Paper Planes (Sandejas Siblings: Companion Book)

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

"LEONA! QUICK!" I almost jumped when I heard my mother calling me. Mabilis kong inayos ang buhok ko at nagtungo sa kanila.

Today was my shoot for a magazine, it started three days ago, meaning I am not going to school for four days and today will be the last day for this shoot.

My Mom got me a shoot where I could spend my time with, pumayag rin ang university sa request ni Mamá kaya hindi na ito naging mahirap para sa amin.

"Ma..." I called when I saw her. Mabilis siyang lumingon and I was startled when I saw how horror flashed on her face when she saw me.

"Santisima, Leona! Hindi ka pa ayos?!" She exclaimed. I stayed quiet and gulped.

"I just..."

"Quick, Rudos! Pakiayusan na si Leona!" She exclaimed at the make-up artist kaya wala na akong nagawa. I was about to say something but then, I saw her chit-chatting with the director again.

Tahimik akong nagtungo sa malaking salamin at pinaupo ako ni Rudos sa isang upuan roon at sinimulang ayusan ang buhok ko. The team made me look way too mature than I look, I looked kinda sophisticated and glamorous this way, as if I can see myself years from now.

"You really don't need to have that much make up, Lena." Rudos commented as he finished my hair.

"Why?" Sumulyap ako sa kanya.

"Because you're beautiful! You won't be a beauty queen for nothing! Kung hindi lang dahil sa theme ng shoot ay hindi ganito ang make-up mo." He smiled.

"Thank you," masuyong sabi ko.

"No worries," tumitig siya sa salamin. "But I guess, something's bothering you?"

Gulat akong nag-angat ng tingin at nahuli ang tingin niya sa akin.

"P-Paano mo naman nasabi?" I asked.

"I can see it in your eyes, Lena. You don't glow that much today, your smile didn't reach your eyes. Usually, you're cheerful lalo na kapag shoot but now...you're sad and gloomy."

Umayos ako ng upo roon at mabilis na ngumiti.

"I'm sorry. M-Masyado bang nakakaapekto—"

"No, no..." he shook his head. "Just smile at the camera and enjoy, Lena."

I nodded and when he got quiet, thoughts came back, playing with my mind and emotion starts coming.

Pinilit kong maging masaya sa shoot but it was ineffective, the usually one-hour shoot turned to two hours. Hindi natutuwa ang photographer dahil hindi abot ang aking ngiti sa mata.

"Leona! What are you doing?!" my mother pulled me and hissed when we had our break.

"Mamá..." I called.

"Anong ginagawa mo, hija? We usually get our shoot done in an hour!"

"Sorry..." I whispered softly and sighed. "Masama lang po ang pakiramdam ko."

"Then you have to do this quick, magpapahinga ka at uuwi na tayo, okay?" aniya at marahang tumango ako.

"Sorry, Ma..." I murmured again.

"I understand," she sighed but then, I saw the disappointment on her eyes. "Just do this good this time. Nakakahiya sa mga kasama natin."

Sa paghila muli sa akin ng glam team ay nagpaubaya ako para sa panibagong damit na susuotin.

I did my very best to get our shoot done, para maging totoo ang aking mga ngiti ay muli kong inalala ang mga ngiti ni Ejercito. I began thinking about his screams on the ferris wheel kaya mas gumaan ang loob ko at napangiti ng matamis.