A Designer's Creation

20. Who Are You?

I've been with so many guys before. Or even after maging kami ni Tyrone. But men for me are just temporary. Ang bilis ko kasing maka-move on sa intimate relationship and all I wanted is to have someone during my extra time. And most of my extra time was what? Three, five hours? I couldn't afford to spend my whole day with someone unless that was for work.

I know I was being unfair here, pero 'yon lang ang kaya kong maibigay. I was a busy and working woman. I don't adjust with men's schedule, they should adjust with mine. And if they couldn't agree with that, then they are free to leave—no hard feelings.

Unfortunately, the only man I could spend my whole day with—even if I don't want to—would always be Tyrone Chen along with my need to rush designs and reports na ipe-present sa creative directors as soon as possible. Most of my hectic schedules, he was always there. He would monitor my whole daytime transitions, my needs, my resources, and my supposed-to-be must-have assistance with the whole company's presence.

Kapag ako ang naghahabol ng deadlines, he was announcing everyone a code red. Alam na 'yon ng buong branch ng Lion kasi madalas, sa 'kin nakasasalay ang approval ng branch namin na siya ang maglalakad sa main branch. From the research team, production, marketing, accounting, design, and all the managerial position, naka-standby for my assistance.

If I need an information like ilang percent ang buyers ng ganitong dress sa nationwide stores, or may ganitong design na ba na na-release before this project na prone sa design plagiarism, or gaano kalaki ang expenses sa pagbili ng swarovski na mas malaki ang usual stone size kaysa sa palagi naming ginagamit sa design area, tatawag ako sa office kung saan designated na sasagot sa inquiry ko at makukuha ko na ang sagot ko within a few minutes.

As much as possible, ayaw ni Ty na akyat-panaog ako sa building kasi magkakalayo ang floors ng bawat department para sa tanong ko na kaya namang sagutin sa call within few seconds or minutes lang. At kapag nangyayari ang mga ganitong pagkakataon na nagra-rush kami; ang pagod ko, pagod niya. Ang puyat ko, puyat niya. Ang stress ko, stress din niya. Hindi siya makakakilos hangga't hindi ako natatapos. And para kaming nasa relay na hindi niya makukuha ang flag na itinatakbo ko hangga't hindi ako nakakarating sa puwesto niya. So all he could do is to give me what I need and after that, siya na ang tatakbo for me.

That was how our partnerships work when it comes to business. And I would never set that aside kasi nandito ako sa position ko ngayon because of his support since my trainee days.

Iyon din naman ang rason kaya siya napili ng pamilya ko para pakasalan ko. They saw the potential in us pagdating sa business. We worked best together, and we maintained Lion's grand name in spotlight because of my efforts as a fashion designer local and abroad.

Kaya sobrang sama ng loob ko sa kanya nang piliin niyang suspendihin ako kaysa ipagtanggol ang brand namin three months ago.

Gumawa ako ng eskandalo and that I understood, pero hindi ko talaga matatanggap na pumanig siya sa Aliza Verano na 'yon na may pangit na damit ni Petunia Adarna sa sarili kong fashion line.

Alam ni Tyrone na kung damit 'yon ng Lion, kahit pa design 'yon ng kahit sinong senior designer, tatanggapin kong ilakad sa backdrop—but no! That was from our competitor's couture and he had the nerve to apologize for my behalf, for what? Bakit siya ang magso-sorry for me e samantalang hindi nga nirepesto ng Aliza na 'yon ang kontrata niya sa Lion? Wala akong pakialam kung magkaibigan man sila ni Petunia, pero ang exclusive sa event ng Lion, igalang niya ang para sa Lion! I never did that to La Mari's event dahil nirerepesto ko ang lahat ng competitors namin.

Pero ginusto nila 'to. Pasensiyahan kami.

The elevator was enough to cater twenty person and there were three of us standing in the middle. My eyes couldn't stay in one place. I would check my watch for the time, then to my iPhone for emails.