Alternate Universe | UAAP Oneshots

PHOTOSHOOT

"Ara!" Bengs greeted me as soon as I enetered the door. Agad ko naman siyang bineso at yinakap. "Big time ka na, ah?! May pa-magazine na!"

"Thank you nga pala na inaccept niyo yung invitation na maging cover namin! Alam mo naman. Love Wins!"

As soon as Bengs said that, I felt someone hug me from behind. "Di mo ako tinext na you're here na. Hi, Bengs!"

Bengs rolled her eyes as I gave Alyssa a kiss on her cheek. "Kakarating ko lang, love. Kinamusta ko lang tong si Bengs."

"Ako pa talaga ang sinisi, Galang? Tara na nga! Dalhin ko na kayo sa studio. Baka langgamin na kayong dalawa dito." Bengs said jokingly.

Agad naman kaming nilead ni Bengs at tinour niya kami around. Alyssa kept her hand on mine as we continued walking.

"At dito.." Bengs said as he opened the door to a white room where photography equipments were being set up. "Dito ang photoshoot niyo. Dun ang hair and make up. Tapos dito na din yung interview mamaya. Okay?" The two of us nodded at inusher naman agad kami papunta sa hair and make up.

"Ate, konti lang po, ah." I told the girl who was getting ready to put make up on me. "Love, hayaan mo siya. Alam ni ate ginagawa niya. Wag ka nang mademand diyan." Ly apprehended me playfully. Natawa naman yung mga magmamake up sa amin.

Napasmile naman ako. This was the thing that made me fall in love with Alyssa. She always knew how to make the people around her comfortable even if she is one of the brightest stars of our generation. There was something about her that felt like sunshine.

And I was the complete opposite. I was mahiyain. I never knew how to interact when it comes to interviews and all that. Coach Ramil often joked about it saying, kung anong kinalakas ko sa court, ganun ako kahina pagdating sa interaction. I was often labelled as mysterious and silent.

But this girl..

She complemented me. If I enjoyed my dark space, she enjoyed basking in light.

She was sunshine and happy places.

She was loud voices and laughters during interviews.

"Miss Ara, look up po." My make up artist said, interrupting me from my thoughts while Alyssa was still noisily chatting beside me.

Hay. My girl.

A few more minutes and we were done. I turned to look at Alyssa and she smiled. "Bihis na tayo, love." She gave me a kiss on the cheek before she went outside, her change of clothes in her arms.

"Baka matunaw.." Sabi sa akin ni Bengs. Kinuha ko naman yung clothes bag ko and I smiled.

"Unbelievable. Tatlong taon na kayo pero ganyan pa rin tingin mo sa kanya. Naalala ko pa nung season 77, Mika, Kim, and I literally had to drag you para makausap na siya." Bengs said. Natawa naman ako while I remembered that day.

- flashback -

"Ara, talikod ka." Mika told me as she shoved a piece of shrimp to her mouth. I made sure to give her a look of disgust before turning around.

Ang patay gutom talaga ng best friend ko.

All my thoughts about Mika vanished when I saw Alyssa enter the room. And there she was, like sunshine.

She was smiling and greeting everyone. Hindi talaga nawawala yung happy aura niya.

"Lapitan mo na!" Mika whispered behind me and as soon as she said that, like Alyssa had some sort of hearing powers, she turned to us and smiled.