suppose that this meeting is for a very, very important matter.

"I am glad that all of you were able to attend despite of the urgent call, and I assure you that you won't regret being here today because for sure, you will love what you're about to hear." He took a small pause para may dramatic effect. "Our agency has been given the privilege to be the sole provider of models for a major fashion show to be held on the month of October!"

Biglang nagliwanag ang mukha ng mga models at nagsimulang magbulungan. Isang malaking bagay kasi ang fashion shows para sa mga models dahil maliban sa malaking plus point ito sa portfolio, may chance din na magustuhan ka either ng designer, brand owners, or other major companies na makakakita sa'yo. Other than it means more bookings and more opportunities, it's also a major step towards climbing to the top.

I can prove this to be true, dahil sa ganung paraan din ako sumikat.

"Unfortunately, only 20 models--10 males and 10 females--shall make it to the show. So, to be fair for every model, regardless if you are new or old, we have decided to hold several go-sees within the agency to filter how many of you will pass the requirements. You will be checked, interviewed, photographed, and will be required to walk. This is basically a competition, so you better give us your best. Who knows? Maybe you could become the next star model of the agency."

Much to my surprise, biglang tumingin sa akin ang president, at ngumiti. "Which means you have to work hard to keep your position, Miss Kate. Make sure to put up a tough fight."

He said it in a joking manner, but I knew that it was a serious warning. I could tell that at that very moment, the competition has already begun, just by the way everyone was looking at me. Mga tingin na gusto akong pabagsakin.

Well, I'd like to see them try.

Anyway, ang mga sumunod na sinabi na lang ng president ay about sa details ng fashion show at ng mga nasabing go sees. Paano, bakit, saan, kailan; common information na lang na ineexplain para sa mga rookies. When the meeting was finally adjourned, ang iba nagsimula nang umalis, habang iba nag-stay pa para mag-chismisan. At syempre, dahil special kami ni baklita, pinagtinginan ulit kami habang naglalakad.

Napaisip tuloy ako kung nandito ba si impakta. Medyo weird lang kasi na hanggang ngayon, wala pa sya para magpapansin samantalang noon, pagtapak ko pa lang sa agency, bungad na kaagad sa akin ang pagmumukha nya. It's either patay na sya, or she's too busy planning her revenge.

We were already halfway through the lobby towards the exit, nang may bigla akong naramdaman na kakaibang presensya. Eyes narrowing, I looked left and right, and surprise! Naroon sa isang tabi si Cassandra, kausap ang dalawa nyang alagad. And as if naramdaman din nila ang presensya ko, sabay sabay silang lumingon sa akin, at nanlilisik pa ang mga mata. May binulong si Cassandra, tapos tumalikod na sila at umalis papunta sa kung saan.

Aba, mukhang may binabalak nga sila. Pero akalain nyo yun? Hindi pa pala binabawi ng impyerno si impakta!

"Baklita," bulong ko para lumapit sya. Gusto ko kasing marinig kung anong opinyon nya sa nangyari. Though, he didn't respond kaya napalingon ako. Baka kasi na brain-dead na sya dahil sa sobrang intense ng moment na yun.

Pero wow. Wala na sa likod ko si baklita! Tumingin ako sa paligid at ayun, nakita ko nakikipag-usap sa isang lalaki! Wow ha. As in wow talaga! Dinala ko sya dito para maging moral support, hindi para makipaglandian!

Nagsimula akong maglakad papunta sa kanila, at sa bawat hakbang ko, feeling ko lalong tumataas ang alta presyon ko. Even worse, mukhang sobrang enjoy sya sa pakikipag-usap na hindi nya ako napansing papalapit sa kanila, kahit na he was basically facing my direction and should have noticed me at this point. I stopped just behind the other guy, at halos dumugo na ang noo ni baklita sa sobrang talim ng tingin ko sa kanya.

"Excuse me," I said with my ever so b*tchy tone. Finally, natigil ang usapan nila at tumingin si baklita sa akin. I was about to pour out a string of b*tchy phrases, nang biglang lumingon din yung lalaki para tumingin sa akin.

And then...

Parang biglang naglaho ang dila ko. Hindi ako nakapagsalita.

And I found myself staring at most mesmerizing eyes I have ever seen.

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[A/N]: Hmmmm, sino kaya si koyang may mesmerizing eyes? 😜