✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 01

F R I D A Y

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December 6, 2019
Venturá Studio
10:17 a.m.

"Sigurado ka bang hindi mo kailangan ng tulong?"

It was a miracle that Olympia's soft voice can still be heard over the noise of the staff, pero wala na siyang panahon para magkumento pa tungkol dito. She crossed her legs and flipped the magazine, pretending to be interested in a random fashion article.

"With this simple job? I've already got this covered. Ifo-forward ko na lang sa'yo mamaya ang pictures," the dark haired female whispered and faked a smile when a photographer passed by. "Para maipadala na agad natin sa client."

Kahit pa hindi niya nakikita si Olympia, alam niyang tumatango ito.

"Okay, then. Mukha namang naging 'specialty' mo na rin 'to, Brian... Kaya hindi na talaga nakakapagtakang sa'yo napupunta ang ganitong mga kaso."

Her red lips curled in a smirk. She tucked a strand of black hair---a wig, of course--behind her ear.

"Hey, I wasn't called the 'Mistress of Disguise' for nothing, now, was I?"

Well, she might as well be pretending not to be communicating with someone from a detective agency.

Pasimple niyang nilibot ang kanyang mga mata sa studio. Sa kabilang bahagi ng silid, sinisimulan nang magbigay ng instructions ang creative director sa isang modelo. Hindi nakaligtas sa mapanuring mga mata ni Nova ang pagtagal ng kamay nito sa hita ng babae.

'Oh, that bastard's gonna wish he kept his hands to himself...'

"---kinig ka pa ba? Brian?"

Agad na napabalik ang atensyon ni Nova sa kanyang earpiece. Hindi na niya nahagip ang sinabi ni Olympia, pero dahil wala naman siguro siyang sinabing importante, Nova half-heartedly agreed to whatever she said and went back to spying.

Because of this, Olympia sounded even more confused.

"Aba, himala yata... O, sige na. Tawagan mo na lang kami mamaya."

"Sure."

"And Brian?"

"Hmm?"

"Please don't make a scandal there."

At nawala na ang linya nito. Kumunot naman ang noo ng dalaga sa huling sinabi ng kanilang senior consultant. Ano bang scandal ang pinagsasabi nito? Olympia should know by now that Detective Briannova Carlos rarely loses her cool when it comes to infidelity cases. Kung mayroon man siyang maipagmamalaki bukod sa educational degrees niya, iyon ay ang "self-control" na na-master niya bilang isang detective.

'And believe me, it takes a lot of self-control to keep yourself from slapping a cheating asshole,' she thought.

Nang sinenyasan na siya ng staff, agad na tumayo si Nova at puno ng kumpiyansang nagtungo sa lugar kung saan kanina pa sila nagpho-photoshoot. She kept her shoulders back and her spine straight while maintaining the beauty pageant walk she rehearsed many times before.

Just like how a real model would present herself.

Kapansin-pansin na nakatuon na ang atensyon ng creative director sa kanya.

'It looks like I've finally caught his attention,' she thought triumphantly and stood in front of the camera. 'I'll make sure I get enough evidence to convince your wife to file an annulment, bastard.'

"Okay, Miss...?"

"Sanchez."

Tumango ang creative director na malagkit ang tingin sa kanya. Nakakadiri. "Miss Sanchez... I assume you already know what to do?"

Nova posed. Well, it's a photoshoot for one of the most prestigious fashion magazines in Eastwood. Of course, she knows what to do!

"Yes, just like that... Pakihawi nang konti ang buhok mo. Hindi, itaas mo lang ang binti mo, para makita nang maayos ang skirt. Make it a little more sexy... Ayan, ganyan... Then try to angle your face towards the camera, dear."

Nova kept her sweet and innocent smile.

Kahit pa kanina niya pa pinapatay sa kanyang utak ang bastos na creative director na 'to! Argh. Guys like him should be drowned in the Red Sea!

But just when she thought they were going to start the photoshoot, biglang may tinawag na modelo ang staff.

'Wait, what?'

"Ah, yes! Mr. Delgado...tabihan mo na si Miss Sanchez, para makapagsimula na tayo."

At kamuntikan nang nalaglag ang panga ni Nova nang makilala ang lalaking bigla na lang lumapit sa kanila.

'N-NICO?!'

"A-Ang akala ko ba solo photoshoot lang 'to?" She quickly asked a staff. "This is for a fashion magazine!"

Nagkibit naman ito ng balikat sabay sulyap sa mga papel na hawak niya. "Ahh, mukhang couple's Christmas attire ang naka-assign sa inyo. May problema po ba?"

'Oo! Ang laki ng problema ko ngayon! How can you fucking expect me to do a photoshoot with him, of all people?! We couldn't even get along during investigations! At ngayon ko na lang ulit siya nakita after seven months!'

Smile.

"Wala naman."

Yup, it took a lot of self-control to prevent herself from cursing his name in frustration. Instead, the mistress of disguise remained still and acted like she didn't know him. Tutal, naka-disguise naman siya, hindi ba? Baka naman hindi siya makikilala nito...

"Hello, Nova."

Shit.

Kailan pa nga ba niya naloko si Detective Nico Yukishito sa mga disguise niya? Ugh. This is just crazy! Ano bang ginagawa ng airheaded emo na 'to sa isang fashion photoshoot?! Dapat nasa agency lang 'to at nagpapakalunod sa kape niya!

Bago pa man kumuha ng larawan ang photographer, agad siyang pinigilan ng nakasimangot nang creative director.

"Para naman kayong may galit sa isa't isa! Ipinapaalala ko lang na 'couple' clothes 'to, ha? Lapit pa kayo ng konti... Miss Sanchez, lean into him... Mr. Delgado, akbayin mo naman... Ayan! Ganyan. Sige, ready na tayo."

Nova forced a smile, even though she was stiff as a wooden plank. Being this close to him made her want to scream and walk out of the scene already to have some tea. Kung hindi lang siya naka-undercover! Damn. Samantala, mukha namang kalmado at wala pa ring pakialam si Nico sa mga nangyayari sa paligid niya. He acted like this wasn't anything new to him.

Before the photographer could even take a picture, Nova whispered between clenched teeth at her so-called "partner".

"You're stalking me, aren't you?"

That made Eastwood's greatest detective smirk, flashing her those damn dimples she hates so much.

"Smile, Miss Carlos."

Click!

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