CHAPTER FOURTEEN

YESHA became the eye candy in social media. Nauna pang umingay ang pangalan niya sa Pilipinas bago tuluyang nakuha ang atensyon ng netizen mula sa America.

Everyone is praising her and her beauty that they called one of a kind. Mula sa kanyang pananamit, sa mga mamahaling sapatos at bag, hanggang sa pati ang pamilyang pinagmulan ay lumabas sa publiko.

It's her lunch break from photo shoot. Isinusukat niya palang ang iba't-ibang kulay at klase ng swimwear para makita kung ano ang mas babagay sa kanya bago tuluyang umpisahan ang talagang actual photo shoot nila. So far, every piece she swear fits her and with her skin tone.

"What is it that make you busy, huh." Puna niya kay Kelly na kanina pa nakatutok sa ipad ang atensyon.

"Ayesha Villamor, a Filipino-Spanish-American model is the heiress of Villamor Hotels in the Philippines. She's the only child of Veron David-Villamor a fashion model and William Villamor a tycoon businessman in Asia." Kelly read it to her.

Naupo siya sa tabi nito, nakibasa rin habang hinihintay ang lunch nilang magkaibigan.

"Oh, I have my name on Wikipedia?"

"Yes, brat."

Hanggang sa mga sandaling 'yon ay hindi parin talaga siya makapaniwala na isa na siyang ganap na modelo at higit sa lahat ay ang biglaang pagsikat niya. Her photos are all over on social media and tabloids in the Philippines.

"Am I that famous now, Kelly?" She asked innocently.

"Yeah." Kelly shrug. "And, I am glad that you still the same, brat. Parang hindi ka sikat kung umasta ka. You are now the Filipinos favorite model. Hindi na si Riva."

Napairap siya nang maalala ang modelo. She admired her before, but when she discovered that Riva was hitting with Clane, nairita siya sa babae. She suddenly felt Riva is her rival.

"I wasn't the one who manage my social media account, for now."

All her social media accounts were public and manage by one of her team and that's fine with her. May access parin naman siya at pansamantala lang naman 'yon. She's just very busy that she doesn't have enough time to handle her social media and to post everything she does just to update her followers.

Ilang sandali pa ay dumating na ang lunch nila. She groaned with the vegetables and fruits, while Kelly have her pasta and meat. She's on diet!

"No more cheat days, Ayesha." Pang-iinggit sa kanya ng kaibigan. "This pasta looks yummy."

"Shut up. Once we are done with my first photo shoot next week, I will have my cheat days." She grinned.

"I will be with you in your cheat days. I will support you."

Natawa siya doon. Kelly is her number two supporter because her mommy is the first, they said.

"I can't wait for that!" She excitedly giggled.

After a few minutes, she get back inside the room and change for another swimwear.

"Here, Ayesha." The staff handed her another swimsuit.

"Thank you." Kinuha niya 'yon at pumasok sa fitting room.

The hot red two piece made her winced. It is G-String and thong bikini bottom and she needed to covered her tattoo with concealer. Minsan talaga ay naisip niya na sana ay hindi siya nagpa tattoo sa parteng 'yon, kaya tuloy dumadagdag sa trabaho niya ang pagtatakip doon huwag lang makita lalo at low-rise ang design ng bikini ang napunta sa kanya.

"Are you done, Ayesha? Let us see you." Andria knocked the door, the head of her glam team.

"I'm almost done."

"Okay, we will fix your hair and make up. Come out once your done."

"Yeah."

She scanned her body in front of the big mirror after wearing the two piece. Her cleavage is impressing her, litaw na litaw pati ang magkabilang gilid, napahigpit yata ang pagkakatali niya. Suot ang makintab na roba ay lumabas siya sa fitting room.

She's the only model who use fitting room to change her swimwear. Ang kapwa niya modelo ay doon na mismo nagpapalit sa harap ng mga kasama nila, minsan ay nagtatakip ng roba at ang iba ay naglalakad lang talaga ng walang saplot sa pang itaas, topless.

Maybe, even she wanted to be a lingerie and swimwear model, she's still conservative about showing her private parts to others.

Isang araw, siguro ay masasanay din siya na ipakita ang pribadong parte ng katawan sa iba. Pero bakit kapag si Clane naman ang kasama niya ay hindi man lang siya tablahan ng hiya kapag nakahubo't hubad siya sa harap ng binata? That one is another thing though.

Yesha smile confidently when she caught the attention of everyone inside the room. Kaagad siyang nilapitan ni Andria, ibinaba ang robang suot niya para makita ang kanyang kabuuan.

"You really have the body. You are impressing us."

"Thank you."

"Come on, let's do your hair and make up."

Naupo siya sa harap ng salamin at pinalibutan kaagad siya ng make up and hair stylist niya. They treat her like a very important person to think that she's just new in modeling industry. Maalaga lang siguro ang mga ito sa mga modelo kaya ganoon ang trato sa kanya.

"I heard your a heiress." Her make up artist said. "Your father is one of the riches in the Philippines."

"I saw the in tabloids. Why did you choose modeling over running your family business ?" The hair stylist asked her.

"Because this is my dream ever since. I love modeling. I love all of these." Imwinestra niya ang mga nakapaligid sa kanya, mga camera, ilaw, dresses, swim wears, make ups, the glam team and those professional photographers. "I left Philippines and my father for these. To reach my dreams."

"You have a very supportive friend and family. You're lucky."

"Yeah. By the way, can I ask a question?" She smile cutely at them.

"Spill it, darling."

"Hmm, is it true that my spot should be with Riva Miller?"

Nagkatinginan ang mga ito tapos ay nagkibit ng mga ballikat.

"We are not sure about that rumors, but, if it's true, we will still choose you over her. Your beauty is the one that the management was looking for."

"There were rumors that Miller is a bitch and so mean." The other one said.

"Really?"

"Yeah, the rumors could be true especially that she always spotted being with different men. And her co-model express their disappointment 'bout her bad behavior."

"Yesha, you're next. Get ready." Andria announced.

Ayesha smile with her mermaid hair style. Mas nadepina ang maliit at perpektong hugis ng kanyang mukha. They put a no-makeup make up on her.

"Ready?" The photographer asked.

"Yeah."

"Nail it, baby girl!" Her glam team cheered her when she started posing in front of the camera.

"Yes, that's right. Give me a fierce look this time."

She's laying in the artificial sand as if they are really in the beach. There are three photographers who is around her, in different angle. She hold her breast and lightly pressed it together to make her looks seductive while looking at the lens of the photographer above her, nasa hagdan ito para makuha ang perpektong anggulo habang nakahiga siya.

"The lenses loves you." The photographer chuckled. "Damn, you killed all the angles."

"Thank you, sir."

"Call me, Liam." He smiled together with his blue eyes.

"Liam, alright."

"You wanna see the shots?"

"I'd love to."

Liam sat next to her while the two photographer is busy with their own shots.

"Are you covering something here?"

Ipinakita nito ang isang kuha na nakaluhod siya sa buhanginan, he zoomed it to for her to see what he was talking about. She gasped when she saw the upper part of her tattoo, nabura nang bahagya ang concealer.

"I... I have tats there." She admitted shyly. "That shot is great by the way. I like it."

"This one is my favorite. But I need to do something to cover your tats. We could use this as sneak peak for your upcoming actual photo shoot."

"Yes, please. That tats should be private and very personal to me."

"What is it? What kind of tattoo?"

"Secret." She grinned playfully, making him laugh shortly.

Ganoon ang naging routine niya sa mga sumunod na linggo. She became very busy, most of the time she went home late, tired, at hindi na masyadong nakakausap pa ang mommy niya. Kelly was the one who update her with the happenings in social media and in the Philippines.

"I will be in Hawaii for another photoshoot. We will stay there for three to four days, including my very short vacation." Imporma niya kay Kelly.

"I'm going home together with my daughter."

Napatingin siya sa kaibigan. "Talaga? Kailan?"

"Tomorrow night. It' time to go home."

"Yes. It's time for you and Brittany to go home. Susubukan ko rin umuwi muna sa Pilipinas. I missed mom and dad."

"They missed you, too. Please, go home when you get the chance, Yesha." May kung ano sa klase ng boses ng kaibigan, nang tignan niya ay nakangiti naman sa kanya pero may lungkot sa mga mata.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"May iniisip lang ako."

"Mind sharing it to me?"

Kelly started packing her clothes, while she's sitting above the bed, watching her.

"I will go home because I really missed my family there. May sakit si lola, gusto ko siyang makasama, gusto siyang alagaan at gusto kong makilala na nila si Brittany." Sinasabi nito 'yon habang nagliligpit, pabalik-balik sa cabinet at sa kama. "Naisip ko na maiksi lang ang buhay ng tao. Ayokong ilayo pa ang sarili ko sa mga taong mahal ko kung pwede naman na makasama ko sila."

"Oh, okay. Are you really alright? You sounds like you have pinagdadaanan." Maarte niyang sabi lalo at ngayon lang niya nakita na seryoso ito sa sinasabi, at usapang pamilya.

Naupo si Kelly sa kama, napahugot ng hangin sa dibdib.

"I don't know if you're aware to this but..." She paused for a long while.

"But what?"

Umiling ang kaibigan, ayaw nang sundan pa ang sinabi. It caught her interest. What's wrong? Is there something wrong with her bestfriend?

"Come on, Kelly. Spill it." She urged. "Alam mo na handa akong makinig kapag may problema ka. Sabihin mo na sa'kin para magawan natin ng paraan. Ano ba 'yon?"

"Just go home, brat. That's all I want."

Yesha brows furrowed and then she chuckled. "Go home? Yeah of course, I will."

"Kailan?"

"I don't know yet. I need to fix my schedule."

Bumalik ito sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit. Ilan sandali na pinanood niya lang ang kaibigan. Kelly's action is bothering her.

"Kelly, are we okay?"

"We are okay, brat. Pero... ang hirap."

"Nang ano?"

Napatingala ito, nagdadalawang isip na sagutin siya.

"I have been a good friend to you. But this past few days, I feel like..." Pumikit ito, nalaglag ang mga luha sa mga mata.

Naalarma siya. Ang kaba sa dibdib ay umahon. She have no idea what's happening! Sobra ba siyang busy na hindi niya napansin na may nangyayari na na hindi niya alam?

"Bakit ka umiiyak? Is this about Kuya Branth?"

"No, no."

"Then why are you fucking crying?"

"This is about you, Ayesha. This about you!"

"About me?" Itinuro niya ang sarili, blangko sa mga kaganapan. "Bakit ako, Kelly?"

"Look," Humarap ito sa kanya, nagpahid ng luha. Gustung-gusto na siyang paliwanagan pero tila may pumipigil dito. "Shit, I can't do this."

"Sabihin mo na, kinakabahan ako sayo."

"Sa sobrang busy mo, hindi mo na napapansin ang mga nangyayari sa Pilipinas."

"Ano? Is this another rumor?"

"This is real and not just a rumor, Ayesha."

Hinagilap niya ang iphone at binuksan lahat ng social media account niya. Everything she read about people was positive, they praised her, they like her, they are proud of her.

"Everything is okay here." She murmured

"But I think, this one isn't."

Ibinigay sa kanya ni Kelly ang iphone nito. Sa screen ay nakita niya kaagad ang mukha ni Riva at ang mga nakaw na larawan na kasama si Clane. There's a video of Riva in an interview.

Kabado na pinindot niya 'yon para mapanood.

"What's the score between you and Clane Altaraza? Palagi kayong nakikitang magkasama. The last was in their Hotel in Visayas." The interviewer asked.

Riva smiled playfully.

"What you see is what you get? Pwede bang 'yan na lang ang sagot ko?" Sabay tumawa ito, may pagka pilya.

"May mga nagsasabi na ex lover daw kayo ni Mr. Altaraza? Gaano 'yon katotoo?"

"It's true."

Uminit ang dugo niya, parang puputok ang mga ugat niya sa ulo. Ex lover? Ex girlfriend? And now they are seeing each other? Ano ang ibig sabihin ng lahat nang 'to?

"Kaya ba tinanggihan mo ang proyekto na in-offer sayo nang isang swim wear company sa America? Dahil ba ito kay Clane Altaraza?"

"Maybe? Well, I'm thinking about settling down and also I want to give chance to other aspiring models."

"Your spot was given to a Filipino-Spanish-American Ayesha Villamor, who's the talk of the town until now. What can you say 'bout it?"

"I saw her first project. All the shots were fierce to think that she's just a rookie in modeling industry. She was great and she deserve the spot. I'm proud of her."

Pero bakit parang ayaw niyang paniwalaan ang mga sinasabi ng babaeng ito? Sa galit ay nanginginig ang mga daliri niya!

"This is an interesting question, Riva, what can you say about the rumor that Ayesha Villamor is engaged with one of the Altaraza's? Could it be Colton? Carter? Or Clane?"

"I'm sure that wasn't with Clane." Riva answered confidently.

"That bitch is assuming." Kelly murmured beside her.

"How did you say that?"

Imbes na sumagot ay itinaas lang ni Riva ang kamay at ipinakita ang diamond na singsing sa palasingsingan.

"Clane is taken."

"Wow, congrats to both of you!" The interviewer smile happily. "Mailap ang mga Altaraza pagdating sa love life nila. Masaya kaming malaman na may bumihag na sa isa sa kanila."

The video ended. Inihagis niya sa kama ang iphone. Nag-ngingitngit ang kanyang kalooban.

That Altaraza told her he likes her! He promised to marry her! What the fuck is going on?! Is he playing with her?! To get even?!

"Ang kapal ng mukha. Sobrang kapal ng mukha niyang sabihin na gusto niya ako pero ikakasal naman pala siya sa iba!"

"Riva publicly announced it. But Clane remain silent. He didn't confirm it... yet."

"He was good in hiding his women! He's a very private person. Hindi 'yan basta-basta aamin at magpapa-interview lalo hindi naman tungkol sa negosyo! He's playing with me and my feelings, how dare him?!"

"Hindi pa tayo sigurado, brat. Hayaan mo at kapag nakauwi ako, babalitaan kaagad kita."

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata, napahiga sa kama. Mas ramdam niya ang galit kesa sakit na malaman na may iba na si Clane. Ang mas malala ay engaged na!

She stare at Clane's name on her ring finger and bit her lower lip to stop herself from sobbing. What's the use of this tattoo? What's the use of her tats in her lower abdomen?

"I thought he likes me. I'm holding on to our promises. I thought he's willing to wait for me."

"Or maybe, this is the sign that you really need to go home."

Matamlay na tinignan niya ang kaibigan. "You think so?"

"Yes, go home and be with your family because they really miss you. Go home and talk to Clane personally, too. It's time for you to fix everything before it's too late, Ayesha."

"I have been dreaming with daddy this past few months." Pag-amin niya, nakakaramdam na ng pagkabagabag dahil sa madalas na niyang mapanaginipan ang ama. "Wala na siyang oras para mag video call kami, hindi ko na siya nakikita. Minsan lang din si mommy mag send ng picture nila ni daddy. Are they really okay?"

Umiwas ng tingin sa kanya si Kelly, nagpatuloy na sa paglilipat ng mga damit sa dalawang maleta.

"Some times, I feel like they are hiding something from me. O baka naman iniisip ko lang 'yon dahil namimiss ko na sila?" Napuno kaagad ng kalituhan ang isip niya. "Maybe, this is really a sign to go home and be with my parents."

Yesha lay her back again in bed and closed her eyes. Her daddy's smiling handsome face suddenly popped up. Kung bakit parang mahapdi ang tibok ng kanyang puso sa mga sandaling 'yon ay hindi niya na maipaliwanag pa.