A DAY before the concert of Presly, Andrius took a walk in the park. Carrying his camera, he took lots of shots of the scenery. When he felt hungry, he went to an open restaurant.
Carrying a tray of cheeseburgers and a large soda, he finds an available seat. He happened to see a woman who is seated in a corner. He approached the woman’s place to partake at the table.“Excuse me. Can I join—” he was shocked when the woman turned around. She’s no other than, Sam. “You!” he put down the tray and sat down in front of her.“Are you following me?” She knocked over the tray of her French fries.He unwrapped his burger. “Why should I follow you? Are you famous?”She frowned, took a deep breath, and pouted. She then looked in the other direction.“And you already said that we’re even. Why do you feel intimidated seeing me?” he asked.Instead of responding, she just sipped on her soda and stood up.Andrius looked up at her. “You’re leaving?”“Yes. I might lose my temper and slap you again.”He stood up. “Wait. Why are you like that to me?” He smiled mischievously. “Does your abdomen got hurt also last night?” he asked he knew that it was his true feeling, but he just wants to pester the girl.Sam laughed and blushed. “It’s just a job. Wait, why are you personalizing it? Are you still fantasizing about me, until now?”And that hit him.“Isn’t it a part of your job?” he asked, teasingly. “I tell you, woman, covering your body with clothes doesn't change the fact that you're naked in front of men's eyes.”“Bastard!” she raised her hand, but he stopped her from doing what she wanted. She then pulled her hand away. “I don’t want to see your fucking face anymore inside that club!” she said, angrily.Andrius laughed sarcastically. “And you think I have plans to go back there?” He shook his head, “It’s just a waste of money to pay someone like you.”Clenching her palms, and holding back her tears, Sam ran away. And Andrius wanted to blame himself for being rude to her.“Damn,” he cussed.SAM’S vision got blurry because of continuous crying. She can’t blame the man for judging her. In the nature of her work, no one will believe that she is a virgin.She graduated from college and it’s not impossible for her to find a decent job, however, she was already used to her work as a dancer. One thing is, she was paid big time. In case she can’t find her father, she will be able to bring home a lot of money to her home country one day and will just look to her relatives in Cebu.According to her mother, her father loves to dance and sing. She asked many clubs, but no one knows Robert Johansson. She almost loses hope that he would find him again.“Miss, are you all right?” A man approached her, wiped her tears, and sat beside her. “I saw you at Peregrine Club.” The man presses his body to her. And Sam already predicted what the man wants.She suddenly stood up and started to walk away.“Hey, miss!” the man followed her. “I’m just trying to befriend you.”“Befriend, huh?” she shook her head. “If you want to have some fun, look for someone else!” she turned her back away from him. She’s not dumbed not to predict what the guy wants."Calm down, girl."She faced him and put a hand on her waist. “Won’t you stop bothering me?”"What are you talking about?"She clenched her right palm and threw a punch at the man’s face. And he almost fell. Before he could touch her, she kicked him and run away.The man did not follow her again. She didn’t stop running until she was completely away from that man. When she stopped, she leaned against the wall. She cried again.If it weren’t for her work at the club, men wouldn’t look down on her that much.And as the man she slapped at the club told her, even if she covers her body with clothes, it doesn't change the image that she’s naked in front of men’s eyes.SAM AND HELEN are avid fans of international Russian musician, Presley. His ability to play the violin is unbeatable. Even though the ticket was expensive, they still did their best to get to his presentation at the Silver Dust Hotel. Many people attended it, mostly celebrities.They have enough money to get a good seat. For over an hour, the famous singer serenades them. The music was surreal. They felt like they were on cloud nine. And many got emotional as he convey his masterpieces.After his performance, Presley thanked his friends.Sam couldn’t believe that the friend Presley mentioned was Andrius Novitch—his male customer in the back room of Peregrine Club.“Why?” asked Helen when she noticed that she seems restless in her chair.“It’s him,” she muttered.“Him?”“He’s the one who insulted me earlier.”“Oh. My Gosh!” Helen covered her mouth, “He’s the one you punched?”She shook her head. “No. That’s different.”“Wait, could you explain it.” Helen was confused as she was still looking where Andrius is.“Do you remember the guy I slapped? It’s him.”“My gosh!” Helen gasped and covered her mouth.“We met earlier at a restaurant.” Her voice cracked. “He insulted me.”“Hah!... Well, your fault. You shouldn’t have slapped him.”“Wow… so, the blame is on me, now.”“Shh! They might hear us,” said Helen and put an upside finger between her lips.She then stopped talking and just glared at the man.“So, he was Presley’s friend?” Helen poked her, and looked at her, meaningfully.“Oops! Don’t look at me like that. If you are thinking that I’m going to apologize to him just so we can get closer to Presley, I’m sorry… but I can’t.”Helen just shrugged.“I’m still mad at him,” said Sam.“Enough. That guy shouldn’t spoil your mood. It will be a waste of money if you will get home angry.” Helen returned her attention to the musician.“I would also take this opportunity to thank the owner of Silver Dust Hotel, Mr. Robert Johansson, popularly known as Mr. Silver Johansson,” said Presley.People around gave the man a round of applause as he climbed up to the stage. He reached out for the microphone to give a word.Sam was deafened, not because of the loud noise from the crowd but by the voice of Mr. Johansson. She can’t breathe. She can’t move. Her whole body shivered. She wanted to scream, but she can’t.It had been a long time and she never thought she would find what she was looking for. She did not take her eyes off the person she had been looking for and now she had found him.The old man's speech ended, but nothing came into her brain. When she gained strength, she stood up and hurried out.Helen caught up with her in the elevator before it closed.“Why?’ Helen asked, confusedly.“I’ve found him,” she said, and tears began to flow from her eyes.“Who?” Helen asked.“My father,” she replied.“Who is he?”“Robert Johansson, the owner of the Silver Dust Hotel.”The Silver Dust Hotel is one of the finest hotels in Las Vegas. Aside from that, it was a hotel for elites, it was also where well-known musicians and singers often performed.After more than a year of staying in Las Vegas, it was her first time entering the hotel. It never crossed her mind that the famous Silver Johansson and her father, Robert Johansson are just the same. The name Silver Johansson is famous in the city and its invaluable wealth, but she hasn’t seen him in a picture.She still feels intense anger for her father, but she can’t deny the fact that she badly wanted to hug him and introduce herself to him as his own child. Many questions troubled her mind. Why did he never return when he promised to? If he did come back, why didn’t he scour the whole Philippines to see them? With his wealth, she knew that it was possible.Does he have his own family here in Las Vegas that’s why he never returned to them?THE NEXT DAY, Sam went to the Silver Dust Hotel. Now that she had found her father, she would not prolong the waiting just to meet him and ask him about his reasons. He had so many arrears with her and to her mother and she wanted to slap her father.After the receptionist called Mr. Johansson’s secretary, she then gives the number of the old man’s office—the fifty-fifth floor.When she was there, the secretary asked her questions, “what can I do for you?”“I want to see my—Mr. Johansson,” she replied.“And you are?”“Samantha Marie Johansson.”The secretary frowned. “Are you related to my boss?” she asked.Sam just looked at her. And the secretary’s jaw dropped, eyes questioning, and glanced at the logbook to the side.“Does Mr. Johansson expect you today?”“No. I intend to surprise him,” she said.Marcy was even more confused. She then opened the locket that hung around her neck and showed it to the woman. When Marcy saw the familiar face of her boss, she then pointed the hallway toward the office of Mr. Johansson.She then headed to it. At the end of the short hallway is Mr. Johansson’s office. When the computerized door opened, she immediately saw her father. When the man noticed her, he suddenly put down his mobile phone. Seems to have seen a ghost in her being.“Luna!” the man’s voice echoed in the corner of his office as he uttered her mother’s name.“Luna…” Mr. Johansson repeated, weeping. He opened both hands to embrace her.She stepped back. She shivers. She should not be discouraged. She had a reason for going there and she had no intention of not doing so.“I’m Samantha Marie Johansson. Your daughter to Luna whom you abandoned.” There was a tremor in her voice full of resentment. And she had no intention of hiding from her father the anger she left.“My daughter?” He approaches her. “My child! I didn’t intend to forsake you. I know that I have a child with Luna, but I thought… Luna dies before giving birth.” His shoulder dropped as he sat in the swivel chair in front of his desk.She shook her head.“I returned to Cebu just like I promised. But she was not there anymore. If you’re thinking that I abandoned you and your mother, then you’re wrong. We searched the whole of Cebu. I lived there for a long time.” She can feel the sadness in the old man’s voice. “One day, a burned body of a woman was found near the favorite place your mom. Everyone thought it was her remains.”Her tears began to fall. If only her mother was alive… if only she knew that her father never abandoned her.“I’ve accepted that it was Luna for a long time.”Sam was stunned.“My mom fled from Cebu before her bump grew bigger. She was afraid her parents would find out about her condition.”“But they did, I told them.” Her father stood up. “I’m sorry, my child.” He hugged her.She pushed him, slightly. She looked up at him and suddenly burst into tears when she saw her own eyes in his father’s eyes. She bears a strong resemblance to her late mother, except for the color of her eyes. Her brown eyes, she inherited from her father.“I only loved Luna. I love her and continuously love her memories.”She leaned her head on her father’s chest and hugged him, tightly.“Dad?”“Give me a chance now, my princess, to make you feel the love that I have long wanted to be felt by your mother, but I failed to find you both.”AFTER TWO weeks, Andrius received a call from Mr. Johansson’s secretary. According to Marcy, Mr. Johansson’s secretary, the old man wants him to do something. It’s a portfolio of his pictures. Andrius was surprised by the news that Mr. Johansson had a child. And he wanted to ask Marcy about it, but it seemed like the woman was in a hurry.Since his girlfriend, Beatrice, was no longer busy, Andrius flew with her to Las Vegas a day after Marcy called him. When he met Mr. Johansson again, there was a trace of happiness in the old man’s eyes, unlike before. While eating a delicious lunch, the old man told his sad love story to him. But the old man had already accepted everything and found out that he had a daughter.When Andrius found out that the old man’s first love resembled his daughter, he was very anxious to see her.Samantha Marie Johansson was the name. If the mother of Mr. Johansson is beautiful, then his daughter will definitely be beautiful too.After dinner, Marcy accompanied
“HEY! What’s wrong?” asked Beatrice when Andrius entered their suite. The woman was only wearing a loose t-shirt.The young man sat at the end of the chaise lounge. Beatrice approached him. she knelt behind him and placed her chin on his shoulder. She licked his ear and inserted one hand inside his t-shirt.Suddenly, he stood up. The woman almost lost her balance. She shouted. “What’s the matter with you?”“Look, Beatrice, I’m sorry. Just give me a little time to hear myself think,” he begged.“Tell me what’s bothering you, then.”He closes his eyes. “Please…” it’s all he could say.The woman then stumps her feet as she walked away and sat in front of the dresser. She combed her hair. Andrius looked at her for seconds before the man went out of their room.The dim light illuminated the long hallway. The surroundings were gloomy. He headed to the lobby. Apart from the old woman sitting and reading the newspaper and some receptionists, there was no one else there. He felt even sadder.H
DINNER was shared by Andrius, Beatrice, Mr. Johansson, and Samantha.“How’s the pictorial?” asked Mr. Johansson with a smile written on his lips. “I’m excited to see the portfolio of my daughter.”“We still have some to do, Dad,” said Sam, sipping her glass of wine.Andrius took glanced at Sam and then turned his gaze away from the woman. While Beatrice silently watched as she ate. The old man just nodded and continued eating. Later, Mr. Johansson turned to Beatrice.“Your fiancé is the finest photographer I’ve ever met.”A proud smile flashed on Beatrice’s lips. She wiped her lips with the table napkin and sipped on her wine. “You’re absolutely right, Mr. Johansson.” She then looked at them. “Andrius is magnificent and I’m proud of him.”Mr. Johansson nodded, “I know. I hope my daughter could find someone like Andrius,” he said.Beatrice’s lips rosed. “Let’s drink to that,” she said and raised her glass.The three of them also raised their glasses. Andrius's hand touched Sam’s hand a
“IS there any problem, Andrius?” asked Samantha. They were inside her father’s office. She was sitting behind the desk and Andrius was in front. They were alone.He nodded, “yes,” he replied."Everything seemed so well yesterday.""But we know that the tension was there,” he said.She couldn’t answer. There’s truth in his words. She also had a hard time hiding her feelings yesterday. Andrius is just meters away from her but seemed so far because she couldn’t move even if she wanted to. And Beatrice was there, watching."One more thing, you haven't forgiven me yet. Do you think we'll have a nice working relationship?"“What’s hard about you, you take things personally,” she said."I can't help it. There's magic in photography. And so is the relationship between the photographer and the model. Do you think that magic will work if the model is furious with the photographer?” he asked.“That’s why you’re leaving? It’s because I can’t forgive you. Is that your reason? Or there’s something
ANDRIUS AND BEATRICE entered the dim-lit hall of a certain poet’s bar while holding each other hand. They were welcomed by the brightly colored detailed aesthetics which give life to what seemed like an oversized living room. There were board games, magazines, and books everywhere.A brown-haired guy is reading a poem by Shakespeare on the stage. Some are drinking while listening. Some are reading books and magazines from page to page. Andrius get a glass of wine on the counter while Beatrice, who was a bookworm, picked one book from the shelf.He followed her fiancé where she was seated, carrying two glasses of wine. The woman put the book away. She dipped her index finger into the wine and licked it. he then just looked at her.“Andrius…” she suddenly looked in the other direction.“Is something bothering you, Beatrice?”“How much do you love me, Andrius?”He opened his mouth, but he did not answer. Now that he has fallen in love with Sam, it is already hard for him to say if he lov
A VARIETY of special effects erupted along with the seemingly uplifting music. The dancers came out on stage and to the beat of the strange music, they showed unparalleled elegance.From above, it seems that the most beautiful woman of all has fallen. Wearing her thin gown, she pretended to be a goddess who came down to earth to spread beauty.The voice-over rang out. “Silver Dust proudly presents its new star, Samantha Marie Johansson!”To the rhythm of strange music, Samantha took off her thin gown and exposed her beautiful body to the audience in her two-piece. Along with the other dancers, Samantha appeared on stage.In about two hours, Silver Dust’s biggest presentation that year also ended.Dressed with a fur coat, Sam came down the stage. She did not expect the press to approach her for an interview. Behind her was her dad who was so proud of her.She received flowers from the audience. Some asked for autographs. She was indeed touched by the warmth shown by the people. When th
THE NEXT DAY, Samantha doesn’t know how to face the man. “For Pete’s sake, she's your boyfriend... nothing to be ashamed of,” she whispered.She got off her bed and went straight to the bathroom to take a bath—it’s her daily routine when she wakes up every morning.She took a deep breath and exhaled before she exited her room. Her eyes darted to the vintage wall clock and it was just five in the morning. She continued to walk through the kitchen to get some water.As she enters the kitchen her eyes widened when she saw Andrius wearing a cute apron—her hello kitty apron, while flipping something in the pan.The man looked at her as she walks closer. Andrius smiled at her. “Good morning, babe,” he greeted.Putting the incident last night at the back of her head, she walked closer to him. she gave him a peck on his lips. Andrius seemed stunned by what she did but get back to his senses immediately as she talks. “What’s that?”“An omelet for breakfast,” he replied and took another peck on
SAMANTHA keeps blabbering things when she went inside her suite. She knew that she was acting weird again but it was her personality. Even if she was a bit afraid that Andrius might turn her off because of her attitude, she still maintains her uncompromising posture.Andrius couldn’t believe that Samantha has a different side. That the woman acted like a teenager who threw tantrums at her boyfriend. He found it amusing. He’s not mad. She just wanted to tease her girlfriend and try to study her attitude.Guess, he’ll do the coaxing now. He smiled and shook his head and knocked on Sam’s door. He attempted to twist the knob, but it was locked on the inside. He can’t stop himself but smile again.She’s adorable, she thought. It was just their first day, but many things happened between them.“Sam, babe. Will you please open the door?”Samantha on the other side stumps her feet towards the door. She twisted the knob and pulled it. She crossed her arms, “what?” she asked as she raised her l