RETAKE

PART 2

Brent was not looking at the models as they walked in the runway; instead, he was listening to his fiancee telling him about the things which caught her eyes. He will spare a glance on the stage if she asks his judgment, and then he will answer.

He just raised his head to check on the lingerie that a model wore when his eyes caught the way the model at her back, walked. Instead of answering his fiancee about his opinion, curiosity made him wait to see the face of the other model. At far, dark blond hair and full of makeup were all he deciphers. As she comes closer, familiar blue eyes meet his in a fleet second. It was then he becomes sure of who was on stage and reminded him of what had happened before. It made him boil over with anger.

He then saw her toppled on the ground, which startled him. He immediately gets up to help, but she stands up as if nothing happened, even laughing at it. Amanda's hand tagging on him to take his seat made him realize his action.

As he sat down, he was surprised by his behavior. No matter how much he hates Marie for what had happened before, he can't help himself but leap to help when she is in need, forgetting everything. He can't even dictate his eyes, not to follow as she walked with wobbly feet before returning backstage.

Once out of sight of the audience, Anne took a deep breath while clasping her chest. Though she screwed her first catwalk after years of not gracing the runway, the relief she felt was not because of her ability to stands up with good humor. It is because she reached the backstage, not running.

Brent's unexpected presence in the crowd surprised her. Before her mind can go back to her past, the photographer called her attention. She posed first and then went to the dresser, who moved quickly to put her in the next outfit. The fast-paced frenzy in the backstage made her in a hurry, too, temporarily forgetting the one in the crowd.

The show had finished with her walking three times in the runway, without sparing a glance to the audience. Though with mishaps but at least she didn't make the show unsuccessful, and with just a brief instructions. Barbara came to her in the backstage. She congratulated and thanked her for helping in such short notice, without mentioning her fall as if it didn't occur.

Tony, the casting agent, even asked her if she wanted to go back to her modeling career. She just graciously thanked the guy but refused.

With all the activities going, some models taking a picture, and others in a hurry to leave, Anne walked to where her outfit earlier hangs. She removed the last clothes she used and donned her pants and black blouse. Once her face removed with makeup, she went to Susan to help with the packing of the clothes.

"Hey, Anne, congratulation! I know it, you have that looked the first time I saw you. What was the reason you decided to change your career?"

She looked at Susan before answering. "Model travel from one location to another, I want to stay in one place. So without jeopardizing my love in fashion, I choose this." She answered while zipping a set of kimono inside a garment bag. "Of course, she will not say her real reason for giving up her career before."

"If I have your height, I had trade my future career of being a designer to a runway model, not the other way around." Susan told her more on envy than criticism in her voice.

"Well, it's your choice." Anne told Susan and then leaned on her ear and whispered. "It is not so glamorous as you think, there are dark sides on it which only the strong-hearted and the lucky ones can survive," she then smiles and walks to another side before her colleague can say anything.

Once they had packed everything and ready to send in their showroom, Anne was tired and ready to go back to their hotel room for a good nap. Though there is still the after-party, she opted not to attend it for fear of meeting the person she is trying to avoid, especially that she already seen his presence.