MGA PAKIWARI AT PAGMUMUNI-MUNI (An AlDub Collection of Poems and Short Stories)

The Photographer

"Riz!" RJ called as he tinkered with his favorite camera, checking to see if he had enough battery to last during his scheduled shoot that day or if needed to take out his other camera, just in case.

"Bakit?!" Riz, his little sister as well as prod assistant, hollered back from somewhere in the stockroom out back. "Hindi ko nga pala makita yung sunbounce! San mo ba nilagay after our last shoot? Di mo ba naiwan sa last location? Tsaka bakit kelangan mo yun eh studio lang tayo dapat today diba?"

"I need another SD card," he answered back, still not looking up even as he heard her walking back towards his little table behind him where he had his laptop set up. "And I want that sunbounce just in case maisipan kong mag-outdoor. Alam mo naman na mas gusto kong mag-natural lighting kaysa dito sa studio."

"At pano ka mag-o-outdoor dito eh puro warehouse ang nakapaligid satin? Gusto nung client, high fashion na sa studio lang."

He heard Riz mumble which he simply ignored, used to how she would always gives side comments every now and then.

"Do you have my 50mm? I might do some low lighting mamaya depende sa look nung model. Baka gusto nilang mag-add pa ng ala-CK na layout."

"Yes, Kuya. Andito lahat ng lente mo, wag mag-alala."

He walked towards one of the umbrellas and checked to see whether the speedlights were reacting properly to his camera clicks. "Riz - pakuha na nga rin ng 9V na batt. I think this one is almost dead. Parating na yung client diba?"

He heard Riz sigh and stand up, walking towards his office beside the stockroom. "Yes, medyo na-traffic lang daw sila sabi nung talent manager."

"Tsk."

If there was one thing that RJ totally abhors - it was tardiness. But then again - he was hired for this shoot and he didn't want to make an immediate assumption towards this talent since Manila traffic was really bad especially at this time in the afternoon. Plus, this shoot was something he never thought he would be able to do - shoot a model for a high fashion magazine - so of course, he was grateful for the opportunity. He was usually hired to shoot for musicians and rock bands. Sometimes for behind-the-scenes of music videos. But never for anything related to fashion.

This could be the big break that he was waiting for - to get into the fashion industry. The EIC of the magazine that hired him liked his work since it was edgy and out of the box and she wanted to try him out for a fun and different fashion layout for the mag. He wasn't shooting for the cover yet - but he would be shooting a model that the mag would dress up for their inside pages.

Baby steps, RJ. Baby steps.

"Riz, ano nga ulit yung pangalan nung model na isho-shoot ko today?"

"Si Ni --"

"Hi! Sorry we're late! Traffic was horrible! Hindi namin ineexpect na ganon ka-traffic sa Ayala ng 3pm, my gosh!"

Riz immediately stood up with a smile on her face as she went and greeted what they both assumed would be the talent manager, if his boisterous and jolly voice was any indication. Behind him were the stylists they hired as well as the magazine's reps who brought the clothes they would use for the layouts they planned for the day.

"Hi! It's all right," Riz replied cheerfully, ushering the newcomers to the back of the studio where they set up chairs and tables for their preps, make-up etc. "Naintindihan naman namin na super traffic talaga. And we're not set to shoot pa naman until an hour from now so we have time pa to prepare and all. I'll take you to where we can setup for make-up. Drinks? Kumpleto kami dito sa likod."

When Riz passed by RJ, she elbowed him lightly and mumbled under her breath, "Kuya, baka gusto mo namang batiin itong mga kliyente natin. Grabe ka."

RJ remained immobile, however, as he looked on at the entrance of the studio where the supposed model he was to shoot for that day, stood, shifting on her feet from side to side.

She had on a simple white v-neck shirt and skinny jeans as well as white Converse sneakers. She also had a ball cap on, her face devoid of make-up, her eyes glued to the floor as she fidgeted, as if she felt like she didn't belong there. Even though her face already graced many magazines as well as billboards all throughout the country that she had every right to demand whatever it was that she wanted. If she would choose to do so.

She was also the one girl, the sole girl who broke RJ's heart many years ago - back when they were still in highschool. She was his best friend, what he thought was his soulmate and better half and one he would be with for life. But when he told her that he loved her as more than a friend should - she turned him down.

And he never saw her again after that.

Until recently, when she started to grace the pages of different fashion and women's magazines, becoming the face of many endorsements as well - her face a well-known one as she was mostly the featured model along the billboards on EDSA.

Their eyes met when she looked up suddenly just as he whispered his only nickname for her.

"Meng..."

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A/N. I can't get this plot out of my head when I saw the photo above attached to this. I know that this has a huge potential for a multi-chap fic but for now, I will leave this here as is. I do have plans to continue this though. For real. Because this plot keeps on bugging my brain. There are already a lot of storylines out there, I know, about a photographer RJ and a model/actress Maine but this just wouldn't leave my head for some reason. 😩

If anyone would create a book cover for me for this one - I might be inspired more to continue on with this. *hint, hint* Hehehehe 😅

Unbeta'ed and not proofread as always.

Salamat palagi sa pagbabasa. 😘💛

//

UPDATE: I GAVE IN TO TEMPTATION AND MADE THIS INTO A BOOK 😭😅

Link can be found here:

http://my.w.tt/UiNb/mB0P6kUXGy