I Am a Woman

Chapter 5

I don't really want to remove my blazer kasi baka bumakat ang suot kong binder, pero kailangan ko 'yon ipasuot sa kanya para naman may plain color sa suot niya at hindi masyadong masakit sa mata.

"Let's get out of here." Sabi ko sa kanya at maingat na hinila ang braso niya na ngayon ay nakasuot na sa blazer ko. Nakahawak ako sa braso niya habang palabas kami ng hotel.

Pinasakay ko siya ng kotse ko at nagsimulang magmaneho papunta sa malapit na mall.

I still have a meeting with the creative team, but I will just call my assistant to take care of that. Bahala na. Mag-uunder time na lang muna ako ulit today.

I need to heal my fashionista soul from this. Baka hindi mawala sa isip ko at multuhin ako ng suot niya ngayon kung hahayaan ko lang siyang nakasuot ng ganito. I might get nightmares because of this.

"Where are we going?" Sa wakas ay nagsalita na rin ito.

"Mall." Tipid na sagot ko habang nakatuon ang atensyon sa daan.

"I was looking for you yesterday." Sambit niya. I can see her staring at me in my peripheral vision.

"I had an emergency yesterday."

I was not in the office yesterday morning because I had menstrual cramps right when I woke up. I only went there in the afternoon. Nasabi nga sa akin ng assistant ko na pumunta siya don. Marahil din ay assistant ko ang nagsabi sa kanya kung nasaan ako ngayon.

Don't tell me she is looking for me just to show her outfit?

Kung ganon nga, well, I am kinda thankful na hindi ko siya nakita kahapon na ganyan ang suot dahil baka lalo lang sumakit ang puson ko sa kanya.

"Please don't wear something like that anymore. It doesn't suit you." I reminded her. My reaction was very transparent earlier. Kaya alam ko na alam niya na hindi ko gusto ang suot niya. 

"I know I can pull this off. I'm Verra Normans anyway." She said confidently. I want to roll my eyes. Ang yabang.

I parked my car when we reached the mall. Hindi ko nakaligtaang pagbuksan siya ng pinto. We head over the floor kung saan maraming clothing shop and boutiques.

As soon as we stepped inside one of the women's boutiques, I could feel the excitement building up inside me.

Binati kami ng mga staff at tinanong kung anong hanap namin.

I scanned their displayed clothes for sale. Tahimik lang ang babaeng nasa tabi ko. Sa halip na siya ang papiliin ko ng damit ay ako na ang humanap at pumili para sa kanya.

This is exciting!

I feel like I am not just healing my fashionista soul but also my inner child. It's like I am dressing a human doll! I always wanted to play doll when I was a child, but I only received car toys and other toys for boys as gifts.

Gusto ko rin talaga ang magshop sa women's section, pero nakakapasok lang talaga ako sa mga ganitong boutique kapag niyayaya ako mag-shopping ni mama o kaya si Satarrah para samahan sila. Pero kapag si Satarrah ang kasama ko ay palagi lang ako nito inaasar at sinasadyang inggitin. The nerve of that girl.

I really enjoy this kind of place.

If I only grew up being a woman, I would probably pursue a career in fashion. Too bad, I was forced to take a business-related course.

I picked out cream-colored wide-leg pants and a plain white fit blouse for her and told her to try those in the fitting room. Of course, I chose a blouse na hindi kita ang cleavage nya.

"How is this?" Tanong niya ng makalabas sa fitting room. I smiled when I saw it. It fits her well.

I stand with her in the mirror at ngayon ko lang rin napansin na magkalapit lang pala ang height naming dalawa.

Actually, ngayon ko lang siya nakita na nakasuot ng pants dahil puro dresses lang ang nakikita ko na suot niya. It looks simple yet elegant.

"It looks great on you." I am proud of myself for being good at this.

She sweetly smiles at my reaction.

Napansin ko na hindi pala bagay ang kulay ng suot niyang sandals, kaya I decided to look for her sandals too. After I found a good one, I asked her size and told it to the staff.

Ako na rin ang nagpresentang magsuot sa kanya ng sandals. I let her sit on the sofa intended for customers while I put it on. I can clearly see that she is happy with what I did.

"Most men don't really like shopping, but you seem different. As I can see, you're enjoying this. My ex-boyfriends don't even do this for me." She suddenly said.

Ex-boyfriends. A plural form. So that confirms that she really had a lot of men, just like what it said on social media?

"You're good at this. Are you sure you are not gay?" Dagdag pa niya na siyang ikinakunot ng noo ko. Mabuti na lang at umalis saglit ang staff, kaya walang nakarinig na iba sa sinabi niya.

Gusto ko siyang ikutan ng mata, pero wag na lang. Baka lalo niya lang ipilit na bakla ako.

I am a woman, and I am straight.

"I am not. Okay?" Pagsusungit ko sa kanya.

"That's good. But I don't really mind if I have a gay boyfriend." Then she flashes her playful smile. Napalayo tuloy ako sa kanya. What does she mean by that?

"I am not your boyfriend." I immediately said to her. Mukhang hindi ito natuwa sa sinabi ko dahil bumagsak ang ngiti niya at tinaasan pa ako ng kilay.

"You are."

What?! I want to react hysterically. She just said it like she was so sure.

"When did I ever become your boyfriend?" Because I am sure that I never and will never ask her to be my girlfriend 'no.

"The moment I said you were mine."

What the hell? Did I just get myself a girlfriend?

Oh no. I want a boyfriend, not a girlfriend.