Zaldivar Series #1: Weaving Lies and Chaos

Kabanata 9

"Rita, that's Ma'am Rieselle, the bride," pagtatama ng isa sa team.

Clarita's eyes were fixed on mine as an apologetic smile escaped from her lips. "Naku! Sorry, Ma'am. I forgot that you really look like my friend." 

Bumakas ang bahagyang pagkailang sa kanyang mga mata dahil sa pagkakamali.

"Ma'am, this is Clarita," pakilala ni Lynelle, the one in charge for the venue and reception of the wedding. "She's the one assigned in providing the gowns and suits for all those who are included in the entourage, including the bride and the groom."

I slowly nodded my head and offered my hand for a handshake. "Rieselle," I smiled at Clarita.

I saw her hesitated. Alanganin niyang tinignan ang aking kamay. I extended it more, urging her to accept it. 

"Clarita, Ma'am." She smiled back and took my hand for a handshake. 

"Nice to meet you, Clarita," I muttered using a soft voice. 

She took a step backwards when our hands parted. "Pasensya na talaga, Ma'am. Kamukhang kamukha mo lang talaga 'yung kaibigan ko kaya... nalito lang ako. Pero imposibleng ikaw 'yon, Ma'am."

"No problem." I let out a low chuckle.

"Shit, pati boses medyo magkatunog," she whispered. Tila sa sarili lang niya iyon ibinulong ngunit bahagyang napalakas kaya't narinig ko iyon.

"Really?" 

She gasped and looked at me the moment she realized I heard what she said. "Ah, y–yes. You're just soft spoken while my friend is..." she trailed off, wala ng balak tapusin ang sasabihin.

I slowly nodded while smiling. "But you said it's impossible that I'm her? Why is that?"

"Ah! Ma'am, kasi mukha at boses lang ang magkamukha sa inyo. Like what I've said, you're soft spoken while my friend is w–well... matabil ang dila noon." She even chuckled like she remember her friend. "Your face and makeup looks angelic, k–kalmado ba. While my friend, her face looks the same as you but her fierce makeup always makes her look like a..."

Devil.

"Devil," she winced.

Look at this woman! 

I chuckled. I almost playfully rolled my eyes as I predicted what she'll say.

"But Marcia's a good friend. Kahit masakit magsalita."

"Really?" I smirked. Am I? "She must be."

Clarita's right. The only thing that Rieselle and Marcia have in common is the face, and somehow the voice. Because Marcia isn't soft spoken while Rieselle is. I really am a good actress then. Even Clarita, who's been a friend for some years thought, I wasn't Marcia. Though I never told her I wasn't. She assumed. 

She's a friend but not close enough to the point that I'll tell her about my plans. I met her years ago because of my boutique. She went to my boutique and told me she can help me find clients. And honestly, some of my big clients are from her. 

"Can we schedule another meeting when Chaos can attend? I want the both of us to decide," I said after our lunch. We're about to discuss the theme and I don't want to choose alone.

Sandali kong nakalimutan ang hindi pagsipot ni Chaos dahil sa kanila. Some of them looked stern at first like they're intimidated at my presence, that's a given because they're all professionals but when one of them joked about something and I laughed, that's when they started feeling comfortable with me around.

Wala rin naman akong problema roon. Sila ang makakasama namin sa pagpaplano ng kasal at dapat ngang komportable kami sa isa't isa. Though I can see Clarita at the side of my eyes still looks amused while staring at me.