Flashed Golden Photographs (Sunset Avenues #1)

Flashed Golden Photographs

"De los Rios, a kick to success, domineering the world of Football!"

A feature of a rising football player enveloped my ears as soon as I stepped my three inch heels into the lobby. He's been in the international news and embellishing magazine covers with his undeniable looks and hotness. What a description to an untamable man.

Madam Esther, with no doubt, at all cost would hire this man but we're after women's style and fashion so..thank you.

"Welcome to the show, Mr. De los Rios."

"My pleasure," deep voice answered. Tilian ang sumunod. Why your voice sounds a bit sensual? That's prohibited, should be prohibited. Kung bakit ganoon ang naiisip ko sa mga pagkakataong iyon ay hindi ko na alam. 

Hindi lang iisang empleyado ang napatigil nang napansin ako. Mabilis silang bumalik sa kanilang ginagawa pero ang ngiti at kilig ay halata pa rin sa kanilang mukha. Sumeryoso nang ako'y tumikhim.

What kind of effect you have to people, really. Kind of addiction, more than a drug. Binabaliw mo ang lahat.

Your smile can move mountains. Kung alam mo lang ang epekto mo sa mga tao. Ngiting madalang lang makita sa camera. Oh, wait! Nakita ko na ba siyang ngumiti sa camera?

If you'll just show how your lips curve into a smile, how your eyes speak for yourself, people would be in a complete chaos. He's portraying a man who seems to be untouchable when photographed but wild in bed.

Hindi na rin iisang kampeonato ang naiuwi niya.. He's handsome and his face when he's at that field speaks of raging danger, the mere reason why he garnered a lot of fans since his debut.

Domineering the world of football, huh? Mas tamang sabihin, hearts of most women. Captivating them with his looks and untamable personality.

"Good morning, Miss."

My secretary handed me my morning coffee. I simply nodded, acknowledging her greeting.

"Only you can nail Monday with beauty and grace, Miss Bautista!" she commented.

Everyday, this secretary of mine showers me with compliments. How my make-up reflects my mood. How my bags scream for my hard work. How my style and fashion serves as a finished product.

"I gave you a salary increase already, Dani."

She knows what to do, telling me today's schedule. Hindi naman masyadong hectic. A meeting with Madam Esther and the board, I guess. Inasikaso ko kaagad ang mga papeles na nasa table ko habang umiinom ng kape. Nakatayo sa aking gilid ang aking sekretarya, naghihintay ng iuutos.

"Can you give this to Madam Esther?"

"Which one, Miss?"

"This. Thank you."

Hinintay kong mawala sa paningin ko ang aking secretary at ang pagsara ng double doors bago ako nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga.

I removed my coat and crossed my legs, still sipping coffee. Maingat ko iyong ibinaba sa table ko. I accessed the company's wifi connection and easily searched today's news.

Sports news. Indeed, he's that famous.

What the employees watching earlier was a live broadcast? That was minutes ago so..the interview still on going?

The swivel chair swayed as I moved. Chaotic view of the city engulfed my eyes, people who are up doing their own businesses, tourists and business establishments.

Everything seems surreal. How time changed me. How dreams of a young girl pursued city life. How chances brought me to a whole new environment. Steps that led me to where I am.

Before, everything centers around the waves of the coastal shores. Now, a busy city doing its errands. I closed my eyes as memories flashed. I tried so many times to erase them..to cover them with more and new but I failed. At the end, I'd still find myself longing the warmth.

I roamed and a certain advertisement caught my eyes. He have gone so far. He reached beyond his limits. His career booming at the highest peak. And the same question crossed my mind. Aren't you also?

A famous brand of sports wear made him as their brand ambassador. His face all over the billboards.

Ang saya na siguro niya. Kung ganoon, masaya ako para sa kan'ya.

A single tear fell. It escaped involuntarily. Bakit ganoon? Sa pagbagsak ng luha ay parang hindi ko na rin kontrolado ang nararamdaman. Or perhaps, I was trying to invalidate the feelings that I still have. Kahit sa paglipas ng panahon.. 

Just a single memory and it feels like you are being time machined to where it all begun. And pain registered as you have no choice but to cry them out. Hoping it would ease whatever rage you are feeling. Whatever broken piece tearing you deep within. And bothering you up until to this day.

"Look, my Hope! Look at your daddy! Isn't he great?"

He clapped his little fingers and turned his gaze on me. He then smiled and rejoiced even more. His eyes in full confusion, a trace of innocence.

"Mama! Daddy! Daddy is great!" he shrieked.

The television featured his road to success, his starting point, his struggles as a young professional football player, his debut for an international team.

The media tells us only a drop. What they featured about him is just a page of a book.

Hindi nila alam kung gaano siya nangarap na marating ang Europe kasama ako. How he wanted to meet his favourite player and get an autograph because he admired him so much. How he trained in a stadium way different to where he is in now.

How a young little boy dreamt of becoming a football player. He was asked regarding dating rumors and he gave the reporters a mere shrug. It fueled the news that he's secretly dating a beauty queen in the Philippines.

My heart ached. I used to.. Perhaps, I used to be that 'beauty queen' or do I consider myself as one? 

With the sunset as our view, I carried Hope and made him sit on my lap. We both stared at the photographs I've been keeping for the past years. Mga kupas na larawan na kung tutuusin ay ang siyang bumuo ng aking pagkatao. Larawan ng buhay na alaala. Lumipas man ang taon at dumaan ang maraming unos, mananatili iyon sa akin. 

Dahil siya ang bumuo sa larawang iyon. 

He played with my fingers and I watched him in deep awe. He got his father's looks. Kaya ang hirap niyang kalimutan..

"You're exactly your daddy!"

"D-daddy!"

He gave me his living photograph then became a captured one. Living the flashed memories of golden fields behind.