THE DAY HE BECAME RUTHLESS: The Metaphorical Series #2

THIRTY SEVEN

Tahimik kong pinagmamasdan ang stylist na abala sa bawat miyembro ng dalawang banda. We evacuated here to the emebellished studio as soon as she arrived. Handa na ang itim na backdrop sa gitna at ang camera sa harap. 

"So what's with your walk out stunt yesterday? I told you, that should be fucking discussed."

Marcus words earned an eye roll from me. Deklarasyon ang mababang tawa niya na hindi nito nakuhang ayaw ko na itong pag-usapan.

"Give it up, Marcus. It's not my tale to tell." I exhaled as I am being reminded by who should be the one to tell him.

Nilipat ko ang aking binti sa ibabaw ng isa ko pang binti. I restlessly moved my legs back and forth in boredom. Nakahalukiphip ako habang nakaupo at katabi si Marcus. Kita ko ang busangot ni Dean na mukhang nahihirapan sa sinusuot niyang belt.

"I think it's your jealousy that was working yesterday. Now that my sister and Dean's status is being announced as official,  let me remind you not to do it again. She'd be in today's photoshoot."

My legs stopped moving. My body froze except for my head that turned to the man beside me. Wala mang tono ng panunuya sa sinabi niya ay pumatak pa rin ang iritasyon ko at sumali sa daloy ng aking dugo.

"Bakit siya kasali? She's not part of the band!" giit ko. And what status is being announced official? 

Nagkibit si Marcus at sinabay ang pag-inom sa water bottle at pagbaling sa akin. "Because she's the girlfriend? May individual shots ulit, then two or three pages would contain the two of them."

The bout of qualms has suddenly joined my blood flow. Dean lied to me? Not that I believed him last night but he never lied to me!

I should further attune myself  that time has changed. People do as well. What they have done to you before would not be done to you again.  And what they have felt for you before...would only now remain as a memory...these kinds of changes.

For that evanescent seconds, my seventeen year old self made way to the here and now. As someone who tends to neglect to value the present time. As the girl who couldn't wait for the time to pass by. Sure, I enjoyed those days, but I think we're  more tend to appreciate the present moment once they'd become the past.  And appreciate them even more when we crave for something to look back to.

"Hindi pa ba tapos? Pakitulungan na ang stylist para makapagsimula na. Glam team, pakibilisan!" Sinundan iyon ng palakpak ng photographer upang paigtingin ang pagmamadali nito.

Not planning to go as deep about Dean and Jillian, I stood up and sauntered to where he is.

"Iyong mga interns nasaan na? Pakibilisan lang please. Niccolo, you're up here first. Si Theone at Dean ay sa hulihan."

Hinawi ko ang humarang na coat rack saka tuluyang nakalapit kay Dean. I snatched the belt that he has a hard time donning on his jeans. Mukhang pati ang kamay niya ay nagulat sa ginawa ko.

Mabigat na hininga ang pinakawalan niya sabay pasida sa kanyang buhok.  "Fix it."

"Aayusin ko na," sabi ko at halos yumakap na sa kanya para lang masuot ang belt sa belt loop sa likod.

I secretly inhaled, medicating my irritation  with his manly scent and whiskey rasp as he breathed in and out. Ramdam ko ang gaspang sa hininga niya dahil tumatama ito sa aking buhok, kinikiliti ang anit ko.

Truly, the belt is really hard to lock. Ilang ulit kong tinanggal ang strap at kinabit ulit sa ring. Habang tumatagal ay lumalayo si Dean at panay hila niya ng singhap at pakawala ng mabigat na hininga. It absorbed my curiosity so I couldn't help but look up at him everytime. Umiiwas lamang ito ng tingin sa seryoso niyang mga mata.