My Boyfriend by ACCIDENT [SPLIT - PART I PUBLISHED UNDER LIFEBOOKS]

Chapter 29

Chapter 29: A New Beginning - Original Version. Wattpad Version. Unrevised. Unedited.

7 Years Later

April 2, 2019

Nadine's POV

"Move a little more to your right. A little more. Tilt your chin higher. There! Add a little bit of a smile. More. Pause. Perfect!" Ang sunud-sunod na instructions ni Giovanni Carson, ang director na in charge sa photo shoot ko nung araw na yun.

After a few more poses, natapos na rin sa wakas ang shoot ko at agad itong sinundan ng photo shoot ng co-model kong si Gracelyn Castellan.

"Great job." Bati sa akin ni Gracelyn with an approving pat on the shoulder.

"Hope it goes well for you too." Sabi ko, sabay ngiti.

Tumango siya at agad na naglakad papunta sa platform para mag-ayos. Nag-umpisa na ring i-set-up ng crew yung gagamiting background, pati na rin ang mga stage lights.

"A fantastic shoot as always, Ms. Gonzalez." Puri sa akin ni Director Carson as I passed by him on my way to my dressing room.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at tumango.

"Thank you for the hard work, Director." Sabi ko.

Ngumiti rin siya at tumango. Maya-maya'y bumalik na rin siya sa set para bigyan ng instructions yung crew.

"Tapos na agad yung photo shoot mo?" Salubong sa akin ng manager at pinsan kong si Kate Montero. May inabot siyang face towel at bote ng tubig sa akin.

"Yeah, just finished." Sabi ko, sabay kuha sa mga iyon.

Magkasama kaming pumasok sa dressing room ko, with Kate talking to someone on her cellphone on the way. Most probably, yung pinag-uusapan nila ay tungkol sa magiging schedule ng next photo shoot ko.

Oo nga pala, I almost forgot to explain to you guys about the events that have happened these past seven years. Well, here's a brief summary of it all:

A few weeks after arriving here in the States, agad akong pina-undergo ni Tito Leo ng training para sa business and management dito sa company. Si Tita Elaine, ang kapatid nina Dad at Tito Leo, ang naging trainer ko the whole time. Siya kasi yung business partner ni Mom, as well as the Vice President of the company. She's also the one who's currently managing it for now, while I'm still undergoing training.

A, paano pala ako naging model?

Clothesline company kasi yung kumpanyang pinagmamay-ari ni Mom. Siyempre naman, kakailanganin ng mga models for promotion and advertisements for the products. A few years back kasi, nagkaroon ng decline sa number ng models na nagtatrabaho sa ilalim ng management namin. And since Tita said that I had enough potential to become a model, naging career ko na rin yun. Pero kahit temporary job lang dapat yun, biglang napadami yung naging job offers sa akin ever since my debut. Kaya pagkatapos ng ilang linggong pagpupumilit kay Tito Leo na payagan akong maging full-time model, I finally got his approval. But of course, I'll only be doing this for a few years. Maybe after about five years of this career, I'll have to retire from the job and go back to managing our business. So as much as possible, sinusulit ko na yung pagtatrabaho ko sa larangang ito habang may oras pa.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you Nadine. May bago kang job offer. You'll be co-starring in a promotional video for one of the songs in the album na ilalabas ng isang popular band." Sabi ni Kate sa akin nang matapos na rin ang conversation niya sa phone.

I nodded as I changed out of the outfit I was wearing.

"Saan gaganapin yung shooting?" Tanong ko.

She swallowed back nervously at tiningnan ako nang maigi.

"Sa Pilipinas." Ang mataimtim niyang sagot.

Agad akong napatitig sa kanya.

"Reject it." Sabi ko, sabay hagis ng tank top na hawak-hawak ko sa laundry basket. Inilayo ko ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I already accepted the offer." Bigla niyang sinabi.

I couldn't help but stare at her in disbelief.

"You did WHAT?!" Halos isigaw ko na.

She crossed her arms and gave me a skeptical look.

"Nadine, it's been what? Seven years! Gaano katagal ka pa ba iiwas? Sooner or later, you'll have to go back home. Hanggang kailan ka pa lalayo? You can't keep running away forever." Ang mapait niyang salita.

Napailing ako sa mga sinabi niya. This is the topic that I've been continuously avoiding for so long.

Ang umuwi sa Pilipinas.

An expression full of guilt and regret showed in Kate's face. Lumapit siya sa akin and gave me a light pat on the back.

"Come on. I'm sorry for not telling you, okay? Alam ko naman kasing hindi agad yung magiging sagot mo kahit tanungin pa kita. I know that it's hard, Nadine. But you have to at least visit Tito Dave and Tita Clare's graves some time, you know. Alam kong masakit, but I promise that I'll be there beside you and help you go through with it." Sabi niya.

I gravely shook my head.

"That's not really the problem here." Pabulong ko.

Napatingin ulit siya sa akin.

"So it's about Lance?" Tanong niya.

Napailing na naman ako. Hearing his name brings an instant tightening pain in my chest. Suddenly, my heart became heavier, my pulse quicker. Parang bumubukas na naman ang mga sugat kong dapat matagal nang humilom. I tried to blink back the tears that were starting to form in my eyes.

I forcefully shook my head again.

"It's nothing." Sabi ko. I tried to give Kate an encouraging smile. "Sige, I'll go through with the job offer. After all, kailangan ko na rin naman talagang umuwi e."

Alam kong hindi siya naniniwala sa mga sinabi ko, pero she didn't question me anymore. I appreciated her giving me the space. Right now, I don't want to talk about this problem. Kasi I might not be able to stop myself from having a breakdown kung pag-usapan pa namin yun.

Seven years have passed. And in those seven years, a lot of things have changed. But despite all of that, my feelings for him never wavered. And I don't think it ever will. 'Cause I know, deep from the bottom of my heart, that I will never be able to let go of him.

Because no matter what Ido, I can never bear to change the fact that I still love Lance.

A/N: Photo used is not mine. Credits to the owner/s.