One Night's Mistake (Published under Summit Media's Pop Fiction)

FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

LARA

"Another pose. Okay another."

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko, when I felt my head ache again for the nth time. Pumasok kasi ako for a scheduled photoshoot. Kahit masama ang pakiramdam ko, second to last project ko na kasi ito, bago matapos ang contract ko.

I don't know if it was because of my pregnancy or talagang stress lang ako. Pinilit ko lang talagang pumasok, nagtaxi na nga lang ako imbes na magdrive kasi baka mapaano pa ako.

"Any problem Miss Cassandra?" umiling lang ako. Matatapos naman na e, konting tiis. "Okay, last shot."

Inayos ko ang upo ko for a new pose when I felt something striking my head again. Parang nasisilaw ako sa photolight, kaya naipikit ko ang mga mata ko.

"Are you okay Miss?"

"Cassandra?!" I heard my manager shout before I completely lose conscious.

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Pagdilat pa lang ng mga mata ko, alam ko na kung nasaan ako. Palibutan ka ba naman ng kaputian ng kwarto. I'm at the hospital at may pakiramdam akong alam na nila ang sitwasyon ko.

"Ahm, gising na po pala kayo, tatawagin ko muna po ang doctor nin'yo." Sabi nung nurse na nasa tabi ko pala, at agad ding lumabas ng kwarto.

After a minute or two ay may pumasok na female doctor kasunod si Manager Joe. "Okay, Hija how are you?" she asked politely, which I answered almost in whisper.

"Fine, though—I feel a bit tired a-and sleepy."

"Okay that's normal." She said while checking my blood pressure.

"But Doc, why am I here? May nangyari ba sa-sa..." I can't voice it out, dahil alam kong nakikinig si Manager Joe.  But I am concern of my baby, napahawak ako sa puson ko. "...sa baby ko?" mahina pa rin ang pagkakatanong ko n'un.

"Oh so you're aware of your pregnancy." Ang nasabi ng Doktor, habang masusing pinag-aaralan ang nakalagay sa hawak niyang clipboard.

"Yes." Tipid na sagot ko lang.

"Well to tell you honestly, medyo sensitibo ang pagbubuntis mo, which 'cause you to faint, because of your exposure to lights. So I suggest you to take some rest. Actually a bed rest and please, avoid too much stress, para hindi ka na ulit mawalan ng malay." Tuloy-tuloy niyang bilin, na sinagot ko sa simpleng pagtango.

"But I still need to finish my contract—" I said, as I awkwardly looked at Manager Joe's direction, I can already sense anger in her, because of her relaxed and unreadable facial expression.

"Well I think you need to stop, even before you end your contract for yours and the baby's health—" bilin pa ni Doktora na pinutol ni Manager Joe. "Excuse me Doc, thank you. We will talk about it."

"Alright, I'll give you two some privacy now." She smiled, pero napansin kong nakakadama siya ng tensiyon kaya nagpaalam na din siya.

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ni Doktora ay umalsa na ang galit ni Manager Joe. "So e'to ang rason ng bigla mong pagre-resign? At hanggang kailan mo balak itong itago? Kailan mo pa nalaman? Sino ang ama ni'yan? Paano na ang career mo? I thought you resigned because you are planning for the next level na matagal na nating pinaplano." Sunod-sunod na tanong niya na halata ang pagkayamot.

Hindi ako makasagot sa mga tanong niya, dahil hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang isasagot ko and how can I start answering her questions. "What now? You're not answering me, I need an explanation." Kinakabahan na ako sa galit niya, ngayon lang siya nagalit sa 'kin.

"I didn't mean to hide this..." I trailed off, 'di ko alam kung paano ko siya papaliwanagan.

"But who's the father? You don't have a boyfriend, or do you hide him from me?" she asked, while touching her forehead in desperation.

"I dunno..." Mahinang sagot ko, na iniiwasang mapatingin sa kanya.

"What? My god Cassandra! Don't tell me na nabuntis ka on a one night stand with a stranger?!" she said sarcastically that hurts me, kasi totoo.

"Yes, you're right, and it was my father's fault. Kung hindi niya hinarang 'yong contract ko, it will never happen." I burst out in tears.

"Paano? At anong kinalaman ng Daddy mo?" galit pa ring tanong niya. Halatang hindi siya makapaniwala sa kagagahang nagawa ko, she knows me very well. She knows me as a woman, who is not easy to get. At alam niya rin ang galit ko sa ama ko.

"It's a long story, the only thing I can tell you is that my Dad ruined my career." I answered her, not planning to tell her what happened that night.

Nagkaroon ng mahabang katahimikan.

"What are your plans now?"  she asked seriously, medyo kalmado na siya na nakatingin sa bintana ng kwarto. "Are you going to turn that, do—"

"No way!" napalakas ang sigaw ko, na nagpatigil sa dapat ay itatanong niya. "I will not do that, hindi 'yon kaya ng konsensya ko, ang patayin ang magiging anak ko." Matapang na sabi ko, looking straight to her na seryosong nakatitig sa 'kin.

"But how 'bout your career Cassandra? Alam kong mahal mo ang trabaho mo at... at malapit na tayo." Lumapit siya sa higaan ko, "You will be an international model soon, and I know that is your dream at 'yon ang gusto mong ipamukha sa Daddy mo 'di 'ba? That you will be successful in this career."

"Yes, that was my dream... but—"

"But what Cassandra?" she asked cutting me off. "Once they knew that you're pregnant, mawawalan ka na ng opportunity. Wala ka pang boyfriend or fiancé man lang na pwedng iharap, in that case some may not accept you. Kung ako sa'yo, habang wala pang may alam, let's remove that, I'll hel—"

"I told you Manager Joe! No freaking way! Yes I love my career, pero hindi ko 'yan magagawa." Sumisigaw na pagputol ko sa suhestiyon niya. "Mas pipiliin ko pang lunukin ang pride ko. Go home to my Dad and face my defeat, than... than to kill my own blood and flesh." Tuloy-tuloy na litanya ko, na hindi na nakapagpigil, I should have not stressing myself out, baka kung mapaano pa ang baby.

Natahimik siya bigla na alam kong nagpipigil lang ng galit, nagtititigan kami, na parang nagsusukatan kung sino ang unang susuko sa amin. Hanggang sa nagsalita siya. "If that's your descision, hindi naman ako ang mawawalan, forget your dreams." She said picking her bag from the sofa at dumiretso sa pinto. Pero bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay nagsalita ako.

"I'm sorry for disappointing you Manager Joe, sana wag mo nang ipaalam sa agency ang bagay na ito. I need my separation pay, thanks for everything."  She glance at me without any expression on her face. I know mahaba na ang napagsamahan namin, she's already a sister to me, pero hindi ko kayang ipagpalit ang anak ko and just continue modeling.

Yes, this is what I wanted. Kahit na-disappoint ko siya. Sa akin lang kasi siya umaasa, that I will be—no, that we will be successful together, once I become an international model. Pero wala na 'kong magagawa narito na 'to. I will now swallow my pride and choose to go home to my father. Hindi ko na tatapusin 'yong huling project na binigay nila sa akin.

Naramdaman ko nalang ang paglandas ng mga luha sa mga pisngi ko.

Now goodbye to my career and to my dreams...

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Hello there fellas.. Happy holiday,

Sorry for the super late update... tinamad akong mag edit the fast few days eh, don't worry babawi ako, baka mag update ako ng bonggang-bonggang sunod-sunod..

Pasensya na sa typos and gramatical errors.. :)

By the way thanks for reading :)

love you guys *winks*

Long a.n.

-LEYN-