MKT TRILOGY #1 [COMPLETED]

Chapter 51

Papasakay na ako ng kotse ng mag ring bigla ang phone ko. "Hello?"

"You won't believe this! We're invited to an elite event, hosted by Mr. Sandejas." I nearly dropped my phone on what Clee had just told me.

"What the hell?! I thought they were not interested in us? Panong— did they change their minds?" Hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong.

"Actually, they found a photo of you and Mr. George Vasquez three years ago. You're both... sweet in that photo. They must've assumed that you had a past with him."

Lumunok ako sa sinabi ni Clee. I never told him about Leo and I. Alam niya lang ay nawalan ako ng anak. "Mayroon nga ba?".

"I... used to work for him before. We never had anything more than that." Pag d-deny ko.

"Mabuti naman. Anyways, the event will be in 2 days. I'll be your date na, ha?" Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Clee.

Sinisigurado na talaga ng lokong 'to.

"Alright, whatever!" Sagot ko naman.

"Okay, bye! Mag tra-trabaho muna ako para may pang limousine tayo sa friday." Then he hung up. I smiled with what he just said. He's really very hardworking.

Pagpasok sa loob ng kotse ay naisip ko lang kung saan nila nakuha ang litrato namin ni Leo.

We never posted each other's photos on our socials. Kahit nga simpleng parinig ay wala kasi ayaw namin ng masiyadong attention mula sa media.

...

"Nice shot!"

This has been my routine for the past 3 years. I go to work every morning, photoshoots every afternoon, and dinner dates or meetings at the evening. Sometimes, I barely have no rest even in weekends I have to work. I also have to maintain my weight because of my career. That every weekends I attend the gym.

"Okay, break muna for 10 minutes." Stress na sabi ng photographer sa mga kasama nito. "Ms. Gomez, snack break muna po tayo for 10 minutes." Pilit itong ngumiti saakin at siya namang sinuklian ko.

Sinalubong kaagad ako ng mga personal assistant ko dito. Kinuha nila ang bitbit kung product na ini-indorse ko. Ang iba ay pinupunasan ang pawis ko.

"It's okay, I can manage myself." Pagod kung sabi sakanila. "Paki hatid nalang iyung snacks ko dito, then have your break time na 'din."

Naupo ako kaagad sa couch sa loob ng dressing room ko dito. Huminga ako ng malalim bago nag cellphone. I received 2 messages from Clee. Pero in-ignore ko nalang dahil tamad akong basahin ito.

Ibinaba ko na muna ang cellphone at binuksan ko iyung pocari sweat at ininom iyon. Fuck!

I envy them. They're all drinking boba milk tea and eating ham with egg sandwiches. While I have to suffer with pocari sweat and vegetable salad.

Ako naman ang nag request nito. Pero ayokong kainin. I've been eating only these for the past straight 4 months. I'm having korean samgyupsal tonight. And no one is stopping me.

Natapos na ang 10 minute break at ipinagpatuloy na namin ang photoshoot. Natapos kami bandang 5 PM na. Bago umalis ay tinignan ko muna ang schedule ko at kung mayroong meeting akong naka schedule for tonight.

Buti nalang ay wala.

Nag mamadali akong nag maneho para makarating sa pinaka malapit na samgyupsalan dito.

Habang nag pa-park ako ng sasakyan ay nakita ko ang isang matandang namamalimos sa gilid ng kalsada. Nakaramdam naman ako ng awa. Inilabas ko iyung pagkaing hindi ko nakain kanina sa photoshoot pati narin iyung pasalubong ko sanang baked mac kay Midnight.