Hiraya (HEST #1)

Kabanata 20

College Arc XX: Italy

Maybe at some point, at some time, we all just clothed ourselves with our past versions.

Because every day, every turn of the earth, we change.

And everyday, we become strangers to our past selves.

Ako ay nakatayo sa harap ng mga mamahaling sapatos. Ang mga braso ay naka-krus sa harap at marahang naglalakad habang nagmamasid.

"Got anything you like, dear?" Lumingon ako kay Helen Jaena-Amnon.

She was wearing an emerald green dress designed with golden prints like those of an ancient empress. Her hair was twisted elegantly in a French knot, pinned with authentic emerald gemstone clips.

Andirito kami ngayon sa Italya para sa Fashion week.

We landed on Milan Malpensa airport earlier. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso sa Gucci upang personal na mamili ng damit para sa kanilang show ngayong linggo. We ran a few stores and runways too. Nagtungo kami rito kinalaunan. We're here at the Gianvito Milano store for a personal greeting since we could not make it to the event yesterday.

It was a shocked to me that we actually got to meet the actual Gianvito. At personal pang naimbitahan nito. From what I've discovered, the Amnons seemed to be a personal favorite of his.

Marahan akong umiling kay Helen Amnon sa kaniyang tanong. "I'm fine, Tita."

Ngumiti ito sa akin. "If you like something tell me."

Palagi kaming pumupunta sa mga ganito. Seref's mother, though a little bit intimidating, is a kind woman. Sa paglapit namin ng kaniyang anak ay ang siyang madalas na pagkita ko rin ng kaniyang ina. We attend New York, Milan, and London fashion weeks together almost every year.

Madalas ay hindi na ako nagtutungo sa mga pangyayari na gamay ang marangya mundo sapagkat andoroon ang halos sa mga dating kakilala, ngunit dahil palagi akong iniimbitahan ni Helen Amnon na pumunta rin kasama niya ay hindi ako makatanggi.

"We attended the Sergio Rossi earlier," an eloquent voice behind us answered together with the sound of approaching feet. Sabay kaming lumingon ng kasama.

It was a man and a woman walking towards us.

The woman was wearing a long sleeved maroon dress with real silver buttons. A dark wooden brown leather vest that was cropped above her waist was layered on top of it. Strapped on her waist was a thin silver metal with diamond stones curled around it in delicate precision to form a thin vein like belt. On her arm is a Hermes dark brown crocodile bag to match her leather vest and silver jewels.

Georgina Amnon. Mother of Seref's cousin, Jophiel Amnon, and sister-in-law of Helen Jaena-Amnon.

She has the same intimidating air. Mas seryoso at tipid ang ngiti nga lang kaysa kay Tita Helen kaya nama'y mas madaling kabahan ang mga tao rito.

Sa kaniyang tabi ay ang may ari ng pagawaan ng mararangyang sapatos na ito na si Gianvito.

"You didn't attend the runway shows yesterday," the designer said with a strong hint of Italian accent.

"We couldn't make it due to schedule conflict, but our personal shoppers made sure to purchase the right pieces."

"How about Paris fashion week? You are going to attend, yes?"

Sumulyap din siya sa aking tabi para sa tanong na iyon.

"Paris is the heart of haute couture, of course we'll be there." Sagot ni Helen Amnon sa tipid ngunit malambot na ngiti. "Certainly. We've already confirmed to most invitations."