CHAPTER 04: SABOTAGE

My eyebrows meet as Thymoteo pulls me in. I don't know what is wrong with him; I don't know what I did since he really looks so mad right now.

Hinila ko ang braso ko para mabitawan niya ito. Pareho kaming napahinto, tiim-bagang siyang tumingin sa akin. Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo, habang ang mga mata niyang lumalagablab sa galit na nakatingin sa akin na animo'y isang malaking krimen ang nagawa ko.

“What's your dámn problem?!” I can't help but yell. Nakakahiya ang biglaan niyang paghila sa akin sa kalagitnaan ng fashion show.

“You! My problem is you! You did that right?” Mariin ang bawat salitang tanong niya sa akin. I am hella confused on what he's talking about. Gusto ko siyang sapakin sa sobrang inis na nararamdaman ko.

Pumikit ako at huminga nang malalim to calm myself. “Did what?” kalmado kong tanong. Lalo namang bumakas ang galit at pagkainis sa kaniyang mukha.

“Huwag ka nang mag maang-maangan, Ynna. You're the one who sabotage my company's cloth collections, right?”

I laughed at him bitterly. “Sabotage? Come on, as far as I remember, you're the only one who's making everything as a competition with me, Thymoteo.” He is unbelievable! Accusing me of things na malabo ko namang gawin.

He bit his lower lip, mukhang kinakalma niya ang kaniyang sarili para hindi makapagsalita ng kung ano-ano. Hinilot din niya ang kaniyang sentido. He looks like a mess, halatang stress na stress siya.

“If it's not you, then who? You're the only one who had potential to do such thing like that.” Mabuti na lamang at walang masyadong tao sa parte na ito ng venue.

Inayos ko ang white fur coat ko. “I don't know who did that and I don't care. I can sue you for your false accusation Mr.” I glared, turned my back to take my leave like nothing happened.

Bumalik ako sa assigned seat ko, marami ang nagtatanong kung ano na ang nangyayari dahil naputol ang fashion show. I noticed that the host wasn't on the stage anymore.

Couple of minutes passed, and the host went back to the stage. “We would like to apologize for the delay, we are still fixing some issues. I am really sorry but we need to end this fashion show already; however, we want you to cooperate for the further investigation. After that, you can go home and have a good rest. Thank you so much for understanding everyone.”

Nanatili kaming lahat sa aming mga upuan, napansin ko si Thymoteo na may kausap na mga security. Habang naghihintay, may mga waitress na nag-aabot sa amin ng drinks. Maraming tao ang naguusap-usap, they are all look so confused on what's happening.

I opened my phone dahil kanina pa ito vibrate nang vibrate. Most of the notification are from twitter, hindi na rin ako nabigla nang makita kong viral ang fashion show ngayon. Sa sobrang dami ba naman ng tao rito ay hindi ito nakakapagtaka.

“Good evening Ms. Ynna, can we invite you to our office for some questions?” hindi na ako tumanggi at sumunod nalang, isa-isang tinatawag ang mga tao to conduct the interview for the investigation.

Pagpasok palang ng opisina ay nakita ko na ang nakabusangot na mukha ni pogo, I can't help but to roll my eyeball. I'm still mad at him for accusing me without any concrete evidence.

Umupo ako sa swivel chair at hinintay ang mga katanungang ibabato nila sa akin. “Good evening Ms. Ynna, we will ask you some questions and we guarantee you that all of this is confidential and will only be used for the investigation.”

I nodded to the officer as sign of agreement. “Let's start, where were you at 7:00-8:00pm?” unang tanong nito habang may binubuklat-buklat na mga papel.

“Obviously, I am on my assigned seat watching the ramp of the other companies model officer.” Ramdam ko ang bawat tingin ni Thymoteo sa akin.

Kumpara kanina ay mukha namang hindi na gaanong matalim ang bawat tingin niya. Tahimik lang itong nakatingin at nakikinig sa usapan namin.

“Last question Ms. Cinnamon Nadezhda, do you recognize this woman?” tiningnan ko ang ini-play niya sa laptop na isang cctv footage.

I gasp when I saw the woman destroying WILLIAMS cloth collections and designs using a scissor. "I know her officer, she approached me earlier.”

She is the foreigner woman who took a picture with me and the one who's wearing one of YSABELLA's gown collection.

“She is one of your minion right?” napalingon ako sa baritonong boses na iyon. Hindi ko na mapaliwanag ang galit na nararamdaman ko pero kailangan kong kumalma.

“Minion? Do you have any evidence that I know that person personally?” tumayo ako at tinitigan siyang maigi.

He crossed his arms then he leaned on the wall. “She is wearing one of your collections, Ynna. Evidently, she is one of your allies. Playing dirty huh?”

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko, I stood up and go straight to his direction. A loud slap was heard all over the office.

“Persist on accusing me Mr. sa korte tayo magkikita.” The officer suppressed us.

“That's enough. You may go now Ms. Cynnamon, thank you for your cooperation.” I grabbed my bag at nagmamadaling umalis.

Before leaving the office, I glanced at Thymoteo with full of disappointment. I know that he is very competitive with me but I did not know that he would humiliate me like this.

I went outside the venue and called my driver who fetch me earlier. Hindi rin naman ako naghintay nang matagal.

I am exhausted, this is not the fashion show that I expected. It is the first big fashion show event that YSABELLA participated in and yet, it was ruined.

When I arrived at the hotel that I'm staying in, I immediately called Maureen. I don't want to disturb auntie Lauren, for sure she is still sleeping.

I checked the clock beside me, it is 11p.m here and 5 am in the Philippines. Still early but I really need someone to talk to.

“Ynna, ang aga pa. Mamaya pa ako pupunta sa kumpanya,” she yawned as she answered her phone.

I can't stop myself from sobbing, that pogo will really pay for this.

“My God! Are you crying?! What happened?!” I can feel her sincerity. She sounds so worried and panicking at the same time.

“Something bad happened at the fashion show, WILLIAMS Cloth collections and designs were destroyed. Thymoteo is accusing me that I'm the one who commands the girl who destroys it because she's wearing one of our collections.”

I calmly explained to her what happened. I wiped my tears, I won't shed tears for that ambitious pogo, he is not worth it to cry for. I took a deep breath and lay on my bed.

“Gosh! Kaka check ko lang ng twitter, the fashion show is trending! Grabe naman 'yung ginawa sa'yo ni Thymoteo gusto mo upakan ko 'yan? Sabihin mo lang lilipad ako d'yan. Bakit n'ya pinagbibintangan ang best friend kong kupal s'ya.”

I laughed, I really love this side of hers. Since then, she is always this protective in a funny way. I called the right person, she made my anger go away.

“Don't worry I'm fine, I will be there maybe on the other day. I c-check ko pa kasi ang branch natin dito.”

I heard her yawn again, we bid goodbyes and ended our call. I took a cold shower before going on my bed to sleep.

I AM HERE at Musee d'Orsay. Naisipan ko kasing mag quick tour muna rito bago ako dumiretcho sa YSABELLA branch here in Paris, France.

Medyo marami-raming tao ngayon. Isa kasi ang Musee d'Orsay sa sikat na tourist spot dito sa Paris. I took some photos and sent it to my Auntie.

The view and ambiance here is so calming and welcoming. Isa rin ito sa way ko para mag unwind. Aside from fashion designing ay na e-enjoy ko rin talaga ang pag appreciate ng mga art.

Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon ay nakasalubong ko si Thymoteo. I ignored him but he grabbed my arm that made me stop from walking.

“What now Mr.? My aunt told me that I should not talk to strangers.” I gave him a sassy attitude before pulling my arm.

“Let's talk.” he calmly says. Ayan nanaman tayo sa let's talk na 'yan, gusto ko ng peace and yet he is here asking me to have a talk with him.

HINDI ko naman alam na pumayag ako pero basta-basta nalang niya ako hinila sa isang coffee shop. I ordered Iced Caramel Macchiato and Croissant while he ordered Pistachio Latte.

“I'll pay.”

Ilalabas ko na sana ang wallet ko when he gave his black card to the cashier. “Nah I'll pay cheapie.”

Hindi na ako nakipag talo sa kaniya at umupo na lang. “What do you want to talk about?” I looked at him with a serious face.

“You should apologize to me for slapping my handsomeness.” An annoying smirk plastered on his face.

“Excuse me? Why would I? You are the one who should apologize to me for accusing me, Pogo.” I almost laughed when I saw his two thick eyebrows meet.

“What did you call me?” magsasalita na dapat ako pero dumating na order namin.

While I'm peacefully eating my croissant, he broke the silence. “Sorry.” my eyes got bigger on what I heard.

“What did you say again? I'm sorry I did not hear it.” I innocently proceed on eating my Croissant.

His face got crumpled. He is looking at me with an ‘is-she-damn-serious’ face. I want to laugh at him pero hindi ko ipinahalata.

“Nevermind.” He sips a coffee before talking again. “The girl who destroys my company's collections is crazy. She destroyed that to hook my attention and wore your collection para ikaw ang pag bintangan ko.”

I cock a brow and look at him with full of disbelief. “What happened next? She is literally crazy, she should be rotten in prison. Funny girl, hindi ba niya alam na may cctv doon?”

Nakwento niya sa akin na kaninang umaga nahuli 'yung babae. Nagawa raw nitong sirain ang koleksyon ng kumpanya niya para magpapansin. She's admiring Thymoteo for a long time, she is also jealous at me dahil nga noong nakaraan ay napag-usapan kami sa i*******m na nagpaparinigan that's why she wore one of YSABELLA's collection to ruin my reputation on him. That's hella crazy.

“Alright, I need to go now. Thank you for a treat pogo.” magsasalita pa sana siya pero kumaway na ako at pumara ng taxi.

I am heading to one of my branches now. When I get there, all the employees greet me. Many of the staff are busy sewing more dresses dahil na sold-out muli ang isa sa aming design.

I checked the sales this month and lalo itong dumami, I stayed there for like three hours. I received multiple emails from other companies saying that they want to invest in my company. I set a schedule for our contract signing in my main company in the Philippines, I really need to go back home.

AFTER that day, lumipad na rin ako pauwi ng Pilipinas. I don't know why I felt relieved when Thymoteo and I had a small talk. Maybe because it's my first time hearing him apologizing.

“Ynna, how's the fashion show?” Auntie Lauren is the one who fetches me at the airport.

“It's good naman po, may naging difficulties but it's all fixed now.” We had so many chitchats.

Alalang alala raw siya sa akin dahil sa mga nabasa niya sa twitter, at her age kasi ay tambay rin siya sa social media. She also told me that she missed me so much.

I told her to drop me off on my company's main building. Iaabot ko kasi ang mga pasalubong ko kay Maureen habang ang mga pasalubong ko naman kay auntie Lauren ay iniwan ko na sa sasakyan.

“Bye sweetheart, go home early para maaga kang makapag-pahinga ha? I'll cook your favorite adobo.” I nodded and kissed her cheeks.

Pagpasok ko palang ng kumpanya ay nagtitinginan na sa akin ang mga empleyado, ngumingiti at bumabati. I don't know but I can feel something strange.

“Ynnaaaa!” sinalubong ako ng yakap ni Maureen. “Calm down Mau, teka--saan mo ba ako dadalhin?” bigla-bigla niya kasi akong hinila patungo sa opisina ko.

“Sinong poncio pilato naman ang nagbigay n'yan?!” gulat na gulat kong sabi.

My office is full of red roses with a tarpaulin that says “Welcome back mí amor!” on it.