Play Pretend

Chapter 5

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 5
Suit

"Xaiver! You're finally here!" Diego, one of the most renowned, world class Filipino designers, warmly welcomed him as we walked inside the VIP receiving area of Manière.

He had worked with a lot of Hollywood stars, beauty queens, and models around the globe. He was mostly based in New York, but he would also often come home to personally check on his boutique and atelier in the Philippines.

"Sorry for the late notice," Xaiver told him. "I wonder if you have something for me to wear this Sunday. I don't have time to customize a new suit for the event."

"No problem, Xaiver! Basta ikaw!" Diego chuckled, then pulled out a moving rack from the side. "Actually, when you messaged me last night, I spent the whole day picking out a few suits for you. Buti na lang at nandito ako. They are all your size, so you don't have to worry. Not too flashy just like how you wanted."

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga suits na nakasabit sa clothing rack. Magaganda nga ang lahat ng mga 'yon at kuha ang style na gusto ni Xaiver. As for whether they would suit him or not, hindi na kailangan pang pag-isipan. Dahil halos araw-araw siyang naka-suit sa opisina, tingin ko ay walang hindi bagay sa kanya na ganoong istilo ng damit.

"Thanks, Diego. Can I take a look?"

"Go ahead! No problem!"

Lumapit si Xaiver sa clothing rack para mamili habang ako naman ay naupo sa malapit na sofa habang naghihintay. He still had to fit himself in the suit kaya medyo matatagalan pa. That wasn't the first time I came along with him for a fitting.

While surveying the suits in the clothing rack, Xaiver put his hands on his hips in a manly way. His shirt hugged his arms' muscles as he did. Dahil tinanggal niya na ang jacket at puti ang button down shirt na suot niya ay mas halata mo 'yon.

That said, I couldn't help expressing my opinion in my head. Mas bagay sa kanya ang suit na puti ang panloob kaysa sa black o ibang kulay. It fit his body better, or baka nga nasanay lang talaga ako sa normal office suits niya.

Pagkatapos kong pasadahan ng tingin si Xaiver ay nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. He seemed to be having a hard time making a decision.

The moment I noticed that, Xaiver suddenly craned his neck to look at me from the side. My eyes dilated slightly. Wala sa sarili akong napaayos bigla ng upo. Medyo nag-iwas din ako ng tingin, kunwari ay abala sa pagtingin sa iba pang mga dresses at suits na naka-display sa loob.

"Chantal."

Hindi pa ako nagtatagal sa pagpapanggap ay tinawag na ni Xaiver ang atensyon ko. I quickly snapped my gaze back to him.

"Huh?"

"Pick a suit for me please."

My lips parted a bit. Agad ko rin 'yong sinara nang mapalunok ako sa kaba.

It was probably the first time he asked me to help him find a suit ever since I started my career as his secretary. Dati ay kaya niya naman 'yon mag-isa at lagi lang akong naghihintay na matapos siya. I guess he was having a hard time because there were a lot of good choices.

Thinking that it was a part of my job, I stood up and moved closer to the rack. Hindi nga lang ako masyadong tumabi sa kanya.

There were two suits that had a white undershirt. Parehas iyon maganda kaya medyo nahirapan ako at nagtagal sa pamimili. Diego might have noticed that I was having a hard time, so he took the initiative to offer help.

"Xaiver, allow me to help you. May naiisip na—"

"No," Xaiver immediately rejected the idea.

Napatigil naman si Diego. He looked slightly offended that Xaiver had cut him off. He might be thinking that Xaiver didn't trust his expertise.