Prologue

THE DRESS color doesn't correspond to the skin color. There's a lot of fluff in the clothing. The hairstyle doesn't fit the dress and the makeup doesn't compliment her face at all. The woman in front of him is beautiful but her style is hideous.

"Who's your seamstress?" tanong ni Leon para tumigil ang babae sa pagkukuwento tungkol sa naging paglalakbay nito sa Paris.

"Pardon?" tanong nito at tumingin sa suot na kulay-lila na yari sa puntas at kitang-kita ang mga himulmol sa damit nito.

"I am asking you about your seamstress," pag-uulit ni Leon, pinagbigyan niya na ng diin ang bawat kataga para maintindihan ng kanyang kausap.

"Uhm, my seastres is... do you really have to know my seamstress?" balik-tanong ng babae na nagngangalang Jaeana at pilit na ngumiti.

Hindi sumagot si Leon at binigyan lamang ito ng seryosong pagtitig bilang tugon.

"Of course, you want to know my seamstres..." natatawang wika ni Jeana at ngumiti sa kanya. "It's Miss Melanie of—"

"No wonder..." sansala ni Leon at nagdekuwatro. "Moche."

"Pardon?" tanong ni Jeane habang salat ang dibdib, marahil hindi inaasahan ang kanyang sinabi.

"Nevermind. Can I ask you one question again?" tanong ni Leon at pinakatitigan ang eyeshadow nito na sobrang kapal.

"Yes, of course, Leon. You can ask me anything," sagot ni Jeana at ngumiti nang pagkatamis.

Leon smiled wryly. "I was wondering, who's your makeup artist?"

"I have the most talented makeup artist, Leon. You can see it in my face," mayabang na sagot ni Jeana para mapakurap-kurap siya sa harap nito sa kawalang paniwala.

If only Jeana knows what she was talking about and how hideous she looked in her dress and makeup, she would regret bragging about them. Unfortunately, Jeana isn't as perfect as everybody says. However, he would admit that Jeana's beauty is remarkable and exotic. She has features of a woman who can tame any man she wants.

But not him. He can't be easily tame.

"Moche," tipid na komento ni Leon at umismid.

Pilit na napangiti si Jeana at inayos ang buhok nito. "P-Pardon?"

"You have been to Paris, right?" tanong ni Leon at seryoso na tiningnan ito. "Then you exactly what what Moche means, Miss Jeana."

"But... but Leon," ani Jeana at walang pasabi na hinawakan ang kanyang kamay.

Kalma lamang na napasunod ang tingin ni Leon sa kamay ng Jeana kahit pa man kanina pa kumukulo ang dugo niya dahil sa kapuna-puna nitong anyo. Tinanggap ni Jeana ang kanyang matatalim na mga mata bago niya nakita ang malalim nitong paglunok.

"Miss Melani is the famous seamstress in the Philippines, I let her design this dress for our special date," wika ni Jeana at matamis na ngumiti sa kanya. "Please don't say such thing, it's not that very ugly, I like it, Leon."

"Well, forward this message to the most famous seamstress in the Philippines that her design is garbage and your talented make-up artist is such a clown," diretsahang wika ni Leon habang nakatingin sa damit nito.

Hindi makapaniwalang napanganga si Jeana at muling sinalat ang dibdib. "But I paid a million for this dress, Leon."

"Then you waste your money on some rubbish design, Miss Villaverde," ani Leon at binawi ang kamay mula dito. "Not only your dress is hideous but also your makeup. If I were you I'm going to fire your seamstress and your makeup artist. They have only one job and they didn't understand their assignment. They never deserve their title."

"No! Leon, please..." pagsusumamo ni Jeana at hinawakan siyang muli sa braso.

Nakangiti na hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at siya na mismo naghawi sa kamay nito marahan na pamamaraan. "Last thing, Ms. Villaverde. It's Mr. Leon for.you and not just Leon. I don't even know you."

Tumayo na si Leon mula at tinalikuran si Jeana na patuloy pa rin sa pagtawag sa kanyang pangalan. Nang mahagip niya ang mata ng kanyang butler na si Lemuel mula sa malayo ay hinudyatan niya ito sa pamamagitan ng paguhit ng mga linya sa kanyang leeg. Tumango ito at sumunod ng malampasan niya ito.

"Does the award winning actress didn't passed on your standards, young master?" tanong ng kanyang butler na si Lemuel.

"She's beautiful, exactly my type, Butler Lem," sagot ni Leon at umismid sa gawi nito. "But her seamstress and the make-up artist did her dirty. Jeana is easy to fool. Even her heels don't match with her dress. Her style is so bad, I want to vomit. Do you think I'm being harsh?"

"Of course not, young master. Everybody has opinion and your opinion always matter," sagot ni Lemuel at binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan. "Where are we heading next?"

"Home," sagot ni Leon at huminga nang malalim. "I'm really tired looking for a bride,"

Isinarado ni Lemuel ang pinto at umupo ito sa driver's seat. "Are you saying that you don't want to be the CEO anymore?"

Binuhay ni Lemuel ang sasakyan at napabuntong-hininga si Leon. Does he really want to give up? Does he really want to not take the position anymore? For him, finding a bride is like finding a treasure. Napakahirap ngunit iyon lamang ang tanging daan para mapasakanya ang negosyo ng pamilya...

"Okay, I will go straight to the point, my son," wika ng kanyang ama na si Leonardo at ngumiti sa kanya.

Tumango si Leon at inayos ang kanyang suot na coat. "I'm listening, father."

"You're not getting any younger my son, so we decided to..."

"That you would finally endorse the family business to me, I know, I know," sabad ni Leon at ngumiti sa ama. "I've been waiting for this since I graduated in college, father. I am ready. I am ready to be the CEO of Manuel's fashion line. I am ready to take our family business."

Naikiling ng ama ang ulo at napangiwi. "You will have the business, my son. It's guaranteed since the moment you become my heir."

"And I am ready to take it, father. I am ready to take as I should. Where is the contract that I should sign?" tanong ni Leon at inilabas ang kanyang ball pen. "I am ready to sign now, father. You know I am."

"Uhm, there's no contract since I decided to give you an ultimatum first," wika ng ama na nagpaestatwa sa kanyang kinauupuan.

Luminga-linga si Leon at pilit na natawa. "This is not a good prank, father. Where's the hidden camera, huh? Is it on your desk? On your coat?"

"This is not a prank, my son," sagot ng ama at ipinagdaop ang kamay. "I'm giving you an ultimatum."

Sandaling natahimik si Leon at hindi naniwala sa ama. Kalma lamang siya na tumingin dito.

"I said I'm giving you an ultimatum," pag-uulit ng ama para mapatango-tango si Leon. "Aren't you going to ask me what kind of ultimatum, my son?"

Leon decided to ride with the act. "Okay, what kind of ultimatum, father?"

"I want you to get married by the end of this year, only then you will have the company, Leon," pagbibigay-alam ng kanyang ama para prente na mapadekuwatro lamang siya ng upo.

Tumango-tango si Leon at seryoso na tinagpo ang mga mata ng ama. "Okay."

"Okay?" balik-tanong ng kanyang ama at napapantastikuhan na natawa. "You agree?"

"Okay, because I know this is only a prank, father. Come on, you can say it now," ani Leon at hinudyat ang kamay. "You can say it now since your prank has failed."

Seryoso na pagtitig lamang ang kanyang natanggap sa kanyang ama kaya bahagya siyang naalarma.

Hindi makapaniwalang umiling-iling si Leon at bahagya pang natawa. "You're serious?"

"Damn hell, I am, Leon S. Manuel III," sagot ng ama para malaglag ang kanyang panga.

"Shit..." ang tanging anas ni Leon sa bagong proposisyon ng kanyang ama.

Napabuntong-hininga si Leon at napahilig sa upuan nang maalala ang engkuwentro na iyon. "Why must I find a wife? What am I going to do with one anyway?"

"Your wife is your fortune, young master," sagot ng kanyang butler na si Lemuel. "You need to find a wife to reach your lifelong dream as you said. I know you don't believe in love but your father didn't leave you any other choice."

"You're right, Butler Lem," wika ni Leon at napaismid. "Where can I find one that is decent?"

"All you have dated with are decent women, young master," pagpapaalala ni Lemuel. "It is you who doesn't want a woman that isn't perfect."

"That's why I am called perfectionist, Butler Lem," mayabang na ani Leon at maluwag na napangiti. "I am a perfectionist. If I'm going to live with a wife, I must at least find a woman that would pass my liking."

"But nobody's perfect, young master," giit ni Lemuel.

"You're wrong, Butler Lem. I am perfect," wika ni Leon at mapagmataas na itinuro ang sarili. "I exist."

"Of course, young master. You are perfect and you exist, forgive me," sagot ni Lemuel at inihinto bigla ang sasakyan.

Kumunot ang noo ni Leon at napatingin siya sa daan. "Why did we stop?"

"I'm afraid that we are caught on a traffic, young master," pagbibigay-alam ni Lemuel.

"God, I hate traffic!" palahaw ni Leon at apurado na napahilig sa upuan. "The last time we've been on a traffic is we took two long hours, Butler Lem."

"We don't have any choice but to wait, young master," marahang payo ni Lemuel.

"Of course, of course," sarkastiko na wika ni Leon at itinaas ang mga kanyang mga kamay. "Unless, there's always paparazi trailing behind me, Butler Lem. The last time paparazi caught me, I almost died."

Nang biglang may kumatok sa bintana n kanilang sinasakyan na Toyota Grandia ay napaigtad si Leon. The paparazi are everywhere he goes, sometimes he wonder if they have superpowers of enhanced senses.

"See? Damn this paparazi," ani Leon at isinuot ang kanyang sunglasses at itim na sombrero. "I'm going out, Butler Lem. I'll let you know where I am."

"I took the roads where I think you can't be seen by other, young master, turns out I'm wrong. I'll do better next time," ani Lemuel at mas lalo lamang na rumami ang paparazi sa labas ng kanilang sinasakyan.

"No, don't be so hard on yourself, Butler Lem, it's not your fault," wika ni Leon at naghanap ng gusali na puwede niyang pagtaguan. Nang makasipat ng malapit na gusali ay hinanda ni Leon ang sarili. "In three, open your window and I will run, okay?"

Tumango-tango ang kanyang Butler Lemuel. "Noted, young master."

"Okay, here we go. One... two... three," pagbilang ni Leon at binuksan ni Lemuel ang bintana gaya ng kanyang utos para mabaling ang atensyon ng mga paparazzi.

Dali-daling tumakbo si Leon sa pinakamalapit na gusali at nagtago ng walang nakakapansin sa kanya. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang matagpuan niya ang sarili sa loob ng isang studio. Hindi lamang pangkaraniwan na studio kundi studio na puno ng mga dibuho at disenyo ng mga damit at tela na mga nagkalat sa buong silid.

Nilapitan ni Leon ang mesa at tiningnan doon ang isang kuwaderno na puno ng mga disenyo na mga damit. The style hits different and the color was well-complimented. Perfection. Iyon ang unang pumasok na kataga sa isip niya nang makita ang nilalaman ng kuwaderno. Nakuha ng mga disenyo ang kanyang atensyon. Kung siya ang pagpupunain ay bibigyan niya ito nang mataas na puntos.

"This is good designs," wika ni Leon at naikiling-kiling niya na lamang ang kanyang ulo sa sobrang pagkamangha.

Nang marinig ang pagbukas ng pinto ay napatalima si Leon at nagtago sa mga mannequin at mga tela.

"Damn, I need a lot of money and I don't have one," ani ng babae sa marahan lamang na boses.

Sinipat ni Leon ang babae at nakita ang maamo nitong mukha. The woman was problematic but she has a docile face. Cheeks are rosy and lips are thin. Even her hair was wavy and her poise is grand. The only problema was her clothes. The woman inside the studio looks like she comes from a wealthy family. Tiyak na kapag aayusan ito ay magmumukha itong sopistikada.

Sa hindi alam na kadahilanan ay nilapitan ni Leon ang babae at nang marahil makaramdam ito na nasa likod siya ay napalingon ito sa kanyang gawi. Pagkagulat ang bumakas sa mukha nito habang siya ay patuloy lamang sa paglapit.

Napangiti si Leon at pinakatitigan ang dalaga. "Forgive me for intruding inside your studio, but will you perhaps marry me?"