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Fifteen: Another Chapter One

MAINE

The past six months have been a whirlwind. So much has happened, I'm not even sure where to begin telling you all about it. I need a minute to catch my breath.

Okay, let me start by saying: Richard Faulkerson, Jr. is THE BEST boyfriend a girl could ever ask for. He is sweet, super smart, supportive, and generous. I've never said much to him about Tricia, but I will tell you now that that craz—I mean, stupi—I mean, silly bitc—psyc—woman was a fool to ever let him go. Good thing she did though, otherwise he and I might've never met.

True to his word, he got right to work and came up with the most comprehensive business plan ever. As in, not even my Tatay Teddy could find fault with it—and he is very hard to impress. Of course, I didn't let Faulkerson do all the work—and he wouldn't have done it all without me, anyway. That's one thing I really love about him—he never underestimates me. Throughout the entire process, he kept asking for my input, incorporating my ideas and opinions on things, constantly asking me about my vision and goals. He always says, "Your feelings are valid," but he also makes me feel like my thoughts are valid too, and that my opinions actually count for something.

We came up with the name of my clothing line together late one night while I was staying over at his place. We were sitting at the dining table, eating avocado macchiato ice cream straight from the tub, and he was in his boxers and I was wearing his shirt. He asked me why I chose to use quotes on all my designs for the line. I had to think about that for a minute—I hadn't really considered it while I was sketching, I was simply drawing what felt good and came naturally to me at the time.

In the end, I told him, "I just want to make people happy. I want to make clothes that make people feel good when they wear them, or that put them in a positive frame of mind—the same effect you have on me."

He grinned and said, "Aw. Ang schweet naman ng Coffee Mate ko (note: ANG COCORNY NG MGA NICKNAMES NIYA PARA SAKIN, OKAY?! But I'm not gonna lie, I find them cute. Wag kayong judger hahaha.) Pero hindi mo na ako kailangan bolahin. I'm already all yours, Nicomaine."

To which I replied, "Sira. Yun naman talaga yung reason eh. I want to encourage people the same way you encourage me—no ulterior motives."

He ate a few more bites of ice cream before smiling again and saying, "That's kinda like what I said to you the first time I asked you out for coffee—remember?"

Of course I remembered. I remember everything. Anyway, that was that—that's how we came up with the brand name. I said it out loud a few times just to test it out. It felt right—and it made sense to use his words—in a way, this project is his baby, too.

As I suspected he would, he refused to let me pay him for helping me write my business plan. Instead, he simply winked at me and said, "Ganito na lang. The next time you stay over, let's

WAIT, NAHIHIYA AKONG IKWENTO IIIEEEHHH. Imaginin niyo na lang hahaha. Basta ayun, he wouldn't let me pay him.

When I presented my business plan (I was so nervous, I almost passed out, no joke) to Nanay and Tatay, I was fully prepared for their disappointment in me. Pinag-aral kasi nila ako sa magandang school—and not exactly an inexpensive one—and it seemed like such a blatant waste of their money and my diploma to pursue something so completely unrelated to my course. Imagine my surprise when they pledged to support me 100%. "Do what you love," Tatay said. "Because if you don't love what you do, you will never truly excel at it, and it will never make you happy." Nanay was actually more interested in my handsome new boyfriend, if we're going to be perfectly honest.