Your Place Or Mine? BOOK VERSION (PUBLISHED BY VIVA PSICOM)

Chapter 61: Breathe Again

HALEY'S POV

Three years after....

"What do you mean by it's cancelled?!" I'm literally shouting.

I can't believe it. I waited for this chance. Pinaghandaan ko ang photoshoot na ito. I worked out seven days a week to keep my body back in shape. Sinunod ko ang fitness program na ibinigay nila kahit alam kong hindi ko ito kailangan.

"I need to know the truth. Was it cancelled? Was I replaced?" Again.

I closed my eyes and waited for an answer. But I did not get one. Paiwas pa rin ang sagot nito. Wala pa raw schedule kung kailan ulit ang photoshoot. Hindi niya sinagot ang huling tanong ko. At gusto ko siyang sigawan ulit pero nagpigil ako. Dahil alam kong wala siyang kasalanan. I'm sure, napag-utusan lang siya ng modelling agency.

Nangyari na ito dati. They said I wasn't fit enough to do a photoshoot. And I never felt so down. I didn't see anything wrong with my body. But I was advised to trim down. I was doing a regular workout after I gave birth. At first, they were very eager to do the photoshoot with me. It's for for Asia release. And just before the contract signing, they cancelled the offer. Unbelievable. Whatever the reason, I didn't give a f*ck. Napipikon na talaga ako.

This is a wound on my ego. I won't lose this project. This is a one bold step. I had this sexy photoshoot when I was 18. I was young and carefree way back then. At ngayon, mas kaya kong gawin ito. Oo, may anak na ako. But my curves are more defined now compared before. My waist is still in shape. My breast are fuller.

After I gave birth, this keeps me busy. I work for our company as a professional part-time model. But at home, I'm a full-time mom. My Mom offered me an office job as one of the executives, but I declined. I was never interested in managing an office.

I stayed in Paris for the first tri-semester of my pregnancy. Now, I'm back in Madrid for good. This is where I gave birth to Reese.

Narinig ko ang impit na sigaw ni Reese sa loob ng kwarto. Napangiti ako. Kahit ano'ng sama ng mood at araw ko, she can make me smile.

Pumasok ako sa nursery room.

"No, no, don't! Baby, that's dirty," tarantang sabi ni Seth habang pilit na inaagaw kay Reese ang cellphone nito.

Gusto niyang isubo ito. Nakakatawa silang pagmasdan, kasi ang higpit ng hawak ni Reese sa phone niya. Ayaw ibigay sa kanya.

"Please –" Seth pleaded with puppy eyes.

Matapos ang katakot-takot na pilitan at pakiusap, Reese handed him the phone. At pumalahaw ito nang iyak.

"Don't cry baby, here," he said in surrender.

Kinuha ulit ni Reese ang phone at parang nang-aasar itong ngumiti. Biglang tumigil sa pag-iyak. Nagkatinginan kami ni Seth. Tumawa ako. Mukhang naisahan na naman siya. She always do that. Magkukunwaring iiyak hanggang sa makuha niya ang gusto.

Napakapilya. Napakabibo. She's barely three, pero para na siyang five years old. At kahit paisa-isa pa lang ang mga alam nitong words, malinaw itong magsalita.

"Mommy oh. Reese is bad," sumbong ni Seth.

Tumingin sa akin si Reese na parang nagsusumbong din. She smiled and threw the phone somewhere. Tumalikod ako. Kasi natatawa ako sa epic na expression ng mukha ni Seth. Mukhang talunan na iiyak.

Iniwan ko na silang dalawa para magluto ng dinner. I'm sure dito siya kakain. He's here to see me, twice a month. He wanted to quit the band to settle here in Madrid. But I don't wanna keep him from doing what he really wants.