"Milgrace, are you ready?" my dad asked.
Nandito ako sa condo nila. Dumalaw ako kahapon kaya naisipan ko na ring dito matulog. Soft opening na ng La Grâce ngayon kaya roon kami tutuloy.
"I'll just put lipstick, dad. Lalabas na rin ako."
"Okay. We'll wait for you downstairs."
Matapos kong maglagay ng red lipstick ay pinagmasdan ko pa nang mabuti ang sarili ko sa salamin. Kailangan maganda ako mamaya dahil ako ang bida sa araw na 'to. Main character vibes dapat.
I stood up and turned to the body size mirror. I wore a white tube and put a creamy brown coat on partnered with brown wide leg pants.
Ang tangkad ko tingnan dahil sa pants and to look better, I am wearing four-inches nude ankle strap heels.
Kinuha ko ang phone at bag ko saka lumabas sa kuwarto. Handa na sila mommy at hinihintay na lang ako. Humalik ako sa pisngi nila nang makababa.
"You look stunning, honey," puri ni mama.
Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. "Ikaw rin, mommy!"
"How about me?" asked daddy.
"You're always pogi naman! I know you're already aware of it. Palagi mo ngang sinasabi, e."
"Nako! Tama na ang bolahan. Baka ma-late pa tayo. Tara na," aya ni mommy.
"Okay lang po ma-late. 'Di naman nila bubuksan 'yong shop nang wala ako. Ako ang kailngan do'n, e. VIP po ako," biro ko.
"Kapal naman ng mukha mo," patutsada ni daddy na tinawanan ko na lang.
Nakisakay ako sa kotse nila at iniwan na muna ang kotse ni Cai dahil dito pa rin naman ako uuwi mamaya.
Medyo matagal ang biyahe dahil bukod sa malayo, traffic din. Mabuti na lang at ilang minuto lang akong late.
Punong-puno na ng media sa labas. Nagkumpulan sila matapos mamataan ang kotse namin. Nakita ko na rin ang iilang bisita na invited. Natanaw ko ang ayos sa labas ng shop. Maganda ito at pinuno ng bulaklak.
Bumukas ang pinto ng sasakyan. I didn't expect the man who opened it. It was Cairus looking seriously at me. He offered his hand. I held it as I made my way outside.
"Congrats, love. You look beautiful always," he whispered to my left ear while we were walking.
Halos maipit na ako sa nagtutulakang media kaya hindi ko na nagawang tugunan ang sinabi niya. Mabuti na lang at may mga bodyguard kaya naman nakapunta pa rin kami sa harap.
Nasilaw ako sa mga flash ng camera kaya iniharang ni Cai ang braso niya sa mata ko.
"Congratulations to your soft opening, ma'am!" Iyon lang ang naintindihan ko sa mga sinasabi ng reporters.
Ang ilan sa kanila ay apurado nang magtanong, hindi ko naman maintindihan.
"Excuse me," dad interfered. "Let's start with the ribbon cutting first. The questions will be entertained later. Thank you!"
I mouthed thanks to my dad. I stood up in front and smiled at them. I will still have a little speech before cutting the ribbon.
I cleared my throat and heaved a deep breath before speaking. Muli ay ngumiti ako sa kanilang lahat na nasa akin ang paningin ngayon. Cairus didn't left my side. It is as if, he is my personal bodyguard that the job is to protect me from all of them.
"I would like to thank you all for coming as the opening of my shop will start today," I started. "Months ago, this was just a plan. It was a boring day in New York then out of the blue, I came up with the idea of creating my own brand. La Grâce is just a plan out of boredom. A few months ago, my debut as a fashion designer here in the Philippines happened. Now, my plans are already happening. It seems so surreal. Hindi ko naman akalain na ganito magiging kainit ang pagtanggap sa akin ng fashion industry sa Pilipinas. Nagsisimula pa lang ako pero ang dami nang kumikilala kaya labis akong nagpapasalamat sa inyo. Let's just hope that this business will be successful, maybe not now or not too soon but in the future. Please be with me as I celebrate this day. Thank you!" My speech is just short but I know to myself that it was genuine and sincere.
Inabot ng isang staff ang gunting. Ngumiti muli ako sa kanilang lahat bago ko tuluyang ginupit ang ribbon.
They clapped as I was holding the pink ribbon. Some pictures are taken with me, with my family, and with the Villaverde family because they are part of this success.
Of course, they congratulated me.
Kylei and Raya approached me too with a tight hug. They seem so happy for me and I appreciate that. Kukunin ko talaga silang models ng brand ko.
The catering was served in a nearby hotel so some of the guests had already left.
The reporters made their way in front of me again. Hindi pa rin ako nilulubayan ni Cairus sa tabi ko.
They asked questions until I felt uncomfortable with my tube. Bumababa na ito. It reveals a bit of my cleavage. Napansin naman ni Cai na tingin ako nang tingin doon kaya naman dumikit siya lalo sa akin upang bumulong.
"Fix it, I'll cover you," he said and stepped forward to cover me from the media.
I took the opportunity to fix it and covered it using my coat. Nang maayos ko ay muling bumalik is Cai sa tabi ko.
"Thanks, Cai," I uttered.
"Is he your boyfriend, Miss Delos Santos?" one of the reporters asked.
I immediately shook my head then I heard Cairus tsked.
"But soon, I will be," Cairus said to all of them seriously while looking at me.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him for I was scared that they will capture it. Tumango na lang ako at ngumiti upang makisakay sa sinabi niya.
I didn't forget what he said before that he hates fake rumors spreading pero ito siya, nilalagay ang sariling pangalan sa peligro. Hindi malabong magiging usap-usapan ito lalo na at kilala ang pamilya niya. But then, it isn't my fault. Siya naman ang nagsabi, e.
When they're done asking, Cai held my hand again. We left the shop to go to the hotel. Iginiya niya ako papunta sa kaniyang sasakyan and that's when I realized that my parents left me. Talagang gustong-gusto akong ipaubaya sa lalaking kasama ko ngayon.
He also put my seatbelt on me. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa hanggang sa umpisahan niyang paandarin ang sasakyan.
The deafening silence between us makes me uncomfortable but then, I don't feel like starting a conversation and if he wants to talk to me, he should be the one to talk first.
"What's your next plan?" he asked.
"I have none as of now, except making my business grow. Doon na muna ang focus ko."
"How about making me your boyfriend?"
"Is that a banat?" I asked, brows furrowed. "Or a serious question?"
He shrugged. His other hand is on his chin. He played with his lower lip using his index finger.
Ilang minuto lang, nakarating na rin kami sa hotel. The security guard led us the way. Itnuro niya kami sa isang pinto. Pinagbuksan ako ni Cairus saka kami pumasok sa loob.
Some of the guests turned their heads to us. Ngumiti ako sa kanila saka pumunta sa gawi ng aking mga magulang na kasama rin sina Tita Meryll at Tito Cain. Humalik ulit ako sa kanilang mga pisngi.
Hindi ko na napansin kung sinundan pa ba ako ni Cai. I turned to my friends' direction and saw him there. Matapos ulit akong i-congratulate ng pamilya ko ay nagpaalam na ulit ako sa kanila. I went to different tables to thanked the guests for coming.
Sa huli ay ang table nila Kylei. They are with their partners-Jairus and Zairus.
They congratulated me again. Cairus pulled a chair for me beside him. Napansin naman nila iyon kaya agad kaming nakatanggap ng pangangantiyaw. Akala mo mga bata!
We started to talk about my future plans. Mukha rin silang masaya para sa mga plano ko roon. Kylei and Raya agreed to be my model.
"What do you want to eat?" Cai asked me when he had a chance to.
I looked at him and smiled a bit. "I'm still full."
"It's already lunch." He fixed some strands of my hair that is covering my face and put it in the back of my ear.
"Cordon bleu would do then," I replied with a voice still not giving in. It was stern.
He stood up immediately. Kasabay niya na rin tumayo ang dalawa niya pang kapatid, para siguro kumuha rin ng pagkain nila.
"Next week is my birthday," Kylei said with a glimpse of excitement in her face. "I can't believe I'm turning twenty-four!"
"You look twenty though," Raya said while laughing.
"I'll take that as a compliment. At least I look young."
"I almost forgot that your birthday is approaching," I joked, wanting to piss my friend off and set aside for a while the firm and proper Milgrace I was showing off a while ago to Cairus.
"Edi hindi ka invited! Kinakalimutan mo birthday ko," she said and pouted her lips.
I just shrugged and laughed. Why would I forget her birthday? In fact, I already have a gift for her she will never forget. I'm sure she will be surprised.
We're laughing when the three guys are back again with a tray of food in their hands. My eyes formed into a heart shape when I saw my favorite food-pork sisig.
I hid the happiness and looked at Cai with irritation in my face. He sat beside me confusingly.
"I only said cordon bleu," I stated. "You brought . . . many." I pointed my finger to the tray.
"But it is your favorite." He raised his left eyebrow. "I know you won't say no to it."
Fvck! Does he still remember the things I like? I thought he's not paying attention to me six years ago and that he doesn't care about my presence.
I gave up. Sinimulan kong kumain at ganoon din siya at ang mga kasama. We have random topics and sometimes, we will laugh at Jairus' jokes.
Iinom na sana ako nang mapansin na walang tubig at ang dala lang nilang inumin kanina ay juice. Gusto kong gawing utusan si Cai ngayon kaya naman tumingin ako sa kaniya. Naramdaman niya ang pagtingin ko kaya sumulyap siya sa akin. I smiled and tried to look like a kid who wanted a lollipop.
"Can you get some water for me?"
He sighed and shook his head once. He was about to stand up when a girl accidentally lost her balance and poured juice on Cai. My eyes widened. Basang-basa ang itim niyang coat kaya napatingin siya roon.
"Oh my gosh! Sorry!" she apologized.
The girl immediately wiped a tissue on his coat but Cai held her hand to stop. I didn't like what I saw. I know, she purposely did it to make her move. Nanggaling na ako riyan kaya hindi ako tanga.
"Ako na!" Tumayo ako at pinalis nang marahan ang kamay ng babae palayo.
"Hindi," pagmamatigas niya. "Ako ang nakatapon. I should be the one-"
"Chelsea!" Raya's thunder voice stopped her from talking.
She knows!
She's one of her models and I invited them, too.
"Sorry! Hindi ko sinasadya," aniya ulit habang nakatingin kay Cai.
"It's okay. Let my girlfriend do the thing," Cai said while still looking at his coat and glanced at me. " Please, love . . ." His voice is soft like a pillow.
I felt butterflies in my stomach. Pinigilan kong mangiti sa sobrang ganda sa pandinig nang pagkakasabi niya. Alam kong sinusubukan tingnan ng mga kaibigan ko ang reaksyon ko kaya tumingin ako sa kanila at nagtaas ng kilay.
"Finish your food. Walang eksena rito," sabi ko saka muling tumingin kay Cai upang hawakan siya sa braso. "Let's go to the restroom."
Chelsea is still looking at us. I tried to look calm and smiled a bit at her. "Excuse us, miss."
She stepped backwards to let us pass by. Hinuhubad na ni Cai ang coat niya. Pati ang kaniyang white long sleeve sa loob ay basa. Napailing na lang ako. I can't blame a girl if she's desperate to be noticed. Ganiyan din naman kasi ako noon sa kaniya. Ginagawa ko ang lahat para mapansin niya ako.
Kinuha ko ang coat niya nang makarating sa restroom. "I'll try to dry this in the hand dryer. Try your inner clothes, too."
He just nodded and walked away to go to the male's restroom. Pinatuyo ko ang coat niya sa dryer at nangangawit na ako sa tagal doon. Pinapahinga ko rin ang hand dryer sa takot na baka bigla na lang sumabog. Matapos ang thirty minutes, hindi na siya masyadong basa kaya lumabas na ako.
I saw him waiting for me. His white long sleeve is already dry. Kung sabagay, mas madaling lang patuyuin iyon dahil bukod sa hindi naman masyadong nabasa, medyo manipis din ang tela.
I gave him his coat. He smiled at me and said, "Thanks!"
Bumalik kami sa loob. Kita ko ang pagtataka sa mukha ng mga magulang namin kung saan kami galing.
Cairuse held my waist as we were approaching them. His hand is just careful there.
"Where did you go?" Tita Meryll asked.
"Restroom," his son just simply answered.
Lahat sila ay nanlaki ang mata kaya mabilis akong dumepensa sa kun anumang iniisip nila.
"Nabasa po 'yong coat niya. Tinulungan ko lang siyang patuyuin."
"You're together inside?" mommy asked, slowly forming a smirk.
"Of course not, ma! Ang malisyosa mo naman!"
She just shrugged while laughing. Sumaglit lang kami roon at muling bumalik sa table naming magkakaibigan.
"I'm sorry for what Chelsea did," Raya said. "Alam ko ginagawa niya. She's like that to every guy she wants to get!"
"Yes," Kylei agreed. "She's a bitch! As in really!"
"Naninira pa kayo ng tao, ah," sabi ko saka natawa.
"Sus! Totoo naman!" ani Kylei. "Saka tumigil ka riyan. Parang hindi ka nagmadaling kunin kamay ni Cai kanina kay Chelsea. Takot na takot maagawan, girl?"
"Of course! What's mine is only mine. No one can share and I don't want to share. They should know where to place themselves."
"Seems territorial but I like it," Cai butt in.
Jai and Zai's lips rose. Ngiting hindi mapaniwala sa sinasabi ng kanilang kuya. Dapat matuto sila sa kaniya para naman magkaroon ng lovelife 'yong dalawang bruha.
Kunwari lang ayaw mag-boyfriend, gusto rin nama ng lambing!
Pero bakit ko nga ba pinoproblema 'yong kanila gayong meron din akong problema?
The days I was so down on my knees to beg for a chance from Cai. I was so stupid to do that but I don't regret anything. Those days were also the days that I am genuinely happy even just seeing him from afar. He made my teenage life full of joy and excitement.
He also became my inspiration for everything that I do. He made a good effect on me and that is making myself better.
I did! I am already better than I was before . . . but I'm also losing the excitement to be with him because I realized my worth. I suddenly became tired but surely, I learned.
"What's the problem?" Cai asked when he noticed that I'm silent. "Is there something bothering you?"
I shook my head and smiled a little. "None. I'm just tired."
"Then let's go home and rest," he said.
Tumayo siya saka inilahad ang kaniyang kamay sa akin upang abutin ko 'yon. I hesitated to reach it until I stood up and didn't accept his hand.
He seriously doesn't need to.
Kaunti na lang naman ang taong natitira kabilan na roon ang pamilya namin. Nagpasalamat ulit ako sa kanila bago umalis. Sumunod na rin sila mommy sa paglabas upang umuwi.
"I'm still going home to my parents' condo," I said.
He just nodded and opened the door of his car for me. I shut my eyes off. Pagod na talaga ako. Hindi ko alam kung gaano naging katagal ang biyahe dahil pahinto-hinto rin kami dahil sa traffic.
I only opened my eyes when he said we're already here. Madilim na ang langit. I suddenly felt guilty dahil malayo pa rin ang uuwian niya. I don't want him to feel that he's obligated to do this. Dapat kina mommy na lang ako sumabay.
"Thank you," sabi ko sa kaniya saka ngumiti nang pilit. "I'm sorry. Gagabihin ka na sa daan pauwi."
Umiling siya. "There's no need to worry. I'll be home safe. Let's just see tomorrow again or . . . whenever you want to come back to me, Mil. I'll wait for you."
Naging totoo ang ngiti ko saka tumango. "Please take care."
He kissed my forehead. "Goodnight!"
Lumabas na ako sa kotse niya. Hinintay ko siyang mawala sa paningin ko bago pumasok.
Prove yourself to me, Cai. Make me want to come back to you.