Truth

Before the two, Tammy and Miya, could return to our table, I immediately fixed myself. I plastered my smile while they were approaching. The two were still glaring at each other, which made me laugh a little bit.

"My God, Tamia! She looks like a fool while dancing in front! Not even on the beat. It's embarrassing." Miya said with a frown on her face before sitting next to me.

"Shut up. You're trying your hard to pretend that you're demure, but it's obvious from your face that you're not. It's a bar, so I'm probably going to dance. And no one should care whether I'm on the beat or not." Tamia took a sip of the vodka she was holding. I just shook my head. A small smile on my lips is clear.

Seeing both of them makes me happy. They are one of my allies who truly love and care for me. They were there when I needed them the most. They are here, by my side, when the world's turning its back on me. They are the ones who stayed. And seeing them with me makes my heart warm.

I wasn't enough for my own family. They were never proud of me from the start. But these two, these two made me feel like I am enough. They made me feel like my existence was enough for someone to be proud of.

These two never doubted me. They never left me, even on my worst days. They supported me in everything. They both understand me in any way.

I'm still lucky, aren't I? So so lucky to have genuine friends like them.

The two were so drunk when we came home. I was the one who was driving while the two were bickering in the backseat. I just shook my head every time Tamia's voice rose in annoyance. The two really like cats and dogs whenever they fight. The reason why I don't really like to put them together is that they're so noisy.

I was thankful that I didn't have to call a guard to lift the two up. They are indeed drunk, but they know I can't carry them both, so they are trying their hardest to stay awake. I was just guiding them.

"What the hell! Step aside, Tammy! Your face makes me sick!"

"It makes you sick! Your face is just two, and mine's a 10!"

I smiled apologetically at the couple who were with us inside the elevator. They just nodded in understanding. They were watching the two, too, with nothing but amusement in their eyes.

When they got inside my condo, the two immediately stretched out on the sofa. Half of Miya's body was on the carpet, while her feet were placed on the sofa. I shook my head. I guess it was kinda a bad idea to bring them to a bar. If I had known, we could've just gotten drunk inside my unit, right?

I just entered the room and left the two in the living room. I took a bath before changing into my sleepwear. I was able to get an extra comforter and a thick blanket for the two before I got back inside my room.

I lay on the bed and stared at the blank ceiling above.

I thought I was fine. No. I can't be. I don't know how long I'll be able to handle it, especially with the news I just found out.

Claus really loves my twin to the point that he's ready to give her his surname to her. Claus and I were together for four years, but he never asked for my hand. He wanted us to have a baby, but he never proposed to me in those four years of being together. While he and Beatriz had only been together for a year, he was able to immediately ask for her hand in marriage. I can't help but compare. I guess comparing things will become a part of my life forever because my whole life, I was compared too. I was compared to my twin. Saying she was far better and such. I accept that all. But I have never been angry with my twin because it is not her fault that other people viewed me in a bad way.

When I had Claus, I considered myself lucky. Why not? He is Saint Claus Monteserio. One of the youngest successful businessmen in the country. He is someone that every woman wants. He is an answered prayer for most, but I was too lucky to have him, huh?

We were fine. We were so fine together. B-but...

I closed my eyes tightly. Tears streamed down my face like a waterfall.

I-I was pregnant...in the middle of me rising to the top of modeling. I was on the perk of my modeling job. I can reach it, but I got pregnant. I was pregnant with our first child. But even so, I was so ready to give up everything just for the child inside my womb.

I was so ready to give up everything, including my career. B-but my child gives up too.

I sobbed hard before caressing my tummy as if that would bring my child back.

I don't... I don't know how our child was lost! Or, I know it to myself, but I just refused to accept it.

It hurts...

I closed my eyes tightly before heaving a deep sigh. Memories of what happened the night when I knew I had lost my baby came rushing inside my head.

The only thing that I can remember is that... It is complete darkness. I was surrounded by darkness. I'm being forced to drink something I didn't know what kind of drink. It was liquid. It was water, but I tasted something was off in it. I don't want to drink...but they were... They were touching me!

They were touching me! They were laughing!

I clasped my mouth with both of my hands. I looked around my room. I wanted so badly to scream for help, but something was stopping me.

I-I didn't mean to swallow that. While I was struggling to escape from their hands, I was screaming, so they successfully put the water inside my mouth. I only drank a few...

And that's why I lost my...my baby.

I didn't mean to drink that! I know that it wasn't just normal water!

I never wanted to lose my child! I was mourning too! The next day, I woke up with a massive headache...inside a hospital. I was on her bed. The doctor told me that she had successfully removed the baby from my womb!

I was hysterical! I was angry! I didn't wish to abort my child! The doctor lied! The doctor was paid by someone! The doctor showed Claus the contract that I signed so I could abort the child when the truth is, I didn't sign anything! Everything was a fraud! But Claus believed it!

And that is when everything crumbles down.

I sobbed loudly while hugging myself. After a while, I heard the door to my room open carelessly before I felt the warm embrace of the two around me.

"Shush, everything will be fine... Hold on, Beautrin, please..."

Shoot

"I don't know what's happening to you anymore, Beautrin! Your twin wanted you to join us for dinner, but you keep on declining! Don't embarrass us with the Monteserios, Beautrin!"

Early in the morning and Mom's call immediately ruined my day.

"Get it right, Beautrin! We didn't raise you to be rude!" I bit my lower lip, slightly rolling my eyes heavenwards. Mom is really confident in saying that they didn't raise me to be rude when they weren't there when I was growing up in the first place. I raised myself! That's the right thing to say because, from the very beginning, they didn't give me any attention unless it was Beatriz.

"I'm busy." I coldly promise. I yawned before getting out of bed.

"Busy!" she scoffed on the other line. I can almost see how disgusted her looks are right now. "Busy with what?! With your stupid work?!"

Stupid. Wow. Easy for her to say that I've chosen something stupid. Am I really their child?

When I couldn't stand her scolding voice, I immediately hung up. I turned my phone off before walking inside the bathroom.

I don't care anymore if she says I'm rude. Oh well. I will just live up to that. That's what they think of me. Why not just go with the flow, right?

After I showered and got dressed, I called Miya and said that there was no need to pick me up there now. I'll drive myself to the building.

When I arrived, Miya immediately greeted me. I frowned when I saw the stress on her face as she approached me.

"You're late, Trin. It took you a long time to come. The other models are already here, and you're the only one who's being waited..."

I just winced and didn't speak.

All the staffs were in chaos after we reached the third floor where the shoot would take place. I couldn't escape the sight of the two men in black suits who had their backs turned to us.

Who are they?

Before I could even ask Miya, two gays immediately pulled me inside the dressing room.

"Double time!" I winced at Miya's cry. I don't know why she's too stressed out with this. I'm not really late. I arrived on time, and I didn't know that it was forbidden. And that I have to be ahead of schedule.

"Get ready, Trin. The two owners of the products that you will model with the others are here. I hope that you won't space out in the middle of posing because we are going to surely upset Jade."

Oh. That's why.

"The owner of the products is so handsome, Miss! Muscled, but they also look like they're looking for a muscled man!" the two gays giggled. I just shook my head and smiled.

When everything was done, we immediately went out and went to the platform. Jade was shouting. She was not really embarrassed by the two men behind her.

"You must be close to each other!" She shouted again. When her eyes caught me, she immediately widened her eyes at me.

"Get on the platform, Beautrin! What are you still waiting for?! A Christmas?!"

And since I feel like being a b-tch today, I talked back. "What if you try to wait for it instead? Let's see if you can."

"Beautrin..." Miya pinched my groin as she pushed me onto the platform.

"Miya! Take care of your rude friend!"

"I'm not a five-year-old kid to be taken care of, Jade!"

"Oleya Beautrin!" Miya shouted with emphasis.

When I finally got on the platform, the eyebrows of the two women who were there immediately raised. They wear the same clothes as mine, but too bad, I look even better in these ones. The three men kept on looking at me.

"Gia and Homa! Get off the platform!" Jade shouted. The two girls stared at me in anger before following Jade's order. I whistled a little.

"Okay, boys, shoot with Beautrin!"

My jaw almost dropped at what the irritating girl named Jade said. What?! Am I going to be posing alone with these three men?

I frowned when I looked at Jade, but her attention was not on me but on the two men who were now smiling while looking at me.

What the heck is happening?!

"Lean your body to Fabio, Beautrin! Yes! That's it! Yes!"

"Now, pretend like you are hovering the three, Beautrin! Yes! Perfecto!"

I couldn't help but close my eyes tightly as I touched Fabio's hard stomach. Brandon, Xander, and Fabio are currently lying on the bed. Both were side by side while I sat on the three of them. I was holding a bottle of the drink that we were modeling today.

"Brandon! Hold Trin's leg! Xander, you touch the waist! And Fabio, bring your face close to Trin's! Hold the left side of her face! Do it in a sensual way!"

Sensual!

I almost hit Fabio in the face with a bottle when he leaned his face on me without saying anything. He laughed weakly because of that.

"Relax, babe, this is a photoshoot..." he whispered before placing the strand of my hair on the other side of my ear.

"Perfect!"

We did many shots that completely exhausted me. Jade was smiling from ear to ear. She looks satisfied with what she did and looking at the two owners of the brand of liquor we are modeling, I guess they love the result as well.

"You look hot, Trin!" Miya greeted me with a smile on her way down from the platform. She was smiling from ear to ear too.

I was exhausted. "I'm always hot, Miya."

She frowned before slapping my butt.

We entered the dressing room and immediately got dressed. I wore a simple crop top and paired it with denim shorts.

"Are you going straight to your condo now?" Miya asked.

I just shrugged. I actually don't have any plans for today. Maybe I will rest because tomorrow, my schedule will be hectic again. I am going to attend a runway show tomorrow night, and in the morning, I have two shoots and then the signing of the contract.

"You did a good job right there, Beautrin." Fabio immediately approached me when I was out of the dressing room.

I smiled sparingly. "You too, and of course, Xander and Brandon did a good job too."

"Miss Trin. The owners wanted to have a cup of coffee with you and the three male models too." One of the staff approached us.

I pouted a little. Well, I guess I'm not going home today as early as I thought I would be.

Chapter 6

Party

"Shot!"

Instead of going straight to the coffee shop, we ended up inside a bar. It's called Catastrophe. This is a place where the rich people usually go. Most of the customers here are elites and those who have a say in the society. Let's say a name. A high profiled name.

"Why don't you drink?" Fabio gave me the glass with just a drink but I shook my head. "You don't drink?" he slightly raised his brow at me. He was sitting on my left while Miya was on my right. We are facing the Coleridge brothers, the owner of Devil's Glass, the liquor that I am currently modeling with Xander, Brandon, and Fabio.

Xander and Brandon aren't here. They said they had something to do now so they didn't come with us.

"I drink, but just not now. I don't feel like doing it right now." I said with a smile. Fabio is actually a gentleman. Well, he's a little bit flirty but tolerable. I think that it's just really his nature. It's his thing.

Fabio's a bit tanned and muscular. His muscles are almost bursting with excessive size. And I also think that he's a mixed. I would doubt if he'll say he's pure Filipino because he doesn't look like one.

"Oh... So, what do you prefer? Juice? Or me?" he let out a smirk and I just chuckled.

"Are you guys enjoying?" We looked at the person who spoke. It was Gresso Coleridge. I think, between him and his brother, Gresso is the most playful. His aura is bright whenever he smiles, but something's a bit odd with him though. And the oldest, Hades Coleridge. He's a silent type. He spoke only once and he usually nods. They're both equally handsome. But, Hades really hits different. Maybe because he's quite mysterious.

"We're more than enjoying, Sir." Fabio raised his glass. Gresso just smirked in return before turning to me. I smiled a bit. His eyes narrowed as he stared at me and then he laughed.

I slightly elbowed Miya.

"You know what, earlier in the shoot, I was staring at you because you really look familiar to me. Isn't she, Kuya?" Gresso asked his brother. Hades just nodded before staring at me. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat.

It's weird. Even me too, I am familiar with the both of them. I just don't really know where I saw them. I don't know. I'm not really sure. Or maybe it's just my feeling.

"Now I know why you're very familiar..." he added before laughing again like he already knew me. I winced.

I frowned but I didn't entertain much of what he said.

"That's impossible, Sir. Beautrin's beauty is one of a kind." Miya said making me feel even more awkward.

Yes. It's really impossible. Maybe I wasn't the one they saw. I almost forgot that I have a twin.

"Anyway, a friend of ours is coming here. He's one of our investor too so..." Gresso drawled while his eyes were still on me. I felt Miya lightly pinch my side as if she saw the man's gaze at me.

"Gresso seems smitten by your beauty..." Fabio laughed softly at my side. Well, that added more of the awkwardness. But I don't think he really is. I feel like he is just curious about me.

I drank my pineapple juice.

I was surprised to see that some of the women who were dancing awhile ago approached our table. They all flop towards the Coleridge brothers. Three for Gresso and one for Hades.

I moved towards Miya's side when the two girls sat on Fabio's lap. He even had the audacity to wink at me before kissing his girls alternately. Well... That's your playboy Fabio right there.

"I hope we didn't go with them anymore." I said before sighing. I thought that we'll be having a real coffee today. But I was not informed that they will be drinking a coffee that would make us all drunk. Well, if only I had the appetite to drink.

"That's okay. I might be able to fish a wealthy CEO here," Miya chuckled and I glared at her. She's not allowed to. She can't be ahead of me. I must fish a CEO first or...maybe we can do it together instead. Pft.

"I'll just go to the restroom..." I informed Miya. She even insisted to come with me but I didn't allow it. I can go there alone, and besides, it's only on the second floor.

I didn't say goodbye to the boys because they were all busy anyways.

When I was inside the restroom, I immediately did my thing. I don't really plan on staying inside because I smell something really strange.

After I retouched and washed my hands, I went out and immediately went down to my table. I was planning on staying on the second floor, but my eyes seemed to be spinning around even though I was only drinking my pineapple juice. Well, the blinding lights made me dizzy, probably.

When I saw the table, I immediately approached Miya, completely ignoring the person who was sitting beside Gresso.

"Miya, let's go home." I told her. I frowned when I saw her eyes widen as she stared at my back and then at me. As if she was trying to warn me or something. She doesn't really have to. I already saw him. I just refused to acknowledge him because that's what we really should do.

"Miya." I scolded. I started to feel irritated because of my headache, it felt like something was digging inside my stomach, you might want to add that I am also feeling so hungry and feel like eating a steak at Jollibee today.

"T-Trin..." Miya stuttered.

"Oh, Miss Beautrin, you're here. By the way, this is my friend, Claus Monteserio. He's one of the investors of the company."

I was stoned in my place when I heard his name. Yeah. I thought I was just hallucinating!

W-what?! I was hungry so that's why!

I don't know what got into my brain and without saying a word, I just grab my bag from Miya's side before running out of the place.

Shit!

I heard their voices calling me but I didn't listen to it and continued running outside.

I only breath a sigh of relief when I finally got out, but that was short-lived when someone pulled my arms, making me face the person whom, I am supposed to be ignoring right now.

"Yes? Sir?" There. Thank God Beautrin and you didn't stutter. But deep inside I feel like I want the earth's crust to swallow me right now.

He frowned while looking at me.

"You're the model?" he spat out angrily. His face mixed with disgust did not escape me. My stomach churned painfully at the sight. Of course, what do you expect Beautrin?

"Yes." my short answer.

He violently let go of my hand he was holding before staring at me intently. Anger, disgust, and annoyance were the only things I can see in his eyes.

"You won't stop, don't you? You won't stop until you get what you want? What else do you want, huh? Did you accept the contract because you know you'll see me?! Is that it, huh?! What? You're going to pay attention to me?! Do you really think that you can fool me?! Well, think again! You'll never get what you want! Please! Just please! Stop being desperate! You just look like a dog who follows me everywhere! I don't like you anymore! Well, guess what? I don't even know if I really loved you when we were together! Because I don't think so! You're nothing but a substitute when Beatriz isn' t around! You are just a second choice!"