The Thorn-filled Beauty

Gray Eyed Monster

Monica's pov

Araw na ng fashion show ni Jenna. This is not the first time na nagpunta ako sa event ni Jenna. I've even been one of the models naglalakad sa runway sa mga shows niya sa Milan.

Pero iba ito. This is the first time na sa Philippines gaganapin ang fashion show. Nalulungkot ako at hindi ako part ng show pero nonetheless nandito pa rin ako to support my friend.

It was wonderful and slightly different sa mga collections ni Jenna na palaging pastels.

Nakita kong pumasok si Cate at kinawayan ko siya. Habang si Abigail naman ay heto at busy pa rin sa pagbasa ng mga updates sa kanya ng mga interns niya about her patients.

Hay ewan ko ba talaga sa babaeng ito. Hindi man lang matutong isipin muna ang sarili niya. Eh, may mga kasama naman siya sa hospital ngayon.

"Ano ba yan Abby? Wala ka ngayon sa hospital. Ok?" Saway ko sa kanya.

Itinago na niya ang cellphone niya at humingi ng paumanhin sa akin. Alam ko bitchy yung ginawa ko. Pero kubg hindi ko siya sasawayin ay hindi niya maeenjoy ang fashion show ng kaibigan namin.

Nagsimula na ang fashion show. It was nice at kakaiba conpared sa usual na shows ni Jenna. It has more darkness and depth in it than the usual.

Madalas kasi psychedelic or bright ang theme ni Jenna. Nasurprise ako sa biglang pagbago ng designs. Kunsabagay, uso ngayon ang dark palette when it comes to clothes. Nice talaga kung tutuusin kasi nga nakakapanibago.

Natapos ang show and everyone seemed so happy with the turnout. We headed to another area kung saan hinold ang afterparty.

Magkakasama kaming lahat sa isang table. Ako, si Cate at si Abby. Si Jenna naman kausap ang mga investors niya. I was not minding the usual people when somebody caught my eye.

He entered the room like he owned it. I'm used to see good-looking men dahil sa linya ng trabaho ko. Pero iba talaga ang lalaking ito. He is tall and mestizo. Parang half caucasian. Hindi ko lang malaman kung ano ang nationality. He went to Jenna's side and talked to her. Kung pagpasok niya ng room ay parang mangangain siya ng tao, pagharap niya kay Jenna ay biglang lumambot ang kaninang nakasimangot nitong mukha. And that's when it hit me.

He's in love with Jenna.

Nanlumo ako sa nasaksihan ko na ikinagulat ko.

Bakit naman ako nanlumo? I'm Monica Larson. Wala akong gusto na hindi ko nakuha. And this guy, swerte naman niya kung mapapalungkot niya ako. I can meet better men than him.

Lumapit si Jenna sa amin para kamustahin kami. Hers is a look of a winner talaga. Jenna is like the ate of everyone. She looks after everyone. Kahit na mas matanda si Cate sa kanya, Jenna seemed to act na parang mas matanda. Kung sabagay iba ang maturity na nakukuha mo sa pag-aral overseas. After she graduated she went to run after her dreams sa Italy. Pero kahit anong tayog ng inabot ng pangarap niya, she remained down to earth and the very caring woman we have known for years.

Lumapit si Jenna naggroup hug kami. "Guys, thank you talaga for coming. Lalo ka na doctora." Sabay beso niya kay abby.

"It was a great show jenski. I'm so happy for you." At yumakap ulit ako kay Jenna. I'm really proud of what she had accomplished.

Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng pag-uusap ng lumapit na ang taong yun. He said something to Jenna.

"Girls have to go. Duty calls" sinundan ko ng tingin ang dalawa. This is weird because I never had a big attraction to anyone. Not even to my previous boyfriends. But with this guy, it makes me want to scream for attention. Gusto kong tingnan ako ng mga gray eyes na yun. I love those eyes. They look cold but I doubt if it is.

Hindi ko na natiis at nagtanong na ako."Sino yun? Ang hot."

"Yun? Business partner ni Jenna. Si Tyrone Vedicelli." Sagot ni Cate sa akin.
"Ah.." bakit hindi ko siya minsan man lang nameet sa mga shows ni Jenna sa New York?

Kahit na anong gawin ko ay hindi ko mapigilang hindi siya sundan ng tingin. He's so hot! From those piercing eyes, to that hot physique, everything is making me unsettled. Hindi ako ganito. I'm so used na ako ang unang nilalapitan. I'm the one doing the rejecting. I'm not called the dangerous rose for nothing.

"Hi girls. I presumed I haven't introduced this lovely creature to you." Rinig ko sa boses ni Nate ng makalapit siya sa amin.

"Let me introduce to you Isabella Isaac." Sabay ngiti ni Nathan sa babaeng tangan niya.

I know her. And that kind of girl is what bitches like us hate---a similar bitch. Isabella Isaac is worse than a bitch. She's a slut. She sleeps around wealthy men to get what she wants.
"Oh, Nathan, enough with the formalities. Everybody you can call me Bella."

Bella and I had a long history together as much as the modelling industry is concerned. Sabay kami nascout ng modelling agency at sabay na nalaunch. Pero natanggal siya due to bad attitude and breaking some rules ng agency.

She took it against me dahil ako ang nagsumbong sa kanya. Alangan naman na manahimik ako. What is worse is she dated my brother and upon meeting somebody much richer than him, she just dropped him like a hot potato. It was devastating for Jason because he did loved her. That leech! I still can't forgive her for that.

"I see that you eventually found your way around people here Bella." Bati ko sa kanya.

"Nice to see you too Monica."

Kung wala lang si Abby at Cate dito ay matagal na siguro kami nagsabunutan ng bwiset na babaeng ito. Pero hindi ko papatulan ang pagkacheap niya.

Napagawi ulit ang tingin ko sa lalaking yun. He was still talking to some of the men there. He was serious. But damn! He's so good looking.

Hindi ko na namalayan ang pag-alis ni Cate papuntang CR. I know how she feels. Seeing somebody you have rejected can bring back the guilt. Bakit pa kasi ininvite ni Jenna itong si Keith.

I hate the drama! And again my eyes went to the beautiful man na kausap ng kaibigan ko. Nah, you can't, Monica. He's so into her. Pero sana sulyapan mo naman ako gray-eyed monster...