Just A Boy

Friend

“See you at the event, Nath…”

Nakangiting paalam ni Jander, one of the newest faces of Curved, before totally leaving the dressing room. I saw how my friends gave me a knowing look when they caught Jander winking at me. I crossed my arms.

I’m with my friends and co-models Arabella and Sugar and we are sitting here in a queue while waiting for the official instructions for the upcoming events for choosing the next batch of the brand ambassadors of Curved.

Parang kailan lang noong nag-audition ako para maging isa sa mga exclusive models ng Curved at ngayon ay limang taon na akong nagtatrabaho bilang model nila. At isa na ako sa mga kasamang pumipili ng mga bagong models at eksklusibong nagho-host sa mga ganitong events.

Sa loob ng limang taon na pagiging modelo, ang daming nagbago sa buhay ko. Kung noon ay matunog at kilala lang ang pangalan ko dahil isa akong Montecarlo, ngayon ay kilala na nila ako dahil sa mga achievements ko sa industriya ng modelling. I am no longer known as one of the successors of the Montecarlo clan. People knew and recognized me as Nathalie Montecarlo, one of the hottest models in my generation that is soon to enter show business ‘coz I have received various offers to star in some variety shows. I was one of the hosts of a popular noontime show last year but I didn’t renew my contract after three months because life in the show business isn't great as to what other people are expecting. But I wasn’t regretting entering into show business because that served as the breakthrough of my career. Soon, I might enter it again because of the latest brand that I am holding.

“Jander is obviously hitting on you,” nakangising kantyaw ni Arabella. “Malinis ang record ng isang ‘yon. Walang na-link na kahit na sinong babae. Isa pa, he’s super friendly. He jibed at most of the male models. Single since he entered the world of modelling!” tuloy-tuloy na pahayag n’ya pa. My jaw dropped and looked at Sugar who was giggling at the side.

“She’s really fast at things like this,” natatawang komento n’ya na ang tinutukoy ay si Arabella na nakangisi at confident na confident na nakataas ang kilay sa amin.

Sa tuwing may mga lalaking nagpaparamdam sa akin ay mas nauuna pa silang mag-imbestiga. It was as if they would be the first to celebrate it if I finally got myself a boyfriend, which I don’t really prioritize at the moment.

My passion for my job is just so intense that I never felt that I still needed someone to become whole. Taliwas sa palaging sinasabi sa akin nina Ara at Sugar na mas maeenjoy ko ang buhay ko kung mayroon akong boyfriend. Sa totoo lang, I never felt lonely like what they always feel whenever they are single. Kaya nga hindi nagtatagal ang mga ‘yan na walang boyfriends. They are considering single life as boring and lonely. Na kahit kailan ay hindi ko naramdaman. Maybe because their presence filled that loneliness I am supposed to feel? O baka dahil nandyan naman parati ang kakambal at mga pinsan ko kaya hindi ako nalulungkot na walang boyfriend? I don’t know. I just don’t feel like falling in love. I’ve got random crushes but that’s just about that. Hindi ko kahit kailan hiniling na maging parte sila ng buhay ko o kaya ay mas maging malapit sa akin. I am content with my life and finding someone to go out with is not really my priority at this moment.

“I’m not really into flirty and nosy types,” naiiling na komento ko sa pangrereto nila sa akin sa Jander na ‘yon. I’ve been working with him for a month now and he’s really popular with girls and even boys. Ayaw ko pa naman sa mga lalaking flirty dahil malaki ang tendency na magiging katulad sila ng kakambal ko na walang nagiging matinong girlfriend dahil mabilis magsawa kaya papalit-palit. Arabella groaned in frustration.

“Gosh, Nath! Friendly and flirty are two different things. ‘Wag mong itulad lahat ng lalaki sa kakambal mo. Your twin is naturally born as a player. But not all with handsome face like him are born as a player,” mahabang litanya n’ya na mukhang nahulaan ang nasa isip ko. Sa tagal at sa dinami-rami ba naman ng tinanggihan ko na nirereto nila ay kabisado na nila halos ang mga dahilan ko. Ngumuso ako at hindi na nagkomento.

“Just let her be single as long as she wants, Ara. You can’t really force attraction on someone. Kung hindi n’ya bet, hindi n’ya talaga bet,” Sugar commented. Napangiti ako at tumango sa kanya. Tumunog ang phone n’ya at kitang-kita ko ang pagbabago sa facial expressions n’ya nang mapatingin sa screen ng phone at makita kung sino ang tumatawag sa kanya. “I’ll just… take this call. Sa labas lang ako,” paalam n’ya at saka mabilis ang mga hakbang na lumabas sa dressing room. Ara looked at me with confused eyes.

“Do you know who she's dating right now?” nagtatakang tanong n’ya habang nakatingin sa pinto kung saan lumabas si Sugar. Umiling ako at nagkibit balikat. Kung hindi sila magsasabi at magpapakilala sa akin kung sino ang mga dinedate nila ay hindi ako nagtatanong ng gano’n kaya kung may bago mang dinedate si Sugar ay wala akong idea kung sino iyon.

“She never introduced someone new to me after her recent relationship,” sagot ko. Kumunot ang noo n’ya.

“Same with me. But I think she’s dating someone. I’m so sure of that,” she said and once again glanced at Sugar who was being sneaky while talking to someone over the phone. Nang ibalik ko ang tingin kay Ara ay nakatingin pa rin s’ya kay Sugar at nakakunot ang noo. “I wonder why she’s trying to hide it even with us…” she commented. Nagkibit-balikat ako at hindi na pinansin ang sinabi n’ya. Maybe she has reasons for hiding her current relationship. Besides, Sugar is not really the type who would hide something like that. She’s transparent when it comes to her love life so I can understand Ara’s confusions. “At ikaw…” muling sabi n’ya kaya napatingin ulit ako sa kanya.

“What about me?” nagtatakang tanong ko.

“Get yourself a boyfriend soon. You are not getting any younger, Nath–”

Agad na kinontra ko s’ya sa parteng iyon. “Twenty six is not old, Ara. You are overreacting!” hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ko.

“Twenty six is considered old for someone who never experienced going all out in a relationship!” sabi n’ya kaya umawang ang bibig ko at bahagyang namilog ang mga mata. Napatingin pa ako sa paligid dahil pakiramdam ko ay maeeskandalo ako sa kung anong lumalabas sa bibig n’ya. My friends are never the conservative type. In fact, they freely talked about sėx and the ecstasy in it that I got used to over time! Kaya kahit na wala akong experience sa gano’ng bagay ay hindi na ako naiilang sa gano’ng topic dahil sa sobrang dalas kong marinig ang mga ‘yon sa kanilang dalawa.

“Shut the hell up, Ara. I’m not even thinking of getting myself a boyfriend, ang makipag-sėx pa kaya?!” I exclaimed. She giggled and leaned closer to me.

“How about having a one-night stand with someone? That’s kinda exciting. Imagine giving yourself to someone you just met once at a bar or anywhere and then boom!” nakangising sabi pa nito na pinagdidikit ang dalawang hintuturo. Napangiwi ako at tinulak ang mukha n’ya palayo sa akin.

“Enough with that lewd stuff running in your dirty mind, Ara! I will never do something so nasty just because I lack experience!” nakangiwing bulalas ko. Tumawa s’ya ng tumawa at natigil lang nang muling pumasok si Sugar sa loob. Namumula ang magkabilang pisngi nito at tumikhim pa bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad palapit sa amin. Nanliit kaagad ang mga mata ni Ara sa kanya.

“Did you get yourself a new boyfriend, Sugar?” hindi na nag-alinlangang tanong ni Ara. Sugar pursed her lips and looked hesitant to answer but nodded afterwards.

“I d-did…” sagot n’ya na hindi kami magawang tingnan. Nakita kong tumaas ang kilay ni Ara sa kanya.

“You did? Who?” magkasunod na tanong n’ya. Sugar swallowed hard and bit her lower lip before shaking her head.

“I’ll… I’ll tell you guys when I’m certain about our… setup,” she explained. Tumango ako pero si Ara ay nanatili ang titig sa kanya. Mukhang may alam s’ya pero hindi n’ya masabi kaya hinihintay n’yang magpaliwanag si Sugar.

“Whoever you are dating right now, Sugar. Don’t get yourself in any trouble,” paalala ni Ara sa kanya. Napalunok s’ya at saka tumango ng marahan.

“I’ll be careful. T-thanks for the concern,” sabi n’ya. Nakita kong tumango si Ara pero alanganin pa rin ang tingin sa kanya. Bumukas ang pinto ng dressing room kaya sabay-sabay kaming napatingin doon.

“Gals, you’re next!” sabi ng secretary ni Mr. Yuji Noda, the current director of Curved. Sabay-sabay kaming tumango at saka isa-isang nagsitayuan para pumasok na sa loob ng conference room.

Papasok na kami sa loob nang magbeep ang phone ko para sa isang text message galing sa kakambal ko. Agad na binasa ko ‘yon nang makita kong kasalukuyan pa lang na sineset-up ng secretary ni Mr. Noda ang projector para sa presentation na gagawin nito.

Vaughan:

Nath, if you ever encounter the name Eureka Yu, you can consider passing her in the upcoming audition.

Tumaas ang kilay ko nang mabasa ang message ng kakambal ko.

At sino na naman kaya itong Eureka Yu na ito? Bagong prospect na naman?!

Nanliit ang mga mata ko at agad na naisip ang parating na audition para sa next batch ng mga brand ambassadors ng Curved. Napasinghap ako nang maisip na puro sixteen years old pababa lang ang allowed sa audition na ‘yon! Does that mean, my twin is targeting a young girl this time? And a minor at that? Seriously, Vaughan?

“Are you damn kidding me…” halos pabulong na sambit ko habang nakatitig sa screen ng phone ko.

For goodness sake, Vaughan!! Get a hold of your goddamn libidö!

Inis na nagtype ako ng reply sa kanya pero may follow up message na kaagad s’ya sa akin kaya napatigil ako sa pagtatype at binasa ang message n’ya.

Vaughan:

I am not hitting on that girl, in case you are maliciously thinking of that, my gorgeous twin. She’s a friend of mine and she’s really popular in social media which is a very good factor, right?

Hindi ko alam kung makakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil sa sinabi n’ya. Kaya agad na nagtype ako ng reply na natigil din kaagad nang makita kong pumwesto na sa harapan ang secretary ni Mr. Noda.

“So, this is the qualities of the models we need for the new ambassadors of Curved…” simula nito na agad nang nakuha ang atensyon ko at tuluyan ng nakalimutan ang tungkol sa sinabi ng kakambal ko.