Crashing The Waves (Working Girls Series #2)

Kabanata 29

SPG. R-18. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. 

Empire State 

It's November, and it's my birth month. Kasabay noon ang schedule ng Miss Universe sa taong ito. Limang buwan akong naghanda para sa kompetisyon. I made sure that I will be ready. After four tries, I won the title, it's now time to represent the country. 

Maraming tao ang tumulong sa akin para marating ko ang kinalalagyan ko. Andaming nag-invest ng pera para sa preparations ko. Pete, together with his team became sleepless. Tatlong gown ko ang ginagawa nila. Si Nelle at Anton naman ang nag-asikaso ng accommodation ko dito sa New York. They're also here to support me. Nicole is also here, nagleave siya para makasama. And of course, si Joaquin na sobrang aligaga at mas kabado pa sa akin. 

He is very hands-on. Present siya sa lahat ng fittings ko, sinusundo niya ako every after ng training, sumasama siya sa lahat ng shoots ko, sa bawat charity events,  siya rin ang nagluluto ng pagkain ko to make sure that I eat healthy and on time, well he was basically living in my condo for the past months. Hindi niya ako iniwan ni minsan. I couldn't ask for more. 

"Coffee?" he encircled his arms around my waist and handed my a cup of coffee. 

He kissed my temples as we both looked at the view of the tall buildings. Kaninang ala una kami dumating dito. Nasa katapat na suite si Nelle at Anton. Nasa separate suite naman si Victor at Nicole. Hindi ko alam pero parang bati na ata sila. Di ko lang sure.

"I'll be staying with the other contestants, the day after tomorrow." Mas hinigpitan niya lang ang yakap niya sa akin at hinalikan naman ang pisngi ko. 

"Yeah, I booked a room in the same hotel you are staying in." Nilingon ko siya at inirapan. 

"You're crazy." I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. 

"I want to be as close as I can be so that it's easy for you to reach me." Sabi niya pa. He always made sure that he's there for me.

The day passed by quickly. Nag-ikot kami sa Time Square at kung ano-ano ang kinain ni Nelle at Nicole. Nelle and I actually met here in New York. Dito kasi nakatira si mama, I used to have my vacation here every summer. Sinabihan ko na rin siya na pumunta sa coronation, pero hindi raw siya sigurado dahil baka may trabaho niya sa araw na iyon. She's a registered nurse here. Ang asawa niya naman ay doktor na ayaw sa akin. 

Sinubukan ko ring imbitahan si papa pero hindi na rin naman niya ako pinapansin. Right after I finished college, my father disappeared. Ang siste, tapos na raw ang responsibilidad sa akin kaya bakit pa kailangan magkaroon ng communication. 

I woke up without Joaquin by my side. Bukas na ang start ng preparation for Miss Universe kaya Im making the most of our time together. Mamimiss ko siya. I went out of our room to look for him but he was nowhere to be found. 

Naligo na lang ako at nag-ayos na dahil alam kong may lakad kami ngayong araw. Museum yata iyon, hindi ko matandaan. Si Nicole kasi ang nagpaplano, sumusunod na lang kami sa kanya kasi nga first time niya sa New York. Para siyang nakawalang ibon sa hawla.