CHAPTER 02

"Perks of being famous..."

I look at Kuya Daryl from the head down to his shoes. He changed a lot. I must say that he was hot now. I meant he was hotter now with his mid-ripped body type. As in parang ang laki-laki ng pinagbago niya. Not in a bad way... totally in a good way of course! He is guwapo and all naman na since Senior High, pero wow! As in wow lang talaga ngayon!  Iba rin talaga ang nagagawa ng misis niyang si Asia, hiyang na hiyang ang asawa.

He looks mature yet in a typical boy-next-door look. He still has the what-the-fuck face every time he looks at something or someone, but he seems friendly now. Hindi na siya 'yong parang nakakailang kausapin at tabihan.

"Are you staying here for good? If yes, you better live in Casa Miya. Don't waste your money renting a Condo unit, maayos at malinis pa rin naman ang bahay nyo."

I rolled my eyes. "You sound like those paparazzi and Tito David... jeez, you started to freak the hell out of me!"

"Watch your mouth, Ry..." Tumalim ang tingin niya sa akin, 'di kasi talaga sila palamura. "And I'm serious. Kung ayaw mo sa bahay n'yo, doon ka sa Casa Del Mar tumira. At least doon kasama mo sina Mommy at Daddy, may mag aasikaso sa'yo. At kung ayaw mo pa rin doon, you can stay in our house for as long as you want. I'm sure my wife will be very happy to see you again-"

"Omg, no freaking way!" Halos malukot ang buong mukha ko sa pagkadisgusto sa ideyang 'yon ni Kuya Daryl. "Anong magiging role ko sa bahay nyo... scorer?! Knowing Asia, she's too loud. Too vulgar. And she talks nonstop, as in 24/7! She might tell me everything, including how you had sex with her at night till daylight!"

"And so? I love her that way." Parang kinilig pa siya pagkasabi niya nu'n. How bastos!

Oh boy! 'Wag naman sanang dumating ang time na maging ganyan ako ka-oa kay Kuya Daryl when I finally found the love of my life.

"Well, salamat na lang, pero ayaw kong tumira sa inyo. Isa pa, okay lang naman akong mag-isa."

"Are you sure?" muli niyang tanong na tinanguan ko lang. "Okay, If that's what you want."

Inilibot niya ang paningin niya sa buong unit. Nang wala naman siyang nakitang hindi kaaya-aya ay hindi na rin siya nag salita. Kuya Daryl is my cousin from my mother's side. Isang taon lang ang tanda niya sa akin pero siya na ang tumayong kuya at ama ko. Kaya nga nang malaman niya ang eskandalong kinasangkutan ko six months ago, muntik na siyang lumipad papuntang New York at makipag-ubusan ng lahi.

"Anyway, my wife Asia wanted to see you... are you free tomorrow?" He asks. "She learned how to cook adobo and she wanted you to taste her new recipe... mapagbibigyan mo ba siya?"

As much as I want to taste - I meant, to judge her adobo... well, I can't. May event pa akong dadaluhan mamaya. Binabalak ko ring mag hanap ng bagong Condo unit dahil mukhang hindi na ako tatantanan ng mga reporters dito. Isa pa, marami pa akong aayusing dokumento.

I bit my lower lip. "Makapaghihintay naman siguro ang adobo niya diba?"

Ngumiti lang siya. Tipong ngiting no choice saka ginulo ang magulo pang buhok ko. "Of course, Asia will understand always. Anyway, I'll go ahead. You may continue your beauty sleep... but eat first before you sleep again."

I closed the door and went inside my room again when Kuya Daryl left. Muli akong nahiga sa kama at pumikit. Sinubukan kong ipagpatuloy ang naudlot kong tulog at wagi naman, nakatulog na lang ako ng hindi ko namamalayan.

I probably slept for two more hours before I went out of bed to make some food. I just toast bread and make coffee. I'm not good at cooking, at sa klase o uri ng trabaho ko... the word "diet" is so precious. Okay lang din naman lalo na sa tulad kong kuripot, malaking tipid.

After a minute or two, Mommy Vicky called me on FaceTime. It's just almost eleven o'clock but he is up already.

"Morning, Ryza! I hope you're finally awake. I'll go over our schedule today, is that okay?"

"Yeah, go on!" I said then sip my coffee.

"2:00 PM, you and Grace will meet at La Tigra Hotel. She's the Spring Collection Designer. 3:30 PM, photoshoot at YBC Studio for New Magazine. 6, Zoom meeting for Paris Fashion Week next month. And finally, 8:00 at La Roché." I just stared at him through my phone. "Any questions? Violent reactions?" Umiling lang ako.

He went over my full-packed schedule for today which I agreed. Ayaw ko nang umapila pa at wala rin namang mangyayari.

"Now get ready, I'll be there at 1, Chao!"

I rolled my eyes when he ended the call. After eating, I took a shower and did my morning skincare kahit medyo late na. I curled my hair and put on some light makeup.

I was wearing a pair of black hipster jeans partnered with a plain black halter top just above my belly button. I also bring my black cropped top hoodie with me just in case of emergency, and black ankle boots to complete my ootd. I look like a black lady, but that's okay. Magpapalit din naman ako mamaya, so hindi ko na kailangan pang mag effort. Isa pa, black is a beauty!

At exactly 1:00 PM Mommy Vicky called me, his already outside the Hotel waiting for me. Maaliwalas naman daw ang lobby at mukhang walang mga reporters kaya naman nagmadali na akong bumaba.

Nakabukas ang pinto ng sasakyan kaya agad-agad na akong pumasok. I put on my seatbelt before browsing the internet for some news about me. At tama nga ang hinala ko. Kalat ang larawan namin ni Kuya Daryl na nakayakap ako sa kanya sa mismong pinto ng condo unit ko. We look like a lover, mabuti na lang at hindi nakuhanan ang mukha niya.

But when I scroll down again, my eyes widen. Nagkalat din kasi ang larawan namin ng antipatikong lalaki sa hagdan. Mayroong karga-karga niya ako na pa-bridal style. Mayroon ding parang nakapalupot ang braso niya sa baywang ko habang nakahawak ako sa balikat niya at magkahinang ang mata naming dalawa.

Nag ani ng iba't-ibang komento ang mga larawan naming iyon. I sighed and massaged my head. In-off ko na ang cellphone ko at nilagay sa bag. Hindi ko naman mapipigilan ang mga tao na isipin kung ano man ang maisip at masabi nila. Buong biyahe ay tahimik lang ako na nakamasid sa bintana ng sasakyan.

PAGKARATING namin sa La Tigra ay kaagad kaming sinalubong ni Grace.

"The Seductress Ryza Reyes, I'm so glad you came!" Grace kissed me on both sides of my cheeks. "This is for you, hope you like it!"

"Of course. How could I not?" I smiled at her. "I really like your collection. I just received the clothes you sent me last week, and I must say... What a wonderful work!"

We just chitchatted for almost an hour before I left. I must say that Grace did really great when it comes to designing. Walang halong biro, maganda talaga ang mga gawa niya.

"Miss Ryza, can you do a pose for us, please?"

I suddenly stopped walking to smile and look at the group of photographers waiting outside the La Tigra Hotel. I took my shades off and put a hand inside my pocket to do a pose for them before Mommy Vicky called me. I was already late for the photoshoot.

I waved at the photographers before walking again and getting inside the car.

"The great, Ryza Reyes!" The female director of YBC welcomed me with open arms. "Come on, guys! Let's Move! Take care of her!"

I gave her a small hug before I went inside the dressing room. Mommy Vicky stays beside me while busy typing on his phone.

"Ang guwapo ng boyfriend mo Ma'am, bagay na bagay kayo!" One of the YBC Staff told me. "Ay, do you understand tagalog Ma'am?"

My brows furrowed a bit, and pursed my lips, thinking if I should deny it or just let her think that. I mean, wala naman akong pakialam kung iisipin nilang may boyfriend ako or what but... I didn't want people to believe a lie. Tsaka sinong lalaki kaya ang tinutukoy niya.

"He's not my boyfriend, and yes, nakakaintindi at nakakapagsalita ako ng tagalog. I'm a pure Pilipina." I answered.

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya, pero kalaunan ay ngumiti rin. "Sus, kunwari ka pa Ma'am! Trending ka kaya sa socmed! But don't panic, I'm not judging you... sobrang ganda mo naman kasi sa personal!"

"Uh..." I gave her an awkward smile through the mirror. I didn't want to argue anymore. Baka mas humaba lang ang usapan.

Mommy Vicky was now sitting there with the YBC director, holding his MacBook and attending the Zoom meeting that I was supposed to attend, while the YBC staff started the shoot.

I did five poses including my signature pose for New Mens Magazine. After that, Mommy Vicky just finished the Zoom meeting and had a little conversation with the YBC Director before we left.

Halos buong araw kaming bumabyahe ni Mommy Vicky para lang matapos ang schedule ko. Hindi na rin ako nakakain, sa sasakyan na lang pag may time.

Alas otso pasado na nang matapos kami sa lahat ng ganap sa araw na ito. I was about to go home but Mommy Vicky reminded me about the bachelor's party.

I almost forgot...

"What should I wear?" I ask Mommy Vicky.

He looked at me from my head down to my toes then smiled. "Wear anything that made their heads turn and make a statement of you to the next level!"

****