What You Mean To Me [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER EIGHT

"I HAVE IT." Excited na salubong ni Steph kay Yumika nang dumating siya sa loob ng opisina nito sa La Manière. Nasabi niya sa kaibigan na dadalo siya sa founding anniversary ng kompanya kaya't ganoon na lamang ang excitement nito.

Nang pumasok siya sa opisina nito ay napagtanto niyang inihanda nito ang mga damit na susukatin niya. Yumika groaned. "Please don't tell me susukatin ko lahat 'to."

Tumawa ito. "No need. I realized everyone's going to wear black, kaya't ito na lang ang sa'yo." May ngiti sa labing itinaas nito ang isang pink metallic gold dress with thin spaghetti straps. Low cut na nga iyon, may high thigh slit pa.

"That's flashy," komento niya.

"That's the point. I want everybody to turn their heads when you walk in. That's my plan."

Umiling siya. "But that's not my plan." Aniya. May nahagip ang kanyang mata. "Mas gusto ko 'to." Itinaas niya ang isang sparkly white backless dress with thin straps. May slit din iyon ngunit hindi masyadong mataas, hanggang mid-thigh lang. It's also a V cut but not that low, katamtaman lang in which confident siyang suotin.

Steph rolled her eyes. "Ugh. That's very typical of you."

"What's wrong with white?"

"White doesn't catch attention, babe."

"I'll be with your brother remember? Our presence together is enough to catch everybody's attention. Hindi ko kailangan mag-damit ng maayos para kumuha ng pansin."

Ngumisi ito at namaywang. "I'm also doing this so Cade will drool over you. I want him to see what he'd missed."

"Steph!" She exclaimed, horrified. Muntik na niyang itapon rito ang damit na hawak.

Isang malakas na tawa ang kumawala sa lalamunan nito. "Gusto ko lang ma-realize niya kung ano 'yung sinayang niya."

She gave Steph a playful warning look. "We're not going that road anymore. Isa pa, Cade is doing his best to make it up to me. I know there's no feelings involved but that's okay. I've learned to let go of the things that I can't have."

Siguro ay naramdaman ni Steph na seryoso siya sa kanyang sinabi dahil natahimik ito. "I'm sorry I didn't consider your feelings."

Yumika smiled at her best friend reassuringly. "Hindi mo kailangang mag-sorry, okay? I know you mean well." Binitiwan niya ang damit na hawak at nilapitan ito. Niyakap niya si Steph at tinapik-tapik ang ulo nito.

"I just couldn't help but feel like..." Steph continued as they broke away. "...I feel like my brother has feelings for you more than he let on."

Umiling siya. "He's just trying to be nice. Huwag mong masyadong basahin ang mga kilos ng kapatid mo. Cade is just trying to make up for the things he did in the past, kahit na hindi naman niya kasalanan lahat."

"Hmm." Iyon lang ang naging reakziyon nito at hindi na nagsalita pa tungkol sa bagay na iyon. As much as possible, ayaw niyang i-entertain ang isiping iyon. Dahil sa huli, siya rin naman ang masasaktan.

"Okay, back to the dresses." Aniya. "I'd still prefer to wear this." Muli niyang itinaas ang sparkly white dress.

Steph smiled. "Fine, you can wear that. You'll definitely look good in it anyways."

Yumika beamed and gave her a thumbs up.

"NANG UMIBIS si Yumika mula sa sasakyan ay agad na kinuha ni Cade ang kamay niya at inilagay sa braso nito. And she gripped on it as if her life depended on it. Cade didn't mind. Sa halip ay pinisil pa nito ang kayag kamay para pampalakas ng loob.