The Back Stage | Manila Series #1 |

PROLOGUE

To be clear:

This story would be written in Filipino. 

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"Uy Lay! Nakita mo na ba yung representative ng investor natin? Omg, ang pogi!" Ngumuso si Ami ng dumating ako sa make up room.

May photoshoot kasi kami today for this well-known brand sa ibang bansa. Honestly, di ko alam kung anong specific brand ang i-mo-model namin for today, basta ang sinabi sa'kin is for clothing siya.

Hindi kasi ako naka-attend last meeting about dito, kaya ang manager ko na lang ang nag-brief sa'kin. Oh well, I guess its fine, meeting lang naman 'yon.

"Ganoon ba? Pa-swipe naman diyan oh!" Tugon ni Glaiza, personal make up artist ko. Naging ka-close na rin namin siya since 4 years na siyang nagtra-trabaho under sakin.

"Oo nga! I heard na lawyer pala siya! Omg Layla, type na type mo!"

Napakunot ako at tumawa, "Ganon ba? Ano bang pangalan? Baka naging ka-fling ko na yan, ah." Sabi ko ng pabiro

"I don't know the full name, pero tinatawag siyang Attorney Castro."

Pota.

Muntik na akong masamid sa iniinom kong tubig ng marinig ang mga katagang yon. Nagsigawan naman sila Ami nang nakita iyon, while saying ang tanga tanga ko. Napakurap ako sa kaniya at tinanong uli ang pangalan na sinambit niya kanina.

"Attorney Castro, bakit kakilala mo ba siya?" She looked at me with hopeful eyes, iniisip na baka pwede ko siyang i-recommend doon.

Wow, shopee ka ghourl?

Char.

I exhaled a breath and smiled, "No, I don't."

He's not the only attorney castro out there, right? I doubt he's 'the' attorney Castro I know. Waving a hand towards me, Ami left papunta sa site kasama ng iba pang models at naiwan na lang ako dito kasama ibang make-up artists. Since medyo late ako, baka ipang-huli na akong isabak doon.

Okay lang din naman sa'kin kasi apat lang kaming models na napili, so maikli lang siguro ang panahon na hihintayin ko. Nang tawagin na ako ng stylist, lumapit naman agad ako.

"You're Ms. Layla Lauren right?" The stylist ask, showing me a smile. I nodded and smiled. "I'm Natalie, nice to meet you. "

"Nice to meet you too!"

She then took a white dress from her assistant and showed it to me. My eyes widen in amazement as I touched the fabric.

"Wow, this is gorgeous!"

Pinagpagpag niya ang kaniyang shoulder as if saying its nothing and laugh afterwards.

"This will be your dress, so go! Wear it na!" She giggled as she give the dress to me.

It's a wedding dress!

Umikot ako sa harap ni Glaiza at tumawa nang nag-wipe siya ng fake tears. "Omg Layla! I never thought na ikakasal ka ng maaga!" I laugh

"Gaga!" Sabi ko at umalis na.

Nang dumating ako doon, nakita ko si Ami na kinikilig habang nakaupo sa gilid. Like me, nakasuot din siya ng dress, but more like brides maids ang dress niya since hanggang dulo lang ng binti. Ewan ko, 'di naman ako pamilyar sa mga damit pangkasal. She immediately called for me nang nakita niya na ako.

"Ganda naman sis!" She said and let me twirl in front of her then laugh.

She giggled as we sat down, "Remember the guy I'm telling you earlier? They said he'll be here!" She said excitedly

I blink and tried to smiled but I guess nagmukha lang akong natatae. She continued telling me the story, saying na they'll be here to see whether the shoot turns alright.

"That's great." I said and talked to the other models around us.

The photographer called for me and said that I'll go first. That's weird since ako na-late samin, but I guess di naman siya ganon ka big deal dito yon. I started posing, but minutes later a man wearing a suit comes in and stare at me coldly.

Jusmeyo.

My eyes widen, and feeling ko pa matatapilok ako kahit flat naman ang sahig. He look more mature, and... cold. He crossed his arms and tinaasan ako ng kilay while the side of his lips rose. I looked away nang tinawag ako ng photographer.

"Layla, okay ka lang ba?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, I-I'm fine."

Pota di ako fine.

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j. L.