[ WANTED: BFF ]

[13] Potential

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"Grabe Kate, di ba sobrang aga naman natin?"

Hikab ni baklita habang nasa byahe kami papuntang agency.

"Baka mamaya nagmumuta pa lang yung mga mag-eevaluate kay Alex."

"Wag kang magulo. Pakana mo to kaya wag kang maarte." Irap ko. Nginiwian nya lang ako at pumikit para umidlip. 6:00 pa lang kasi nagkita na kami ni baklita sa Starbucks, para 6:30 ay nasa agency na kami. Unang una, para iwas sa mga mata ng ibang models and staff, at pangalawa, dahil may project presentation ako mamaya sa 8 a.m class ko kung saan hindi ako pwede mag absent. Nag-aaral pa rin naman ako, no.

As soon as we arrived the agency, nakita namin si Alex na naghihintay na sa entrance, dressed in blue jeans and a simple white tee.

"Wow, you look good Alex!" Bati agad ni baklita, at nag-beso beso pa sa kanya. "Kahit siguro basahan lang suot mo, gwapo ka pa din."

"Thank you. Tama ka nga, magaling mag advice si Miss Kate." Alex smiled as he turned to me. I just shrugged. Ako kasi ang nagsabi sakanya to dress plainly. Ganun naman kasi talaga pag mag aapply ka as a model: they should see you in your simplest state in order to picture what they can work you with. Like an empty canvass.

"Follow me," I said then entered the glass doors. As usual, nandoon na yung snobber na receptionist.

"We have an appointment with Madame Vera Luise by 6:30 am. He's with us." I explained simply, motioning at Alex. Alex flashed a nervous smile, at tinitigan muna kami ng receptionist ng ilang segundo. I lifted a brow, and only then did she speak again.

"Madame Vera just came in 10 minutes ago. She said she'll just be in her office."

Buti naman. Akala ko eeksena pa sya e, makakarinig sana sya ng mga bagay na hindi nya ikakatuwa.

"Ok, thank you miss." Si Alex na ang nagsabi kasi tumuloy lang ako maglakad papuntang elevator. Sumunod naman na yung dalawa. I pressed third floor and closed the doors.

"Nakakatakot naman yung receptionist nyo..." sabi ni Alex.

"Nakakatakot lahat ng tao dito." I replied, na sya namang ikina-kaba lalo ni Alex.

Saglit lang din kaming nakarating sa third floor, and the elevator doors opened with a soft *ding*. We stepped out into the carpeted hallway na mukhang hotel style, the only difference is instead of just rooms, offices of the higher officials of the agency ang matatagpuan dito.

We continued walking until we reached a door with a metal plate carved with "Madame Vera." I knocked once and entered.

Bumungad sa amin ang isang medium sized room, with a mahogany desk by the glass windows, a storage room on one corner, and two glass stalls on the left side.

"It's been a while, Kate." Madame Vera's voice echoed around the room, and I found her arranging some clothed mannequins in one section of her office. Though already in her 40's, she still looked quite young, and was still the same elegant yet slightly intimidating woman I encountered three years ago.

"Yes, it's been a while, Madame." I approached her and did a "hovering" beso-beso. Yun yung nagbeso-beso kayo bilang respeto pero hindi nagdidikit ang pisngi dahil ayaw nyong madikitan ng foreign substance ang mukha nyo.

At FYI, kay Madame Vera lang ako pumapayag makipag beso or hug. Malaki kasi ang utang na loob ko sa kanya dahil sya ang nag scout sa'kin para makapasok dito sa agency. Most of the things I learned about the modeling industry, I learned from her, and at some point, I actually admired her so much that I wanted to be like her. She was just so calm, firm, and sophisticated. She also stood as a mother figure for me ever since when... well... saka na natin pag-usapan yon. Masyadong madrama.