5 - Trouble, Again

VERENA CIELLE LEE

“Dito, Elle.”

“Ganyan.”

“Tingin sa kabila.” 

“That’s it!”

“Fierce look. ‘Yan!”

“Perfect!”

“Thirty-minute break, and we’ll continue another shot. Please prepare for the next attire.”

Agad akong inalalayan ni Reina pababa ng munting stage. Hawak niya ang kamay ko, habang ako naman ay maingat na hinahawakan ang laylayan ng suot kong gown—isang emerald green couture piece na may crystals sa dibdib at slit na halos abot hita.

The lights were hot, and the cameras even hotter, but I am the most sizzling. 

If I’m not on the runway, I’m busy with endorsements, modeling, and photoshoots. It’s a cycle I’ve grown used to. This is the life I’ve chosen, and I have to deal with it.

“Ang ganda mo kanina, Miss Cielle,” Reina whispered habang naglalakad kami patungo sa dressing room.

“Kanina lang ba? I’m always beautiful kaya! Are you trying to annoy me, Rei?” kunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya. Napatigil pa ako sa paglalakad dahil sa kanya. 

Napatigil din siya sa paglalakad at napakamot sa batok. “Ah, no, Miss Cielle. You’re always beautiful.” 

I smiled. “That’s what I like, Rei.” 

Muli kaming naglakad patungo sa dressing room and Rei with Freya, my stylist help me to get changed. They just changed my makeup style and clothes to wear, even though my hairstyle changed. In less than 20 minutes nagawa nilang baguhin ang lahat ng iyon. They’re such professionals, and they’re my staff. I bring them along whenever I go. 

Sa mundo ng pagmomodelo, bawal ang babagal-bagal na kilos. Lahat mabilis, lahat precise, lahat nasa ayos. Dahil kung hindi, mapag-iiwanan ka.

Palabas na sana kami ni Reina ng dressing room when the door suddenly opened and in walked a tall guy—lean, good posture, and with this boyish smile that instantly caught my attention.

He was holding a bouquet of yellow roses. Yup. My favorite.

Napakurap ako, almost unsure if I was imagining him. But no, he was real. And effortlessly striking.

His eyes were gray—soft, cloudy, and expressive, like they were always whispering something even in silence. His thick, perfectly shaped brows framed them well, and his lashes? Ridiculously long. The kind na kahit babae maiinggit. His pitch-black hair was tousled, like he either just got out of bed or casually ran a hand through it—and yet, he still looked like he walked straight out of a high-fashion magazine spread.

High-bridge nose, fair skin—flawless, no filter needed. Every feature looked sculpted to perfection. But still… si Rouge pa rin ang pinakagwapo para sa’kin. And I absolutely hate to admit that. Damnit.

Tumingin ako sa outfit niya. He was wearing a burgundy polo shirt—fitted, expensive-looking—and black slacks na not too formal but not too casual. Sakto lang. Then paired it with white sneakers na halatang branded din.

Simplicity, but with money written all over it.

Napairap ako nang makilala ko agad kung sino ang bagong saling panggulo ng araw ko. Of course—Keegan Aviel Mordecai. Sino pa nga ba?

He’s Rouge’s half-brother. And like every other Mordecai I know—except for that walking migraine na si Nikolai—they’re all born disgustingly good-looking—Okay, Nikolai too! He’s also handsome as hell. 

Pero kahit gaano pa siya kagwapo, hindi nito matatakpan ang pagiging istorbo niya sa buhay ko.

Keegan is also my age. Twenty-eight. Kaya feeling niya, bagay kami. Kaya feeling niya, entitled siyang dumidikit sa’kin like some lovesick puppy. Kaya feeling niya… may chance siya.

Spoiler alert: Wala.

“Hi, Ena!” bati pa niya with that ever-so-sweet, pa-cute smile. Ugh.

Umangat ang isa kong kilay. “Ena? H’wag kang gawa-gawa d’yan ng nickname, Keeg. Hambalusin kita e.”

Napangiti lang siya lalo, halatang sanay na sa pang-iinis ko. Inabot niya ang dala niyang bouquet ng yellow roses—my favorite, of course. Kaya kahit gusto ko siyang hambalusin, tinanggap ko pa rin. I mean, hello? Yellow roses. That’s non-negotiable.

“So,” he started, casually leaning against the wall like he owned the place. “Rouge told me you’re in town again. Thought I’d stop by. Dumaan ako sa inyo kanina, but Tita Mavy said you haven’t been home for two nights. So… what’s the drama now?”

Napatingin ako sa kanya, deadpan. “Naglayas ako. Masama ba ’yon?”

Keegan let out a low chuckle, halatang nae-enjoy ang sagot ko. “At your age? Naglalayas pa rin? Wow, rebelde era pa rin, huh?”

I put the bouquet on my dresser and crossed my arms. “Better than staying in that house full of secrets and fake smiles. At least dito, I get to breathe.”

Humakbang papalapit si Keegan at walang paalam na pinisil ang pisngi ko, dahilan para mapaatras ako nang bahagya. “You have me,” aniya, may kasamang pilyong ngiti. “You can stay in my condo while I’m away.”

Kumunot ang noo ko. Not because of the offer, but because I suddenly remembered—lagi naman siyang wala. Lagi siyang nasa ibang bansa para bantayan ang cruise ship business niya.

“Aalis ka na naman?” tanong ko, sinubukang huwag ipakita ang bahagyang disappointment. I mean, bakit ko ba ikalulungkot ‘yon? The f*ck I care?

“Aw, my Baby Ena is sad?” malambing itong napatawa. His eyes gleamed like they always do every time he sees me. “You can come with me if you want. Take a break and enjoy the sea with me. It’ll be fun. Just us.”

I rolled my eyes. “No, thanks. You may go now,

Keeg. I still have a lot of things to do. Don’t you have a yacht to chase or whatever?”

Gusto pa sanang makipagbiruan ni Keegan sa’kin pero tinawag na ako ng direktor. Keegan left as soon my work started.

Pagkatapos ng photoshoot, habang nagpupunas ako ng makeup, nagyaya ang mga katrabaho ko. “Exclusive party house daw mamaya,” sabi ng Barbie, she’s cute though, but she’s not gorgeous as Barbie, still she’s a beauty. Moderate I could tell. 

“Konti lang ang guests. Drinks, pool, chill lang.”

We’re all models, after all. And sometimes, kapag bugbog na sa trabaho, party is our way of surviving the pressure. So I nodded and grabbed my things.

Nakarating na kami sa isang exclusive village sa bandang south—maayos ang daan, tahimik ang paligid, pero habang papalapit kami sa dulo ng kalsada, unti-unti nang naririnig ang malakas na bass ng tugtugan. 

The final house on the dim street stood out like a private club, glowing with neon lights in blues, purples, and pinks. The massive, modern glass mansion boasted three floors, a mini waterfall, and valet service—the kind of party where everyone was somebody, and if not, you just had to fake it.

Pagbaba namin ng sasakyan, may mga naka-all-black na staff na agad lumapit to check the guest list. No problem. Kilala ang mga kasama ko. We got in like royalty.

Pagkapasok pa lang, bumungad na agad ang crowd. Some were dancing, others were drinking on sleek couches by the poolside. The entire place smelled like expensive perfume, liquor, and trouble.

“Damn,” bulong ng isa sa mga kasama ko, si Weasley. “This is not just a party. This is the party.”

Napangisi ako habang tinatanggal ko ang jacket ko, revealing my sleek, fitted dress underneath. “Then let’s make sure they remember us tonight.”

Barbie, Weasley, Agatha, and I were partying on the dance floor near the stage and the pool. Nakabantay lang sa’min si Weasley because he’s the only guy in the group—but he’s not straight. Though he’s handsome just like the others, he does modelling for a living.

And while partying, may isang lalaking lumapit sa’min. He’s Cassius Montereal. The owner of the house and the host of the party. He’s a well-known model. The richest. He owns a clothing line company, and it sells very well.

“Hey,” bati niya. We greeted back. 

Nag-usap sila sandali ni Weasley at nagtawanan.

“God, he’s the real definition of THD!” Agatha shrieked. 

“THD?” tanong ko as I grabbed the champagne glass from a waiter who was roaming around.

"Total Hotness Deluxe!" sabay-sabay na sigaw nina Agatha at Barbie, sabay tili na parang high school ulit kami.

Napailing ako habang tinatawanan sila. I took a sip from my champagne glass habang palihim na pinanood si Cassius. 

Cassius exuded effortless charm and style as he laughed with Weasley, wearing a partly unbuttoned silk black shirt, crisp white pants, and expensive loafers—his watch alone looked like it could cover a year's worth of groceries.

Tumingin siya bigla sa'kin, and I swear, I felt my knees almost give in. His eyes were a piercing shade of emerald—matalas, mapanuri, pero may halong lambing.

He lifted his glass slightly in my direction, like a subtle toast.

“Is he—?” tanong ko kay Barbie na katabi ko, pero bago pa siya sumagot, bigla nang tumabi si Cassius sa’kin.

“I don’t think we’ve met formally,” sabi niya with that smooth, low voice. “Cassius.”

“I know,” sagot ko, deadpan. “It’s your house. Your name’s literally on the gate.” I smiled coyly after, and he chuckled.

“Witty,” he murmured. “And gorgeous.”

Nagkatinginan kami ni Cassius—matagal, tahimik, at punong-puno ng tensyon. Sanay na akong makisalamuha sa mga may itsura’t pera, pero iba siya. ‘Yong tingin niya? Parang alam niyang kaya niyang makuha kahit sino—pero pipiliin lang niya kung sino ang gusto niya. And right now, it felt like he was choosing me.

Nakakainis. Nakakatunaw. Nakakabaliw.

He offered me a drink, his fingers brushing lightly against mine as I took the glass. There was a spark—maliit lang, pero ramdam ko. We moved through the house, the music fading behind us as he gave me a private tour. The place was even more stunning on the inside—all sleek marble, ambient lighting, and walls lined with art that screamed both money and taste.

“You don’t belong in a crowd,” he said casually, opening a sliding glass door that led to a private balcony. “You’re the kind of people who notice even when you don’t speak.”

Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Was he flirting? Damn it. I didn’t come here for this. I shouldn’t even be letting this happen. Pero bakit ba parang ang hirap umiwas?

He stood close behind me, the heat of his presence grazing my back. I felt his breath near my ear.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and steady, almost intimate.

“I’m not drunk, if that’s what you’re checking,” I replied, turning to meet his eyes.

Before I could even process what was happening, Cassius leaned in and pressed his lips against mine.

It was sudden. Bold. Intoxicating.

But instinct-or—maybe confusion-kicked in, and I pushed him away gently. Bahagya siyang napaatras, his face still close to mine. His gaze softened, gray eyes searching mine, but the playful smirk never left his sinfully perfect lips.

“Why did you make me stop?” he asked, voice low, husky… almost dangerous.

Hindi ako makasagot agad. I hitched, and tugged a playful smile as I traced my fingers from his neck to his chest without leaving his stare.

But as I did, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. My vision blurred for a second. I looked down at the champagne glass in my hand, confused.

That’s… strange.

I’m a party girl. Alam na alam ko kung ilang baso ng alak bago ako malasing. Mataas ang alcohol tolerance ko. 

Mukhang napansin ni Cassius ang pagtingin ko sa champange glass ko kaya kinuha niya iyon at pinatong sa kung saan, then he grabbed my head and kissed my lips hungrily.

Wala sa sarili kong tinugunan ang halik niya. I felt hot. Literally. Like I’m burning something that I can’t explain and his kisses makes me drowned.

Ramdam kong binuhat niya ako paakyat at namalayan ko na lang na inihiga na niya ako sa kama. 

My eyes are getting blurred, and I can’t see anything aside from him taking his clothes off.

No.

Panic crept in, slow and slithering, as I felt him lean down again, his lips trailing along my neck. A moan slipped past my lips—unbidden, hoarse. My body responded, but my mind was screaming.

This isn’t right. Something’s wrong.

Why can’t I move?

Why can’t I think?

As before, Cassius could reach my private and most sensitive part of my body, we heard a loud siren outside the house.

“Shit.” Rinig kong sigaw ni Cassius. Nagmamadali itong nagbihis at umalis na lang ng basta-basta at iniwan akong mag-isa.

Gusto kong maupo o tumayo para umalis rin but I can’t move my body. Nagpagulong lang ako sa kama hanggang sa marinig ko ang pag-ring ng cellphone ko.

Fortunately, I was able to reach my phone from my sling bag and answered it.

“Cielle, where are you?”

It was familiar. Deep. Cold. A bit worried.

Rouge.

Napakit ako nang makaramdam ng panghihilo. My breathing becoming rigged and I can’t breathe properly.

“Cielle?” narinig kong muling sigaw niya, this time sharper, panicked. “Why are you not answering? What was happening?”

“H-Help…”

“Cielle?! Cielle, I’m coming—don’t hang up, okay? Stay with me. Tell me where you are.”

Hindi ko na alam kung nakasagot pa ako. Everything started to fade. Nangingitim na ang gilid ng paningin ko habang ang cellphone ay unti-unting nalalaglag mula sa kamay ko. 

Nararamdaman ko na lang ang luhang dumadaloy sa gilid ng pisngi ko.

Please, Rouge... come fast…