All For Show (COMPLETED)

Chapter 09

Chapter 09

After what felt like forever, finally ay nakaupo na rin ako. Ganito pala iyong feeling ng mga model. It was exhausting to smile for the camera. Hindi ko alam kung isang buong album ba iyong gusto ni Therese dahil sa hotel room pa lang mismo, ang dami ng kinuha na litrato.

"Are you okay?" tanong ko kay Pablo nung maupo ako.

He nodded. "Yes," sagot niya tapos ay inabutan ako ng bottled water. "Are you tired? It looks exhausting."

Bahagya akong natawa dahil parang nabasa niya iyong nasa isip ko. "Yeah, a little," sabi ko sa kanya. I debated if I'd apologize again and just decided on just doing it dahil medyo nahiya talaga ako sa asal ni Mama kanina. "I'm sorry."

Tumingin siya sa akin at bahagyang kumunot ang noo. "For what?" he asked.

"The incident."

"What incident?"

"Iyong kanina?" I told him, but he was still looking at me na para bang hindi niya alam kung ano iyong binabanggit ko. "The picture," I added.

Recollection crossed his face. "Oh, that."

I nodded. "Yes, that. I apologize."

"What for?" sabi niya. "I wasn't offended."

Hindi ako nakasagot. I mean, if you'll think about it technically, wala naman sigurong nakaka-offend talaga... kasi at one point, may point din naman talaga si Mama. Pero on the other hand, ang daming kinuhang picture! Ano ba naman 'yung isang picture na kasama namin si Pablo. Hindi naman nila alam na fake lang iyong relationship namin. What if magkatuluyan kami talaga sa future? E 'di may family picture na kami. Kung hindi naman, e 'di sunugin. Ang dali-daling gawan ng paraan, e.

"Yes, but still, that wasn't very nice."

Tumingin siya sa akin at bahagyang ngumiti. I'd admit that I was slightly taken aback when he tousled my hair. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko. And also... that felt nice? For some reason? Kahit ginulo niya nang kaunti iyong buhok ko?

"Oh, I'm sorry," sabi niya nung na-realize niya na nagulo iyong buhok ko.

Instinctively, napahawak din ako sa buhok ko. And because of that, nahawakan ko iyong kamay niya. My hand was resting on top of his. Tapos ay sakto na nagtama ang mga mata namin. Mabilis kong inalis iyong kamay ko. Bahagya siyang natawa dahil sa nakakatawang reaksyon ko.

Mukhang tanga.

We literally did way more than this kaya bakit ba ako umaakto na parang teenager na first time lang mahawakan ang kamay? Nakaka-stress ka talaga around Pablo, Cerise!

"But seriously, it's fine," sabi niya. "I'm not easily offended."

Slowly, I nodded. "Okay," I replied and then grunted when I heard my name being called again. Tumayo ako at lalakad na sana pabalik doon. I didn't know why I was being called kasi tapos na kami sa pictorial. I turned to look at Pablo who was sitting innocently.

"What?" Pablo asked, his forehead creased when I offered him my hand.

I cocked my head to the side. "Tara," I said.

He looked at me like he was confused sa kung ano ang gusto kong mangyari, nevertheless, he accepted my hand and stood up. Magkahawak iyong mga kamay namin habang naglalakad papunta sa may photographer na nagsisimula ng mag-packup ng mga gamit niya.

"Kuya," I called. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Favor? Pwede pakuha ng shot sa amin?" I asked nicely since technically, hindi naman na part ng trabaho niya 'to. Also, I asked with a smile. Usually, you'll get what you ask for basta maayos mo lang sabihin. I thought this was like a common knowledge na, but with the amount of entitled people I met over the course of my life? Apparently, it's not so common for people to ask nicely.