Ephemeral (On Going)

Chapter 2 - New Opportunity

We arrived at the airport. Sa lakas ng ulan eh basa na 'yung sapatos ko. Lumabas kasi kami kasi akala ni papa eh nariyan na 'yung sundo. But guess what?

"Wala pa ba tayong sasakyan, Pa?" I asked. Umiling lang siya saka nagkalikot uli ng phone para magtawag ng masasakyan. Wala kasi 'yung tito kong dapat magsusundo sa'min sa airport.

I dialed my boyfriend's number. Sana kahit papano pwede siya ang sumundo sa'min. Sana hindi naman siya busy ngayon. Lately kasi we've been having problems.

"Please pick us up here sa airport, Babe," I said as soon as he answered the phone. I heard some kind of furniture that fell kaya tinanong ko siya. "Ano 'yun?" Hindi niya sinagot. Sabi niya lang he's busy with work daw. Wala na akong magawa kaya ito, antay nanaman nang ilang oras.

Dis-oras na ng gabi pero wala pa rin kaming masakyan. Walang airport taxi at hindi gumagana 'yung Grab. Maya-maya pa, nasundo kami ng tito namin. Kagagaling niya lang sa work at pwede naman daw siyang dumaan.

We arrived at our house. Sobrang nakakapagod! I took a bath saka dumeretso sa kama para matulog.
Kinabukasan, Missy woke me up.

"Ate, tingnan mo. I caught Papa looking for new houses. Wala naman siyang sinabi na lilipat tayo 'di ba?" sambit niya habang tinatapik-tapik ako.

"Ang aga-aga Missy! Ano naman kung tumitingin?" I replied trying to find the most comfortable position possible.

"Hindi, ate eh. Malay ba natin kung may bago nang pamilya si dad," sambit niya pa. At this point, I decided to wake up. I sat up beside her and took her phone to check. Marami-rami nga ang tinitingnan ni Papa.

"Ang OA mo, sis. Ang OA mo talaga."

I did my morning routine saka dumeretso sa breakfast nook namin. Mom cooked sinangag tapos may tuyo at cheesy scrambled eggs pa. Sobrang sarap! I pigged out kahit na may shoot pa ako kinabukasan. Who cares? Wala pa naman akong daring shoots.

After eating, I checked my phone. My modeling agency emailed me.

Good Day!

This is Nica from TJR Modeling Agency. We would like to invite you to do a screening at our office tomorrow at 5PM. The chosen models will be sent to New York for a modeling workshop and will be available for tons of opportunities. See you there!

My heart stopped beating for a while. Isa ako sa mga napiling mag-screening para sa workshop sa New York. Matutupad na ang pangarap ko!

Dali-dali akong umakyat sa kwarto. Kinuha ko ang laptop ko para icheck ang mga schedule ko para bukas. So far wala naman. Biglang tumawag si Madam, ang manager ko sa agency.

"Congratulations! Kita tayo sa office ko bukas at 2 PM para makausap muna kita bago ka dumeretso sa TJR," sabi niya.

"Thanks! Do I have anything to prepare for except my skin, etc?" I asked.

"Make sure na toned ang katawan mo, Molly. This is a screening na pwedeng ikaangat mo. Possibly sa Victoria's Secret ka pa makuha. Alam mo naman ang patakaran. You have to make sure na VS ready ka just to be sure. Understand?" he replied. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. This is it!

I rested for a few hours before heading to the gym to workout. Sana pala hindi ko dinamihan 'yung kain ko kanina para naman hindi ganito katindi 'yung workout ko.

"Hi, babe," Kervin, my boyfriend, greeted. Kararating niya lang nu'ng nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagwo-workout.

"Hi," I replied kissing him on the cheek.

"Bakit parang iba amoy mo?" I asked.

"Ah nagtry ako ng pabango du'n sa shop sa labas kanina. Pambabae pala," paliwanag niya. I chose to believe him, mahal ko eh.

I continued with my routine. Kervin's biceps are toned really well. No wonder why everyone stares at him kapag nasa public place siya. His nicely fixed hair, plump lips, and fair skin make him attract so many girls minsan pati boys na rin. Ang gwapo, ang perfect.

Kervin invited me to eat after workout. We went to our favourite restaurant where they make our favourite salad. I told him about the good news and he seemed okay with in. In fact, he seemed like he was really excited in a weird way. Gusto niya umalis ako agad for the shoot.

"When are you going to New York?" tanong niya.

"Babe, wala pa. Screening palang dito sa Manila tapos kung mapili ako, saka ako pupunta sa New York," pag-eexplain ko. He nodded.

"Ikaw ba, kumusta career?" I asked.

"I have a shoot next week or next next week, babe. I'll be in Tagaytay para raw sa commercial shoot ng isang clothing brand," sagot niya.

"Bakit hindi mo agad sa'kin sinabi?"

"I didn't want to worry you saka alam kong aayawan mo 'yun." Reasons! Argh!

"Papayag naman ako. Syempre work mo 'yan eh. Ang akin lang, masyadong malayo 'yang shoot tapos hindi mo sa'kin sinabi agad."

"Aalis na 'ko may kailangan pa 'kong gawin," sabi ko habang inaayos gamit ko. He just looked at me na parang wala lang.

Umuwi ako sa bahay para ibalita na rin kila Mama. Hindi pa nga pala nila alam. I waited until dinner para sama-sama kami sa mesa.

"Family, I have something to say," panimula ko. "I'm going to the agency tomorrow for a screening. Kapag napili ako, I'll be sent to New York for modeling workshop saka ako mapapasabak sa Victoria's Secret. Sana," I continued.

Everyone is excited. Kinongratulate nila ako. Halatang halata na masaya sila para sa'kin kasi dati palang, parati ko nang sinasabi na gusto kong maging international model. Who wouldn't want that, 'di ba?

We ate our dinner. We went straight to our
family area where we watch movies from time to time. Pero ngayon celebration daw ng opportunity na dumating sa'kin. We watched movies together tapos nagkwentuhan na rin. Ang saya sa feeling na kasama mo palagi pamilya mo.

"We haven't told you yet. Lilipat tayo ng bahay malapit sa kumpanya para hindi tayo mahirapan kapag bibisita tayo ro'n," my dad said.

"Bagong bili lang ng bahay natin ah," I butt in.

Missy whispered, "Told ya."

"Let's sell this house. Tutal wala pa namang masyadong connection dito. It'll be okay," mom said.