Chapter 33

“You gave me the reason for my being. . .” Grayson kept on singing that song ever since I met him earlier this morning.

I rolled my eyes and smiled.

He can’t move on from the song I sang yesterday.

“And when I look in your eyes,” He pointed my eyes while his left hand was holding the steering wheel, “I just know, I know I’m on to something good. . .” He synchronized his voice with the car's radio song.

We are now heading to the company for my rehearsal and still until now, he can’t move on. Andra’s with Lia right now and getting another session.

“You instantly downloaded the song inside your car?” I asked.

He smiled and winked at me.

“Of course. I instantly searched the title of the song you sang to me yesterday. When I met you by Apo Hiking Society.”

He looked back at the road while I stare at his wide smile.

But suddenly, I almost lost my beating when he turned the car to the side with full of force that I wasn’t ready.

“Grayson!”

 My head bumped to the side as he cursed out loud. My heart was beating erratically as I hear the loud beeps of car from behind. Curses were heard along with the drumming of my heart. We almost got into accident!

“Fuck. It was Ethan again.” He beeped consecutive times, looking at the road with furrowed brows.

“What? Ethan?” My breathing was fast.

“Yeah.” He catch his breath. “Ethan and his motorcycle.”

I looked at the front but there was no motorcycle. It was only few cars but none of them was a motorcycle, I followed his gaze but I’m looking at nothingness.

“Ethan? Who’s Ethan?”

He looked at me.

“Are you okay?” He asked, worried.

I nodded but I’m still confused.

“Who’s Ethan?”

“Remember the guy who broke in to my closet? It was the same guy I said that was on the motorcycle the day you called me on my birthday. Ethan.” He shook his head.

“The reckless kid who overtake your car?”

He nodded.

“What is he wearing?” I asked as I look at the road, trying to find that kid.

“A white helmet and white motorcycle.”

“How did you know it was him when he’s wearing a helmet?”

His lips parted to utter a word but he looks like he feels odd too.

“His demeanor, I guess?” He question at nothingness.

I nodded even though I’m confused.

“What did he wore when he broke in your closet?” I asked again.

“A school uniform.”

“Then what did he wore when he overtake your car that time?”

He paused for a while to remember what he saw.

“A black leather jacket.” He said.

He just met him and he didn’t even know him that well so it’s impossible to instantly recognize the boy especially if he’s wearing a different cloth from the day he met him.

I’m feeling a little weird with that Ethan boy.

“Are you okay?” His voice was worried and then he glanced at me.

I nodded and sighed.

He continued driving while my thoughts were travelling to that Ethan boy.

Today, I’m wearing a fitted black tank and skinny jeans with heels which was the requirement for today’s rehearsal, Grayson on the other hand was wearing his favorite white shirt covered with his black long sleeve polo folded ‘til elbow and black pants.

He’s wearing something simple yet he looks hot especially with his aviator sunglasses.

Or am I bewitched by him that even the simple things makes him hot in my eyes.

“I know I’m hot, baby.” He laughed.

I shook my head after realizing that I’m staring too much at him.

He rested his arms around my shoulder while we’re heading towards my rehearsal room inside of this big modeling company.

I’m kind of nervous.

“Don’t be nervous. I know you’ll do well, my baby.” He kissed my head.

“Are you allowed inside?” I asked when we entered the elevator.

He pressed the floor number, it looks like he knew where the floor is even when I didn’t tell him.

I wonder why he knew the floor?

“Uh-huh.”

And my questions immediately got answered when there’s a familiar woman, wearing the same thing I’m wearing, who entered the elevator.

“What are you doing here?” Rhiana raised her one brow when she saw us inside.

“My girlfriend’s here for her rehearsal.” Grayson answered in his cold tone.

She scoffed and pressed the same floor, then she went beside him.

Shit. Don’t tell me we’ll be in one rehearsal.

“Seems like just recently, you were the one with me during my rehearsal. Now, you’re with another girl.” She said in the middle of silence.

I internally rolled my eyes.

He didn’t respond.

In the elevator’s reflection, I saw her hands travelling around Grayson’s back.

Man-stealer are everywhere, shit.

But he removed her hands off him and switched our position so now, I’m beside Rhiana and he’s at the other side with his hands wrapped around my waist.

It was a moment of silence when I suddenly felt his sunglasses around my eyes.

My forehead knotted after my vision went into shades of black.

“Your eyes on her reflection is scary.” He whispered.

I rolled my eyes and decided to keep quite. I crossed my arms, revealing her my intimidating aura she should not— never mess with.

“You look hot.” He whispered again.

Still, silent.

“I think being with him will only create an issue of you stealing him away from me since everyone knew that he was my boyfriend. You should not let him be with you.” Rhiana said in her haughty tone after a while.

“Yeah. He was.” I thriftily  said.

“And they were not aware of our break-up. They only think that he’s busy with his work that’s why he didn’t get to be with me during the past months of my rehearsal.”

So what does she wants to imply? That I should not be with him?

“I posted her on my social media. Impossible that they still think we’re together, Rhiana.” Grayson chimed in.

I saw her eyes rolled on the reflection.

The elevator tinged and I immediately head my way out.

I entered the room that mom introduced to me as our rehearsal room a day ago.

All the girls wearing the same as mine who’s some are sitting on the metal silver chair while the other was talking with each other just a while ago turned to my direction.

“Oh. You must be Alessia, the new model? Ms. C.E.O told me about that and showed me your picture.” It was one of the same director I met, Ms. Bea.

Now she’s smiling. I don’t know if it’s because of my connection because the last time I remember, she was frank and strict.

“Yeah. Alessia.” I smiled a little.

“Wow. . .” She stared at me. “What a big resemblance from your mother.”

Someone from the back nudged my shoulder and entered the room.

“Hi girls.” Rhiana greeted with full of confidence.

“Oh! Your boyfriend’s already here!” One girl shouted.

She giggled.

I sighed and entered the room.

“The lovers are back?” I heard a whisper.

“I think that new girl is the girl Grayson posted on his Instagram recently?”

The girl that looks like an instructor beside me clapped her hands.

“Okay. Is everyone complete?” She shouted.

“Yes, ma’am. I think we are.” It was Rhiana.

The room was big. There was a huge mirror that dominated the side of the walls while there was a small yet wide stage in front of us with chairs beside it meant for visitors or for those who are there to critique or judge.

“For now, I’ll be alone, and I’ll see the way how these models in front of me walk in that stage.” She pointed the small stage.

Someone poke behind me.

I looked at my back and it was Grayson. He motioned  that he’ll be sitting on the chair so I nodded.

Girls’ eyes were on me and immediately, they whispered to each other but I shrugged it off.

“Girls, are you listening?” It was Ms. Bea.

“Yes, Miss.” They said in chorus and stood straight.

“Okay, good. Now one by one, go to the small stage and walk as if you’re in a fashion show. I’ll judge your walk.” Now she’s back with her intimidating aura.

We lined to the side. We were about 15 models and I was in the last, Grayson on the other hand was sitting on the chairs provided for the visitors.

He gave an okay sign and thumbs up then smiled sweetly at my direction.

The few models noticed it so they looked at me from head to toe with full of malice.

“Girl, I guess I was right. She’s the man-stealer.” I heard a whisper.

“Okay, no. 1, walk!” Ms. Bea clapped, she’s in the front, seated with legs crossed and a paper in front of her to critique and judge a model.

“Poor, Rhiana.” I heard another whisper.

“Walk again! Do your best!” Ms. Bea shouted in her frustrated tone.

“I’m okay, girls.” Rhiana obviously wanted me to hear what she said.

She giggled as if she’s hurt by the way she giggle. How irritating.

“I’ll decide whether you’ll be part of the runaway or not with the way you walk so give your best shot! There are more models in line these last few days so make sure to give your best!” She shouted with full of rigor.

The door knocked so we all turned to the door.

“Good afternoon, everyone.” An unfamiliar man with suit greeted.

It was one man with suit and one gay with her heels and red tube dress who entered the room.

“What are you doing here?” Ms. Bea asked.

“We were told that the daughter of the co-C.E.O is here modeling?” The man wearing a suit gazed his view in each of us.

His gaze stopped at me.

“Oh. It must be her. What a great resemblance.” He pointed at me.

“Oh girl, your mother is proudly saying that you’ll be here today so we’re here to judge you.” The gay with tube dress said to me.

Shit. This is great pressure.

Ms. Bea clicked her tongue.

“You two gays better not disturb my preaching. Even if she’s the favorite daughter of the C.E.O doesn’t mean she’s already exempted with my preaching and lectures.”

Favorite?

Two gays nodded and smiled at me so I felt a little uncomfortable.

“Oh, Mr. Alonzo. What are you doing here?” The man with suit asked after seeing his presence.

“I’m here for my girlfriend.”

The girls whispers became clamorous.

“Girlfriend? I thought you broke with— Which one?” The gay with tube dress asked.

“The prettiest.” He simply said.

Both gays looked at me so I avoided my gaze.

Ms. Bea clapped her hands.

“No. 1 fail! No. 2 you’re next!” She wrote a huge x on the paper and flipped it to another page.

Their walk continued, some passed while some got a huge and firm no from her. Often times, the two gays would clap and say their words for those who lack energy when walking.

And now, no. 13, in front was Rhiana, with a huge smile plastered on her face, chin up, straight back, core tight and shoulders back and down in a relax way and confident demeanor, she glanced at me.

“Walk!” Ms. Bea shouted and clapped.

As soon as Ms. Bea clapped, her smile dissipated, revealing her serious aura as she walk with adequate confidence and stability in the small stage and in the middle of walking she turned gracefully and walked with confidence and when she reached the end of the stage, she used a half-turn in such an effortless way and posed various natural poses before exiting the stage.

That led to a great applause from the two gays and the models, even Ms. Bea who seems to be very strict nodded and clapped her hands as if satisfied with what she saw.

“As what expected with Ms. Brones.” Ms. Bea commented.

Brones?

“No. 14! Walk!”

Shit. Now I’m pressured.

I looked at Grayson who’s staring at me even with a model walking passed our stare, I didn’t even notice his attention because I was too stunned by Rhiana’s walk.

I flicked my fingers to grab his attention but he was in deep thought while staring at me, he failed to recognize my fingers.

The gay with suit noticed me so he nudged Grayson that slapped him back from his reverie.

“Huh?” He asked me without tone.

My lips parted to utter a word but—

“No. 15! Walk!” Ms. Bea shouted that made me shriek.

All the models attention were on me. I gulped and head my way towards the stage.

“Wooh! Go, baby! That’s my baby! Good job!” He shouted and stood then he clapped hard even when I didn’t start my walk yet.

I heard loud whispers from the models.

“He’s not like that with Rhiana, right?” I heard a low tone voice.

I gulped and straightened my back.

“Walk!” Ms. Bea shouted.

And with that cue, I started to walk like what I used to walk when I was modeling for three years using my stoic face.

It was quiet, even Grayson became quiet when I started my walk though I can see his figure via my peripheral vision, standing and staring at my every step.

Not until I’m in the middle of the stage and tried to make a turn just like what Rhiana did but I failed because my left foot lost its balance so I tripped and fell to the ground.

They let out a loud gasps.

I tired to stand but I lost balance again when I discovered that my left high heel broke.

“Shit.” I cursed when I couldn’t continue my walk because of my broken heel.

“Pfft. . .” Rhiana let out a stifle mocking laugh.

And it got followed by the models stifle laughs, some are laughing without voice and some are letting their restraining laugh heard. I looked at Ms. Bea and she’s shaking her head and seems disappointed.

Shit. I’m embarrassed.

But the embarrassment dissipated when a man in front of me kneeled down and removed both my heels off my feet.

The mocking and insulting laughs stopped.

Grayson made my feet wore a red heels that I recognized as the gay’s heel so I looked at the gay down to her feet and he was now barefoot, wearing nothing so I got worried but she just smiled at me and nodded.

He stood and faced Ms. Bea.

“Her walk has nothing to do with the trip because it’s her heels’ fault that’s already old and worn out, Ms. Bea.” Grayson showed her my broken high heels.

Ms. Bea raised her brow.

“What are you trying to imply, Grayson?”

“Let her walk again. Besides, she’ll wear a new pair of heels from the sponsored product when she walk in the runaway walk so that means she won’t trip again because this heel is at fault.” He pointed my broken heel he was currently holding.

Ms. Bea became silent for a moment.

Grayson turned to me.

“Go to the start, baby. Walk again from the start.” He smiled.

I bit my lower lip and looked at the models who’s giving me their withering look.

I feel humiliated and embarrassed. It was like their eyes were saying that I don’t deserve to be with them.

“I’ll walk with you.” He said when he noticed my skeptical eyes.

He guided me to the edge of the stage and gave me his supporting smile.

“Assume I’m invisible.” He said to Ms. Bea.

“If you walk with her, Mr. Grayson, she might end up being dependent on you and in the time of the event she might back-out because you won’t be with her.” Ms. Bea was being frank.

“Just this first walk, Ms. Bea, then after this walk, I’ll be at the back. She just needs a support for now because audiences are rude today.” He glanced at the models.

Ms. Bea let out a sigh of defeat and nodded.

“Ms. Robins. Assume your alone and in the day of the event. I’ll give you another chance to walk and I’ll decide if you’ll be a part of the event after this walk.”

I nodded and let out a deep breath.

“No. 15, walk!” She clapped her hand.

And that was the cue, I started walking again in a normal and confident pace especially with Grayson beside me who’s walking with me.

I want to laugh at his awkward and stiff walk especially when I stopped and turned a swift twirl, he stopped walking too and waited for me to twirl then walked with me until the edge.

With the best I could give, I gave different posture to model out the invisible clothes I think of with Grayson just beside me, blocking my view of the models who humiliated me with their looks and gazes, until I exited the stage.

Shit. Never did thought I’d find a man like him. I’m so lucky to have my own Grayson.

“You did well, baby.” He smiled and it was such a sweet smile.

He's great man who’s willing to walk with me even in the midst of censorious eyes not minding to be in flame of their scorching gazes.

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