The Back Stage | Manila Series #1 |

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The second you step out, you will lose more than what you are willing to give. - j. L.

Happy reading!

Hinawakan ko ang ballpen ng mahigpit, thinking hard about my decision. I know it will be hard for me kapag um-oo ako dito, but it will be harder if I don't.

I'm thinking about the contract in front of me. It is the contract na ibinigay sa akin ng isang corporation for me to model for them for years. Kung titingnan sa malayo, people would opt to tell me na I should be grateful for the opportunity dahil nga mahirap lang kami at halos lahat kaming magkakapatid ay nag-aaral pa.

You might be thinking paano napunta sa akin ang contract na 'to, e probinsyana lang naman ako at medyo malayo sa manila. To tell you the truth, I, unknown to my family, tried the modeling na in-offer sa isang mall.

Wala talaga kaming pera that time, even though ang ate ko ay nagtra-trabaho na. Kulang pa rin ang sweldo niya, at ang kinikita ni papa sa business namin considering na 5 kami sa pamilya.

I was even surprised nang natanggap ako at pinagmodel agad for a single photoshoot.

"Ms. Lazaro? Your photo is a bomb! They're willing to take you as the company's model!"

The news na binalita ng manager doon ay kinagulat ko. Yun pala, ang picture ko na suot suot ko yung damit ay na out-of-stock agad. I can't say na 'di ako na-shock but, more like I was overwhelmed.

The next thing I knew, I am sitting inside an office, with a long oval shaped table in the middle and in front of me is the manager and some people with higher position. I'm not alone though, there are people other than me that's sitting in here. Most of them are adult na kaya ako lang ang may kasama.

I'm with my older sister, since a contract between a minor and an adult without the presence of a guardian is considered as invalid.

"Hi, I'm Ms. Rodriguez from the management and this is my secretary."

In-explain niya yung magiging terms sa contract: the pros and cons, and everything. It included na kailangan naming manirahan sa manila hanggang may contract pa. In terms of the houses, sila na mag-aasign sa amin.

"Rhea, pagpatuloy mo na." Sabi ni Ms.  Rodriguez at tumoon ang paningin sa akin.

Sinasagot na lang nila ang mga katanungan nang iba, habang kami nandito iniisip ko whether pipirmahan ko ba o hindi.

"I guess you have some questions, I think it'll be better if we talk in my office. " Sabi ni Ms. Rodriguez ng nakangiti.

Sinundan namin siya sa office niya, habang ang ate ko naman ay hawak hawak ang bag niya. Napansin ko din na medyo nanginginig siya, siguro kinakabahan kasi mapapalayo ako.

"Its about your schooling, right?"

I nodded, "Magco-college na po kasi ako this year. "

Tumango tango siya, "Yes, I was informed about that. That's why we'll offer you this. "

Inabot niya sa'kin ang isa pang clip board at binasa ang contract doon. It is a new contract, and included na din dito ang school ko.

"It is the same as the contract earlier but, included na diyan ang schooling mo. And unlike ng contract kanina, instead of working for 5 years under our company, you will work for 10." She explained.