Kabanata 5

Nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko habang naglalakad patungo sa conference room. Bitbit ko ang portfolio na pinagpuyatan namin ni Linden kagabi.

Pagpasok ko, nandoon na ang lahat. Si Linden ay nasa dulo ng mahabang mesa, nakasandal at nagbabasa ng ilang reports.

​"Let’s start. Lellah, you’re up first," utos ni Linden nang hindi man lang tumitingin sa akin.

​Tumayo ako sa harap at sinimulang i-flash ang mga sketches ko sa screen. I explained the concept of Fluidity and Freedom, the designs I created under his guidance last night. But before I could even finish, the living hell he warned me about had already begun.

​"The choice of silk for a structural design? Isn't that too risky, Lellah?" malamig niyang tanong.

​"The silk provides the movement, Sir. It symbolizes the—"

​"But can it hold the animation? We are not just making clothes, we are making characters. How can you ensure that the texture won't look muddy once digitized?" pinutol niya ang paliwanag ko.

​Sunod-sunod ang naging katanungan niya. Ginisa niya ako sa bawat detalye—mula sa tahi, sa kulay, hanggang sa practicality ng disenyo sa animation.

Ramdam ko ang tingin ng mga katrabaho ko. Akala ko ay pinapahiya niya ako, pero habang sumasagot ako, napapansin ko na tinutulak niya ako para mas maipaliwanag ko nang maayos ang vision ko.

​"Answer me, Lellah. Is this design worth the company's millions?" he challenged, his eyes piercing through mine.

​I took a deep breath, remembered everything he taught me last night, and looked him straight in the eye.

"Yes, Sir. Because it's not just a design. It's a story of someone breaking free. And that story is worth more than millions."

​Natahimik ang buong silid. Linden stared at me for a long time, then he slowly closed his folder.

​"I've made my decision," he announced to the board. "We are moving forward with Lellah’s concept. Her designs will be the face of our new animation project."

​Nagpalakpakan ang lahat, pero ang sumunod niyang sinabi ang nagpatigil sa mundo ko.

​"Since this is a high-stakes project, Lellah will be working directly with the lead animator to ensure the transition from fabric to 3D is perfect." Tumingin siya sa akin na may pilyong ngisi. "And as the owner and the best animator of this company... I will be taking that lead role. Starting today, Lellah, we are a team."

​Literal na napa-awang ang bibig ko. Working with him? Just the two of us?

​"Meeting adjourned. Lellah, stay. We need to discuss our first rendering session tonight."

​Habang isa-isang lumalabas ang mga tao, naiwan kaming dalawa sa loob. Lumapit siya sa akin at bumulong, sapat na para ako lang ang makarinig.

​"A month, right? I heard your conversation earlier. You have one month to wait for your husband... and one month to survive me. Let’s see who wins, wife."

"Wife?"

​Nababaliw na talaga ang lalaking 'to. Ni hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha ang lakas ng loob na tawagin ako sa bansag na 'yon.

My heart hammered against my chest. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa takot na mabisto ang sikreto ko, o dahil sa paraan ng pagbigkas niya ng salitang iyon.

It sounded like a claim. Isang pag-angkin na alam kong bawal pero unti-unting nagnanakaw ng hininga ko.

Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil mabilis na pumasok ang technical team ni Linden, mga elite animators na makakasama namin sa project. Akala ko talaga kami lang. Buti na rin to kesa mabaliw na kasama siya.

The atmosphere inside the conference room shifted from professional to intense. Nagsimula ang session, at doon ko nakita kung bakit siya ang tinaguriang best animator ng kumpanya.

​He wasn't just a boss, he was a visionary.

​"Lellah, the vertex on this sleeve needs to be more fluid. Kapag dumaan ang hangin sa animation, dapat ramdam ang bigat ng tela," paliwanag niya habang mabilis na nagta-type sa kanyang workstation.

​Lumipas ang mga oras. Mula hapon ay inabutan na kami ng gabi. The conference room was filled with the clicking of mice and the low hum of high-end computers. Habang tumatagal, lalong bumibigat ang hangin.

​"Guys, break muna! May nagpadala ng pagkain!" sigaw ni Brandon habang itinutulak ang isang cart na puno ng pizza at kape. "Galing 'to sa kabilang department, pampagising daw!"

​Sandaling tumigil ang lahat, maliban kay Linden. He was too focused on the screen, his eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration. I couldn't help but steal a glance at him.

​God, he looked so hot.

​He had discarded his suit jacket hours ago. Ang suot niyang puting long-sleeved shirt ay nakatupi na hanggang siko, revealing his muscular forearms. But what caught my attention the most was his necktie. It was loose now, the top button of his shirt undone, giving me a glimpse of his collarbone. He looked stressed, messy, yet incredibly sexy.

​Napalunok ako at agad na nag-iwas ng tingin nang mapansin kong tinititigan ko na pala ang leeg niya.

​"Lellah, are you just going to stare at me or are you going to check this rendering?" malamyos ngunit mapanuyang tanong niya.

Hindi siya tumingin sa akin pero alam niyang nakatitig ako. Lintek na yan!

​"I-I'm checking it," nauutal kong sagot bago lumapit sa tabi niya.

​Dahil sa sobrang lapit namin, amoy na amoy ko ang halo ng kape at ang pamilyar niyang perfume. Habang itinuturo niya ang mga details sa monitor, hindi ko sinasadyang mapahawak sa edge ng table, saktong katabi ng kamay niya.

​I was wearing my wedding ring. Silver and cold.

​Linden’s eyes dropped to my hand. Saglit na tumigil ang paghinga ko nang titigan niya ang singsing na sumisimbolo na kasal ako sa ibang lalaki. Dahan-dahan niyang binitawan ang mouse at hinarap ako.

Busy ang technical team sa pagkain sa dulo ng mahabang mesa, kaya walang nakakakita sa amin.

​"One month, Lellah," he whispered, his voice low as he reached for my hand, his thumb stroking the metal of my ring.

"One month for you to realize that this ring is just a piece of jewelry... but the mark I left on you that night? That's forever."