Her Entrancing Smile [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

MARTINA'S POV

"Ma'am Martina, saan po ilalagay 'tong mga damit po?" tanong sa akin ng isa sa mga fairy ko.

"Try mo sa damitan mo, beh." Nagtaka naman siya sa sagot ko. "Charot lang. Sa rack eighteen, para 'yan sa summer collection natin next month."

Agad naman siyang sumunod so I went back to the dress that I was finishing. "Oh, 'di ba? Pretty like me!" I even clapped my hands while looking at the midnight galaxy evening gown I designed. Narinig ko naman ang tawa ng fairies ko kaya may lalo akong napangiti. "Come on, my dear fairies. Chop chop na tayo. The grand fashion show will happen next week, so finishing touches na tayo."

"Aye aye, Fairy Queen!" sabay-sabay nilang sigaw before going back to their works.

Ako naman ay napatitig na dress ko. I can't help but congratulate myself on a job well done. Ang galing mo na nga, ang ganda mo pa, Martina.

I went back to my desk and picked up the fashion magazines scattered there. Sakto namang tumunog ang door chimes ng shop kaya napunta doon ang atensyon ko.

I wasn't able to hide the romantic excitement when he entered the shop while holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Hey, babe," he greeted me and walked towards me. Hinalikan niya naman ako sa noo nang nakatayo na siya sa likuran ko. "Bought this for you. You like it?" He's sweetly smiling at me.

"Of course, babe. I love it. Thank you." I took the flowers from him and smelled them. "A great way to end my day, hmm?" I smiled back at him.

"We'll have dinner when you're done, okay?" he asked me and I nodded. "Call me if you need me, babe, hmm?" His set of dimples showed when he smiled at me. Noah reached for my hand and kissed the back of it.

I couldn't help but giggle like a teenage girl. "Yes, babe. Stay safe, okay?" I rubbed his fingers.

"Yes, Ma'am." He let go of my hand and started walking backward, papunta sa exit ng shop. "I love you, babe," he said while smiling.

I smiled back. "I know, babe. Take care!" Nag-flying kiss pa ako bago siya tuluyang lumabas.

Sabay-sabay naman nang-asar at halatang mga kinikilig ang fairies ko. "Nako naman talaga, Fairy Queen. Napaka-swerte niyo po kay Sir Noah," pang-aasar ni Charlotte.

"Diba? Diba? Ang haba ng hair ko," sagot ko sa kanya. Natawa naman kaming lahat saka ako nag-focus sa flowers ni Noah. "Hay... Ang swerte ko nga." I smiled before closing my eyes and resting my back on the swivel chair.

After the whole day of work, Noah picked me up and asked me for dinner.

"Hey, thank you," sabi ko nang ipaghila ako ni Noah ng upuan.

"Anything for my babe." He winked at me and sat in front of me.

Nasa favorite restaurant ko kami to have dinner as usual.

"Good evening, ready to order?" tanong sa amin ng kalalapit lang na waiter.

Si Noah naman ang nag-order para sa aming dalawa. He's really sweet ever since we met. Mala-prince charming ang dating. Kaya naman totoong ang haba ng buhok ko nang ligawan niya ako.

At first, I didn't take him seriously, dahil parang napaka-imposible. He's rich and handsome. He can have any woman he wants, but he wants me. Kaya naman gandang-ganda ako sa sarili ko ng mga panahon na 'yun.

Dumating na ang order namin at masaya kaming kumain. We talked about our work. Fashion boutique sa akin at shipping line naman sa kanya na pinamana sa kanya ng mga magulang niya nang gumraduate siya.

We were enjoying the night but then a statement of his ruined mine. "Martina, we've been together for the last four years..." binitin ni Noah ang sinasabi niya.

Alam ko na naman kung saan tutungo ang usapan namin. "Noah, not now," putol ko kaagad sa mga balak niyang sabihin.

It has been five years since I first met Noah, due to an event. He's an American hunk. Green eyes, square jaw, pinkish lips, proud nose, thick eyebrows, messy blonde hair, and six-pack abs, I'm telling you. A complete meal, from breakfast to dinner, with midnight snack pa.

But no matter how attractive I am to him, I still can't give him the same amount of love he gives me.

"Martina..." He reached for my hand. "I've been telling you about it since last year. I let it go because I understood your side. You wanted to grow more, and be the best that you want to be. But babe... don't you want to get married to me?" Halatang-halata sa boses niya ang lungkot, I can even see pain reflecting in his eyes pero hindi pa talaga ako handa.

Hindi ko pa kayang ibigay sa kanya ang gusto niya. I'm still twenty-five, it's still early for me to settle down. "Noah... I still can't. I'm so sorry. I'm still not ready for that part," I explained to him with a heavy heart.

He sighed and quietly continued eating dinner. Hanggang sa matapos kami at ihatid niya ako sa condo unit ko, hindi na muli siyang nagsalita. 'Di ko na rin namang sinubukan na magbukas ng topic dahil mabigat din ang pakiramdam ko.

I don't want to hurt him, but I also don't want to sacrifice myself.

I sighed and took a shower before lying on my bed. I tried to sleep but Noah's proposal never left my mind, kaya naman napagdesisyunan ko na lang na kunin ang laptop ko at mag-check ng emails para sa nalalapit naming fashion runway.

Five years ago, I told Dad about my dream of creating my own fashion line. He was reluctant at first pero wala na siyang nagawa nang si Mom na mismo ang pumayag na fashion designing ang kukuhanin kong second course.

Good thing, I graduated last year and opened my own fashion boutique. With the help of Mom, mas nakilala ang boutique ko.

About my sexuality naman, Mom was the first one to accept it back when I was in high school. Nasabi lang namin 'yun kay Dad nang maka-graduate na ako, and because of that, he didn't talk to me for five months but Mom made him understand, and luckily, he did. Kaya lang 'di naman siya tumigil sa pagse-set up sa akin sa mga katrabaho niya.

His last try was Theresia but after the day she disappeared, wala nang sumunod na ipinakilala si Dad, and nung taon na yun ko rin nakilala si Noah.

I continued checking my emails and stopped at what Charlotte sent me. It was the list of the final models for next week's runway.

Iilan lang ang nakuha naming sikat na models, ang iba naman ay mga amateur. Kumuha lang siguro si Charlotte sa isang modeling agency. Well, it's fine with me. Pwede naman nilang gawing pang-train ang mga fashion show ko.

I continued scrolling down until I reached the very end of the list, which caught my attention.

Nakalimutan kong late na pala at agad-agad na tinawagan si Charlotte.

(Fairy Queen... Wala po ba kayong beauty rest?)

Hindi ko na pinansin ang sleepy voice niya at agad sinabi ang dahilan kung bakit ako napatawag. "The... list of models for next week."

(What about it, Fairy Queen?)

"Do we really have a Theresia Myers?"

(Ayy yes, Fairy Queen!) Para namang nabuhayan ang boses ni Charlotte. (Tandang-tanda ko po si Ms. Myers. Wala po kasi talagang plano si Miss na sumali kaya lang yung tatay na po niya mismo ang nagsabi sa amin na ilista po siya pero 'di namin sure kung aattend po siya ng mga practice kasi nga ho mukhang wala siyang kagustuhang sumali.) Biglang humikab si Charlotte. (Kilala niyo po ba siya, Fairy Queen?)

I can't seem to find the right words to say. Why am I like this? "I... umm... Continue your beauty rest, Char. Thank you for the info." Agad ko namang tinapos ang tawag.

Theresia Myers...

Magkikita na ulit tayo, bessy.