#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.
"I want Chantal to pick the suit for me," he stubbornly said.
Napaawang ang aking mga labi. Nilingon ako ni Diego at mabilis na sinuri ng tingin. It wasn't the first time we met each other, but that was the first time he gave me so much attention. Siguro ay iniisip niya kung bakit ipinipilit ni Xaiver na ako ang mamili ng suit na isusuot niya sa event.
Dahil ayaw ko nang tumagal pa ang tingin sa akin ni Diego at baka kung ano pa ang maisip, mabilis akong pumili. I decided to go with the light gray suit in a warmer tone.
Lagi na siyang naka-black suit pagdating sa coat sa opisina kaya gusto ko siyang makitang light ang suot. Besides, it was a charity event. Sa tingin ko'y mas maganda kung maaliwalas siyang tingnan. The gray suit would make him look more approachable.
"This one." I pulled the suit from the rack. Wala sa sarili kong hinarap si Xaiver at itinapat sa katawan niya ang hawak na damit para makasiguradong bagay talaga sa kanya. Agad akong napangiti nang makitang hindi ako nagkamali ng pinili. "Bagay sa 'yo."
Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya, I was slightly stunned to see him staring at me. Naglaho ang aking ngiti na suot. Bahagya ko ring ibinaba ang hawak na suit.
"You've got a good taste, Miss?" Ngumiti si Diego sa akin at nagtaas ng kilay.
"Uhm, Chantal," pakilala ko sa sarili.
Tumango siya. "Yes, yes, Chantal..." sabi niya. "I also think this suit would go well with the charity event."
I smiled at that, proud of my choice.
"I'll take this one," agad na sabi ni Xaiver saka nilingon si Diego. "Can I try it on?"
"Sure, sure! No problem!"
Diego led the way toward the fitting room. Bumalik naman ako sa kinauupuan ko upang maghintay. Akala ko'y hihintayin siya ni Diego, ngunit nagulat ako nang lumapit siya sa akin.
"Chantal."
"Yes po?" Muli akong napatayo.
"Xaiver asked me to find you a dress to wear for the event. Do you have your own fashion statement or... can I suggest some pieces?" he hesitantly asked.
Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. Mabilis kong inikot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng receiving area. Sigurado akong mamahalin ang mga nandito sa loob. The last time Xaiver bought a suit here, I remembered it costing more than a hundred thousand.
"Uh... Wala naman po akong specific na style na gusto. Kung ano na lang po siguro 'yung pinakamura?"
Diego smiled at me before he nodded, then walked to the other side.
Nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan. I didn't know why Xaiver suddenly thought of buying me a dress. Kapag sinasama niya naman ako sa events, madalas ay bahala na ako sa susuotin ko. Madami-dami na rin akong gowns at dresses na nabili sa Divisoria para sa mga okasyong pinupuntahan namin.
Noong nagsisimula pa lang ako ay binigyan niya ako ng budget para doon. Syempre ay sinulit ko na. I made sure to buy affordable but quality dresses.
"Come here," aya sa akin ni Diego nang mapansing hindi ako sumunod sa kanya. He got a beautiful night gown from the rack.
It was an ash gray dress, almost the same color as the suit I picked for Xaiver. The satin top was sleeveless with a slightly deep neckline, in contrast to the tulle skirt. It seemed like a dress you would often see someone wear in prom.
"I think this one will fit you," sabi ni Diego matapos akong pasadahan ng tingin. "You can try this on. Dito ka sa isang fitting room."
Diego led me to the other vacant fitting room. Kahit na nag-aalangan pa rin ay sumunod na ako sa kanya. After giving me instructions on how to easily wear it on my own, he finally left me to dress up.
Habang sinusuot ay ingat na ingat ako. Baka mamaya ay sumabit kung saan at mapunit. Sigurado akong wala akong ipambabayad dito, and I surely didn't want Xaiver to pay for my own mess.
While I was still inside, I heard Xaiver and Diego talking outside. Mukhang tapos na siya magsukat ng suit kaya nagmadali na ako para hindi siya maghintay nang matagal.
"Tapos na 'ko..." tahimik kong anunsyo nang lumabas.
Xaiver's eyes immediately drifted to me. He was already wearing the gray suit I picked for him earlier, and I couldn't help noticing how his aura seemed to lighten up a bit. He also looked a bit more casual than his over-formal suits.
The suit had no tie nor bow that came along with it. Hinayaan ni Xaiver na nakabukas ang unang tatlong butones ng button down shirt. Hindi niya rin isinara ang coat kaya iyon kaagad ang makakaagaw ng pansin mo.
"Uh, okay na ba? Pwede na ba ako magpalit ulit?" tanong ko sa takot na madumihan. Ni hindi nga ako masyadong lumayo sa fitting room pagkalabas.
"Xaiver, what do you think?" Diego asked him and flashed a grin.
I bit my lip and flicked my gaze back to Xaiver. He was still staring at me seriously. Magkasalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. Tingin ko'y hindi niya nagustuhan dahil mukha siyang galit, and I didn't want to hear him voicing out his disappointment.
"She looks beautiful."
Nanlaki ang aking mga mata sa kanyang naging komento. That was something unexpected. Agad na uminit ang pisngi ko. I had to slightly turn my face away just in case he would notice how he made my cheeks flush.
"I know you'll love it!" Pumalakpak si Diego. "This is the twin of the gown Anne Hathaway wore during the recent Oscars. I don't know if you've seen it, but white ang na kay Anne. She really liked that design, but her color motif was white, so I had to start from scratch. Meaning to say, that gown is the original one."
Napasinghap ako. Knowing all those details, mukhang alam ko na kung magkano ang presyo nito. The original price should already be over a hundred thousand. Pero dahil sinuot pa ni Anne Hathaway ang katulad nito, sigurado akong mas tumaas pa ang presyo. I wouldn't be surprised if the price tag read three hundred to five hundred thousand.
Nilipat ko ang tingin kay Diego. I told him to get me the least expensive in this room pero mukhang isa sa pinakamahal pa talaga ang pinili niya.
"I'll take this suit," simpleng sabi ni Xaiver at saka nilingon si Diego. "And the gown, too."
"Nako! Huwag na!" agad kong pigil.
Xaiver and Diego both turned to me simultaneously..
Napakunot ang noo ni Xaiver. "You don't like it?"
"Hindi. Maganda siya. Gusto ko pero kasi..." Napahinga ako nang malalim. "Mahal kasi. Meron naman akong maisusuot pa sa bahay. Hindi na kailangan nito."
"Chantal, Xaiver can definitely aff—"
"Diego, can you please give us a moment?" Xaiver cut him off.
Diego immediately shut his mouth, then went out of the VIP room to give us some privacy.
Kabado ako nang maiwan kaming dalawa ni Xaiver. I had a bad feeling about this.
"Chantal, why don't you take a seat first?" Xaiver asked, pointing to the couch where I sat earlier on.
Ngumuso ako at nag-isip sandali bago umiling. "Huwag na... Baka kasi malukot ko 'yung damit."
Xaiver's jaw clenched at that. He seemed a little frustrated, but just heaved a sigh, then nodded.
"Okay. We'll talk while standing," he said.
"A-ano ba ang dapat pag-usapan?" The tension rising between us made my lips trembled slightly.
"About getting you that gown or dress."
Napaawang ang aking mga labi. Unti-unting humakbang si Xaiver palapit sa akin. I swallowed hard and tried not to run back to the fitting room as he gradually closed the distance between us.
"I asked you to be my date, didn't I?" He asked me, but it sounded more like a threat. It was already in his nature to appear and sound intimidating, and I thought I was already used to that until that moment.
"Oo?" hindi ko siguradong sagot noong una, ngunit nang napakunot ang kanyang noo ay agad ko 'yong binago. "Oo. D-date mo ako..."
That doesn't sound right, pero bahala na!
"Allow me to buy you the dress, then," Xaiver said. "Ako ang nag-aya sa 'yo bilang date ko, and I want to get you a new dress to wear for the event."
"Pero kasi dati mo pa naman ako kasama sa mga event at hindi mo naman na ako kailangan pang bilhan ng ganitong kamahal para—"
"That was different."
I creased my forehead and tilted my head on the right when he cut me off.
"You went to events with me as my secretary before, but that's not the case now."
I could sense him trying his best to stretch his patience for me.
"You are my date, Chantal. It's different now," he added, staring straight into my eyes.
Parang sirang plaka na paulit-ulit sa isipan ko ang mga sinabi ni Xaiver. It was an addition to his bizarre question yesterday.
Hawak-hawak ko ang malaking paper bag kung saang nakalagay ang gown na binili ni Xaiver para sa akin kanina. He won the argument—well, as if I had the chance to defeat him. Hindi na ako nakasagot nang pinili niyang guluhin ulit ang isipan ko sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.
"Aba, anak! Himala at nag-shopping ka ata?" gulat na pambungad na tanong sa akin ni Mama, pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko sa bahay.
Ngumuso ako at nilapag ang paper bag sa ibabaw ng coffee table saka ibinagsak ang katawan sa sofa. Lumapit agad si Mama sa paper bag upang tingnan kung ano ang dala-dala ko.
For her, it was really a miracle if I bought things for myself. Parang once in a blue moon lang ako bumibili ng mga gamit at madalas ay para lang din sa opisina. Mabilis akong manghinayang sa paggastos sa pera, lalo na kung 'di naman makakain.
"Aba! Diego Martinez 'to ah!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Mama saka ako nilingon. "Magkano ang bili mo?"
"Ma, tingin ninyo po ba makakabili ako niyan?" tanong ko.
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Malay ko ba. Baka mamaya ay binigyan ka ng bonus ng boss mo."
"Kung bigyan man po ako ng bonus, alam ninyo naman pong sa bahay lang din 'yon mapupunta at 'di ako gagastos ng malaki para sa damit," paliwanag ko at umayos na ng upo. "Binili po 'yan sa akin ni Sir Xaiver."
Sir Xaiver, huh?
Parang naiilang naman akong tawagin siyang Sir Xaiver ulit. Kaya lang ay ayaw kong magtaka si Mama.
"Binili niya?" Hindi siya makapaniwala. Nanlaki pa 'yong butas ng ilong niya.
"Opo. Ayan daw ang isusuot ko sa charity ball ng pinsan niya."
"Talaga?"
Tumango ako.
"Ang bait talaga ng boss mo."
Mabait? Hindi ko alam kung sasang-ayon ba ako roon. But then again, he could be really nice sometimes. Kaya nga lang ay nakakailang ang kabaitan na pinapakita niya sa akin. However, my mother seemed to have a different opinion of him.
"Tingin ninyo po mabait talaga siya?" I asked her, even though I should be the one who knew the answer to that.
"Oo naman," walang pag-aalinlangan niyang sabi at naupo katabi ko. "Tanda ko pa noong inalok ka niya ng trabaho kahit na graduating ka pa lang no'n. Tingnan mo naman ngayon. Nang dahil sa oportunidad at tiwalang binigay niya sa 'yo, naging maginhawa ang buhay natin at nagkaroon ka nang maayos na trabaho."
I pursed my lips as I pondered on her answer and looked back from three years ago. She had a point.
Just when I thought I would have a hard time searching for a job after graduating from college, Xaiver was the one who came to me and offered me work. He saw my potential and patiently trained me. He trusted that I would meet his expectations despite having no experience.
Sa totoo lang, hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakita niya sa akin. I didn't know which part of me stood out for him. Nonetheless, I'm still grateful for everything.
"Ma..." tahimik kong tawag sa ina.
"Bakit?"
"Would you want someone like him for me?" I blurted out before realizing what I just asked.