Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 18: Precious

"Better than ever hija." She looked at me so fondly—kinikilig ako.

"You must be so confused right now Scar, pero I saw your design among the portfolios Tita gave and I liked it." Jamie sat on the same chair she was in. Jusko, everything she did looked so polished and proper.

"Before we start, do you want some water or juice?" As if on cue dumating si Ate Gie with a pitcher of water and orange juice, nagkatinginan kami at hindi ko nagustuhan ang talim ng mga mata niya. 

Ano bang issue niya sa akin?

"Ay sige lang, wag na po." Baka may nilagay pa siyang lason na gumagana lang sakin.

"Okay, for context, our birthday is in a couple of months— I'm speaking for the both of us when I say we don't want something grand, but we're organizing a charity fundraiser."

Jamie thanked Ate Gie at umalis na siya sa paningin namin. 

"People won't care if we send emails. So to create more noise for the cause, there would be a gala."

Napa ahh ako, but one thing stuck on my mind—It's their birthday. Tuwing birthday nila sa San Raigo, palagi akong present. I coughed and took a glass of water to remove the creeping sadness in my heart.

"Anyway, I liked your design. Tita Kristine told me before this isn't hers and ngayon ko lang nalaman na ikaw pala gumawa nito." May pinakita siyang folder and my eyes twinkled seeing the familiar book. My portfolio! "Nakakatuwa lang! Kaya mas pursigido akong piliin to because of you."

She opened and steered the book right in front of me. I caressed the page, showing the dress that suited her personality. It's a modern bishop-sleeve dress with a plunging neckline. I made it for a school requirement about wedding dresses. 

"Ano ang kailangan kong gawin?"

"To be straightforward, I would like you to do this. But of course, you could always agree and disagree. If you don't, I can always find another one, I simply love the elegance and simplicity of this." 

Ngumiti ako, ako pa ang kailangan mag accept? Sino ba naman ako para tumanggi?

Pinagusapan at nagbigay rin ako ng suggestion para ma modify ang damit sa kanya. In terms of materials, lahat ng gamit na kailangan ko ay galing sa kompanya ng Mr and Mrs Couture. 

Kaya babalik rin pala ako sa kompanyang 'yon para sa project na'to, and that's another trauma to unbox when I get there. 

"It's made of chiffon, so I think hindi ka mahihirapan gumalaw."

"One thing I would change though is the color." Tumango ako kay Jamie, taking notes of her preferred colors, and her skin tone.

I missed this. I missed holding fabrics and envisioning what I could create out of mere cloths. From getting inspired, sketching, fabric sourcing, and draping, to constructing the material.

"Please don't choose fucking yellow again."

Nagulat ako ng nagsalita si James sa likod ko. Tangina andito pala to?

He's leaning at the wall at nang lumingon ako sa kanya, naglakad siya paupo sa tabi ko. "I don't hate the color but it looks like shit."

"It won't be the same shade as last time naman!" Napangiti ako dahil mukang may inside joke ang kambal. "Allergic ka na nyan?"

Habang tinitingnan sila ngayon ay kumikirot ang puso ko. Bakit kasi nangyari ang trahedyang 'yon sa kanila? Kung hindi, baka kasama pa nila ang mommy nila habang nagpplano ngayon.

What the fuck. I hope the people who did that to them rot in hell.

Umalis agad si Madame Kristine nang natapos kami. I'll admit, I was a little disappointed because I thought we'd discuss what happened back at work.