Kabanata 3

Shot

Lisandro:

Have you bought a pregnancy test yet? I want to know if you’re already pregnant.

Ako:

I forgot. I’ll buy it after our fashion show.

Ako:

Uh, are you busy? I want to invite you to my runway show tonight. It’s a lingerie summer collection.

Lisandro:

A fucking lingerie show? You want me to watch you strip yourself bare for those disgusting, pathetic older men drooling like animals?

Ako:

And you? You’re older than me too.

Lisandro:

I’m not one of those desperate men, Stella. Don’t put me in the same gutter as them.

Ako:

It’s okay if you’re busy. I understand…

Lisandro:

I’ll fucking come!

Hindi ko na nireplyan pa ang kanyang huling text. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako sa sarili ko. Bumukas ang pinto sa dressing room ko. Si Tito Max ang pumasok. May bitbit siyang paper bag na sigurado akong pagkain ang laman. Kanina pa ako hindi kumakain... kanina pa walang laman ang tiyan ko. Puro lang ako tubig. Actually, wala akong planong kumain. Siguro pag tapos na lang ng show ako kakain. Since lingerie ang susuotin ko sa stage. Ayaw ko rin naman maging bloated ang tiyan ko.

Maya-maya ay pumasok ang asawa ni Tito Max.

''Stella, binilhan ka namin ng vegetable salad. Alam ko namang hindi ka kumakain ng rice kapag may runway ka. Nandyan din yung binili ko sayong dildo. Babalik ako. Ihahatid ko lang 'tong asawa ko,'' si Tito Max na akala mo teenager kung makakapit sa kanyang asawa.

What… talagang sineryoso niya yung sinabi niyang he’ll buy me a dildo, para raw pag-practican ko?!

Umiling ako sa kaniya at natawa na lang. 

Pagkatapos iabot sakin ni Tito Max ang pagkain ko ay lumabas din sila agad ng kanyang asawa. 

Maya-maya lang ay may kumatok ulit sa dressing room ko. Tumayo ako at binuksan ang pinto para tingnan kung sino ang tao roon.

Isang magandang babae ang tumambad sa akin. Halos magkapantay lang kaming dalawa. Morena ang kanyang balat, habang ang kanyang buhok naman ay hanggang lagpas balikat ang haba. May hawak itong bulaklak. Iniabot niya sa'kin 'yon at matamis na ngumiti sa'kin. Habang ako ay nakakunot lang ang noo sa kaniya.

''Oh, you must be startled. You're Stella Vasco, right? Daughter of the supermodel Selena Vasco? I'm a big fan of you!'' Natutuwang saad niya sa'kin.

''I'm Thraia Izquierdo, btw. I'm here para manood ng show mo. I heard kasama ka raw sa lingerie summer collection fashion show mamaya! Fan na fan mo talaga ko!'' Sabi niya pa.

My lips formed an 'o,' and I nodded my head to her shyly. Muli niyang iniabot sa akin ang bulaklak. Nahihiya ko 'yong tinanggap.

Hindi na bago sa'kin ang makatanggap ng mga samu't saring regalo mula sa mga fans ko. Ang pinagtataka ko lang kung paano siya nakapasok dito. Gayong eksklusibo lang ito para sa mga katulad kong model at mahigpit ding ipinagbabawal makapasok ang hindi empleyado o hindi parte ng staff.

The show will start later, at 7:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. pa lang kaya laking gulat ko nang matanaw si Lisandro. Binati siya ng ibang mga staff. Pati na rin ng mga ibang modelong nadaanan niya. Pero wala siyang pinansin ni isa sa kanila. Diretso lamang ang mabigat niyang tingin sa'kin. Napalunok ako sa sarili ko.

His eyes drifted to the bouquet of flowers I was holding, then to the woman standing beside me. He clenched his jaw, then turned his stare back to me.

Nang makalapit siya sa akin, walang pasabi niyang kinuha ang bulaklak mula sa kamay ko. Tinapon niya ito sa basurahan at kinaladkad ako papasok sa dressing room ko.

Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang galit na galit niyang binalibag ang pintuan ng dressing room.

"L-Lisandro... b-bakit mo naman tinap—" hindi ko na nagawang tapusin ang sinabi ko dahil bigla niya akong sinigawan.

"Do you have any idea who that woman is?!" 

Galit niyang sigaw sa akin. Kinagat ko ang ilalim ng labi ko at yumuko.

"I-I'm s-sorry..." tanging nasabi ko sa napakaliit na tinig.

"That woman! T-That woman..." 

Batid kong nahihirapan siyang tapusin ang sariling salitai. Umawang ang mga labi niya, habang humahabol sa mabigat na paghinga. Tumalikod siya sa akin at marahas na sinipa ang lamesa sa loob ng dressing room.

Muli siyang humarap sa akin at itinuro ako. "You'll live with me after this fucking show. Sa akin ka na titira, Stella. Do you understand me? I can't take my eyes off you. You'll bear my child. Ipagbubuntis mo ang anak ko. I need to ensure your safety. So don't be stupid; stop accepting gifts from strangers! Worse, don't just talk to a stranger!"

Gulong-gulo ko siyang tiningnan sa mga mata niya.

"L-Lisandro, ano bang kinagagalit mo? Hindi na bago sa akin ang makatanggap ng bulaklak mula sa mga fan ko..."

"Are you sure that woman is your fan?" putol niya sakin.

"Ang sabi niya sa akin fan siya..."

"See? You're not fucking sure! You know what? You're stupid, and you're so gullible. Ang dali-dali mong utuin at paniwalain!" sabi niya habang padabog na lumabas ng dressing room ko.

I heaved a deep breath and sighed. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I immediately wiped them away. I can’t cry. Not today. I have a show later.

Hindi ka pwedeng umiyak, Stella! 

Wag ngayon.

But I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. I didn’t understand what made him so angry... Why was he so upset?

This show means everything to me! I can’t afford to fail. Alondra Garrido is the designer of the lingerie I’ll be modeling later! To be part of her summer lingerie collection show is a huge opportunity. She’s known as the best designer in the country; her work is even recognized internationally.

Kilala bilang tanyag na fashion designer si Alondra Garrido, kaya sobrang importante sa akin ang show na ito. Hindi ako pwedeng pumalpak! Ito rin ang unang beses na naimbitahan ako sa show niya.

“Dear, what happened? Ang pangit-pangit ng itsura mo ngayon,” Tito Max said, just having come back. “May nangyari ba habang wala ako? Bakit ganito ang mukha mo? Lunes pa lang, pero itsura mo parang biyernes santo na,” he added with a chuckle.

“Kinakabahan lang ako...” I lied.

“I know you, Stella, dear. Hindi ka kailanman kinabahan, at hindi ito ang first lingerie show mo.”

I sighed. “But this is the first time I’ll be part of Alondra Garrido’s summer collection show...”

Tito Max tied my natural blonde hair into a high ponytail, adding a bit of volume to the strands framing my face and exposing my collarbone.

I have a round face. My nose is small yet pointed, and my pouty lips give me a seductive look, while my hooded, natural blue-green eyes make me appear innocent. I have dewy skin. Like Mama, I have wide hips and a shapely behind, with breasts proportionate to my body.

I inherited my natural eye and hair color from Mama’s side. Our great-grandfather, Garett Gonzales, was Irish, and our great-grandmother, Josephine Gonzales, was half Caucasian and Filipina. Both sides of our family carry European blood.

Right now, I’m wearing a red-wine contrast lace-up front underwire lingerie set underneath my black robe.

Bago magsimula ang show ay inorient muna kami kung anong dapat naming gawin. Ifeatured itong show na ito kaya dapat maayos ang kakalabasan. Walang pwede pumalpak sa’ming lahat. Ako ang huling lalabas mamaya sa stage.

The show has started at exactly 7:00 p.m. Nagbigay muna ng mensahe si Miss. Alondra. She explains her inspiration for creating these lingerie sets for her 2025 summer collection.

Narinig ko ang palakpakan ng mga tao nang magsimula ang show mula rito sa backstage. Patay ang ilaw at ang tanging bukas na ilaw lang ay yung nasa stage. Lumabas na ang halos lahat ng model. Ako na lang ang hindi pa lumalabas. Pagtapos ni Olivia ay ako na ang susunod na lalabas.

Hinubad ko na ang roba ko at hinanda ang sarili. Confident naman ako sa katawan ko. Mataas ang takong ng suot kong sandals na katulad sa suot kong lingerie ay kulay pula rin.

Kahit madilim ay kita ko ang mabigat na tingin sa’kin ni Lisandro. Nakaupo siya sa pinakaharap ng stage. Kaya naman kitang-kita ko agad siya. Kinakausap siya ng katabi niya, na katulad niya ay businessman din. Pero ang mga mata niya ay hindi niya inaalis sa’kin. Nagtiim-bagang siya.

I swallowed hard and started to walk smoothly. I was able to twirl in the middle.

Just as I finished my twirl under the spotlight, a loud bang broke the silence. My heart jumped. Another bang followed, then many more shots echoed quickly, getting louder each time. Everyone started to panic.

The audience screamed and ran, chairs scraping and heels clicking on the floor. The other models froze for a moment, then ran backstage or hid. I was tense, but I couldn’t move fast.

Suddenly, the big light above me started shaking and sparks flew. It fell, almost hitting me.

Before it could, Lisandro grabbed me and pulled me close. He used his body to protect me. The heavy light hit the floor just inches from where I stood. Lisandro held me tight and helped me get down as gunshots continued nearby.

The floor scraped my knees and back, and my ears rang from the noise. I was scared, but Lisandro being there made me feel a little safer.

He saved me... he saved my life.

Dumating ang mga lalaki na pare-pareho ang kanilang mga suot na uniporme. Marahil bodyguard sila ni Lisandro. Tinulungan nila kaming dalawa. Nakasuporta si Lisandro sa bewang ko. 

I saw blood running down his forehead from a fresh cut—probably from the falling light. The red stain soaked his hair and slowly dripped down his face. I wasn’t sure if the cut was deep or shallow, but it was clear enough to see.

“Dalhin niyo siya sa Villa ko. Madali,” malamig na utos ni Lisandro sa mga tauhan niya. Habang ang kanyang braso ay nasa bewang ko pa rin.

May isa pang lalaki ang lumapit sa’ming. May binulong ito kay Lisandro.

“Sir, sinusundan na nila Grant ang sasakyan nila Thraia. Naubos na namin halos lahat ng tauhan kasama niya. Siguradong dadalawa na lang ang tauhan kasama niya sa loob ng sasakyan.”

I heard another shot—sharp and close. Then, suddenly, a fierce, burning pain exploded in my stomach. It was like a hot, sharp knife cutting deep inside me. The pain spread quickly, sharp and raw, making me gasp.

I felt warm blood trickle down, soaking my skin. My legs trembled and gave way. Everything around me blurred as I stumbled and fell against Lisandro’s chest.

My breath came fast and shallow. I wanted to scream or cry, but my throat tightened, like I couldn’t make a sound. I gripped Lisandro’s shirt with shaking hands, scared and weak.

For the first time, I saw worry in his eyes. The anger was gone. He looked at me with care and kindness, and my heart ached with how much I needed that.

Lisandro’s arms slammed around me like iron chains—unyielding, fierce, and possessive. There was no tenderness in his hold, only raw power and control. His breath came out in sharp, ragged bursts, fueled by a ruthless fire burning behind his cold, stormy eyes.

He was a predator in human form, every muscle taut and ready to strike. The chaos around us was nothing but a hunting ground to him. His gaze sliced through the panic like a blade, focused solely on wiping out any threat.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes,” he snarled, voice low and deadly. “I won’t let anyone touch you. If they come near, I’ll make them regret the second they were born.”

His fingers dug into my back with brutal strength, anchoring me, reminding me I was his—fragile, yes, but under his ruthless protection. The burning pain in my stomach was nothing compared to the storm raging in him, a dangerous beast ready to unleash hell.

I tried to steady my breath, but darkness clawed at my vision. His grip tightened once more, pulling me back from the edge.

Then, the world slipped away into black.