By the way, I am your Sexy Boss.

Chapter 8: Memory from a dark red dress

Chapter 8: Memory from a dark red dress

Back when I was still a child, I was envious of other people, especially those who can freely wear anything they want without the fear of being body-shamed. I felt uncomfortable with my own skin, it was because I was fat, and I felt ugly because I was being bullied for it. Hindi ko naman kasi kasalanan na masyadong masasarap ang mga pagkain sa bahay, at napabayaan ako sa kusina. Good thing nga at natanggal ko ang masyadong pagkain ng marami. Sobrang lakas din kasi ng appetite ko, kaya ganoon na lang ang nangyari sa akin. Naging mataba ako, at dahil doon, tinawag akong baboy ng mga hampas-lupa. But kidding aside, medyo umiinit lang talaga ang ulo ko rin tuwing naalala ko ang nakaraan.

Now, I am looking at beautiful dresses that were made by Marah Clarences, her works are divine and aesthetic, so pleasing to the eyes. Mukhang mahihirapan akong pumili sa mga bestida na naka-display sa aking harap. Nasa isip ko, siguro kung hindi ako na-heartbroken, hinding-hindi ko magagwang magsuot ng mga ganitong damit. Now, I can wear anything I want and effortlessly look good. I had the ideal body of a woman now, unlike before, when I was fat.

I hated myself, but when I finally learned to take control of my emotions, learning that I only got myself, I started to love myself, and it is because of that self-love which made me decide to go on a diet, to lose weight, and to aspire to have an hour glass body. Now, I am sexy and I am confident about myself.

“I think given your fair skin and your angelic face, I think this dark red dress will suit you best.” Nilahad sa akin ni Marah ang isang bestida na kulay dark red, it had rose embroideries at the back in transparent-like form, it was intricate and beautifully made, bigla ko na namang naalala ang bestida na suot ko noong prom, the night that changed my life forever.

I closed my eyes and the memory suddenly flashed in my mind. Biglang bumilis ang pintig din ng aking puso dahil doon.

Lumabas na ako sa mansion namin kung saan natanaw ko si Maverick na naghihintay para sa akin. He decided that he will come and fetch me. Magaganap ang prom sa isang hotel sa Kehanu Resort, my family owns and run it, gayon din naman sa school kung saan ako nag-aaral.

“Let’s go?” He asked, he looked at me with this weird expression of his, kaya naman bigla tuloy akong na-conscious sa aking itsura. “You look nice,” Maverick said out of the blue after a few seconds of awkward silence, kaya naman napangiti ako.

I was wearing a dark red ballgown, nakasuot din ako ng makeup which was a first time for me, and even my hair was styled to look curly.

Naglakad na kami papunta sa kaniyang sasakyan, at bahagya akong natigilan nang makita ang kaniyang dala... A motorbike.

“I cannot ride that...” I awkwardly said. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Maverick, as if realizing that I would not fit there and that my ballgown will be ruined.

“It is okay, you ride that. I’ll call my driver na lang para siya maghatid sa akin papunta sa resort kung saan magaganap ang prom.”

Maverick awkwardly smiled and nodded, “sige.” He was wearing a dark-red tuxedo too and his slightly disheveled hair made him look so good. “Mauna na ako, hintayin na lang kita sa entrance ng hotel?”

I nodded.

I watched Maverick ride his motorbike, at saka siya umalis na nang tuluyan. Pinagbuksan pa siya ng guwardiya namin ng tarangkahan.

My mind took me somewhere else, to the latest memory of that prom night, pakiramdam ko ay nasira nang buong-buo ang aking pagkatao.

“Let’s go out.”

“Why?”

Maverick smiled, “basta.”

Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay, at naglakad kami palabas ng hall. Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniyang kamay na nakahawak sa akin, pakiramdam ko ay may mga paruparo sa aking tyan. I wanted the night to never end, because I was already living my dream. Tumigil kami nang nasa labas na kami ng hotel, sa hardin. We went towards the patio at the center... Mula sa puwesto namin ay rinig namin pa rin ang musika mula sa hall ng hotel kung saan nagaganap ang prom. It was just me and Maverick as well who were at the garden. The fairy lights were glistening and colorful, and the sky was sprinkled with stars, and the full moon was shining brightly. Everything was too romantic. The flowers around were blooming as well.

“Bakit pala?” I bit my lower lip.

“I heard that you liked me...” Seryoso ang tinig ng boses ni Maverick.

Nanlaki naman ang aking mga mata... How did he know? I never told anyone. It is not like there is anyone to share this with too, I had no friends. I was alone.

Bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko.

“So, you do?”

I smiled awkwardly and nodded, “y-yes...”

Maverick chuckled. “Sa tingin mo papatulan kita?” Biglang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin, at sa mga sandaling ito, iba na ang rason ng pagbilis ng pintig ng aking puso.

I looked at Maverick in disbelief, “n-no—I mean, why did you ask me to be your date—”

“Dahil trip ko lang.” Tumawa si Maverick, “and because I had a deal with my friends. Wala naman akong ginawa, but you already look like you’ve fallen head over heels for me, well, I cannot blame you because I’m that attractive. But if you already assumed that I actually like you just because I asked you out for a date, pwes, mandiri ka naman. I will never like you... I mean, look at yourself.” He sighed and looked at me from up to down, “fat and ugly.”

My heart sunk. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako kikilos sa mga sandaling ito. Basta bigla na lang tumulo ang mga luha ko. Kasabay nito ay nakarinig ako ng kaluskos mula sa gilid, at nakita ko ang anino ng dalawang mga lalake. Naglakad ako papunta roon, sa may likod ng mga palumpong, at nakita sina Wade at Alastor. They were watching everything.

Despite everything I heard among men in the campus that Maverick was a bad guy who never cared for the feeling of girls, I ignored that because I thought it was not true. But to experience it myself—now, I am starting to believe. I felt betrayed and toyed with, though it was only for a few hours, I thought he was good and I thought he saw the beauty inside me.

“Are you happy with what you’ve watched? Para bang telenovela?” I asked the two friends of Maverick. Hindi ko na sila pinasagot pa at saka ko sila isa-isang sinampal sa pisngi, “this is for making fun of me!” They both groaned in pain. I went back to Maverick after who was still rooted on his spot at the patio.

He smirked at me.

I scowled and wiped my tears away, biglang nawala ang lahat ng pagmamahal ko sa kaniya. “Are you happy now?”

“Yes...” He smiled.

Without a word, I kicked him on his crotch and he fell on his knees and groaned in pain as well, namula agad ang kaniyang mukha dahil sa aking ginawa. “Are you still happy now?” I asked once more and he simply glared at me. I bent down to match him and then stared at him from his eyes, “f**k you.”

And with that, I turned my back and went to the parking lot where my driver was waiting for me. Wala akong sabing sumakay, at hindi na nagtanong pa si Kuya. Basta sa buong biyahe namin pauwi, umiiyak lang ako.

I sighed. Hindi na ako masyadong nagpapaapekto sana doon, pero hangga’t hindi ako nakakaganti kay Maverick, ay hinding-hindi rin ako matatahimik. I want to call it quits someday. Iyon lang talaga rin ang rason kung bakit gusto ko ng partnership sa aming mga negosyo, para makasama ko siya araw-araw, so I can seduce him, I wonder if he has changed? Probably not. For sure, he is still a player, a womanizer, and a heartbreaker. Somebody ought to teach this man a lesson.

When I heard he has finally taken charge of his family business, in my mind, deep within, nasa isip ko na ito na siguro ang oras para makaganti rin ako sa wakas sa kaniyang ginawa sa akin.

After that, I am done with him. I can finally be free. I am a person who believes in the idea of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

Maverick, you’ll never see me coming, and when I am already there, you’ll already be losing.

I smirked, “alright, let’s have this then.” I pointed the dark red dress.

This time, it will no longer be a fat me wearing a dark red dress, but a sexy and beautiful me.