Calming The Storm (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 25

DAYS passed by quickly and it still gives me goosebumps thinking that we made it to the top 2 of the competition. Isa-isang nalagas ang mga kalahok sa pagdaan lamang ng ilang linggo at bukas na gaganapin ang finals ng competition. It's between Matilda Rivera and Vexana Sureyl as the designers. It's between ECL and OHIO's as the company. It's between Pstormielle Roa Fuerza and the rival's sponsor. It's between me and Astrid.

I am thankful and lucky that even when I'm now 2 months pregnant my tummy isn't obvious. Flat pa rin at wala man lang baby bump. It's good for me. Lalo na at mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang pregnant contesant.

Lumapit sa akin ang isang babae at sinukatan ako. My measurement is needed because Matilda is planning to re-create her one of the luxurious dress. Starstruck pa rin ako sa tuwing maiisip kong ipapasuot niya sa akin iyon.

Tumayo ako upang mas mabilis niyang magawa ang trabaho niya. She's a bit shaky. Maybe she's nervous kaya naman hinawakan ko ang balikat niya at nginitian siya.

"Calm down. Why are you so shaky?" I asked.

"Nakaka-tense ka po kasi sa malapitan." Matapat niyang sagot.

I chuckled by her reaction. She was stunned and stared at me with awe. Sa tingin niya ay para bang nakakita siya ng anghel dahil talagang nabigla siya.

"Ano ka ba. Maging ako natetense din. Don't think of me as your superior. I am just a model. I am also a human." I said and then she resumed measuring my every details.

Nang mapasulyap ako sa pintuan ay agad akong nag-panic. Ganito ang nararamdaman ko tuwing nakikita ko siya simula ng mag-usap kami ng gabing iyon. I always get paranoid and very tensed whenever he's around. It's like a teenage girl in front of her ultimate crush.

He is walking confidently with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. I can see the people in Matilda's living room were paused from what they're doing. Ang mga babae ay impit na humahagikik kapag nadadaanan niya. Lagi namang ganoon. He always gets to catch the attention of others kahit wala namang espesyal sa ginagawa niya.

"A flower for a soon to be mother." He whispered and handed the bouquet to me.

At usual days, lalo na kapag busy kami pareho sa trabaho ay napapadala lang siya ng bulaklak with notes. Kaya naman kung narito siya ay malamang maaga siyang nag-out o natapos niya kaagad ang gawain sa opisina.

I smelled from the bouquet. Tulips. I've become so fond of tulips. Gustong-gusto ko ang amoy at itsura nito. Halos mapuno na nga ng tulips pictures or painting sa buong suite ni Storm. Kulang na lang ay angkinin ko na ang bahay niya at palibutan ko na lang ng tulips.

"You're here." I tried to sound not so happy but it ended that way. "I mean, you're out of work this early?" I asked.

"Yeah. I want to see you." He said.

He pulled me to the couch, inches away from Matilda's staff. It gave us an immediate privacy so we could talk without anyone hearing it.

"Magkikita naman tayo sa bahay." Sabi ko. Pinipigil ang sariling kiligin.

"It's different from going home together." He said. He touched my tummy. "Still no baby bump. I am starting to doubt your pregnancy." He kidded.

Pabiro ko siyang hinampas sa dibdib. "Siyempre wala pa. Halos dalawang buwan pa lang 'to." Sabi ko.

Nagkibit-balikat lang siya. "We're going to tell my parents about the baby." He said.