I'm The Substitute Wife [COMPLETED]

Kabanata 23

IMARI stood in front of her wide cabinet in the walk-in closet, checking which of her clothes to wear for dinner with Rafael. It was only five o'clock so she still had enough time to get ready before he picked her up. She woke up late earlier that is why she couldn't have breakfast with her family. She didn't even catch up with Amari because she went to work early. Sumabay na lang siya ng tanghalian sa abuelo't abuela niya bago siya pumasok sa trabaho, kahit sobrang late na niya.

Imari heard her phone beep. She went out for a while and took it from her bed. She saw Valeria's name in her WhatsApp notification. Binuksan niya iyon.

Val: You should wear this.

Kalakip niyon sa ibaba ay ang larawan na pinadala, na agad niyang binuksan. It is a blue-gray dress of the House of CB Number. It is knee length with a slit on the right leg and a thin spaghetti strap. She remembered this dress because it was the one they had bought when they went to London for another art exhibition by another famous artist. Pinindot niya ang call sign upang tawagan ito.

"Bonjour--"

"I can't wear this," bungad niya. Inilagay niya iyon sa loudspeaker at bumalik sa kanyang walk-in closet.

"And why not? Trust me, darling, it's perfect for you."

"Half of my boobs can be seen when I wear it, Val!" Nagpatuloy siya sa paghahanap ng maisusuot habang kausap niya 'to.

"Stupide," singhal nito sa lengguwahe nito. "So what if they see the big future you are hiding? FYI that's not your first time wearing revealing clothes, Imari!"

"Rafael will be with me later, Val, and not you, you may have forgotten." Sa tuwing lumalabas kasi sila nito hindi puwede ang pa-concervative look rito. Ang laging sinasabi nito sa kanya, 'if you have it, show it off'. Lumalabas naman sila ni Rafael, pero madalas sa mga outreach program na ginagawa nito at medical mission dahil tumutulong siya, kaya hindi kailangan ng pormahan. Simpleng bestida, tee shirts, and jeans lang ay sapat na.

"Nah! You have to show him what he will lose if he lets you go, Imari."

"FYI, Val, he still courting me," pag-irap niya kahit wala naman ito sa kanyang harapan.

"Ahrte!" Natawa si Imari sa pagkakabigkas ng kaibigan sa salitang 'yun. Alam niyang nakuha nito iyon kay Amari dahil iyon ang palaging sinasabi ng kapatid rito.

"You know that word now, huh?"

"Of course! I asked that to abuela so I found out what that meant. That bitch sister of yours, she will see," naiinis na banta nito, napailing na lang siya. "C'mon, Imari, wear that. I promise you, Rafael will only fall more in love with you."

"Whatever, Val. Merci," saka niya pinatay ang tawag rito.

Sa huli, pinili na lang din ni Imari ang damit na sinabi ni Valeria sa kanya. Wala din naman mawawala kung iyon ang susuotin niya. Rafael also knows her even if she wears revealing clothes. Minsan lang talaga nahihiya siya dahil alam niyang nirerespeto ito ng mga nakakakilala rito at natatakot siya na baka kung ano ang sabihin ng ibang tao 'pag nakita siya sa ganoong ayos. Sinuot niya agad iyon at hindi nga siya nagkamali, nakalantad ang kalahati niyang dibdib sa estelo niyon, maging ang balakang niya na masyadong nahulma ng damit.

Imari dried her hair and curled the ends even more. After that, she only applied mascara and red lipstick to emphasize the shape of her lips. She chose to wear the pointed-toe PVC pumps because that's what she found more suitable with her outfit and then took the Jimmy Choo silver fine glitter leather clutch bag.

Just as she and Amari finished their call, she heard her doorbell ring. Tinungo niya ang pinto at binuksan iyon. And there, she saw one of the most handsome men he had ever met wearing his gray suit. Imari couldn't help but look at the entirety of Rafael that was in front of her.