"YOU'RE FIFTEEN minutes late." Salubong ni Victoria sa asawa nang makapasok ito ng studio.
May dalang coffee sa isang kamay at suitcase sa isa. "You told me to buy you a coffee. Traffic at walang jeep pa naman." Saad ni Noah.
Mula sa likod ni Noah, ay sumilip ang kapatid niyang si Vivienne. "Hi, sis!" She greeted.
What the hell? Anong ginagawa ng kapatid niya dito? "What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I have a photoshoot for a bikini apparel for the summer collection. Apparently, I saw Noah on my way here kaya nagsabay nalang kami." She grinned.
Victoria just rolled her eyes and took the coffee from Noah's hand. Saka sumigaw ang photographer. "Victoria, get ready!"
Binalik niya ang coffee sa kamay ni Noah at masuyong nginitian ang kapatid at asawa. "Oh well, that's ny cue." She looked at Noah. "Do your job properly, 'kay?"
Tumalikod na siya at umalis. Narinig pa niya ang sinabi ng asawa bago tuluyang makalayo. "So ito ang gagawin ko buong araw?"
While Vivienne just laughed.
After that, nagpalit ng bikini si Victoria. It's a black one piece with an open slit on both her sides. Her hair is styled with a messy bun that made her look attractive and sexy.
Hindi niya alam kung bakit but, the thought of her husband watching her, made her become eager to look sexy and attractive over a simple bikini.
She wanted to impress him after all. Nang tuunan niya ng tingin ang asawa, tumatawa ito habang kinakausap ang kapatid niya.
Hindi manlang siya tinitignan!
So what Victoria did, she posed even sexier than the other poses. Nakikita ang 28 niyang waist line at makinis na balat.
"That's it, Victoria! You're lookin' sexy!" The photographer exclaimed.
Again, she glanced over Noah, hoping that he's looking at her. But to her disappointment, he's looking at his phone!
Victoria doesn't know why she's irritated. She tried hard to impress him pero hindi naman siya pinapansin ng asawa.
But why the hell would she want to impress her husband anyway?
"Okay, we're done! Victoria, that was great. As expected of the greatest model in Asia. Mukhang sold out ang magazine this summer dahil sayo." Anang photographer nang makalapit kay Victoria.
Ngumiti si Victoria at nawala agad iyon nang mapansin niya ang kakaibang tingin ng photographer sa katawan niya. She felt uncomfortable so she took a step back while covering her body.
"Anyways, are you free tonight? We could hang out at my place. Pagusapan natin ang tungkol sa irerelease na magazine this summer." He asked.
Victoria winced. "No thanks. I'm busy."
Pero nagpupumilit ang photographer. "Come on. Malaki naman ang ibabayad ko."
She once again took a step back at handa nang sumigaw nang may maramdaman siyang malambot na tela na bumalot sa katawan niya. "You're exposed too much." A voice whispered.
She looked back and saw Noah. Agad na kumulo ang dugo niya. "Bakit ngayon ka lang?"
Noah tsked. "Why are you too sexy? Ayan tuloy, sinasamantala ka ng mga tao."
Victoria crossed her arms. "Excuse me, paalala ko lang, secretary kita. Silbi mo ang tignan ako habang nagtatrabaho at dapat pagkatapos ko, ay nilalagyan mo ako ng robe sa katawan. All your attention should be with me and not with someone or with your phone!" She shouted.
Noah raised both his arms. Like he's ready to give up. "Okay, fine. Simula ngayon, sayo na ang atensyon ko. Now don't throw tantrums dahil pinagtitinginan tayo dito." Ani Noah at hinawakan siya sa kamay para paupuin at magpahinga.
~~~
NOAH CAN'T put out words to say. Hindi niya matago ang init sa pisngi nang makita kung paano magtrabaho ang asawa.
Victoria thinks that he's not looking but hell, bawat minuto, tinitignan niya ito pero hindi niya magawang panoorin ang asawa nang matagal dahil nagiinit ang pisngi niya at namumula.
His wife is so effortlessly pretty and sexy.
Katabi niya ngayon ang asawa habang nakaupo at kumakain ng meryenda. Kanina pa niya pinipilit na pagbihisin ito dahil hanggang ngayon, nakarobe lang si Victoria.
"It's none of your business, Noah. Gusto ko naka-robe lang ako." Pilit ni Victoria.
He sighed. "Gusto mo bang pormahan ka ulit ng malibog na photographer na yun?"
Umingos si Victoria. "Ew. He's like, 30 years old." Puna niya.
"Kaya nga magbihis ka. Dahil maraming mga taong madudumi ang utak dito. Baka kung ano isipin nila."
"Why? Are you one of them? You're thinking of something dirty, aren't you?" She grinned.
Noah looked at Victoria flatly. "Oo, iniisip ko kung gaano ka kadumi kumain ng banana cue."
Naguguluhang tumingin si Victoria sa kinakain. "This is Banana cue? I thought this is caramelized banana." Anang asawa niya.
Napailing nalang si Noah. Wala na talagang pag-asa ang asawa niya.
Habang kumakain ang asawa niya, abala si Noah sa mga papeles niya sa trabaho. Wala siyang kliyente pero binibigyan naman siya ng trabaho ng boss niya.
"Hi, Noah!" Bati sa kaniya ni Vivienne na kalalabas lang ng dressing room. She's wearing a two piece red bikini.
"Hey." Bati ni Noah.
Vivienne smiled before glancing at Victoria. "Ang takaw mo yata ngayon, sis? And what are you eating?" Nandidiring sambit ni Vivienne.
"Caramelized banana. Noah bought it." Simpleng sagot ni Victoria.
Akmang magsasalita si Vivienne nang lumapit ang isang photographer sa kanila. "Vivienne, my agent just called. Hindi makakapunta ang male partner mo dahil naakesidente siya on the way. Paano yan? Can you handle the photoshoot alone?"
"Oh, I can handle it alone. But I prefer to have a male partner. Mas maganda ang kalabasan niyon sa magazine. Wala na bang ibang male models sa agency niyo?" Vivienne asked.
Umiling ang photographer. "They are all in Paris for a Gentleman Suit Catwalk."
Vivienne combed her hair using her fingers nang magtama ang mga mata nila ni Noah. She then grinned and smiled cheekily. Oh, Noah knows that look. May masamang balak si Vivienne kung ganiyan ang tingin niya. Paano niya nalaman? Ganiyan din ang asawa niya.
Nakangiting tinuro siya ni Vivienne. "He could be my partner." Suhestyon nito.
"What?!" Gulat na sigaw ni Victoria.
"Stand up." Utos sa kaniya ng photograper.
"He's tall and slim. Fitted to become a model, right?" Vivienne asked.
Tinignan siya ng photographer mula ulo hanggang paa. "Okay, you're hired. But only for today. Kulang lang talaga kami sa model ngayon."
Agad na pumagitna si Victoria. "Excuse me but you can't just hire my secretary."
"Miss Victoria, we're sorry for the inconvenience but we are really in need of a model." paliwanag ng photographer.
"Come on, sis, huwag mo namang pagdamutan si Noah. He's handsome and tall, fitted to be a model!"
Victoria just breathed heavily. "Fine." She agreed.
Giniya ng wardrobe assistant si Noah sa isang dressing room. Nang makapasok, binigyan siya ng isang black and blue summer beach shorts. "Ano 'to?" Tanong niya habang hawak ang shorts.
"Siguro pantalon." Sarkasmong sagot ng assistant sa kaniya.
"I mean, nasaan ang t shirt nito? Bakit shorts lang binigay mo sa akin?"
The assistant flipped her hair. "Eh wala naman talagang shirt yan. Main point ang short kaya magtotopless ka."
Napabuga ng malakas na hangin si Noah. He'll go topless? The hell?!
~~
VICTORIA is anxiously waiting for Noah to come out of the dressing room. Ano kaya suot nito? For male models in this summer collection, they'll go topless.
Ano kaya itsura ng asawa ng walang pantaas?
Vivienne already finished her solo shots pero hindi pa lumalabas ng dressing room si Noah. What's taking him so long? Shorts lang naman ang susuotin niya.
Well as if on cue, the door from the dressing room opened, revealing a topless Noah Alegre with black sumemr beach shorts with blue stripes on the loose ends.
And damn, Victoria can't help but gape. For a slim man, Noah's too muscular. Kahit payat ito, may abs pa rin ito at mamuscle ang katawan.
Has he been working out?
Madilim ang mukhang lumapit sa kaniya si Noah. "This is too uncomfortable." He stated.
"Ang pangit mo." She answered. Pero ang totoo, he's so handsome.
"I agree with you. I look better in suits, right?"
No, you look better in topless, she thought.
Umiling siya. "Either way, you look ugly. How do you even live like this?" Insulto niya para maitago ang hiyang nararamdaman.
Sakto namang dumating si Vivienne. "Oh, Noah! You're so handsome." Bati nito.
Kasama naman ang photographer na mukhang namangha sa katawan ni Noah. "How come you're not a model yet? Ang payat mo pero may abs ka at ang ganda ng proportion ng katawan mo. May potensyal kang magmodel." He complimented.
"Hey, let's go. Let's finish this shoot." Ani Vivienne na giniya si Noah sa harap ng mga camera.
Tumayo si Victoria sa likod ng photographer at tinitignan ang asawa at kapatid habang nagpophotoshoot.
"Okay, for the first pose, Noah, place your hand on Vivienne's waist. Vivienne, tumalikod ka kay Noah and do a sexy pose. Noah, look at Vivienne's neck and smile slightly." Anang phoographer.
Noah did what the photographer told him to do. His hands on her sister's waist. Ang kapatid niya naman, ay nakahiling sa dibdib ng asawa.
She's leaning on her husband's bare chest!
Victoria knows that this is work and she has to stay professional. Hindi niya alam kung bakit naiirita siya lalo na nang niyakap ni Vivienne si Noah sa leeg habang si Noah ay nakayakap sa waist ng kapatid niya.
Tinapik niya ang balikat ng photographer. "I want to have another photoshoot. With a male partner too." She whispered.
"Oh, i'm sorry, miss Victoria. Nakaset na ang layout ng magazine. If dadagdagan namin, then everything will have to start again. We'll go as planned. Besides, you don't need a male partner. You shine on your own, Miss Victoria." Anito at nagpatuloy sa pagkuha ng litrato.
Huminga nang malalim si Victoria. She needs to calm down. Bakit nga ba siya naiirita? It's just a simple photoshoot.
"Wow, you two have chemistry. Bagay na bagay kayong dalawa." Komento pa ng photographer.
Inis na tinapik niya ulit ang balikat ng photographer. "I'm sorry, but can you work without giving comments or anything? Tumahimik ka nalang habang nagtatrabaho, pwede ba?" Inis na tanong niya.
The photographer did obliged and kept quiet but she can hear the mumbles of people arond her.
"Wow, bagay sila."
"Sino ulit yung lalake? Ang gwapo."
She had her fist clenched hanggang sa matapos sa photoshoot ang asawa at kapatid. She immediately took the robe and quickly put it on Noah's body. "Hey, cover your body up. Ang pangit-pangit ng katawan mo, ilalantad mo sa mga tao?"
"Sobrang pangit ba talaga ng katawan ko?" Ngiwi ni Noah.
"Yes. Very ugly that it's disgusting to look at."
It's very sexy and mesmerizing, she thought.
"That was nice, Noah. Why don't you try modeling? Sisikat ka dito." Ani Vivienne.
Nagkibit-balikat si Noah. "I prefer being an attorney. Anyways, it was a fun experience." Anito kay Vivienne.
Nang silang dalawa nalang ang naiwan, awkward silence filled the air. "You were amazing and natural but still ugly."
"I know. Ikaw itong magaling. This is the first time I saw you work. You were amazing too."
Victoria scoffed. "Hindi mo nga ako tinitignan nung shoot ko."
"Pinapanood kaya kita. I just can't watch you because you were too pretty and sexy. But you were okay." Sagot ni Noah.
Victoria unconsciously smiled after hearing Noah compliment her. She heard a lot of compliments through her life pero hindi niya alam kung bakit mas masaya siya tuwing naririnig niyang pinupuri siya ng asawa.
"So you do find me sexy and pretty?" She asked.
Tumango si Noah. "Yeah, I mean, you're Victoria Salvador. Popular, pretty, sexy and rich."
Naningkit ang mga mata niya. "What's with you? Complimenting me and all that. May kailangan ka ba sakin?"
Noah just laughed. "Nothing. I just feel like complimenting you."
And just like that, her heart exploded in happiness and...love.