His Loss

c h a p t e r f i v e

"That's in five months!" Tito Erning exclaimed, sounding both surprised and horrified. "Ang mga ganito kalaking kasal usually takes fifteen months to plan."

"That's why I personally chose you, Tito," malambing na sabi ni Kiana sa halos mahimatay na si Tito Erning. She gave his knee a gentle squeeze bago tumuwid ng pagkakaupo. "Alam ko naman na ikaw ang the best in this industry and I'm sure you'll pull this through. Kaya naman 'di ba?"

I saw him hesitate. Isang milagro ang hinihingi ni Kiana at alam namin ni Tito Erning iyon pareho. If it was a classic wedding with the simplest but finest elements, kaya ng kahit na limang buwan. Pero sa klase ng theme na gusto ni Kiana, kulang ang isang taon. Everything had to be detailed, mula sa mga suot ng bisita hanggang sa klase ng kandila na gagamitin.

"Of course," pagkalaan na sabi ni Tito Erning. "We just have to figure out how to properly execute the theme para balanse at bagay pa rin sa kasal. Siyempre, dapat it matches your souvenirs as well."

Kiana grinned. "Speaking of souvenirs, gusto ko sana ng graphic album."

Mabils kong isinulat ang graphic album sa notebook ko at linagyan ng tatlong exclamation marks sa dulo.

"Yes, that's a good idea." Tito Erning sat back and crossed his arms. "We have an excellent team of photographers that can do that for you."

"Oh no, Tito! I actually want the graphic album to be more than just photographs. Kung pwede sana, if you could make it fantastical, very artistic, at story-like, that would be really fabulous."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Fantastical? Ano naman kaya ang gagawin namin nila Vince para gawing puno ng fantasy ang graphic album ng kasal ni Kiana? Lalagyan ba namin ng glitters o kaya pop-up stickers ang pre-nup photos nila?

'Tulad ko ay halata rin ang pagkalito ni Tito Erning. "What do you exactly mean by fantastical?"

Just like a kid on Christmas, Kiana's face brightened. Kung akala ko wala ng ililiwanag ang maliit at makinis niyang mukha, I was yet again proven wrong. "As we all know, I'm also very much into painting and photography. Madalas kong i-feature 'yon sa vlogs ko and this time, I want them both in my wedding's graphic album. I want more than photographs. I want actual illustrations, cartoonized photos, abstracts, a combination of actual photographs and art. Gusto ko sana na parang magazine or story book na featured ang beginning to end of our wedding, its preparation behind the scenes, and our love story." Saglit siyang nagpakawala ng malalim na paghinga. "Actually, I have some samples in my phone. Kunin ko lang saglit ha?"

"Yes, please, darling." Mabilis at mariin ang pagbulong sa akin ni Tito Erning pagka-alis ni Kiana. "Kaya ba 'yang gawin ni Vince?"

Gusto ko mang sabihin na oo... "Tito, magaling na photographer si Vince, hindi magician."

Sabay kaming napangiwi. "E, teka, 'di ba si Jenna may art studio? What's it called again?"

"Yes, Tito, Silly Strokes po pero painter si Jenna. She has no experience in digital art and manipulated art."

Iisa lang ang digital artist at magaling sa graphic albums sa studio ni Jenna, at iyon ay si... please. Sana naman 'wag ng ituloy ni Tito ang usapan na 'to. Isang daan na ang ihuhulog ko sa sunod na misa, I promise!

Saglit siyang natahimik bago ako kinalabit muli. "Pero nag-o-offer ang studio niya ng graphic designs at digital art. Nagpagawa tayo ng cartoonized and hand-painted invitations noon sa kanila para sa debut 'di ba? Bago pa lang 'yon. Mga five months ago."

Sinasabi ko na nga ba! Please no!

"E Tito, hindi naman si Jenna may gawa n'on—"

"Pero galing sa studio niya?"