Chapter 1 : Meeting

IT IS a sunny morning, the rising sun is the only light that’s coming from outside my room. I’m currently in front of a mirror, watching my own reflection while putting on a different shade of eyeshadow.

"Time check, 6:30 a.m." I said to myself.

Maaga akong gumising dahil may dadaluhan akong meeting ngayong umaga. Nakaligo na ako at ngayon ay nag-aayos. Pagkatapos ay pipili na ako ng aking susuotin. Either my formal dress or my casual wear.

I wore my black fitted formal dress ending above my knees. It has sequins and beads that forms a line. It hugs my body perfectly. I partnered it with a silver stilettos that's shining whenever I walk.

Kinuha ko na ang mga gamit ko at bumaba. I greeted my father and gave him a slight peck on his cheek.

"Dad," I called him. He was reading the newspaper and sipping his favorite black coffee while our maid was preparing the meal.

"I won't be able to join you po this morning, I have a meeting with a famous brand."

"Hmm," he hummed. I don't know if he agrees or not but I'm going to be late so I need to excuse myself now.

"I'll go na po." I said, slowly walking to him to give a peck as a goodbye.

I was about to go near him when he suddenly stand at his position and exit the dinning area.

Ang sakit. I never felt being left out not until that happened.  It seems like he doesn't like my presence. I sighed. Binalewala ko na lamang at naglakad na paalis.

Narinig kong may sasakyang bumusina sa labas so I hurried walking. I sprayed a bit of perfume on my palms before walking out of our house.

May puting artista van ang nakaparada sa labas ng bahay. My artista van is already waiting at our gate so I went inside it. My manager was briefing me about what will happen at our meeting while we were driving.

When our Artista Van parked at the parking lot, bumaba kaagad ako sa van, nginitian ang bawat staff na naroon. Binaba ko ang shades ko nang palapit na ako sa entrance. Inayos ko ang bag ko sa aking braso nang narinig ko ang naghihiyawan sa labas ng building at may ilang media pang naroon, nag-uunahan sa pagpicture.

I saw a lot of paparazzi clicking their cameras nonstop. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad dahil hindi ko kakayanin ang dami ng tao na nag-aabang. Nakita kong may tumakbong dalawang malalaking guards para humarang.

Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit naisipan ni Jin na sa parking lot ako pababain kahit alam naman niyang dudumugin ako rito ng mga paparazzi. It seems like he wanted me to get the attention of the public.

Nilawakan ko ang ngiti nang mahagip ng mga mata ko ang pagwagayway ni Jin ng kaniyang kamay. Jin is my producer slash manager. He's so strict and he always wanted everything to be perfect.

Malawak ang ngiting nilakad namin ang daan kahit napakaraming makukulit na paparazzi ang humaharang. Hindi puwedeng sabihan at hindi puwedeng magpakita ng ibang ugali dahil sa isang pitik lamang ay nasa balita ka na agad.

Pawisan na nang makapasok kami sa loob. Kailangan pang ire-touch ulit ng aking make-up artist ang aking mukha. I need to be presentable at our meeting. Isang malaking clothing brand ang nakasalalay at sobrang laking benefits din ang makukuha.

After finishing my make-up look, we went to the conference room for the meeting.

"Make sure to smile. Straighten your body!" Jin said while walking.

I wandered my eyes around the room. It was huge and spacious. Ang conference long table ay sobrang haba, kakasya siguro ang lampas bente katao. The screen was so big that I thought I was facing a cinema screen. There's also speakers at the side of the wall. The lights are dim and it perfectly matches the aura of the room. All people are wearing a formal black and gold clothes, so I assumed that it was a black and gold themed color. I mentally thanked myself that I wore a black dress.

We started our meeting nicely but I felt uncomfortable. Binalewala ko na lamang.

"I would like you to meet Ms. Essie Natividad." Jin said while smiling brightly.

The woman in front of me was wearing a silky gold cowlneck dress that really looks so elegant. It perfectly suits her skin.

"I'm Ionna, pleasure to meet you Miss Essie!"

We shook hands and she smiled at me. Ang lambot ng kamay niya. Mukha siyang model ng mga lotion.

We talked for a while and I keep glancing at Jin because of his gestures.

Hindi ko na rin naman napansin dahil kalaunan ay nakuha rin namin ang deal.

Naglalakad ako palabas ng conference room nang biglang magsalita ang make-up artist ko.

"Miss Ionna, bibili na po ba ulit ako ng mask para mas fresh po kayo tingnan since approved po at kailangan po ulit na fresh kayo in every shoot."

"Sure! I think I look like a zombie after entering the building so I really need that." sagot ko.

"Hindi po ah, ang ganda niyo pa nga rin po e!" she praised.

"Thank you!"

"Siguro kulang lang po talaga kayo sa pahinga since nadagdagan na naman po ang projects niyo at shootings."

"I have no time for rest, you know that. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos pa lang ng trabaho ko ay kailangan ko namang mag-aral."

"Well, nakakapagod po talaga 'yan pero fighting!"

"Thank you, Maridel!"

I gave her an assuring smile to lighten her mood because I know that she's also tired. I get why she's feeling that way. Knowing that she works with me, malimit lamang na magtrabaho kami ng madali. Laging tumatagal ng ilang oras. Kung may apektado man dito bukod sa akin ay siya iyon. After all, hindi lamang siya make-up artist para sa akin. She's also the closest friend I ever had. Saksi siya sa lahat ng pagod ko. Mula umpisa hanggang ngayon.

Maridel's one of my make-up artist. She's 19 years old. She's also a working student like me. She has been with me since the very first time.

Nang makauwi ay saka lang nagsink-in sa akin ang lahat.

Tumanggap na naman ako ng new project and shooting. May dalawa pa akong shooting ng shoes and make-up at may isa pa akong runway show na gagawin. Ang dami!

Na-alala ko rin na tambak din pala ako ng assignments at projects na gavawin from school. Ang mga minor subject na nagiging major dahil sa dami ng gawain. Naiisip ko pa lang ay napapagod na ako.

Dumiretso ako sa aking kwarto pagkauwi. Iniisip kung paano sisimulan at imamanahe ang aking schedule sa dami ng aking kailangang gawin. Tila wala na naman akong pahinga.

Nilapag ko ang aking bag at mga gamit sa aking kama. Napagdesisyonan kong maligo dahil pawis ako kanina at kailangan ko iyon para mahimasmasan.

Kumalma lang ako nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na tubig na bumalot sa katawan ko.

Hindi ko maisip kung paano sisimulan ang lahat kaya inabala ko na lamang muna ang aking sarili sa pagligo. Saka ko na lamang iisipin pagkatapos.