Come On, Make Me (COMPLETED)

Beginning

#COMM 

Beginning

"Congratulations. We'll see you at the rehearsals," the organizer said.

I swear, if only I could jump like an idiot, I would. But I contented myself with a simple smile and said a simple, "Thanks." Mama always told me not to giveaway much about myself. Remain a mystery, she always said.

Keep them wanting for more.

After the meeting, I immediately went to the comfort room. I was summoned to appear at home. I didn't know that Dad would already know that I was here. I just landed last week! I thought I could hide for at least a month!

When I was done retouching my makeup, I went inside one of the stalls to pee. And I was minding my own business until I heard my name being mentioned.

"It's okay. Maybe this show's not for you," a girl said.

"This show should be for me! I almost killed myself by not eating para lang pumasok ako sa required size! Then what? Mapupunta sa ibang babae? Sa Siobhan na 'yun?! I fucking hate people with connections!"

My brow immediately arched.

"Yeah... It's kinda unfair. She's practically a nobody in the modeling world tapos nakakuha agad siya ng ganito kalaki na gig? I heard anak siya ng ambassador tapos apo ng presidente."

I kept my mouth pressed. Sino ba 'tong mga nag-uusap tungkol sa akin? At hindi nila ako kilala. I auditioned for this gig! Hindi porke apo ako ng presidente at anak ako ng ambassador, nakukuha ko na lahat!

God. Gomez de Liaño pa ang last name ko. Paano pa kung de Marco? Lahat na lang ba ng pinaghirapan ko, iisipin nila na binigay na lang sa akin? Would they just simply disregard everything I have worked hard for?

This was so unfair.

"But I heard, she slept with the casting agent daw..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Maybe that's it. Maganda nga, malandi naman. Baka may STD—"

Hindi na natapos ang sasabihin nung babae dahil mabilis akong lumabas sa stall. Kitang-kita ko ang panlalaki ng mga mata nila nang makita nila ako sa harap ng salamin.

"Excuse me?" I asked them.

I had always practiced restraint on my part. I had always kept in mind everything my mother told me... but not at the expense of my hard work being belittled. I didn't freaking go to Paris to study for nothing. Ni hindi ko nga ginusto na tumira sa Pilipinas dahil alam ko na bawat galaw ko ay titignan ng mga tao. Na bawat makukuha ko, iisipin nila na binigay lang sa akin.

God, for once I wanted to be taken seriously!

I looked at the two women in front of me. They looked good, but their attitude stunk. Couldn't they just be happy for another woman's achievement? Why the need to bring others down? For what? To make them feel good about themselves?

"I thought so," I said when I heard nothing from them. They just looked too stunned dahil narinig ko lahat ng pinag-usapan nila. Magaling lang magsalita kapag wala ang pinag-uusapan.

I re-applied my lipstick at saka tinignan sila. "For the record, you don't need to sleep with anyone to get a job. If it's for you, you'll get it," payo ko sa kanila. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinagdaanan nila para isipin nila na kinailangan kong gawin iyon para lang makuha ang trabaho.

Walking for Steven Jacob's line is a dream come true for me. Bata pa lang ako, gusto ko ng maging model ng mga damit niya. But never would I sacrifice myself para lang makuha iyon. I know how to reach for my dreams, but I also know my limits.