Grow with the Flow (Published under Bliss Books)

Prologue

This close

"Tell me you're kidding..." wala sa sariling anas ko.

Tulala pa rin ako habang may munting awang ang labi. Hindi pa tuluyang rumerehistro sa utak ang narinig.

Napahilot sa sentido si Rafa. "I'm sorry, Nari, but I'm not...I swear, hindi talaga siya 'yong sinabi nilang ka-partner mo no'ng meeting! Nagkaproblema lang daw kaya nagkaroon ng changes."

Napailing-iling ako habang pabalik-balik ng lakad sa dressing room. Hindi mapakali at hindi mapirmi sa isang tabi. "I can't believe this!"

"I know, sorry talaga. Kung hindi pa lang sana tayo nakapirma sa kontrata, ako pa mismo ang magsa-suggest na mag-backout ka na lang..." matabang na wika niya. Kitang-kita ko ang guilt sa hindi maipinta niyang mukha.

Rafa rarely shows emotion. So to see her like this is somehow amusing. Sa kabila ng sitwasyon ay natawa ako nang bahagya. Hindi ko alam kung saan ko hinugot ang lakas at nakuha ko pang isantabi ang naghaharumentadong sistema ko.

Maybe... I'm just not as feeble as how I used to be.

"Nah... I don't want them to think na hindi ako professional."

Tila nabuhayan ang mukha niya. Napangiti naman ako.

"Nagulat lang talaga ako, tsaka...well, hindi ko in-expect kasi according to you, si Kaiden lang ulit ang makakapareha ko for this ad," dagdag ko.

Napasimangot siya. "That's what they said!"

Humalakhak ako. "Don't worry, I will...manage."

I gave her an assuring smile para gumaan ang loob niya dahil alam kong nakokonsensya pa rin sya. I get why she's feeling that way. Kung mayroon mang apektado rito bukod sa akin ay siya 'yon. After all, she's not just a manager to me. She's the closest friend I've ever had. Saksi siya sa lahat ng nangyari noon. Mula umpisa hanggang wakas.

Naputol lamang ang paglipad ng isipan ko nang may kumatok sa pinto.

Bumukas ito at lumitaw ang ulo ng isang staff. "Excuse me po, Miss Nayeli, standby na raw po. Start na in ten minutes."

Chineck lang ulit ng stylist ko kung okay na ang lahat sa akin bago kami lumabas ni Rafa. Pakiramdam ko naman ay nakalutang ako habang naglalakad. It's been what? Seven years I think? Pitong taon mula no'ng huli ko siyang makita nang personal.

I didn't make it much of a big deal to Rafa since wala naman akong dapat ikagalit sa taong makakasama ko sa shooting at pictorial ngayon. Tampo siguro puwede? Napatawa ako sa naisip. Nah, I'm not even sure kung deserve kong magtampo. I chose this. I was the one who made the decision. Kaya lang talaga gano'n ang reaksyon ko no'ng ihatid sa 'kin ni Rafa ang balita ay dahil hindi ako sigurado kung paano haharapin at pakikitunguhan ang taong iyon..

Just be civil, Nari. Yeah. That's probably the best choice.

I was already right there on the set, patuloy ang pagre-retouch ng stylist habang medyo ina-adjust ko ang suot na bikini nang matanaw ko ang pamilyar na pigura. Damn.

Tumigil na rin ang nag-aayos sa 'kin nang sumigaw ang direktor na magsisimula na raw. Thank God for my mastery in modeling at walang bakas ng panginginig ang binti ko habang naglalakad papunta sa gitna kung saan papalapit na rin ang makakapareha ko.

We were just briefly instructed since according to the director, he already knew that we are veterans in this field. May specific suggestions lang siya for the poses since ang theme para sa summer collection na ito ay sexy at affectionate.

Habang nakikinig, I could feel the heat of his body radiating from my side. Tangina lang. Ini-imagine ko pa lang ang mga sinabing poses ni Direk pero halos mahilo na 'ko. I mentally slapped myself. Fuck, Nari, focus. You're a fucking professional, for Pete's sake.

I gave my best to hold my shit together when we started. Unang pagtama pa lang ng mga mata namin paglingon ko sa kanya, I immediately knew that he has changed. He's not the same as before. He's far different. His aura is screaming maturity. I felt a light pang in my chest thinking that he's a fully grown man now and the baby in him is now gone. My baby. I mentally shook my head. Minura ko ang sarili sa isip.

His intense stare was piercing through me. I didn't show any unnecessary emotion in my stare, yes, I could do that. I'm not an artista for nothing.

"I thought you're so done with this whole modeling and acting career of yours, Colton." I tried to casually speak to him as he started wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me very close toward him until I felt his bulge on my stomach. Nah, he's not turned on or something, he's just really huge, I convinced myself.

He never broke his gaze on me as I started running my fingers on his hair while the other one held on to his hard as fuck na arms. Something flashed in his eyes as he put his other hand just below my boob and slowly pulled his face closer to mine.

I almost shivered when he slightly parted his mouth.

"Akala ko rin..." His voice was hoarse. Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko.

"But being this close to the great Nayeli Reese is an opportunity I wouldn't miss," he breathlessly whispered staring right through my lips.

My gaze shifted from his eyes to his soft lips. Damn, how I miss those. Can I have a taste, baby? What the fuck am I thinking—but can I? I didn't even notice that I was slowly pulling my face closer to him too...just a taste...but then he stopped going near me. He fucking stopped when our lips were just about to touch. My eyes were still on his lips when he did the unbelievable.

He smirked.

He fucking smirked.