By the way, I am your Sexy Boss.

Chapter 3 : After five years...

Chapter 3: After five years...

“More girl power, Keana! Yes, like that!” The photographer hyped me up as he took more shots of me. My eyes are already tired with all the blinding flashes of light, but I had to endure it as I also took different poses. When he was already satisfied with the number of pictures he has taken, he clapped his hands. People think modelling is easy, but it actually is not. You have to be very creative with your poses while making sure you still look refined and elegant. I also have to make sure that a lot of angles are taken, and I have to do this silent coordination with the photographers. This is mentally exhausting, and imagine staying in a very uncomfortable position for a few minutes as well, making your muscles feel tensed and such, “and that’s a wrap!”

I was only doing a photoshoot now since I have already been done with my runway modelling events. I made sure to put it all under a wrap. Mabuti nga at natapos na ang aking kontrata sa kompanyang ito dahil babalik na ako sa Pilipinas. I was only modelling for fun, and to improve myself, I guess? Also, it boosted my confidence a lot, something I lacked growing up because I used to be fat and ugly. Self-love was the key, it was hard accepting myself and trying to figure out a way to be better. But I managed. And now, I know I am sexy and beautiful. All it took was one man to make me who I am today, and it is that asshole Maverick Maximillio. I wonder what that jerk is up to nowadays? Not like I care. I have to add him to the priority list of the people who I want to get back with once I am back in the Philippines. He broke my heart, and I guess it shall be my turn to break his.

“Well done, Keana!”

Bumuntong-hininga naman ako at saka ako naglakad papunta sa may mesa sa tabi ng studio at saka ako kinuha ang aking tumbler at uminom ng lemon juice. “I guess this will be our last photoshoot.” Figaro, the photographer, appeared to be disheartened. Outside the studio, we were good friends, but of course, we have to be professionals when at work. This is a rule and a must.

I faked a smile, “yes, Figaro. I am very sorry. I have to go back to the Philippines since I already got my bachelorette’s degree, and I have to manage all of my family’s businesses since my older brother has been elected as the new town mayor, and he cannot shoulder all the responsibilities. In fact, this is also the very reason why I took BS Economics.”

“Alright, alright. When is your flight?” Figaro asked. The rest of the crew were already fixing the studio already, and a makeup artist came to me. I simply dismissed her with my hand, gesturing her that I can remove the makeup by myself. She seems to understand that and she left without a word.

I turned my attention to Figaro after, and smiled, “tomorrow.”

“So fast, is there no farewell party? We will miss you.” He sighed, “now, I will be having a trouble again looking for a new model for my other themes and projects.” Umiling siya, “are you really going now?”

“Yes, Figaro. And for the farewell party, I am not throwing one anymore since I already had enough of parties. I graduated also from being the party girl,” I chuckled. “It was nice to be acquainted with you, Figaro, when you scouted me back then, three years ago, I had low self-esteem, but thanks to you, I am now confident and independent. You know how much that means to me, right?”

Figaro smiled, “of course, Keana. You are beautiful, inside and outside.” He pulled me and hugged me, he was already sniffing as if he was trying to divert his attention from crying. “Keep in touch?”

“Will do.”

And with that, we left the studio. Dumiretso muna ako sa changing room at saka ako nagbihis na. Iniwan ko ang aking kasuotan na bestida sa may sampayan at saka lumabas na nang tuluyan sa modeling studio. Sumakay ako sa aking kotse pagkatapos ang ilang sandali, and I drove to my home.

When I was home already, I saw my mother packing some of my things. She is a Hawaiian girl, and she rarely comes to the Philippines, only on important events. When she noticed me, she smiled and approached me. “Still working on your last day here on Hawaii, huh?”

“Yes, Mom.” I laughed. Sa kaniya ko namana ang aking mga asul na mata. Isa siyang Amerikana, she also had a golden brunette hair, and I wish I inherited that since it was beautiful, and her hair were curly as well, like mine. “Thanks for helping me pack my things, are you sure you will not also come to Philippines even if it is just for a week? I am sure Dad will be delighted to have you again.”

“Oh, no, no. Karlos will surely be busy again with everything, and we haven’t seen each other personally for years, I think it will be very awkward. I like my life here, Keana. Hawaii is my home.” She smiled at me, “you’ve grown to be a very beautiful woman, Keana... I am so proud to call myself your mother.”

“Oh, come on, Mom.” We both chuckled, “promise to pay a visit in the Philippines, okay?”

“Alright...” She smiled.

The situation of my father and mother is quite peculiar. They aren’t divorced, but they are apart. They haven’t even talked for years already. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, and I no longer want to pry. But even though their set-up is like that, hindi sila naghahanap ng ibang partner o karelasyon. I guess you can say they are married, but single? I do not know. Like I said, it is peculiar, or complicated.

“Anyway, it is almost dinner time. I have prepared a feast, even if it is just the both of us here, since it will be our last dinner together and who knows when is the next,” my mother sighed. Tumungo naman na kami agad sa dining hall ng bahay upang kumain. It was just the two of us in the house, pero may mga kasambahay naman at hardinero na pumupunta rito tuwing araw. Pero umuuwi rin sila. They aren’t stay-in, so basically, it is just me and her.

Gaya ng sinabi ni Mom, she really did prepare a feast. She is a good cook. Actually, she and my father met in a resort here in Hawaii where my mother used to work before as the head chef. Nagustuhan ng aking ama ang luto niya, kaya naman agad na pinahanap ni Papa sino ang tagaluto. He did not expect it to be a beautiful lady who is also of his age, and that is how he had ‘love at first sight’, but that was all in the past. I think the spark between them has died already, ever since I was birthed. I do not really know exactly what happened, and I do not want to pry on their personal business. Basta ang alam ko, napagdesisyunan ni Mom na bumalik na dito sa Hawaii when I was already four, and ever since, dito na siya tumira mag-isa. She is an orphan, so, it was just her. She also does not like the extravagant and grandeur lifestyle of my father, I guess this is one of the reasons why she does not feel comfortable in the Philippines. She prefers the nature, the silence, the calm, and the peace. I guess this is quite breaking the stereotypes too, since typically, foreigners are seen to be ‘filthy rich’ in comparison to being a Filipino. This is the general belief, kaya tuwing may Pinoy o Pinay na nakakapangasawa ng banyaga, laging sinasabi na may kababayan na namang nakahapon sa kahirapan.

My mom lives a simple life. Ayaw nga sana niya na magkaroon ng kasambahay at katulong din, ngunit mapilit si Dad, at walang magawa si Mom kundi ang sumunod na lang sa kagustuhan ni Dad. Sa pagkakaalam ko, kuwento rin sa akin ni Yaya Teresa na ang isa talaga rin sa rason bakit umalis si Mom sa Pilipinas ay dahil hindi tugma ang pananaw nila ni Dad. I guess different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences is the main reason why.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga nakahain na pagkain. Spaghetti Bolognese, Carbonara, some Filipino dishes like adobong baboy, sinigang, brown rice, some vegetable salads, side dishes, appetizers, and more.

I grinned and ate the food with my mother who just watched me with sad and sentimental eyes.

“Mom, you can come with me if you want, I am sure Dad will be very pleased too.” I tried to encourage her, “I don’t like leaving you here all by yourself.”

“I will think about it, but for now, Keana, you go first.” Ngumiti si Mom, “if Karlos overworks you when you will finally take over the businesses, tell me. He will hear a word from me.” May diin ngayon sa kaniyang boses, at natawa naman ako nang bahagya.

“I will,” we both chuckled again.

Nag-usap pa kami, hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. When we were done, I helped Mom to clean the table and wash the dishes. After that, we both stayed still at the living room of the house, snuggled on each other’s arms, comfortable in each other’s presence. We watched a Netflix movie in the big flatscreen television that was attached on the wall. I felt safe and sound, I felt at home and at ease. I closed my eyes and fell to dreamland.

When I opened my eyes, it was already the next day and it was already time to prepare since I have a flight to catch at 9 sharp.