33 Conscience

BUMAGSAK ang kanyang balikat sa nadatnan niya pagkagising. Lahat ng mamahaling muwebles ay nagkalat sa sahig at basag. Pumikit siya ng mariin nang maalala ang ginawa niya kagabi. She was drunk and got wild after the last encounter with Zedrick. His looking injured expression made her crash everything inside her room.

She grunted languidly. Until now she can't erase his memories inside her head. Pinupunit noon ang kanyang puso at kaluluwa. Sinaktan niya ang kanyang taong pinakamamahal.

She lazily grabbed her ringing phone on her bed.

"Good morning, Miss Majesty! Si Nicky po ito. Ipinasa ko po sa email niyo—"

"I'll come today, Nick. See you in a bit."

"Okay po, Miss."

She pressed the end button and sat on the edge of her bed. The only thing for her to forget him is making herself busy.

That day she canceled her leave. She sores the toxic deadlines and filled her seconds by pressure. Even at night, she would be sat on her chair to finish her undone painting. There is this image she'd always dreaming of. A person with the different face of shape, with different shades of color and undefined body of nature.

Days passed by. It was finally middle of the month when she saw the half of her masterpiece.

What's the meaning of this? She asked herself while trying to read the details. Among her previous drawings, this is the only thing that made her wonder and left thinking even harder.

Tinakpan niya iyon ng puting tela. She will come back to it by tomorrow. For now, she will attend a Charity Gala held by her boss, Mrs. Swizz. Wearing her own designed, black silk satin dress with a flowing contour that showed her fair front skin, added a black ribbon necklace as her only accessories aside from afro curly hair wig, she confidently stood on the middle of the crowd.

Few more pictures and chitchat with the co-famous designer, she eyed the whole event and saw Vika with a familiar man. Even if he is not facing her, his domineering aura never hides as some of the models turned their head at him.

Malik Hetch, isn't it?

Lumipat ang kanyang atensyon sa kasama nitong babae. Magmula ng ilantad ni Vika ang totoong mukha, lumayo ang loob niya rito. Hindi na ito ang approachable na modelong nagustuhan niya noon. Pero suot nito ang disenyo niya. Kahit papaano'y paggalang o paggunita sa kanya ay gagawin nito kapag nakita siya.

Dumiretso siya rito para magpapansin. Nilingon agad siya ni Malik. Nananatili itong seryoso para bang walang ipinagbago sa kanya mula sa batang Thaysky ng Casa De Rios. Graciella on the side saw her coming through. She poked Vika for a notification but the famous mysterious model just ignored her with a high head.

"The alluring!"

"Abundant of glamourous ideas."

"That flaunt her candid beauty, your Majesty."

Natigilan siya sa tatlong nagkikisigang lalaki na humarang sa kanya. Hindi maikakailang humanga siya sa mga papuri nito. Did she really called their attention or is it because she is Majesty? Ever since she believed that it is her fashion sense and cool effects made guys to turned their heads at her, not knowing if she really that attractive or truly candid as Majesty's ideas does.

The middle guy approached her to kiss her knuckles. He had a bright smile and impeccable sense of style that made him stand among his lads.

"Call me, Gav your highness," he sexily said.

Her head stirred at the mention of your highness. It seemed to belong to only one guy who could make her knees tremble. Weird but it sounded cliché.

Mapang-insultong tawa sa gilid ang nagpalingon sa kanya. "Oh my gosh! Is that you, Drake?" Dala nang pananabik ay niyakap niya ito.

"Hindi ko aakalaing makikita kitang muli sa anyo ng isang sikat na designer. Mas lalo kang gumanda."

She smiled wider when he releases her. "Thanks for your sweet mouth, Drake. Namiss ko 'yan, ha."

"Namiss din kita, Sky."

He pulled her on the side to talk their childhood. Sulit ang kuwentuhan nila dahil nagkaroon siya ng ideya sa mga nangyari sa Casa De Rios pag-alis niya. Ramdam niya pa rin ang pagiging cool nito, maging respeto dahil hindi nito inungkat ang tungkol sa bigla niyang pag-alis noon. Kahit ang banggitin sa pagkamatay ng kanyang nakatatandang kapatid.

They just parted when Mrs. Swizz called her attention. Bitin pa nga siya dahil hindi manlang niya naitanong ang kasalukuyang buhay nito. Pero nakuha niya ang numero nito.

She ended the party by filling more of incoming projects and invitation from different places like Chari O'dil from Paris and Mouz Lacorn of Thailand. She is excited about their collaboration on the upcoming Swizz Fashion Show this year.

"What's up?"

"Charlie, I'm good." Finally she called

"My dad is going better now. He kept on asking you."

Nilipat niya sa kabilang tainga ang telepono upang pirmahan ang dinalang letter of approval ni Nicky. Nagpasalamat ito bago umalis.

"Ha? Why? Namiss niya ba ang mga joke ko? Regards mo ako sa kanya."

"You are in his dreams. Sabi niya nakita ka niyang may kausap na taong hindi niya kilala. May ibat-ibang hugis ang mukha sa magkakaibang kulay."

Natigilan siya sa pagbuklat ng isang papel dahil sa narinig. Nakuha ni Charli ang buong atensyon niya. "Talaga? Kaya niya kayang i-describe ang itsura ng lugar kung saan ko kausap? Sigurado ba kamo siyang ako?"

"Sabi niya deck pero hindi niya matandaan kung yacht or building. Basta malamig at maganda ang panahon. Masaya si Dad habang pinapanood kang kausap ang taong iyon."

"Why would he dream about me?"

"Hindi ko rin alam. Nakikinig lang ako kasi kapag nagsasalita siya tungkol sa'yo, hindi siya nanginginig. Basta tatlong beses sa kanyang nangyari 'yon sa magkakaparehas na lugar. Noong una lumingon ka raw sa kanya kaya namukhaan ka niya. Ano kayang ibig sabihin noon?"

Pinanood niya sa ibaba ang busy niyang team. Ni isa sa mga ito ay walang nakakaalam ng kanyang talento sa pagpipinta. Kahit mismong sa kausap ay inilihim din niya. Coincident nga lang kaya talaga iyon?

"Maybe it's a sign of his healing stage. Happy pigment of memories. Natatandaan kong nakita niya ako noon na may kausap na mga modelo."

"I hope so. I wished you are right. I'll take that as a positive news, Sky."

"Come on. Think positive. Kung wala lang akong trabaho, bibisitahin ko siya para naman mapatawa ko siya gaya ng dati."

"Uy, kaya ko naman gawin 'yon."

"Iba pa rin kapag ako. Mas ganado siyang tumawa."

"Fine. E 'di ikaw na. Ako kaya ang anak."

Hagalpakan silang dalawa bago nagpaalam sa isat isa. Tinapos niya ang lahat ng papel sa mesa niya bago sumulyap sa kanyang schedule board. Bukas na pala ang party. She let out a long sighed. Ayaw niya talagang pumunta. Puwede niyang i-disregard ang invitation at magdahilang masama ang pakiramdam niya. Simple!

"Miss Majesty? Pinapupunta po sila sa office ni Mrs. Swizz."

"Alright, Nicky."

Kabado siya kung bakit pero may kutob siyang may kinalaman sa party ang pagpapatawag sa kanya nito.

"Have a seat, Darling." The warm woman smiled at her.

She sat and smiled back.

"Mr. O'dil like you a lot. Do you know that Maggy admires his genre?"

"Maggy, did?" Malungkot siyang ngumiti dahil sa pagkamiss sa babae. "I like O'dil too. His dark and neutral designs are unique."

"Yes, just like how he liked your impressive designs. He quoted that you had a rare idea that no one can ever think of but you did. The same reason with the BnG Company. They wanted to be mixed by your ideas." Tumayo ito upang hawakan ang kanyang mga kamay. "I watched you grow on this field, and I can't help it but admire your abilities. I want you to grow even more. Take the invitation. Give it a shot. There is no wrong with trying the different angle. The big opportunity is not on one side of the world. Go out of your box and discovered the undiscovered opportunity. Am I talking with the right person? You are Majesty. She is making the impossible possible."

Kinilabutan siya sa mga narinig. Kilala niyang matalino na tao si Mrs. Swizz pero kailanman ay hindi ito nangdungis, nanira o nanghamak ng tao. "Salamat po. Pupunta po ako."

"Kahit nga ang walang kahilig-hilig sa design na pamangkin ko. Brand mo ang sinusuot at ginagamit." Pinalagdaan nito sa kanya ang kanyang disenyong bag na para sa tinutukoy nitong pamangkin.

She is one year now on this field, yet her name made it to the top. It brought her overflowing blessings. Ibabalik niya ang pagpapalang ito sa pagtulong sa Charitable Institution. She will grab every opportunity to raise more funds for her project.