Flying Without Wings (Del Gallego Series #1)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Escort

"We're done, Senyorita," imporma ng isang designer na gumawa ng gown ko.

Tumitig ako sa repleksyon ko sa salamin. He was right. Tapos na nga at sakto ito sa'kin. I swallowed hard and later forced myself to smile. Kahit ang totoo ay gusto kong bumuntong hininga dahil sa pagod.

Paulit-ulit akong pinasuot ng mga pinasadyang kasuotan kanina. Para sa'kin, kahit ano roon ay pwede na. But I don't have a right to say that. Mom decides for me for anything and now she did again. She chose three gowns which she thinks the cut above the rest of twenty options.

"Much better to look at," I heard Mama compliment.

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

Kung ibang tao ang makakarinig ng sinabi niya, sigurado akong hindi iyon tunog papuri. Hindi kasi bakas ang kasiyahan sa istrikto niyang mukha ngayon. Kahit ibang emosyon, wala.

My Mom was watching us with her cold and distant eyes. I instantly obviate my gaze away from that. Hindi ako komportableng makita iyon.

"Mabuti naman at nagawa mo ang gusto ko, Jacinto. Kung hindi ay baka naisip ko na puro kasinungalingan lamang ang sinasabi ng karamihan tungkol sa'yo bilang pinakamagaling na fashion designer ngayon," her words were uttered straight from the shoulder.

Napatikhim tuloy ang designer na si Jacinto at napangiti ng alanganin. "M-Mabuti naman po at nagustuhan niyo ang mga gawa ko, Senyora Adrianna."

"Which surprises me as well," Mom stated. "By the way, I've already tripled your payment for those works, so I suppose that's enough for your job." Binuka nito ang pulang abaniko bago ikinumpas sa hangin.

She was standing beside me with her usual presence.

She's undemonstrative, much more a flabbergasting abstract to everyone. A piece that is hard to depict. But always classy and refined in her way of red, blending each silk into her peerless beauty.

Hindi ako nagtataka kung bakit kinaiingitan siya ng karamihan.

Bago pa man kasi naging asawa nito si Javier Guillermo Herrera na aking ama at ang tagapagmana ng mga Herrera, ay tanyag na siya sa kanyang larangan.

My Mom once became the world's most famous supermodel who breaks records after records of runway shows for fashion houses, made appearances on many magazine covers, and even served as a global ambassador for giant companies of cosmetics and clothing brands, enough for Forbes to recognize her as the world's highest-paid model, most valuable, and longest-running in her time. She's also an activist that supports the different organizations that center on the elimination of violence against women.

Persephone Adrianna Herrera was indeed an icon.

But being her unica hija was a breaking point.

"Hey, sweetheart," I heard someone set foot in my room.

Kilalang kilala ko ang malumanay na boses na iyon. Agad gumuhit ang matamis na ngiti ko nang makita ang aking pinakamamahal na ama.

"Papa!" I called him cheerfully.

My mom and the designer named Jacinto suddenly stopped from talking. Hinalikan muna ng aking ama ang walang emosyong kong ina, bago ako binalingan ng masuyo nitong tingin.

I failed to overlook the way my parents treat each other. It was very formal. Hindi ko sila ni minsan nakita na mas higit pa sa ganoon. I mean, they are sweet somehow, pero para sa akin ay kulang iyon. Bilang anak, parang may nakikita akong tila pader na nakatayo sa kanilang gitna.

I sighed and chose to set aside those thoughts when I saw my father treading in my direction.

He kissed my forehead before he smiled at me. "How's my sweetheart?"