C3 3
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Stacey and natutop niya ang bibig.
GOSH! Men's magazine model?? What did I put myself into?- Stacey asked herself.
She knows that she is in big trouble. She just wished that she can get out of this mess.
"Didn't your younger daughter tell you Mrs.Williams? Sabi ng talent ko ilang beses na niyang nakakasama sa mga parties ang anak niyo so she must know kung anong klaseng modelo ang alaga ko." takang tanong ni Bella.
Umiling ang mama ni Stacey. " She didn't." mahinang sabi nito.
Stacey almost sneered. " Why am I not surprised, Ma?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Sa isip niya sumosobra na talaga si Heather. This is the worst that she has done para ipasubo siya. Dati palagi siyang napapagalitan pag siya ang tinuturo ng kapatid na gumawa ng kalokohan. The worst so far is nung nahuli itong naninigarilyo.
Heather told her dad and their mother na nakita daw nito ang pack of cigarettes sa bag niya. Her step-father didn't say anything pero ilang araw din siyang hindi kinibo. Her mother was more vocal .Pinagsabihan talaga siya. Kahit naman ideny niya, she knows hindi din siya paniniwalaan. Heather is a very good actress. Magaling itong magpaawa effect.
Hinarap ni Stacey ang talent manager. "I know na pag hindi ko ginawa, malaki ang consequences di ba?" tanong niya.
Bella sighed. " I'm sorry Stacey. You might think that I am a bitch pero pag wala naman akong modelong naipalit kay Andrea, ako naman ang patay. We have no time to find a replacement .In two days time,ipupublish na ang edition for this month .Besides, you fit the job to a T. Don't worry, yung ibang commitments ni Andrea, nagawan ko ng paraan. Ito lang talagang pictorial tomorrow afternoon at yung interview ang kailangang i-rush. Promise tapusin mo lang ito, ok na ok na." tila hinging paumanhin nito.
"Ano bang pictorial yan?" tanong ni Mrs.Williams.
"Calendar girl for the month of June." Bella said.
"What?!" Stacey shrieked.
"Naku Stacey! It's not what you think! This is not a cheap magazine. Have you heard about Not Eye Candy Magazine? Ang dami kayang naming naging modelo na hindi naman talaga nila profession ang pag-momodelo. Ang concept kasi nito, we feature women from all walks of life. Merong empleyada, stage actress and minsan nga mga ibang artista na hindi talaga nagpapasexy, dito lang sa magazine na ito. Kasi hindi talaga siya bastusin. It has class sa maniwala kayo o hindi. At hindi basta-basta ang mga subscribers! This gives women who are featured here, the opportunity na makilala lalo. Yung iba , talagang ginagawang steppingstone ito." paliwanag pa ni Bella.
Stacey knows the magazine. She saw Tyler once while skimming through it. Bigla nga nitong itinago ng mapansin siyang pumasok. Hindi nga ito basta-basta cause they don't sell them in bookstores or magazine stands. Men should be subscribers of the publishing company. They send them by mail. Mahal din ito sa pagkakalalam niya. But it's still a men's magazine...yun ang katotohanan na kailangan niyang tanggapin.
"You have to do the pictorial then the interview. Huwag kang mag-alala! You'll wear a lingerie. Hindi naman ganun ka-sexy." konsolasyon ng talent manager.
"Heather!" tawag ni Stacey sa kapatid as she knocks on her door.
"Anak, ako na ang kakausap sa kapatid mo." sabi ng ina niya dahil alam nito galit na galit siya.
Madalang siyang magalit pero this time parang sasabog na talaga siya.
"Ma, please...let me do this." medyo matigas ang pagkakasabi niya.
Kakatok ulit sana siya ng biglang nagsalita sa Amy na kakapanhik ng hagdanan. May dala itong baso ng tubig.
"Ma'm Sofia, masama daw po pakiramdam ni Heather. Nagpapakuha po ng tubig. Iinom daw po ng gamot."
"Ha?! Napano daw?" tarantang tanong ng ina. Ito na ang kumatok sa pintuan.
"Heather? Anak? Please open up. Nandito na ang tubig mo." malumanay na sabi ng ina.
Napailing na lang si Stacey. Her sister is really good in orchestrating situations. She decided na sa ibang araw na lang niya kakausapin ito .Tutal sa ayaw at sa gusto niya, she has to attend the pictorial tomorrow.
***
"Mate! Look! Ang ex ko si Rica! May mga kasama!" ininguso ni Billy kay Nick ang tatlong babae sa kaliwa.
Nasa isang exclusive bar sila .Finally napilit din siya nitong isama .Kung hindi lang may prospective client siyang gustong kitain, he won't go.
"I'm not interested Billy." he just said while drinking whiskey sour.
"Mukhang mixed yung isa mate! Nice body! Hawig nung Jessie Mendiola pare! Nasaan ba kasi si Jim? Magpipiyesta ang mga mata nun dito." dagdag pa nito.
Nick threw a glance at the group of women na sinasabi ni Billy. Tatlo ang mga ito. Yung dalawa have dark hair, including Billy's ex. May mga hitsura. The one in black is the prettiest but he is not interested. Yun ang mukhang mixed. She is obviously checking him out by the way she stares at him. Nailing na lang si Nick.
"Buti nakatakas ka sa mama mo Heather? I know you pretended to be sick di ba?" Pauline asked.
Heather is more than sober. She had some booze bago pa nakapunta ang mga ito sa bar where Nick and his friendfs are. She's happy cause kumagat naman ang ina nito at ang half-sister sa drama niya. And bukas nga mag-pipictorial na si Stacey so she wants to celebrate and may isa pa siyang pakay ngayong gabi.
" I won't miss this for anything." nakangiting sabi ni Heather as she stares at the hottest male in the bar.
"Hm..I guess nabalitaan mo na pupunta ngayong gabi ang eligible bachelors from Makati no?" maarteng sabi ni Rica.
"You are just so lucky na kasama ang hottest among them, the Nick Alcantara! I bet he is even sizzling up close. Grabe!" Pauline whispered habang kinikilig.
"Rica. Hindi ba ex mo si Billy? Di ba in good terms naman kayo? Why not ask him to hook me up with Nick? Let's go .I want to meet him." Heather requested.
"Heather! " awat ng dalawa. But knowing their friend,wala naman silang magagawa.
Matagal na nitong gustong makilala ng personal si Nick. She saw him once sa picture nung birthday ng ex ni Rica na si Billy. Hindi pa sila break nun. Mailap lang talaga si Nick Alcantara. Pagkakataon na niya ito.
"Mate! I think we will be laid tonight!" nakangising sabi ni Billy.
Sinundan ni Nick ang mata ni Billy. The three women he was talking about a while ago are approaching their table.
Nauuna yung nakaitim. He just threw them a glance then went back checking his phone .Mukhang hindi darating ang prospective client niya.
"Billy!" tawag ni Rica. Bumeso ito sa dating nobyo.
"Rica! Lalapitan nga sana kita kanina." Billy said as he looks at Pauline and Heather.
"My friend here wants to meet Nick." Rica said directly.
Bago pa nakapagsalita si Billy, Heather sat next to Nick. "Hello. I'm Heather." she offered her hand.Namumungay ang mga mata nito.
"Nick." maiksing sabi ng binata.
"This is Pauline ." pakilala pa ni Rica sa kasamang isa.
Nick just looked at Pauline then put some whiskey in his glass. Umupo na ang tatlo opposite him and the woman called Heather.
"May I have some?" Heather eyed Nick's glass. Her eyes are seductive. She is deliberately flirting with him.
Nick shrugged. He passed her the glass with whiskey.
Palihim naman na nangiti si Billy. Mukhang type na type ng babae ang kaibigan nito, He knows that Nick is bored and maybe this pretty lady can cheer his friend up.
"Girls," tinignan ni Billy sila Rica ang Pauline," Let's dance." aya nito.
The two girls eyed Heather. She smiled at them as if saying that they should go so she can have Nick for herself. Si Nick naman, mukhang walang pakialam. He's busy tapping on his phone.
As expected ginawa lahat ni Heather to seduce Nick. Unfortunately, he seems not to be interested. Billy and her friends never came back to their table. She knows that they are giving her and Nick time to be together. She asked him about himself. Lahat ng sagot nito monosyllable. Halos idikit na nga din ng dalaga ang katawan nito sa binata pero mukhang unaffected naman ang huli. Sa inis ni Heather, lalo pang naparami ang inom nito. Ang ending, Nick has to take her home.
"Damn!" Nick cursed when he had to almost carry her to his car. He called Billy. He is still with the two women na kasama ni Heather. Lumipat pala ang mga ito sa ibang bar. Pinatanong nit okay Billy ang address ni Heather sa mga kaibigan nito.
Stacey can't sleep .Nalaman niya kay Amy na umalis pala kanina si Heather. Naisahan na naman sila ng kapatid niya. By hook or by crook kakausapin niya ito. She has a lot to answer for. Nasa hardin siya ng bahay nila .She wants to be sure na her half-sister will talk to her. Wala na itong takas sa kanya. She heard a car in front of their house .Tumayo siya to open the gate.
"Women!" inis na sabi ni Nick ng tignan si Heather na tulog na tulog na.
Wala itong choice kung hindi mag-doorbell sa bahay nito then carry her. He has a grim expression on his handsome face. Naiiling na lumabas ito ng kotse.
He stopped in his tracks when a stunning woman in a white sleeveless shirt and light pink cotton shorts came out of the gate. He blinked twice. She has long light brown hair .She looks so hot sa suot nito cause what she has on emphasizes her curvaceous body. She is very very attractive.
Pagbukas ni Stacey ng gate natigilan siya. Bumaba sa sasakyan ang isang saksakan ng guwapong lalake. He must be over 6 feet tall. Naka light gray long sleeves ito and black pants. He is extremely good-looking. He has an overflowing sex-appeal.
They both stared at each other. Then something dawned on Nick which made him cursed.
She is the gold digger from Con Ad! He thought.
