CHAPTER 8

It was only three in the morning, but she was already up to start preparing for the day. There was an uncontrollable feeling in her chest that she couldn’t stop feeling even when she told herself to. Manila was still a five-hour ride away, and that was already the day that she had been looking forward to.

Natasha jerked awake, and immediately went to the bathroom to take a shower. She didn’t mind even when the water was utterly cold. After showering, she changed into the clothes that she prepared for herself. She wore a yellow blouse that had a pair of long sleeves. It was also her first time wearing a skirt that didn’t go beyond her knees, making her decide to wear black stockings as she didn’t feel that comfortable with the length of her skirt as if it was too short for her own liking. She just wasn’t used to it. Her shoes, on the other hand, were flat and were red in color. She also put her long, curly hair into a bun to keep herself from looking messy at the very least. However, it looked like she was hiding a ball under her hair.

She fixed her thick glasses before staring at her reflection in the mirror for a whole minute. Even when she felt nervous, she could see a hint of determination in her eyes.

"You can do this, Natasha Policarpio!" she told herself.

She quickly went down, and saw her grandmother in the kitchen, surprising her.

"Grandma, why are you up this early?"

She sat on the chair upon seeing that there was already food prepared on the table.

"Of course, I don’t want you to leave with an empty stomach, especially when your trip to Manila is long. Now, eat. I’ve also prepared your coffee,” she said before placing a mug filled with coffee on the table.

"Thank you, Grandma. You’re the best!" She was smiling as she reached for the mug before drinking from it.

The old woman stared at her for a long time.

"I’m praying that you’ll get accepted, and if you cannot go back before the night falls, it’s best for you to stay in Joy’s house as it is a lot safer,” she advised, referring to the daughter of her sister that was residing in Manila.

"Yes, grandma," she answered briefly before eating her food in a swift manner.

She needed to travel as early as possible so that she would reach the job fair as early as possible as well. After eating, she brushed her teeth and gave her grandmother a peck on the cheek. She had already talked with a motorcycle driver so that she could reach the terminal located in the town faster. It was perfect when she saw that the driver was already waiting for her outside the house before the clock even struck four.

During the trip, she reviewed the resume that she was holding. There were still a few passengers on the bus as it was still quite early. As the bus wasn’t that bust, the travel-time was only four hours, instead of five.

It was already eight in the morning when she reached the terminal in Manila, and the job fair would start at nine as stated. She quickly hailed a cab and asked the driver to drive her to the Dynasty Agency. However, the driver took his time staring at her, especially the clothes that she was wearing. She didn’t notice that, though, as she was preoccupied because of the nervousness that she was feeling.

The taxi stopped in front of a massive building that had the company’s name at the top of the building itself. Dynasty Agency. It was even shining like the rays of the sun reached it!

‘Clyde, my love... Here I come!’ screamed the other side of her mind.

She fixed her skirt that was a little tight. She knew that her outfit was a little colorful from her yellow blouse, violet skirt, down to her red flat shoes.

She intended it to be that way because she remembered what her grandmother told her about wearing bright-colored clothes. She said that she would be lucky if she wore those.

Surprise immediately registered in her face the moment she saw the long line of people from the entrance of the building. They weren’t just regular people, they were beautiful girls and handsome guys.

Did the company have that many models? And did they usually fall in line before they could enter the building?

She noticed that they were holding their own folders and envelopes.

Oh no! Don't tell me they’re also applicants? They don’t seem like it.

It seemed like the company was searching for models! Upon realization, she couldn’t help but stare at herself as she walked closer to the line. Seeing that she was approaching, they looked at her with mixed emotions on their faces. They even looked at each other, laughing, and were also whispering as they looked at her still.

She swallowed the lump on her throat, but just as she usually did, she chose not to mind the meaningful looks that they were giving her.

It's now or never, Tasyang!

Natasha wanted the ground to eat her because from where she was standing, she could hear them talking about her. The only thing that she could do was to hold her envelope tightly against her chest. She took her earphones out from her bag before putting them in her ears. She also maxed the volume of the music that she was listening to.

She started calming down the moment she heard the song of Kyle’s band started playing, making her unable to hear everything that they were talking about against her.

She downloaded songs from his band because she likes them. The song that was currently playing was the one that he dedicated to that girl.

‘His voice is really good. How annoying,’ she said to herself.

From her peripheral vision, she could still see how the other applicants were stealing glances at her. The only thing that she could do was to give them a small smile. Her chest was starting to lighten as she could no longer hear their insults.

In an instant, the people started pushing each other, making her bump the person in front of her as well. It was because the door was finally opened. It was very chaotic as the applicants were already running for the door, pushing against each other.

There were chairs inside the building. After more chaotic minutes, they were finally inside and were already sitting on the chairs placed for them to sit on. As she waited, she couldn’t help her eyes to wander around. She scanned the building, and while she was doing so, she saw actual models enter the vicinity. She knew that they were models as they went straight up. She didn’t even know how many floors there were.

Her eyes were looking at the entrance door, waiting for the sole reason why she was even there in the first place to finally enter the building.

How many years had it been since she last saw the guy? The only time that she saw the guy was that one time when she was sent flying towards that cow dung! How unfortunate.

She grinned softly after remembering that shameful memory. When she did that, the girl who was sitting beside her looked at her, and immediately raised her eyebrows. Applicants were already starting to get called, and almost everyone who went in that room went out with tears in their eyes, walking out of the exit door immediately.

Were they really hiring? Why did it seem like no one was getting hired?

What if they were really looking for models, and not what she was expecting them to be?

Ah, whatever!

"Miss Policarpio!"

She was still looking at the entrance door.

Will Clyde be there?

"Miss Policarpio!"

Will he even recognize her? She sighed, looking up. It had been two hours when she started waiting.

"Miss Policarpio!"

She was startled from her seat when the girl beside her nudged her. She quickly took her earphones off her ears, looking at the girl beside her with curiosity in her eyes.

"I think you’re already being called. Your surname suits you the best.” She even laughed at her which turned out to be something insulting.

"Last call, Miss Policarpio!" She could hear the hint of annoyance from the lady in front’s voice.

She also looked like one of the models there.

"Hey, Ma’am! That's me, that's me!" She even raised her arm, quickly putting her earphones back inside her bag.

Once again, she heard the whispering of the people in there as they stared at her. They couldn’t even hold back their laughter as they stared at her walking towards the front.

When she was already in front, the lady who called her stared at her from her head down to her shoes.

“Are you sure that you're trying to apply here? This is not a Manpower Agency. Maybe you’re in the wrong building. Do you see that building in front? That’s the agency for utility staff,” she quickly said before pushing her resume back to her.

She heard how the other applicants stifled a laugh because of it.

"Miss Diaz!" she called the girl next to her even when she was still standing in front, holding her resume.

She knew that her face was already as red as a tomato because of the shame that she was feeling, considering that she traveled there for four hours just to be rejected without further ado. They didn’t even give her the chance to prove herself worthy!

"I’m in the right building, Ma’am. Dynasty Agency, right? I really want to apply here,” she said, trying hard to sound confident even with the mixed emotions that she was feeling.

The lady looked back at her, annoyance already plastered across her face.

"Do you know that we are looking for models? What makes you think that you're qualified?" She even looked at her from head to toe as she said that, making Natasha feel even smaller.

She couldn’t answer as she felt her blood rushing towards her cheeks.

"A-Aren’t you looking for..."

"No! Please go home and stop wasting my time. There are still so many applicants waiting. Thanks for coming, anyway. We have free coffee there, in case you need something to wake you up," she said before pointing towards the direction of the vendo machine.

She had no choice but to get away from there when the lady started calling another applicant. She knew that they were already looking at her. Her shoulders were slouched when she walked towards the vendo machine. She sat near there.

She knew that her grandmother would only feel pity towards her once she went home bearing the bad news. She wasn’t ready to accept that she went there for nothing, that all of her anticipations were for nothing. She didn’t even see the handsome countenance of Clyde.

So, what now?

She no longer had any job that would welcome her back home. She could feel the heavy load on her chest when she stood up and fetched a coffee in the vendo. She was about to sit back when her gaze stopped at the figure of someone who was about to enter the vicinity.

He looked gorgeous with his suit and tie, and when he was approaching the entrance of the vicinity, the guard greeted him. He also greeted him back with a smile on his face. He also looked at the applicants who didn’t notice him as they were busy filling out the forms that were given.

Her jaw dropped when the guy passed in front of her. She could already feel the thudding of her heart against her chest, especially when their eyes met, and he smiled and winked at her before continuing to walk towards the elevator.

Clyde!

She felt like passing out because of euphoria!