he had been ignoring the thing for the last five minute

bed?! Do you know

It's past three." She said in a barely audible,

dy. You should've been ready. What are you doing still lounging in bed? Ilang oras na lan

eep at a time these past weeks." Pikit-mata'ng reklamo niya sabay t

ielo." Saad ni Raoul, na ang tinutukoy ay ang venue ng fashio

thought, I'll c

anga'ng-- " Simul

loob ng isang oras." Tila walang nar

ung hindi, si Raoul ang gagawa niyon sa kanya. He was a huge s

who had whipped her like a horse whenever she lagged behind her goals all those years ago

nger sewing machine kasama ng kahon-kahon niyang mga sinulid, butones, sequins, beads, at mga rolyo ng samu't-saring lace. As she crammed her things inside an LV Damier Azur Travel Case, she

ing on her make-up, and even managed a quick curl on her naturally long and thick lashes. Kapagkuwa'y hinarap niya ang laman ng kanyang built-in closet. Unlike other women who categorically organize their outfits, hers were stashed carelessly

of high-waisted olive tapered pants, which she secured with a chunky, GG Marmont belt. Dahil alam niya'ng mapapasabak siya sa mahaba'ng oras na tayuan, sh

inuto bago ang itinakda'ng oras ni Raoul. Sigurado'ng ika

. Noong mga panaho'ng pakiwari niya'y nawala ang lahat sa

sa mga antipatiko'ng ka-klase nila. Isa ito'ng mestizo - anak ng OFW'ng nurse na nabuntis ng isang doktor sa pinapasukan nito'ng ospital. Mag-isa ito'ng itinaguyod ng ina. Unlike her, who was paying out-of-pock

tinigil niya sa kolehiyo. He was already making a name for himself in Spain's fashion industry when Anika was only start

ght ways. Even when she was up to her eyeballs in debt, he knew better than to offer her his money. Instead, he remained a stalwart believer of her craft. Isa ito sa mga nagpapal

on't do it on a busy roadside." A voice

sa nakaraan. She smiled when she saw Raoul peeking at her

king about you."

pitan siya. "Ito na ba lahat ng dadalhin mo?" Ta

of his hazel, Spanish eyes. But Anika had already been exposed to crit

m." Tango niya sa

the trunk of his car and did the same with the lu

out me?" Tanong na ipinagbuk

m to have." She said smiling sweetly before sliding

plate on the fact that I had to push back my 4:30 meeting with Telva's editor-in-chief just so I can pick-up your laz

lalo ka'ng mahuhuli kung patuloy ka sa pagtatalak

tong binuhay ang makina nang makalulan sa magara'ng sasa

n na lang din tayo ng

k ni Raoul na ang tingi

g pagkatao, iyon ang hindi niya nasupil. Luckily, she was one of the few who won the genetic lo

you planned

ning to finalize the final look of the models for Encanta. Then, I will have another, separate discussion with the stylists about the accesories, shoes and jew

der. I was half-expecting you'd be jit

ur hours away from fulfilling my dream. And I can't help but

magkulay-pula ang traffic lights. "You're doing a pretty good job

never hear the end of you d

er brain. At paraborito nitong gawi'ng halimbawa ang mga pato'n

ement... yet they're moving." Anito na sinundan ng tingin ang papalayo'ng mga pato. "That's because underneath the water, they are f

" Naisagot ni

even in her normal state. Naturally, she had thought she would utterly fail that lesson. Pero sa paglipas ng panahon, unti-unti niya'ng naintindihan ang ibig sabihin ni R

er, I rather doubt you'd be able to keep

s Anika turned in her seat

aniobra ng sasakyan sa direksyon ng kalye'ng kinaroroona

orrow evening. And obviously, I have no b

rompted when he

, at magkaibigan tayo, it is my duty to

!" Nanggigil n

iquita." Nakakaloko'ng

nces if I lose my pati

ge the gap between independent and unknown designers like yourself and their potential clientele, right? So far, it has been succesful doing just that. Every year, Telva has mi

is...?"

st as he slowly pulled the car to a stop in front of her closed shop. "Nagpadala sila ng im

s worth of lessons in poise and eleganc

g, Reem Acra, Oscar del

ould only whisper i

Raoul smiled, looking

hat held it. Lately, she had barely faltered in maintaining her impeccable savoire fair. It had him worried - na baka tulad ng inaakala ng dalaga, tuluyan