Princess Series Two: The Bitter Bitch

18: The Girl On A Mission

JASMINE

"It looks perfect," naiiyak na sabi ni Sandra habang tinitignan ang sketch ko. Of course, what she was holding was only a draft at hindi ko pa talaga nalalagyan ng details, pero mukhang nagustuhan niya talaga ang design. I guess tama si Erella na talagang madaling pasayahin si Sandra.

I grinned. "I will modify it more. Hindi pa 'yan ang final draft pero close. For today, though, why don't we talk about the materials? I know na gusto mo'ng namimili ng textures." Kinuha ko ang isang folder na puno ng swatches. Her eyes widened in delight at natawa ako. This girl can easily break through anyone. And she reminds me so much of Ariel—innocent like a child.

"Gusto ko 'yan!" tili niya kaya mas natawa ako. She eagerly reached out at binigay ko naman sakanya 'yung binder. Agad niya itong binuksan at tinignan ang mga choices.

While she did that, sinimulan ko nang dagdagan pa 'yung design ng living room niya. Sabi niya noon na gusto niya ng homey and lively living room. And the only way to execute that was with the use of bright colors. I'm sure she'll love it, especially since buntis siya at alam kong gustong-gusto ng bata 'yung makulay. Speaking of which... I glanced at her. Alam na ba ni Raymond ang tungkol sa bahay? In the short time that I interacted with Raymond Andres, alam kong may tendency siyang maging bossy at lahat ng bagay gusto niya nasa control niya. And if he doesn't know about this house, he obviously will have no control over it. Lalo na't si Sandra ang kliyente ko at hindi siya.

"Okay 'to para sa isang couch," aniya tapos ay binigay sa'kin 'yung binder.

I reached over and skimmed my finger over it. "You want a velvety feel?"

"Yup!" She grinned widely. "Ang kung p'wede lang na mag-request?"

Tumango ako. "Of course. Ano 'yun?"

"'Yung couches sana... Can they be gray or brown? Tapos 'yung mga throw pillows nalang 'yung colorful. Feeling ko maganda 'yun."

I raised a brow, impressed at her idea. "Sure. That sounds good, actually."

"Yeah. Nakita ko kasi sa isang website," sabi niya tapos ay nilagay ang kamay sa bump niya. It was bigger now than it was last month. Suddenly, gusto kong ma-experience din na may bata sa sinapupunan ko. "Gusto mo din magka-baby, 'no?"

Gulat na napatingin ako sakanya. "Ha?"

"It feels good to be a soon-to-be mom." She smiled with a dazed look. "Lalo na kapag gumagalaw 'yung baby, ang saya. Of course, the downside is the morning sickness. Madaming beses ka ding iihi tapos hindi p'wedeng basta-basta lang ang posisyon mong matulog." Huminga siya ng malalim tapos ay mahinang napangiti. "But the best part, if I may say this, is that he's there. May anak ka na hindi ka iiwan. Maybe when they grow older, aalis sila. Pero hinding-hindi ka nila iiwan."

I stared at her, trying to solve the puzzle that she holds. Pero wala akong makuha. Kahit pala gaano kasimple ang isang tao, mangyayari paring magkaroon ito ng complexity. And the simplest complexities are the hardest to solve. 'Yan si Sandra Reyes, soon-to-be Mrs. Raymond Andres.

She blinked and chuckled. "Sorry. Another downside is sobrang emotional ng mga buntis."

Napangisi ako. "And horny."

Like Ariel, she blushed. "Yes, that. Sabi kasi nila kapag daw...um, sexually active  ang buntis until two weeks before ng labor day ay mas madali 'yung giving birth process. Hindi din daw ganun kasakit ang contractions—Oh! Why am I even saying this? Clearly, hindi kanpa ready para magka-anak."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Bakit mo naman nasabi 'yan?"

She shrugged. "Successful at such a young age? If I had your life, hindi na muna ako ikakasal. Madami ka pang options, e. You still have a life ahead of you and settling down might be a distractions. Unless, of course, you think otherwise."