Prologue
Love Life Winners Series #1: My Yesterday's Muse
This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, real events, or real-life situations is purely coincidental.
This novel contains MATURE THEMES, STRONG LANGUAGE, EMOTIONAL CONFLICT, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, and scenes that may not be suitable for younger audiences. Reader discretion is advised.
This story is not affiliated with, associated with, or endorsed by the University of the Philippines (UP), University of Santo Tomas (UST), De La Salle University (DLSU), or Adamson University (AdU). The universities mentioned in this story are only used for fictional and creative purposes.
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This is it! First time ko dito sa Paris, tapos for work pa. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko talaga alam kung gusto ko ba talaga 'tong ginagawa ko sa buhay. Yung pagiging clinical psychologist at model, parang any time susuko na yung katawan ko.
Pero, hindi p'wede. Nangarap ako simula bata pa'ko na gagawin ko ang lahat para lang maganda ang future ko, and heto na. Financially stable nga, pero nagpapakapagod ako rito with my two careers.
I wasn't supposed to become a model.
Bumuntong-hininga ako as I entered my taxi which took me to my hotel. Hindi ko mapigilang tingnan yung view ng bansa na'to from the car window. Parang gusto ko tumira rito someday ah.
A lot of elegant-looking cafés, especially yung smell ng coffee. Narrow streets, cloudy weather, and andami ring mga stores dito for shopping. Hindi ko namalayan kung gaano katagal akong nakatanaw sa labas hanggang sa nagsalita ang driver.
"Tourist, ma'am?" Tanong ng driver.
Mukhang napansin niya na sobrang shocked ako sa surroundings ko. Ayaw ko namang sabihin sa kaniya na visiting model ako. I don't really want him to get excited. At isa pa, ayokong magustuhan ako ng tao dahil lang sa trabaho ko o sa apelyido ko.
"Yes, sir." Sagot ko nang nakangiti.
We didn't talk anymore after I answered him. Pero noong nasa hotel na kami, tinulungan niya'ko sa mga maleta ko. You know what, someone's simple act of kindness could really make my day.
"Enjoy Paris, ma'am!" Masayang sabi niya and he drove off.
Pumasok ako sa hotel room ko at nagpahinga ng saglit. Grabe talaga, ang ganda rito sa Paris tapos visible pa yung Eiffel Tower sa room ko. Pangarap ko lang makita 'to sa personal noong bata ako eh!
"Worth it pala talaga." Bulong ko.
Nakakainlove naman yung architecture ng France.
"Shit!" Napasigaw ako nang makita ko ang oras.
Akala ko late na'ko sa photoshoot at mabilis akong nag-ayos. Hay nako, nag-eenjoy pa'ko sa hotel room ko eh. Pero wala, hindi titigil ang oras para kanino. I got ready as fast as I could and double-checked if I forgot anything.
Nakarating na'ko sa studio at tiningnan ko yung oras sa phone ko, 8:50 AM. Phew, 10 minutes early ako. Hindi na rin naman kailangan ng crew na ayusin ako since inayos ko na yung sarili ko sa hotel room.
Pagkapasok ko mismo sa studio, I was greeted by the brand owner's smile. Seriously, ang ganda niya ha!
"Welcome, Ms. Angela. I can't wait to work with you!" Bati niya sa'kin. Parang ang natural ng English accent niya. Sa true lang, hindi ko nahalata na pure French siya.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Lavigne! I'm also excited to be working with you and your team." sabi ko habang umakbay siya sa'kin and showed me around the studio.
Pinagmasdan ko yung studio and infairness, ang laki! Parang ang sarap mag photoshoot dito mamaya, tapos malamig pa.
"There, the dressing room where you'll be switching outfits later on. Those are the crew members who'll assist you whether it's makeup or wardrobe."
Lumapit sa'kin yung mga crew na may dala-dalang makeup at ni-retouch ako right at that moment. Grabe naman 'yon, nakakagulat ha! At the same time, parang may weird feeling ako noong nakita ko yung likod nung photographer ko. It looks familiar?
Black wavy hair. Broad shoulders. Light skin. Kahit nakatalikod siya, may kakaibang pamilyar sa presensya niya. Kilala ko ba 'to? Mukhang napansin ni Ms. Lavigne na nakatitig ako sa kaniya.
"Oh! That'll be your photographer— " Napatigil siya bigla nang humarap nang unti-unti yung photographer sa'min.
Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
Nagulat ako noong makita ko siya— It's Zailer.
My ex.
The one who used to be my everything.
In front of me stood a man who owned my heart. It felt like my heart stopped beating and the time slowed down for us.
"Ms. Lyndsey Angela Ybañez, meet Zailer Reid Vales—your photographer for today's shoot." Pakilala ni Ms. Lavigne.
Hindi ako makapaniwala na nakatayo si Zailer sa harapan ko ngayon. Para akong nakakitang multo.
"It's good to see you again, Lay." pagbati sa'kin ni Zailer nang nakangiti habang binaba niya ang palad niya para makipagkamay sa'kin.
Damn, he was just as handsome as I remembered.
Nabalik na'ko sa senses ko and I decided to be professional. Gano'n din naman siya eh. Pero, tinawagan niya'kong 'Lay'?
"You too, Zai." Nakangiting sabi ko at nakipagkamay sakaniya.
My past was standing right in front of me, holding my hand once again.
For the first time ever since, I held his warm hand once again. If I could turn back time, maybe we'd still be standing beside each other. Not as strangers pretending to be professionals.
This man was willing to give up everything for me.
And somehow, I was still the muse behind every version of him that came after me.
