I was patiently sitting waiting for us to reach where we were going but I was surprised when it stopped in an open place. There were a lot of people, enjoying walking, eating together, kids playing and more. That's why I looked at him confused.
"Why are we here?" I looked at him buttered. "What if someone will recognize me here? Are you out of your mind? It's not the time yet."
I was scared that someone would notice me here and attack me, mostly because the media and it's been in the news knew that I was just around. His actions make me scared all the time, is this betrayal? it's still not the right time for me to show up. And at the same time he is the only one at my side right now, how can I be sure that he can protect me? And if he is willing to protect me? I don't want to be in Trina's situation, Avriell will totally cry.
"I know and so you need to wear this," He took the paper bag from behind and gave it to me.
Inside of the paper bag there is a jacket, a black hat and a shade. He wants me to wear this on training? Did he even try to find a better place and so I don't need to wear these clothes?
"I will not be comfortable wearing this while training! And in this place? Really? You are making my blood high! Omygod!" Disgusted, I took them out one by one and looked at them so annoyed.
It doesn't look like a brand, it looks like it was just bought from a normal store which he was good at. Choosing not high quality clothes, it was hard for people to recognize.
"You are not here for training, don't be so excited. We are just starting to boost your inner strength so wear that all and follow me." He also wears a hat and mask before moving out of the car.
I couldn't do anything but put on everything he gave me and went out to follow him as he said. I have no clue or anything why we are here, I was just following him quietly.
I was just behind him and silently followed him. I couldn't help but to look around while walking, it's a nice scenery. I love it so much, I miss this kind of simple life. The air was so relieving, touching my whole body. Maybe this will be a good idea before I go into hard training. It's been a long time, my body needs to have a nice warm up.
"We are here," He stopped, causing me to bump into his back. "Don't waste your time staring, looking at a non important things, focus on this."
He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the crowd. I can't quite figure out why this area was so crowded and cheering. What's going on? I fixed my hat when he let go of me. I looked at him so mad because why do we need to be here? In the middle of a noisy crowd, it was so stressful. My ears can't take this long.
"Don't look at me, look at him." He said before looking in the front straight.
I was confused about what he said but I also looked at what he was referring to. I don't know how to react when I saw the 'Him' he was pointing at.
It was Ruiz's kneeling down to a woman. I can't be wrong, that's the girl they were with when we met in the supermarket. I can't forget that, it was really her. So that girl was really his girlfriend, my thoughts were always correct. I can't deny that the girl was beautiful, she had a nice and kind face, had a taste in clothing and more. She was just unlucky to have a sister-in-law like Gezel. I just hope that what happened to me was not going to happen to her, she looks innocent and has a sweet girl vibe.
Ruiz was proposing to her with a tearing eyes.
A loud cheering of fans started to scream when Ruiz asked the girl to marry her.
I don't know why I suddenly feel hurt. What is happening to me? My eyes started to blur because of the sudden pain that came. Which is, I should not feel this anymore. We've been separated for a long time and he deserved to marry a girl he likes. Maybe I feel just unfair because I'm almost getting married. I was already on the top of happiness and excitement but it was just ruined because of that one night. I remember how Ruiz proposed to me with all his heart but now he was doing it with another girl.
I was about to go back to the car because I didn't want to see anything else and I felt like my knees started to be weak but Clyden suddenly stopped me.
"There is more." He made me look back again and that is the time that the girl said yes to Ruiz.
Ruiz put on the ring and smiled at her but what he did next made my chest tighten. He lovingly kisses her with a smile and teary eyes. The screams around us got even louder when after Ruiz kissed her, the woman hugged her happily. But I thought it was because of the woman's hug but it turned out because of Gezel's unexpected presence. Gezel's face was so happy for them, she even hugged the girl.
"What a lie expression," I whispered, shaking my head and quickly wiping away my tears.
As I wiped my tears, I turned around and gently pushed the people blocking my path to go away. Clyden followed without hesitation and word until we got back to the car.
"I never see any guilt on Gezel's face for dropping you in the media." He said putting on his seatbelt. "She was so happy, did you see it?"
I nodded in madness. "And I hate it."
"Good." He was proud of what I answered. "How about the proposal? Last time he was acting like he wanted to protect you, but now proposing to someone? Feelings change quickly, a really good actor right?"
"I don't care about the proposal and I didn't give any meaning of what he does to me." I also put on my seatbelt and took off the jacket I was wearing while refraining my hand to get shaken. "Let's go, what you did was a waste of time."
"I just gave you motivation before I started to train you." He reasoned with a smirk before starting the engine and driving.
I guess, this was the best warm up.
Not a single word came out of my mouth until we reached a place I was not familiar with. A man bowed and opened the door for us to enter, as like always I just followed him from behind.
The proposal was still fresh in my mind but I was trying to focus on why we are here. All the thoughts I was thinking flew away when we went on the second floor. I was so amazed, the surroundings are very spacious and each side has a mirror. There are also exercise and training items.
"Just the two of us?" I looked at him with a asking look, I didn't see anyone else, it was me and him only. "Where is the one who is going to train me?"
"The man in front of you." He smiled before getting the chair to sit in the middle.
"You?" I can't believe what he just responded to. "How can a man train me in modeling? Come on, just tell me that I will train myself."
I walk towards him in disbelief.
"You underestimate me too much Maureen," He Criss crossed his foot and looked at me arrogantly. "And are you not informed that a man can do modeling too?"
"I know and I was informed about it, but you? I never see any potential of you being a model." I looked at him from head to toe. "Sorry but you don't look like that, that was a rate coming from a top model."
I saw how he slowly greeted his teeth getting mad at what I said. He stood up and walked so fast that I was surprised. I was unable to move when he used his foot to adjust my feet while he held my shoulder softly. He pushed lightly with my back onward and my butt backward a little. He looked at me first, looking if I was already in a good position but I was surprised when he slapped my tummy and gestured to me to stand straighter and took a deep breath.
"You..." I attempted to point him but he just got my hand and put it on my waist again.
"Focus." He said glaring before also removing my hand that he placed in my waist because he was not satisfied in that position.
I just did what he said to stand properly, how I stood before that's what I did. And I see the satisfaction on his face and so he moves away from me.
"Now walk," He declared.
I rolled my eyes at him before doing what he said. I walked towards looking at the mirror and turned when I reached the middle while half of my face was still in front. I just stayed in that position for a second while doing a different badass awra before turning my stare back to him and gesturing my foot to walk towards him with a smirk, and do my last turn and pose.
"What do you think?" I looked at him arrogantly and removed the pose, standing normal.
He doesn't have any reaction that makes my brow up. He didn't even recover? Or that's how he amaze? In his personality, it's not possible.
"Did I say you stop and have a right to look at me?" He quickly put me in front of me again and arranged my tayo as before. "Walk again. Do it faster."
He walked away from me and returned to his seat. I fixed my hair and looked straight ahead again. I saw how he stopped himself to smile when he saw that I was so annoyed. He clapped his hand three times, gesturing to me to walk now which made me panic a little.
"You will pay for this, a bad trainor." I whispered to myself before going for a walk again.
He made me do it several times until he was finally satisfied. I catch my breath as I sit down when he agrees to give me a time to rest. I looked at him evilly as I breathed deeply. He didn't even give me a break, even just a water break. He made me walk over and over without a rest for 3 hours! My knees are shaking because of the pain!
"You will have 5 minutes to rest---" He had not finished what he was going to say when I quickly removed my heels and threw them in so much force.
I looked at him so badly. 5 minutes? What a long break?! Ugh, I hate him so bad!
"O-Okay... one hour." Without thinking he immediately changed what he said and looked away before going out and leaving me here.
"Ahhh!" I grab my hair with so much irritation. "My foot! This was too much, my heart and my whole body was hurt! That man!"
I only stayed here for a few minutes before I decided to come down. My stomach is also grumbling, it's a sign that I'm hungry. He doesn't even care to give me food. Upstairs, the space is so large that it's obviously just for training, but down here it's just like a normal house, with a kitchen, sofa and TV.
I stood in front of Clyden while he was busy looking at the phone and sitting on the sofa.
"I'm hungry." I said that makes him look at me. "Are you like this with all your models? You don't feed them? So unprofessional in work, that's why you can't beat other companies, you deserve it."
I saw how he was offended by what I said.
"You are the one who is unprofessional, did an endorser have a right to make his boss like a PA?" He told me back what I said.
I couldn't speak right away. "I-i am not j-just your endorser!"
I don't know where I got the courage to say that.
"Well then who are you to me?" A short smile appeared on his lips before standing up. "The mother of my daughter? My wife? Is that what you mean?"
"N-No! O-Of course not!" I even shook my head in denial. "I m-mean I am not just your endorser.... I am a girl who will be the reason for your company's success, so it's your responsibility to t-take care of m-me. Y-Yeah, that 's what I mean."
He nodded but based on his face he didn't believe it. "Really? You're good at changing your thoughts in just a second, it's good. Use that skill in the media."
"I was telling the truth!" I shouted arrogantly to pass me.
Clyden didn't say what he wanted to say when someone shouted my name from my back. I know that voice. Clyden looked like he wasn't surprised about her presence.
"Maureen! Oh My God! I knew it, you would return to the industry! I am so happy for you! So much!" It was Freza, my personal assistant before.
We already met but the way she smiled so wide it looked like she still couldn't believe my existence. She was holding a paper bag when she came closer and hugged me in so much excitement.
"Chill, calm down." I took the paper bag he was holding because it might fall and spill everything on the floor before facing him again. "What are you doing here? How did you know that I am here?"
Freza looked at Clyden. "You didn't tell it to her sir?"
I looked at Clyden asking.
"She will be your personal assistant. I did a background check on you and I found out she was your PA before so I hired her to make you comfortable working. I read some details about her and she was so loyal to you so I think it's not a bad quick decision by hiring and trusting her to handle you."
I was shocked but at the same time the happiness moved up in my whole body. When I looked at Freza, she was already nodding and smiling.
"I got you girl." He even winked at me. "And by the way I have good news!"
Clyden and I both raised our eyebrows because of the good news she was saying.
"I found out that there will be a big battle between different cosmetics brands here. Big companies in other countries sponsored the event and it will happen here in the Philippines. And guess what, Glowsy company will attend and compete to get the grand prize." She was so energetic.
"Grand Prize? What kind of prize?" I can't stop myself from asking it.
Clyden and I were so patient with her next words. I know glossy cosmetics will not participate if that was not a big event and that did not make them famous.
"A Grand Prize worth 10 million pesos and... " She was smiling so wide at me. "The representative model of the cosmetics winner can be the one of the models for the biggest run away event that will happen out of the country to promote the company's product around the world. You will be recognized faster not only here in the Philippines but in other countries. That is a big comeback for you Maureen. This is the time."
The pressure starts to run on the whole body. That's a big event! I was in the situation of starting again, could I do it?
"She was right." Clyden agrees to it immediately. "The bigger the event , the better."
"So you mean we will attend that competition?" I already feel the nervousness.
I was feeling like we were moving so fast, I didn't even know if people would accept me when I introduced myself again!
"Why not? It was hard for you to fight Gezel if they were declared as the winner. That was a big event, and I will not let that happen." He looked at Freza. "The event happened when?"
"Next month sir," she politely answered.
"A month? I don't think I can do it." I shook my head in pressure.
"You can Maureen, trust yourself." Freza was trying to make my confidence high. "You can't do it, I know you can. That will just be simple for you, you got it girl."
"But..." I was breathing deeply.
"Maureen, I know the pressure you feel but we need to grab it." Clyden's words make me look at him. "Just focus on what we both want, success."
I washed my eyes and closed it because I wanted to cry. I had no choice but to agree because they were right. It will be more difficult for me if Gezel will be the one who wins because that was out of the county.
"Have more rest and then eat some later," Clyden declared calmly. "And so we can start to train you again, I will wait for you upstairs. Remember, we only have 1 month Maureen."
He left me here hanging out, having a lot of thoughts. Freza and I are the only two people down here. How she smiled was so different to mine, I couldn't stop feeling the pressure and fear.