Guard My Body

Second Temptation

I WOKE up inside my car matapos ang insidenteng iyon. Before i could see the face of that hot stranger. . .he fucking knocked me down. I'm so effin pissed. Ni hindi ko man lang nalaman ang pangalan niya!

Gabi na and the car was parked as where i originally left it. No damage, No letters, and No goons. Thank God.

Ngunit may napansin akong papel na nakadikit sa aking noo.

Binasa ko ito.

Not so fast, Lady. Not so fast.
The time isn't right.
I know you saw me that night.
But don't be at fright.
I am protecting you from a sight.

-MR.

Is he a poet or what? MR.? Nakalimutan ba nitong isulat ang pangalan niya? Mr. who?!

I have to admit that his handwritting is so fucking hot and good.

So sexy.

Hindi ko talaga makakalimutan ang gwapo nitong mukha. He looks dangerous. . . Dangerously handsome and sexy though.

I chuckled at the thought of seeing him again.

I'll just have to wait for the right time, diba?

Yeah boy.

I'll do that.

●●●●

"RIO! You bitch asan ka na?! Have you forgotten about the rehearsal?!" Cara shouted on the line.

Same old Cara. Really. She's the owner of a clothing line named Soleste. She's also my bitch. At ako ang head designer nito sa summer collection niya.

I prefer calling her a bitch instead of a friend. Friends do betray you, use you, and hurt you.

I've been with her since college. We met at the same fashion school. She majored in fashion management and marketing habang ako naman ay fashion designing.

Hanggang sa siya na ang naghandle ng business nila na clothing line which is Soleste.

"Alright. Alright. Stop whining. I'm on my way." Sagot ko para matigil lang ito kakasermon.

Ngayon kasi ang last rehearsal ng Soleste Walk 2016. Sporting our latest summer collection. I have to be there for the final fitting ng mga damit.

A fashion show is not simple as it is. Siguro mukhang maayos at maganda pagtumingin ka sa runway pero ang totoo niyan ay nagkakagulo na sa backstage.

"Siguraduhin mo lang! Baka on the water ka pa lang ha?" Antatas talaga nitong magsalita ng tagalog although she's a pure american.

I let out a giggle nang makita ko itong nakatayo sa labas ng building habang hawak ang telepono.

"I don't like your boots, Ms. Cara Steinfield. Wala ka sa California bitch. That doesn't suit the climate here in the Philippines." I complained nang makalapit na ako sa kinaroroonan niya.

She's wearing a jet black ripped jeans and a leather boots! I bet that's a Manolo Blahnik one.

Her face lit up nang makita ako.

Patakbong lumapit ito sakin while spreading her arms like a eagle.

Binuka ko rin ang aking mga kamay. Anticipating a hug from her.

Ngunit sinampal lang ako nito ng mahina sabay hila papasok sa building. Magrereklamo pa sana ako kaso bigla niya akong pinandilatan ng mata.

Naabutan naming isa-isang nagrerehearse ang mga lalaki't babaeng modelo.

"Ms. Rio! Gosh help me. Naiimbyerna na ako sa ibang model. They're not paying attention!" Reklamo ng stage director na si Ricky Sy.

I was about to ask Cara kung pwede kong hiramin ang mikropono ngunit busy na ito kakatawag ng mga VIP guest para sa show.

Di bale.

Nginitian ko si Ricky at sinabing, "Worry not, Ricks. I can handle them."

Tinunton ko ang assistant ni Cara at may ibinulong roon na kakailanganin ko upang desiplinahin ang mga modelo.

I grabbed the mic and cleared my throat to call their attention.

"Excuse guys. Can i have your attention please?" Napatingin ang lahat sa direksyon ko. I signalled the man whose incharged sa tugtog to stop playing. "Guys could you even hear the beat? That's one of the basics, come on! Follow the BEAT. At isa pa! Who told you guys na lalabas lang kayo basta-basta without the instruction of the stage director?! 2 days to go na lang bago ang show. . . . Don't make me regret booking you guys. We're not paying you for nothing."

Napayuko ang iba sa kanila. Ngunit ang iilan naman ay nagbubulungan. I don't care if they're badmouthing me.

I'm used to it.

Nakita kong kakapasok pa lamang ng assistant ni Cara. She signalled me ' okay' .

I flashed an evil smirk.

"Girls get your asses off that runway." Panimula ko. The door bursted open at sunod-sunod ng pumasok ang mga treadmill na pinakuha ko."The girls will use a treadmill. Dun kayo lalakad while still wearing your heels. RYTHM, TIMING and BEAT. Please keep that in mind."

Nagreklamo ang iba pero inignora ko lang iyon. Binalingan ko naman ang mga lalaking natira sa runway.

"And you boys. . . Will walk while holding a dumbell on both hands. Let's see who can make it. Kapag may umayaw. . . then you're automatically off the show. Understand?"

They said, "Yes, miss." , in unison.

Nagpasalamat naman si Ricky at ang iba pang staff sa akin. I didn't mind. Trabaho ko din naman iyon. Matapos ang ilang key points na binilin ko sa staffs ay agad kong pinuntahan si Cara na busy parin kakainvite sa mga guest.

I looked at the screen of her laptop.

"Woah. You did a nice job, Bitch. The invitation looks exquisite, elegant, and fashionable." Puri ko habang nakatingin pa din sa nilalayout niyang invitation.

She's really good at it. No doubt.

Lumipad ang tingin ko sa gilid ng screen nito. May nakaopen na Tab in which nakalagay ang litrato ng mga dadalo.

Kailangan kasi iyo para sa security ng event.

Hindi pwedeng pumasok ang walang invitation.

I spotted a familiar man.

The man who i was looking for.

Inalog ko si Cara. "Open this one bilis! What's his name?" Tanong ko.

She enlarged the photo and there. . .

Magkamukhang-magkamukha! But. . . Somethings off.

Sigurado akong siya iyan.

"Ohh. That one? He's Mikaeli Ramos, the famous interior designer. I sent him an invitation hoping na sana dumalo siya. Kaso baka malabo wala siya dito sa Philippines eh." Sagot ni Cara.

What?

Mikaeli Ramos? Anong wala?

Eh kakakita ko lang sa kanya kahapon! And the other day also!

Paanong wala?

Who really is this guy?

I suddenly felt. . .

Confused.

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AN:

As I promised. Every other day ang update ng 'Guard My Body' at 'She Got Me'. Patience po. Hehe

Stay Tuned!

◇Elle Andrade◇