SALIGIA SERIES #1: SUPERVIA

XV

"And here's my favorite model! Jesus! You look so good! I love the ginger hair!" I chuckle a little as I beso the head manager. She instantly praises my outfit bago balingan si Ivah at bumeso 'rin.

"The bosses love the front cover! Very subtle but impactful daw! Kuhang-kuha mo talaga ang taste ng mga nasa taas, Selene! You're like the bosses favorite Barbie!"

"Oh c'mon! You're praising me too much, maam!"

"Don't applaud her, Paula! Tataas na naman ang maintenance ko sa kanya!" They both laugh on Ivah's half-hearted joke, dahil para sa akin hindi iyon isang biro.

She's damn right that I'll be more high maintenance when my offers escalated on the top. Other than it will boost my worth, both figuratively and financially, it will be another doorway for more offers from various projects. I mean, I'm already fully sched for the next 6 months, but projects still flock my way and are willing to fall in line just to get me.

Ivah should really be betting her whole salary on me and take care of my well-being. I'm almost the living cash bank of our company!

"Selene has every right to be stubborn, Ivah! Look at how established she is! Wala ka pa bang boyfriend, hija?" I was shocked for a moment dahil sa naging tanong niya. Ivah's laughs are louder than usual kaya nakuha noon ang atensyon ng iilang tao malapit sa amin.

"Oh, people must wait for months to see her, Paula. Wala iyang oras sa mga ganiyan. I remember I've been wanting to ask you something-" hindi ko napigilang ilinya ang mga labi habang tinatanaw na ilayo ni Ivah sa akin ang ginang. The sudden uneasiness creeps in me while looking at them and engrossing into another topic that Ivah used to dodge such q1uestions.

Pwede naman niyang diretsohin na wala akong karelasyon! Because it's the whole damn truth! Wala naman talaga akong boyfriend!

Wala sa sarili kong kinuha ang phone ko habang papalapit sa isang crew na may dalang mga wine. I grab a kopita there and settle at one of the empty tables, consistently greeting people who I met along the way.

When I peak at my phone ay nakita ko na agad ang iilang messages galing kay Emir. I bit the side of my cheeks, as if holding my breath as I open them.

From: Emir.

Take you home? I'll take you home? Are you fucking serious right now, Selena?

From: Emir

I'll be late for a while. I need to attend somewhere, be there in a bit.

From: Emir
I'll still be taking you home, right? You didn't change your mind?

Hindi ko napigilan ang mapangiti sa sarili kaya naman marahan kong kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi habang paulit- ulit na binabasa ang mga messages niya. I softly turned my phone off at pinakawalan ang isang buntong hininga, as if trying to calm myself from the sudden explosion of the happy hormones in me. Pakiramdam ko ay para akong teenager na kinikilig dahil napansin ng idol niya!

I try to compose myself as I look at the setting sun in front of me. Marahang nililipad ng hangin ang buhok habang patuloy ang pagdami ng tao sa mismong venue. The whole program hasn't yet started still kaya naman the people are freely roaming around.

"I thought Emirson is coming tonight? Haven't seen her yet?" Hindi ko napigilan mapairap ng mahimigan ang pang-aasar sa tono ni Ivah. She instantly chuckled when she saw that I'm not pleased by whatever she's up too.

"You should find another girl here instead of pestering me. Sayang naman ang outfit mo, kung hindi ka lalandi as you always do." Pambabawi ko sa kanya. She just laughs out my remarks before shaking her head.