The Weird Existence of Henry

ch. 11

d i f f e r e n t

I can't believe my first date would turn out to be a fake one. Napagkasunduan kasi namin ni Henry na sa lahat ng events and occasions na pupuntahan niya, dapat samahan ko siya. Sa totoo lang, marami ng nagawa para sakin si Henry. He helped me save face in front of my friends and cover up my 'lie' that I have a boyfriend. He's such a great pretend boyfriend, samantalang ako, wala man lang nagawa para sa kaniya. Kaya naman, hindi na ako magrereklamo na samahan siya sa event nato.

Right after we had a 'photoshoot' in his place, he said he wanted to go shopping para sa susuotin niya. The event will be a fashion show. It's actually a big thing, because it's gonna be Luca's fashion show. It's going to be the reveal of his new collection under his new brand, Tala. Bilib talaga ako kay Luca. Totoo nga ang sinasabi nilang genius siya.

We stopped at a Fashion House, the way the employees greeted Henry, it seemed like he's a regular here. Grabe rin talaga ang lifestyle nito. I mean, hindi naman kataka-taka, he's a photographer for Pete's sake, kaya naman, may taglay talaga siyang fashion sense, which is very sexy by the way. Not in a romantic way. I'm just saying. Aaah basta!

"Good Afternoon Sir Henry, how may I help you?" the girl with a chinky eyes asked him.

Umupo siya sa sofa na katapat ng sobrang laking mirror, then answered, "Could you please help my girl find a dress that compliments her skin tone and at the same time shows her best features?"

Akala ko siya ang magsha-shopping. Bakit ako? Napatingin naman agad ako sa kaniya, pero tumango laman ang mokong, telling me to just go with it.

"Okay, right this way Ma'am," iginiya ako ng babae sa paglaki-laking fitting room na may parang stage. Feeling ko tuloy, parang wedding dress-fitting ko na sa sobrang bongga!

Nang makabalik na ang babae, gulantang akong nakatunganga sa sobrang daming dress na dala niya, may kasama siyang isang babae, para bitbitin ang iba. Isusukat ko ba to lahat?

"Excuse me Miss? Isusukat ko ba to lahat?" I asked her, not letting the cringe be evident in my voice.

"No Ma'am. I'll let you pick kung anong mga dress ang gusto niyong isukat," she answered politely. Nginitian ko naman siya. Nahihiya tuloy ako, kasi feeling ko naabala siya dahil sakin. Hindi pa naman ako ganoon kagaling pumili ng anong bagay sa akin.

I tried a white crystal tube gown. Lumabas ako para ipakita kay Henry.

"What do you think?" I asked.

"Turn around," utos naman niya, looking up from his phone.

Makapag-utos naman to! But I did what I was told.

"Too predictable," he scratched his chin. "Next!"

And that went on and on and on! Ilang mga gowns ang tinaggihan niya. Nakakainis! I mean, I know that he just wants the best for me, pero nakakapagod kayang paulit-ulit magbihis! Buti nga siya nakaupo lang tapos ang dami pa niyang satsat, kesyo the dress looks "girly" or "bland." I just want this to be over!

Kung ang ibang couple, nagrereklamo ang mga boyfriend na masyadong matagal magshopping ang mga girlfriend nila. Sa case namin ni Henry, baliktad. Ako ang gusto ng umuwi, habang siya ay gusto pang magtry on pa ako ng different dresses. Teka, hindi naman kami totoong couple ah? Bakit ko ba to naiisip?

"Pwede bang pumili ka nalang kung ano talagang gusto mo, nakakapagod na kayang magbihis," pabulong na reklamo ko.

"Okay, okay, this would be the last," aniya, handing me a see-through dress with detailed beedings on it. Nahulog naman agad ang panga ko.

"There's no way I'm wearing this!" agad kong pagtanggi. Parang kita na kaluluwa ko rito.

"Relax okay? Since it's very daring, we'll pair it with a white fairy coat to cover up your bare back," ang sabi naman niya. Hindi pa rin ako makagalaw.

I mean I get that this is just normal to him, but to me it's not. I mean, yes I wear skimy skirts and short shorts but I haven't worn anything this revealing.

"Come on, just try different things. It might surprise you," ang sabi niya.

So I tried and put it on. Kahit suot-suot ko na ang dress, hindi pa rin ako makalabas. I couldn't take my eyes off of my reflection. I thought the dress would make me look slutty but it didn't. Actually, it was speaks volume of elegance. Mababa ang neckline nito and it reveals my supposedly cleavage if I had any, but it didn't look as if, it's missing something. I was in awe.

"Let me see," ang tawag ni Henry.

When I came out, nahihiya pa akong tumingin sa kaniya ng diretso.

"Wow, bagay na bagay po sa inyo Ma'am," ang sabi naman ng employee na tumulong sakin mag-ayos.

Lumapit naman si Henry and went behind me. Then he started combing my hair. The next thing I knew, tinatali na niya ang buhok ko into a bun.

"Heto na po sir," ang sabi ng isa pang empleyado, bitbit ang isang furry white coat. She handed it to him. Then Henry put the furry coat on me.

Nakatulala pa rin ako sa salamin. I looked different. I was so shocked. I thought this dress would make me look so not me, but it just different. I looked like...like me but different.

"I chose this dress because it shows off your collar bones. You're very slim and petite, that's why this type of dress suits you. Tsaka tala ang concept ng collection ni Luca. So this crystal-like dress is perfect," ang sabi niya. "How do you feel?"

"I feel...different," sagot ko naman.

"Sometimes different is healthy. It makes you stand out," ang sabi naman niya.

And for the first time in my whole existence, I liked being different.

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I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it :') This is Patch saying Yes to Happy Reading and Happy life ❤