Hardest to Lose (Villaraza Series #4)

03 | Tayo

03 | Tayo

“Tilt your head a little, honey. ‘Yan, that’s it! Now part your lips, part your lips! Great, great!”

Kirby’s camera kept on flashing and I had to stay wide-eye as I made poses. My every movement earned praise from him fueling my desire to do better.

After three minutes, he finally announced it was a wrap. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag saka kinuha ang inaabot na tubig ni Chance. The shoot took almost an hour and Kirby was adamant to finish it as soon as possible. I was damn thirsty the whole duration.

“Ang galing naman talaga ni Ate Girl,” Kirby teased as he was making his way to me still holding the camera. “Babe, look at these. These are beautiful!”

Kirby showed my pictures to his boyfriend. The latter nodded in agreement. Tipid akong ngumiti at inisang lagok na ang tubig.

I was modelling for their apparel. Recently, they ventured to the business and I had been one of their constant models. Life had been boring and it was just my pleasure to be part of their success.

“I don’t understand why you’re still not in show business. Hindi ba marami-rami na rin ang nag-scout sa’yo?” si Chance na inaabutan ako ng isang slice ng pizza.

Ngumuso ako at kinuha sa kanya ang pagkain. “I like modelling and stuff. But not to the point that I would want to be a commodity of media.”

“Now that’s deep.” Tumawa si Kirby at umakbay kay Chance. “If I were you, mag-aartista talaga ‘ko. Easy money. Lalo na para sa’yo, since your kuya is a famous musician. Boy, everyone wants a new Villaraza.”

Pabiro akong umirap.

Wala akong kontra sa pag-aartista. Pero kontra ako sa ideyang maging artista ako. When everyone was pushing me to be the next public figure in the family, when everyone thought I was okay with that, I never nodded at the idea.

“Not me,” I cheekily said. “Lalo na kung ila-love team lang.”

“Love teams are okay naman. Why do you hate it so much?”

“Walang challenge. Mahirap mag-grow kung paulit-ulit na lang ang kasama. At mahirap din lumipat sa ibang genre. Madalas ay pang-romance na lang ang mga ganyan.”

“Eh kung ‘di ka ila-love team? Okay ba sa’yo?”

“Okay na kami sa mga baliw na fangirl ni Kuya Iñigo. Ayoko nang dumagdag.”

Just the thought of some people giving all their time to me was scary. I witnessed how some would go to great lengths just to have a glimpse of the personal lives of their idols. Since my eldest brother and his band became a thing, a week would never pass without any ruckus in our household. May tatambay na lang sa gate namin na fans, may nambabato sa bahay, o kung minsan ay may nakakapasok. There was even a point that I had to be with a bodyguard to ensure my safety.

Fans could sometimes be that crazy and creepy. I would never want them.

“Anyway, bukas ko na ihuhulog sa account mo ang bayad, ah? Chance and I are to go somewhere.”

“Where?”

Kirby grinned and hugged his boyfriend’s arm. “Palawan, sis. Anniversary gift namin sa isa’t isa.”