CHAPTER 03

After we had dinner at Popeyes, Hunter took me home. I insisted that I'd take Grab na lang since we lived so far from each other.

"You should go inside first then I'll leave..." sabi sa akin ni Hunter.

Tumango ako, "Thank you, see you tomorrow!" kinawayan ko siya.

"Shall I fetch you tomorrow?" Hunter asked, even before I could've turn my back from him. Napatitig ako sa kanya sandali bago nailing.

"Wag na, ihahatid naman ako ni Nicole sa opisina bukas..." sagot ko at kinawayan siya ulit.

I waited 'till the growl of his car slowly fades. Alam kong bibilisan niya nang magpatakbo kahit hindi ganoon kaluwag ang kalsada. I'm sure he'd come to his father's house in Ortigas. Harper is a bit of a tattletale, especially that their father favors him more than Hunter himself.

"I'm home!" sigaw ko habang tinatanggal ang stilletos na suot ko.

Dumungaw si Angel, isa sa mga kasama rito sa bahay, na may hawak itong pizza, "Welcome home!"

"Kain tayo, Julianne!" pagyaya sa akin ni Kyla.

"Nasaan si Nicole?" tanong ko.

Inilagay ang bitbit kong bag sa sofa. Lumapit ako sa mesa upang magsalin ng softdrink sa isang baso ay uminom doon.

"Si Coli may kausap sa phone niya at andoon siya sa may lanai..." sagot ni Angel.

"Yellow Cab is fine, 'no?" Kyla said, placing down stacks of plates.

"What pizzas did you get?" I asked, opening the pizza cartons.

There's about five large boxes of pizza, and 4 two litres of soft drinks.

"Hawaiian, Manhattan Meatlovers, Roasted Garlic & Shrimp, and 2 New York's Finest..." nakangiting sagot sa akin ni Kyla.

"Tawagin na si Sophia para makakain na tayo..." sabi ko at umupo na sa upuan ko.

"Sophia isn't home yet..."

Dahan-dahang binalingan ko si Angel, "Have you called the police yet?"

"Hindi pa, wala pa namang 24 hours..." si Angel.

"A person will be considered missing after 24 hours, puwede nating i-report na missing si Sophia bukas ng 8 AM..." sabi ni Kyla.

"No one is filing any missing person, may lakad pa raw kasi si Sophia kaya mahuhuli siya ng uwi." singgit ni Nicole mula sa likod ni Kyla.

"That is so unlike her, Coli!" angal ni Angel.

"Besides, Sophia's a grown adult don't treat her like a baby..." si Christine ngayon na kakarating lang.

"'Wag niyo ng problemahin si Sophia, kumain na lang tayo..." ani Nicole at naupo na sa kabisera.  

We did what Nicole said. Hindi namin pinag-usapan si Sophia na siyang wala sa pizza night ngayon. We're chatting about our uneventful day. Asking everyone how their day went. We even talked about celebrities, politics, economical issue, and all sorts. 

When Sophia arrived with this blank facial expression. We are alarmed and ready for murder. Sophia is the bubbliest of our bunch, and seeing her like this had sent us into chaos.

"Sophia, anong nangyari sa'yo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Nicole sa pinsan niya.

"D-did someone violated you?" may bahid ng takot na sa tanong ni Kyla.

"Tang ina! Sino? Sinong gumawa nito sa'yo?!" galit na sigaw ni Angel.

Umiling siya, "Panaginip ba 'to?" she asked in a low voice. Naglingunan kaming lahat.

"Anong sabi mo?" si Kyla.

Nilingon niya si Kyla, "Panaginip ba 'to?" ulit ni Sophia sa sinabi na medyo may kalakasan na ngayon.

"No, Phia." ako na sumagot sa tanong niya. "This is very real, gusto mo bang sampalin kita?" itinaas ko na ang kamay ko. Showing that I'm ready to slap her to prove reality.

"So talagang may nangyari kanina?" wala sa sariling tanong niya.

We all had this weird faces because she is talking cuckoo-cuckoo. "Puwede pahingi ako ng tubig," she asked Angel who's near the water dispenser. She look around us, "He asked me if I could go out and eat dinner with him," she stated.

"And then he forced himself to you?" tanong ni Christine na nasa gilid.

Umiling siya, "Hindi, kumain kami ng dinner..."

"Then he had you after dinner?!" sabi ni Angel na akala mo ay siguradong sigurado sa scenario na nasa isip niya.

"Sandali nga lang, pabayaan niyo kasing i-kuwento mismo ni Sophia!" singhal ko. 

These girls and their very active minds. 

"Sabi ni Coli may lakad ka raw..." Christine trailed off.

Tumango si Sophia, "I went out for dinner with Malcolm, and he asked me if he can court me..." Sophia said and squealed like an excited teenager.

Pinilit naming ikuwento niya ang buong pangyayari. Inalam namin kung paano pinaalam ni Malcolm na manliligaw ito sa kanya. At first, akala namin ay joke lang dahil sobrang patay na patay siya sa artistang iyon pero seryoso ssiya

It wasn't just her this time. They actually met in the middle. 

How envious of her.

"Kumain kayo ng pizza?" nagpalinga-linga siya at natigil iyon sa tatlong kahon ng pizza na hindi pa nabubuksan. 

"Yes, gusto mo?" tanong ko.

Masaya siyang umiling, "Kumain na ako ng pizza kanina tapos pagkaubos ko nung Pepperoni pizza, tinanong na niya ako kung puwede ba raw siyang manligaw.

I frowned with envy, hindi dahil gusto siya nang sikat na artista pero dahil liligawan siya ng crush niya lang noon. I mean, those kind of things only happens in books and movies!

Ako nga na crush si Hunter ng ilang taon na pero hindi naman niya ako niligawan o kahit magpakita lang ng interes sa akin. Nakakainggit lang talaga.

"Wow! Suwerte mo, Sophia!" I said with obvious envy on my voice, "Aakyat na pala ako, may gagawin pa kasi ako." dahilan ko upang makaalis lang doon. Ngumiti lang si Sophia at itinaas ang kanyang hinlalaki.

Nahiga ako sa kama at pinagmasdan ang mga idinikit kong mga glow in the dark stars sa aking kisame. I recall my earliest memory I had with Hunter. 

It was when I need a male model for my project. I can't afford to pay one. But then he offered to be my subject. It was my prized piece out of all that I've done.

Nagbabaliktanaw pa ako nang tumunog ang cellphone ko, I scrambled to reached for my bag to take my phone out. Nangunot ang noo ko nang makita na tumatawag ang isang kliyente ko.

"Hello?" sagot ko pagkatanggap ko sa tawag niya.

"Miss Lustre, this is Recy's mother yung nagpapagawa po ng gown na gold." ani nito.

Napatangu-tango ako dahil alam ko yung sinasabi niyang gown, "Yes, Ma'am. I know the gown you speak of, may problema po ba? May ipapabago po ba kayo? I have already finished the whole silhouette of the gown, embellishment na lang po." sabi ko.

"Iyon na nga, Miss." the caller paused for a second, "Hindi na po kasi namin makukuha, nakabili na po kasi kami ng gown niya." napaupo ako.

"Pero mommy hindi niyo na po mababawi ang pinambayad niyo po, we have a no refund policy." 

"Okay lang po, Miss, tumawag lang ako para sabihin 'yun." sabi nang kliyente bago ibinaba ang tawag.

Nakapag-down na sila ng five thousand and I guess it's a waste. Tumayo uli ako at pinuntahan ang kuwartong pinaglalagyan ko ng mga pre-made gowns, na mostly designs na lang ang kailangan kasama roon ang gown naisusuot ko sa gala night sa Saturday.

Tatapusin ko na lang ang gown at ibebenta sa aking site. It shouldn't be a waste, I can breakeven if the piece gets sold. It was a beautiful piece after all...

But my attention settled by the golden gown - my gown - it stood out among the others. It gleamed. Well, at least for me. Alam kong kaunting disenyo na lang ang kailangan at magiging sobrang ganda niyon!

Bukas ng umaga ko na 'to sisimulang lagyan ng disenyo. Kailangan ko nang matulog. I need all the energy I can muster from my sleep tonight for the designs I will tackle at the morning.

Dinala ko ang gown kasama ang body frame nito sa aking kuwarto. I already finished the stitching and all. Disenyo na lang talaga kaya't balak kong lagyan iyon ng embellishment ng swarovski crystals at baka ng kaunting embroidery at lace.

I hurriedly change from my office clothes to my pajamas. Humiga na ako sa kama at pinagmasdan ang plain gold gown. "Goodnight baby! I'll see you in the morning..." sabi ko sa gown bago pinatay ang lamp at natulog na.

I woke up thirty minutes past five o'clock, I joined the girls for breakfast. "Good morning!" bati ko sa kanila. Wala na roon si Sophia gaya lagi. Si Angel, Kyla, Christine at Nicole na lang ang naroon.

"Hindi ka pa nakaligo?" takang tanong ni Nicole dahil naka-pajamas pa ako. By this time of day dapat ay nakaligo na ako at mamayang 7:30 ay sabay kaming papasok ni Nicole. She'll dropped me off to the office. "Hindi ka ba sasabay?" 

Umiling ako, "Nope," sagot ko bago kumagat sa hotdog. "Hindi muna ako papasok ngayon para masimulang magdisenyo nang gown ko." I grinned at Nicole.

Naiiling na umupo siya sa kabisera at nagsimula na ring kumain. Lahat sila ay papasok sa kani-kanilang trababo. Pagkatapos naming kumain ay inilagay na iyon ni Angel sa dishwasher.

Ako kasama si Kyla ay pumanhik sa itaas. "Julianne, do you have any corporate kind of attires?" out of the blue na tanong ni Kyla.

"Yeah, I have some..." sagot ko.

"Can I take a look later?" 

"Sure!" 

"Okay, okay..." she smiled, "Thank you!" sabi niya bago dumiretso sa kanyang kuwarto. Nangiting naiiling na lang ako pabalik ng kuwarto ko.

I immediately took my phone to call Hunter. Magpapaalam akong hindi papasok sa araw na 'to. Nagiisip ako ng puwede kong sabihing alibi. I wanted to formally set an absence pero knowing Hunter, he won't let me. Should I call in sick?

Hindi pa man ako nakakaisip ng excuse, Hunter answered the call. I started coughing, like I was dying para medyo convincing.

"Hello? Julianne Averee?" he called, "Are you okay?" worry is laced on his deep baritone voice.

I fake coughed, "I'm sorry, I can't go to work today," I fake coughed again. 

"But you're fine last night when I see you off," Hunter said.

"Well, I-uhmm, I stayed up last night eating and drinking soda with my girls that I feel cold even the AC's off..." I coughed again, I want Hunter to say that it's okay for me to skip work today. "I know that I'm at fault, Hunt, you don't have to say it."

I'm looking at the already fixed golden dress that's on the body frame. Wala pang gaanong disenyo iyon! There's plenty of room for improvements! It's like a golden blank canvas waiting to be designed!

As of now, it's just a plain gold off-shoulder gown. It would be gleaming brightly after I'm done with this baby!

"You sounded hoarse," he said then I heard him sigh on the other line, "Sure, Julianne," he said, almost inaudible, "Take the day off, drink lots of liquid and take meds." he added before cutting the line.

Medyo bastos pero napangiti ako, no one can resist Julianne's persuasion! Then I started dancing on my bed! I get to skip work and I get to finish putting up designs on my gown.

"Knock. Knock." napalingon ako sa aking pinto at nakita ang nakasungaw na ulo ni Nicole.

"Yes?" I smiled.

"I'm off to work, I just dropped by to let you know."

Kumaway ako, "Oh okay... Bye! Take care!" 

Nang maisara niya ang pintuan ay bumalik ako sa pagsasayaw sa kama. I'm so happy! I've never been so happy.

"Hey, my baby girl," tawag ko sa gown kong nasa body frame, tumayo ako mula sa pagkakahiga sa kama at nilapitan ang body frame. "I'll work on you now." sabi ko rito na parang 'kala mo ay buhay na tao. Pero iyon ang tingin ko sa bawat pieces na ginagawa ko at naibebenta sa mga patron ko sa online boutique ko. Every piece is my baby.

Every piece is made with precision, and made for one only. Ibig sabihin, nag-iisa lang ang mga damit na gawa ko sa market. Every piece had markings of the northern star that would say that it's from JL Collection.

Iyon kasi ang turo ng professor ko noon. You have to make your mark. Designers has made their iconic mark that skyrocketed them to a brand of luxury and along with their known designs they become icons of this generation of fashion.

Ako naman ngayon ang gagawa ng sarili kong brand. JL Collections lang muna siya sa ngayon pero magiging mas pa sa susunod. Magiging equal ang brand ko ng Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci at iba pa.

I'll be big. I know, I will.

I'm humming to Taylor Swift's Style while doing the beading design on the gown's bodice. I'm going to use the 24K gold beads Hunter bought for me when I paid the money I owed him back then and he bought me these expensive beads as a way to annoy me because I paid that loan.

Crazy? I know. People with crazy money tend to do crazy, expensive feats! With that, I guess I would just keep this baby for the rest of my life.

Kailangan magmukha akong isang milyong dolyar dahil si Hunter nga naman ang magiging date ko sa Gala night. It would be a shame if I won't be worth the same way as Hunter is worth on that very night.

I don't care if I've used every bit of expensive raw materials on my private collection, I just have to be perfect for Hunter.

Nakaramdam na lang ako ng gutom nang mag-alas dose. Sobra akong nasiyahan sa pagdi-disenyo nang gown at hindi ko namalayang tanghalian na pala. But at least natapos ko naman ang mga simpleng embellishments at iyong mga intricate na disenyo na magiging bedding ng mga swarovski crystals.

Inayos ko ang gown sa body frame nito at humakbang paatras para tignan iyon. I never been so proud of myself. It's near to perfection! I still have more time to spare with this one.

Bumaba ako at napagtanto na pumasok nga pala ang iba. Minabuti ko na tumawag na lang ng delivery. I can't cook like the other girls do so I called Jollibee delivery for a bucket meal for eight.

Dumating ang delivery bago pa man magtrenta minutos, kaya't hindi naman ako naghintay ng matagal. I paid the delivery's worth and set up the foods I ordered on the island counter just in time when my phone started ringing.

Harper calling...

Napasimangot ako nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag. Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung sasagutin ko nga ba o hindi, but I'm not rude so I answered his call.

Napabuga pa ako ng hangin bago iyon sagutin, "Hello?" walang gana kong sagot.

"Henlooooo!" maligayang sagot niya.

Nailayo ko ang phone mula sa tenga dahil baka sumabog iyon sa lakas ng bati niya, "Do you need anything, Yannie?" he asked, gentler this time.

Kumunot ang noo ko at nailing na parang kaharap ko siya, "Wala naman akong kailangan." sagot ko. I want this call to be over.

"Oh come on!" angal nito, "I overheard from kuya that you're sick! Do you need meds or porridge? I can bring it for you as, you know, sorry for what I've said that might've offended you..."

I know that Harper likes me, but he's younger than I am at kapatid siya ni Hunter sa stepmom nitong dating beauty queen. Harper Greyback Huntington is good-looking too, I admit, in his lean body built and five foot eleven inches height. 

Marami ring nagkakandarapa sa kanya. Pero hindi ako kasama roon at hinding hindi ako mapapasama doon. Hindi mo kasi maikakaila na guwapo talaga ang magkakapatid na Huntington. Even Hunter's brother from his mother, Callum Sumner Wolf, is good-looking as well. 

"I doing good, Harper, I'll feel better later." sabi ko na lang.

"Talaga? You know, I can take care of you," pagpupumilit ni Harper.

"Harper, I'll just see you tomorrow." pinal na sabi ko bago ko ibinaba ang tawag. 

In-on ko ang Do Not Disturb feature ng phone bago ini-lock para hindi na ako maka-receive ng kung anong tawag mula kay Harper.

I stared at my food, asking it tempt me again. Medyo nawala kasi ang appetite ko dahil sa pagsagot sa tawag ni Harper. Sobrang nakaka-drain ng energy.

I was once again seduced by the smell of the chicken to eat my food. Nasa ikaapat na chicken na ako nang tumunog ang ringtone na naka-set para kay Hunter.

Naaligaga ako nang tumunog iyon. Hindi ko alam kung kukuha ba ako ng tissue para punasan ang mantika sa kamay o maghuhugas ng kamay... Sa huli ay sinagot ko ang tawag ng marumi ang kamay. 

"Hello..." I weakly answered. 

"Julianne, are you feeling better?" he asked.

"Yes, Hunter." 

"Can I get an reassurance that you're coming to work tomorrow?" he asked.

"Of course, I'll come to work." I answered.

Of course, I'll come to work so I can see you, Hunter...