CHAPTER ONE.
" Nice work Miss Harris. As expected from you, your designs never dissapoints. "
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I smiled at my professor and seniors after hearing their compliments about the recent presentation that I did. The round of applause surrounded the four corners of the room where we are staying.
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" Thank you so much, It's my pleasure to show you my arts. "
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I bowed my head as they nodded their head with a smile plastered on their face. Hindi nagtagal ay natapos na rin at lumabas na sila kasama ang iba ko pang kaklase na nasa loob. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag saka tinitigan ang sketchpad na naglalaman ng mga designs ko. I hold it smoothly as I contempt the happiness I am feeling inside of me. Konti na lang at maabot ko na ang pangarap ko.
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Dali dali kong niligpit ang mga gamit ko saka nilagay sa small backpack at attach case na dala ko. Nang makalabas ako ng pinto ng room ay saktong tumunog ang cellphone ko. I immediately answered the call without even looking at the caller ID. Baka emergency.
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" Hey, Skylein Harris speaking. "
[ How's your presentation twin? ]
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A sweet voice of a man filled my ears. I purse my lips, excited to tell him the achievement that I did today.
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" Well, I didn't expect that much since I told you last time that I was running out of ideas but it came out fabulous today. The panel was so happy for the designs I presented and even said that my works never dissapoints. Oh my god, did you hear me bro? They like it! "
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As I walk in the hallway of the university where I am studying, nginingitian ko ang mga estudyanteng nadadaanan ko na nakangiti din sakin. My day is too bright for me to get grumphy. I am holding my phone while heading my way to the parking lot of the university. I'll be going somewhere to treat myself. I heard my brother's chuckle on the other line.
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[ Yes I hear you and damn, I am so proud of you twin. I'll schedule a celebration party at the baraxx the day after tomorrow. ]
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I suddenly stop walking after hearing him. This man, argh. He really is a party going type huh?
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" Hey, you don't have to — "
I was cut of when he suddenly speak again.
[ No buts Skylein, I insist. See you there and bye, love you twin! ]
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Wala na akong nagawa nang ibaba niya na ang tawag. Napailing na lang ako at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad. Nang makarating ako sa parking, kinuha ko ang susi ng sasakyan ko sa bulsa ko. I press the key to open the door and manuever the steel going towards my favorite restaurant.
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Nahirapan pa ako makahanap ng parking slot nang makarating ako dahil halos puno ang parking area ng mga sasakyan. Sabagay, it's already 12 at malamang ay nananghalian na ang karamihan.
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I walk towards the entrance and a waiter welcomed me with a smile. I smile back.
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" Do you have a reservation Ma'am? "
" Actually none but do tell Miss Shiloah that Skylein is here. "
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I saw how the waiter's brows furrowed but he still followed what I said. I waited for a minute or two before he came back to my direction. Nasa likod niya na ang pinatatawag ko.
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The lady raised her brows at me, I smile at her before walking closer.
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" Bakit napadpad ka dito ha? "
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Yan ang bungad niya sakin. Grabe naman, magbabayad naman ako.
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" I need a table Shi, I wanna celebrate. "
" Celebrate huh? Your brother just sent me a message 15minutes ago about a party celebration for you. Seriously, what's with you two? "
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My lips parted for a while after hearing her. Damn, so Zero is really serious about that party. I shyly scratch my forehead before following her. Nagsimula na kasi siya maglakad sa medyo gilid at di mataong parte ng restaurant. Sa tabi ng glass wall kung saan kita ang mga sasakyan at taong dumadaan. She pointed the round couch in front of us before giving me the menu.
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" I'll leave you here, I still have a lot of things to fix in the kitchen. You can have this table, do whatever you want Sky. And uh, congratulations whatever you are celebrating. "
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She smiled at me and kiss my cheeks before going back to the kitchen. Shiloah is one of my friends, her family owned this restaurant she's taking her culinary course because she will be the successor of their cruisine bussiness. We also belong to same group of Colleague. We just chose to travel different paths from our parents.
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Eating alone will never be a problem for me. Sanay akong kumakain mag-isa o di kaya ay lumalabas mag-isa. In fact, I am living alone on my unit inside the Hierarchy Tower. I just really wanna pamper my self alone. Kinuha ko ang menu saka tiningnan. Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at mabilis namang may lumapit na waiter sa akin.
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" I italian pasta, a lasagna and a slice of blueberry cheesecake. Do serve me the Royalty Drink. "
" Noted Ma'am. Please wait for your order to be serve. "
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I nodded my head. Matagal tagal pa siguro kaya kinuha ko muna ang cellphone ko just to ease my boredom. I opened my instagram and check the recent posts of my close friends and some relatives. Napangiti ako ng makita sa top ang post ng kakambal ko. Our picture together when he visited me last week. The picture was the time when I told him that I am so frustrated of what design should I present. Nakapatong ang ulo ko sa lamesa sa picture, naka kalat sa harap ko ang ibat ibang lapis at art materials, pati na rin ang sketchpad ko at kitang kita sa sahig ang mga crumpled papers ng mga outline designs na pinupunit ko. I look so stress while my brother is sitting comfortably on the couch, raising his hand like telling me that I can do it.
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@zerokhiel.h
' Congratulations for your job well done today twin! Sabi ko na kaya mo yan eh, I am so proud of you. I love you, tara na shot! '
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I laughed after reading the last line. Siraulo talaga. His post gained thousands of likes. I check the comment section and it's so full of congratulatory messages.
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I hide my phone inside my pocket when my order came. Nilapag yun ng waiter sa table ko at nagpasalamat naman ako. I am eating silently, savouring the taste of my pasta when someone sat on the chair on my front. I raise my brows on the unfamilliar man who just barged on my table.
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" Ahm, hello miss. Don't worry wala akong gagawing masama sayo. I am just escaping some people, would you mind me sitting here on your table? "
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My eyes authomatically surveyed the man. He have a fair white skin, chinito and his eyes were gray. I don't know if that's natural o he's wearing some contacts. His eyebrows are thick, so as his eyelashes. His hair is black with a shade of brown, some strands are falling kaya natatakpan ang kaunting bahagi ng mata niya. He is wearing a hoodie pero halata namang may polo ito sa loob. Hindi ba siya naiinitan?
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" Oh sure, I'm glad to help. "
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I smiled at him and he returned it, lumabas tuloy ang dimples niya. Shocks ang gwapo. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagkain kahit na medyo naiilang na ako dahil ramdam kong pasimple siyang tumitingin sakin. Minsan naman ay sa labas ng glasswall na nasa tabi namin o sa relo niya. He's starting to get weird in my eyes.
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Nang matapos ako kumain ay tinawag ko ulit ang waiter para hingiin ang bill. Inilabas ko agad ang card ko saka iniabot. Patayo na sana ako sa upuan ko when I got startled with the flashes of the camera and with the people running towards our table.
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" shit. "
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The guy immediately rose up from his seat, taking my hands and pulling me closer to him. Napalaki ang mga mata ko sa ginawa niya. His one hand is on my waist and the another one is on my head, he is like protecting me from those cameras and people pero naiilang ako sa posisyon namin. He is hugging me and I can't move my hands to push him away. I can smell his scent. Hmmm, bench.
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" MJ siya na ba ang secret girlfriend mo? "
" Kaya ba hindi ka na tumatanggap ng gigs kasama si Almia? "
" Since when the two of you started dating? "
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Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi nila at anong dating? Sinong Almia? Is MJ his name? The guy tried so hard to hide my face dahil may iilang camera pa rin na nagpupumilit kuhanan ako. Dikit na dikit tuloy ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya. Oh my god, Zero will surely kill me.
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" Excuse us please. "
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I heard him saying to those people, hinila niya ako patayo at nagpahila naman ako. He is still trying to hide my face by covering me up using his hands. I took a glance at the ID of the woman standing on our front, napakunot ang noo ko ng makitang media ang nakalagay doon. Media? Wait, are they some sort of press? The hell, sino ba itong kasama ko at pinagkakaguluhan siya ngayon?
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" Just give us answer MJ. "
" Ma'am are you his girlfriend? "
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They keep on asking and reaching for me but this guy they called MJ is doing his best to cover me up. Right bastard, ayoko pa sumikat sa dyaryo because my affiliations will surely freak out. Narinig ko ang malakas niyang pagbuntong hininga ng hindi kami makahakbang paalis kahit ilang beses niya subukan. He leaned in closer to my ears before whispering something.
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" I'm really sorry for this. "
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His soft voice echoed inside my head. Is he being sorry dahil we are being caught off guard here? Yes, he must be. Nananahimik ako at bigla siyang makiki-upo, and I let him thinking na karaniwang tao lang ang tinatakasan niya, yun pala ay media na. I am busy fixing my thoughts when I heard him said something that made me froze.
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" Yes, she is my girlfriend so if you guys don't mind, let us leave this place because I will take her home now. "
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Hi Bae! Hope you're having a good day, lovelots. 🦄