CHAPTER THREE

The wind kept on blowing my hair and at the same time flashing lights were bouncing off everywhere. His hands were firmly holding me near him and I couldn't help but feel awkward with our position. I can feel his warmth by just his hand and it makes me uncomfortable for some reason.

"Miss Sanchez, please relax a little. You look stiff,” puna ng photographer sa akin. I heaved a deep breath to relax myself. Composing myself and doing the poses the photographer instructed us. Eventually I get to go along with Kalisto’s pace and poses.

I felt that the firm arm around my waist tighten. An unexplainable surge of tingling electric like sensation crept up my spine by his touch. I looked up at him and saw his eyes focused on the camera. Wearing a flowy tulle skirt that was just below my thighs and a backless heart-shaped top I can definitely feel his warm touches. His hands caressed the small of my back and pulled me closer to him, my arms pressed between us as he directed me to be closer and intimate.

"Mister Kalisto, please lift her chin a little,” the photographer instructed. He lifted my chin up and his thumb traced my lips. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapatingin sa mga mata niya but his eyes were fixed on my lips as his thumb continued to caress it. I couldn't help but to gulp. I felt the warmth of his thumb caressing my lips and at the same time I remained silent and mesmerized as I stared at his perfectly sculpted face. The awkwardness I experienced earlier dissipated in thin air.

My gaze pulled away from him when lights flashed and clicking of camera shutter were once again heard. Para bang nahapo ako at napugto ang hininga ko sa paghawak niya sa akin. His other hand is still on my waist and the other one was caressing my face. Again it feels like we are back that day, how his gaze bore at me intently and I seemed to be lost under those mesmerizing eyes.

"Yes! That's it. Stare at each other's eye! Show us what love is," the photographer exclaimed as he excitedly clicked his camera shutter. I cooperated with what Kalisto was leading me. I let my hands travel down his jaw and touched his chin with my fingertips down to his collarbone. But my fingertips stopped right there when I saw a slight scar near his chest, I had this unexplained urge to caress it, to follow the lines with my finger but I’m scared that once I touch it it’ll hurt him. It’s not really that visible anymore but one can know what a scar looks like and am certain that this one is a scar. I looked up to him just to see him staring at me. He was watching me intently, his eyes as if telling me that I can touch that scar, but I didn't dare to and let my hand rest on his wide shoulder. Scared that if I accidentally touch that scar it might hurt or open all of a sudden despite it being all healed.

“Okay! Let’s have a short break then change outfits and sets.” The photographer said. Kalisto let go of me and walked towards his tent leaving me there staring at him as he strode with so much ease. My assistant went near me and handed me my phone. Relaying me the progress on the workshop and what needs to be done further. But I didn’t even fully comprehend what she told me, all I am thinking right now is how Kalisto’s warmth still lingers on my skin.

She walked with me to my tent and helped me get out of my current outfit. Handed me my robe and called the make-up artist to do touch-ups for the next setting and shoot. When I  got into another outfit, I already got a hold of my emotions that had run wild earlier and I somehow feel more comfortable. I wore one of the long dresses from the collection and this time, it has a slit on one side, exposing my leg. It's a white, tulle gown that easily flows with the wind. It has floral laces on its shoulders to its sleeves. This is my favorite among the line because it was simple and elegant, a perfect wedding dress for someone who loves to stay simple. Nang makalabas ako ng dressing room ay siya ring paglabas ni Kalisto. I can't help but gawk at him in awe. He looked handsome in a long-sleeved polo that was opened up to the second button. The scar from his chest was slightly showing, but it was so light it's nearly unnoticeable.

"Can you help me fold this up to my elbows?" He asked, at that moment made me realize that I am actually examining his face and his body. I can feel my cheeks heat up but I still went to him and helped him to fold his sleeves up. The makeup artists hurriedly retouched our makeup. "Okay, it's done," I told him after folding his sleeves up. The stylists followed us and keeps on fixing our hairs for the next shoot.

The stylist kept on fixing my hair but the wind kept on getting on the way. It's clear that she was frustrated that my hair gets messier every time the wind blows. I smiled at her and said that it’s okay. I tucked some of it in the back of my ears but to no avail some still escaped my ears and messed up, creating a thin curtain of hair in front of my face.

While I was busy tucking my hair, a hand gathered it and combed it with their hands. He swiftly twisted it and put the hair in between the gaps of my hair making it a quick ponytail even without a hair tie. When I looked at the owner of the hands, it was Kalisto's. I saw him plucking two flowers off a bouquet nearby and put one in the middle of my ponytail, while he put the other one at the side of my ear, keeping some of my loose hair intact. When he was done he softly let go of my hair, I watched him look at my hair with satisfaction. I noticed how a small smile tried to surface from him but he kept it in. "Much better," he said and walked away. Naipilig ko na lamang ang ulo ko habang tinitingnan ang papalayo niyang pigura.

"Can I ask for a mirror?" Tanong ko sa stylist. She was also left speechless with what Kalisto did. She scourge her bag to look for a compact mirror. Tiningnan ko ang bulaklak na nasa tainga ko. It was a pink Gerbera Daisy. “Is this okay for the shoot?” I asked the stylist. She eventually nodded and fixed a few of my hair so that it’ll look neat than before. “It goes along with the dress, a simple ponytail with a flower on it.” Mahinang wika ng stylist. Tumango ako nang bahagya at tinignan si Kalisto na ngayon ay kausap ang photographer. “It does.”

The shoot eventually started when we were all prepped. It was going smoothly not until the photographer spoke. "We kept on doing these same sweet poses, why not do it a bit seductive? The dress’ slit would go to waste if it was not utilized, why not try it?" I was a bit reluctant when I saw Kalisto staring at me. “Will it be okay to you?” he asked. I didn’t know how to answer him but in the end I nodded. He didn't say a word after my timid response, but he instead placed his hand at the small of my back then pulled me closer to him, feeling his hard chest. I was so close to his chest that I could feel his steady heartbeat. Again the heat of his body lingering in me, sending tiny volts of electricity up until my very nerve endings.

It’s warm, but this time it was not as uncomfortable as it used to earlier. His chest is so warm it reminds me of home. And seems like my arms have a mind of its own, that it relaxes itself around Kalisto’s jaw and shoulder. His face so close to me I can feel his warm breath on my cheeks.

"Yes! Mr. Kalisto, lead Miss Sanchez," the photographer instructed. Kalisto's hands went to my hand, the one holding his shoulder, and held it. Intertwining our fingers as he looked at me. He led my other hand to his nape and let it rest there. He freed his other hand, and travelled it down my waist to my exposed leg. He lifted my leg, touching my thigh with his warm hand. My gaze stayed at his brown eyes. His breathing remained steady as he leaned his face closer to mine. So close the tips of our nose touches, I can't help but to close my eyes when the gap between us closes, his forehead leaning on mine. My breath hitched and a small gap between my lips helped me breathe steadily.

The background seemed to fade away when I eventually heard the photographer say, "Okay! Let's do another position." Dahan-dahang binitiwan ni Kalisto ang aking hita at sumunod sa photographer. The next shoot was on  the dandelion field. It was a solo shoot for the dress. I posed comfortably without him by my side. "Yes, Miss Sanchez. Give me more movements."

I picked up the dress and twirled at the dandelion field. As I turned around, some of the dandelion flew with the motion I've made. I can't help but to smile at the beauty of it flying around me. Nang matigil ako sa pag-ikot ay siyang paghinto ng mata ko sa kaniya. Kalisto was looking at me while I was doing my shoot. His hands are on his pocket as he watches me. Para bang hindi na maalis ang kaniyang tingin sa akin. Agad naman akong nakaramdam ng hiya at pakiramdam ko'y namumula ang aking mga pisngi.

After my solo shoot was another couple shoot at the field. We were given both a dandelion to blow as the shoot goes on. When we started, he acted on his own, removing something from my hair. "You have dandelions on your hair." I heard a click and realized that scene was taken by the camera. Agad kami nakarinig ng mga tuksuhan sa paligid at maging ang photographer ay hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi kaya't umiling na lamang siya. I rolled my eyes and continued to do the shoot like I usually do. I really should find more models so I'm not doing this on my own. Ako na nga ang designer, ako pa ang model. Sana ako na lang ang nagmodel sa iba pang damit na ginagawa ko kung ganoon lang din pala. I should really retire in this freelancing career of mine as a model and focus on my fashion line. I rolled my eyes at what I thought.

"Better stop rolling your eyes, baka mahipan ka ng hangin." I glared at the tall man beside me and he was just snickering. I nearly rolled my eyes but was halted when I heard him snicker. I’m really torn between being annoyed or fascinated by the fact that he snickered.

Nagpatuloy kami sa shoot and this time, we were instructed to blow the dandelions towards the camera but this darn man blew the dandelion to me, making it a mess on the side of my hair. I glared at him as I tried to remove it by myself. Akala ba niya nakakatuwa na may naka-stuck na dandelion sa buhok? I groaned in frustration while removing some dandelions. Nang muling tatanggalin ko ang ibang dandelion sa buhok ko ay agad niyang pinigilan ang aking kamay at siya na mismo ang gumawa nito. "Baka makalbo ka sa kada hugot mo." I heard another click of the camera. I glared at the photographer but he just raised two fingers, making a peace sign. Agad kong hinatak ang kamay ko mula sa lalaking katabi ko. "That's a wrap. I'm going back, send me the photos by Friday." Wika ko sa photographer, my assistant hurriedly followed me.

I immediately went inside my tent and changed back to my clothes earlier. Nang inaayos ko na ang buhok ko ay napansin kong nandoon pa rin ang Gerbera Daisy na inilagay ni Kalisto sa aking tainga. Ibinaba ko iyon sa vanity mirror at agad na ipinusod ang buhok ko sa isang bun. Tiningnan kong muli ang Gerbera Daisy katabi ng barrette na suot ko kanina. Dinampot ko ang daisy at inilagay iyon sa taas ng bun ko. I smiled in satisfaction as I stared at my reflection.

My eyes went back on the barrette and I stared at it. Picking it up I suddenly feel all sentimental. It brought back the memories of that man who gave me this barrette. I feel my heart wrench by the thought of him. Funny how I managed to keep the barrette with me but the one who gave it to me is the one I didn’t manage to keep by my side, he wasn't just here anymore. This barrette is just one of the things that reminded me of him. My hand subconsciously reached towards my tummy. It’s one of the things he gave me that reminds me of the love I used to feel and the feeling I never know if I’ll be willing to take risks again. Closing my hand around the barrette made me realize that all these years he was the one I’ve been waiting for, holding to our promises that time.