LOGINOne Year Later... The morning rain in Manila was gentle today, a soft, rhythmic drizzle patting against the glass window of my studio, casting a serene, silver light over the room.I stood in front of a floor-length mirror, adjusting the cuffs of my tailored ivory silk blouse. On the ring finger of my left hand, a thin, delicate gold band set with a subtle, sparkling emerald caught the light.It was a quiet ring. Simple, elegant, and deeply meaningful. Sevi had given it to me three months ago under the very same acacia tree near the library where we had chosen to start over. There had been no grand spectacle, no flashbulbs, and no grand crowd. Just him, holding my hands, asking me to build a forever built on truth, quiet devotion, and unconditional love.Behind me, the door to my private office clicked open.I turned around to see Sevi walking in, wearing a sharp charcoal suit with his tie slightly loosened at the collar. He carried a small velvet box in one hand and a cup of warm ha
Three weeks after the fashion show, the buzz surrounding my collection had finally settled into a steady, fulfilling rhythm. Orders were pouring in, my studio was busier than ever, and for the first time in my life, I woke up every morning feeling a profound sense of purpose.Yet, despite the overwhelming success, I found myself craving a quiet escape—a moment to just breathe away from the hum of sewing machines, measuring tapes, and endless client meetings.It was a quiet Sunday morning. The sun was just beginning to peek through a soft layer of clouds, casting a golden hue over the city. I decided to visit a small, rustic cafe tucked in an alley right near the university. During my university years, this cafe had been my ultimate sanctuary—a cozy haven filled with the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans and faint indie acoustic music, where I used to hide away whenever my insecurities threatened to consume me.I wore a comfortable cream knit sweater, dark jeans, and carried my leathe
The night air outside the Manila Metropolitan Theater was crisp, infused with the faint hum of city traffic and the distant murmur of gathering guests.Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was electrifying. Soft jazz floated through the high-ceilinged venue, seamlessly blending with the clinking of champagne flutes and the low, sophisticated chatter of fashion critics, influencers, and high-profile buyers. Warm, ambient spotlights bounced off polished marble floors, casting an elegant glow across the runway.My runway.Behind the velvet backstage curtains, the energy was pure, controlled chaos. Models in towering heels glided past steam stations, tailors made feverish last-minute adjustments to hems, and makeup artists put final touches of gloss on glowing cheekbones."Ma'am Diane! Ten minutes before the curtain rises!" my assistant called out nervously, her hands clutching a clipboard like a lifeline. "Nineteen looks are completely lined up! Sound check is clear! We’re almost good to
Six months later.The steady hum of sewing machines filled the spacious, sunlit studio. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating rolls of silk, organza, and velvet stacked neatly against the white brick walls. The air smelled of freshly steamed fabric, coffee, and lavender scented spray.I stood in front of a mannequin, pins held between my lips, meticulously draping a piece of emerald green silk across its bodice.My studio was slowly regaining its name for itself again in the local fashion scene. After months of throwing myself into my work, my capsule collection was finally coming together. Fashion design had always been my sanctuary—a place where I could take raw, chaotic pieces of fabric and shape them into something beautiful, structured, and complete.It was a stark contrast to my own life, which I was still painstakingly trying to rebuild piece by piece."Ma'am Diane, arrived na po 'yung customized lace trim from Italy," my assistant, called out gen
The silence that Maddy left behind was heavier than any storm.It hung in the air of my apartment, thick and suffocating. Her forgiveness felt less like a release and more like a mirror held up to my face, showing me the sheer magnitude of what had been lost. She had walked out of my door with her head held high, leaving me with the agonizing truth: the only person who couldn't forgive me now was myself.For the next two days, I barely left the apartment. I didn't go to work. I didn't answer my phone. The world outside kept moving, but inside these four walls, time felt frozen in a cold, painful limbo.On the morning of the third day, my phone vibrated on the coffee table.I stared at the screen. It was a message from Ryan.“Maddy’s flight is at 2:00 PM today. Terminal 3. She said she didn't need anyone to see her off, but I thought you should know.”I stared at the text until the screen went black.By 1:00 PM, I found myself standing in the crowded, bustling concourse of the airport
The morning sun crept through the thin curtains of my apartment, casting long, pale shadows across the living room floor. I hadn't slept a single second. I spent the entire night curled up on the cold floor right behind my locked door, listening to the absolute silence of the hallway after Sevi finally left.My eyes were raw and swollen, my skin pale, and my body drained of every ounce of energy. Every muscle in my chest ached as if I had been physically beaten.When the sun fully rose, I forced myself to stand up. My legs trembled violently as I dragged myself to the sofa, sitting in the dim room, staring blankly at the wall. The silence inside my apartment was deafening, but inside my head, the chaotic noise of yesterday was playing on a endless loop.You became the very thing that broke you.Sophie’s voice.How do I face Maddy, Diane? How do I beg for her forgiveness knowing I completely destroyed her world?Sevi’s broken confession.I buried my face in my palms, letting out a ragg
When Ryan walked away with Sophie clinging to him like she owned him, like she won, something inside me didn’t just break. It collapsed. Parang bumagsak ang buong mundo ko sa isang iglap.After he disappeared into the crowd, the hallway slowly returned to its usual noise, but none of it sounded rea
May mga araw na mabigat. May mga araw na mas mabigat. Pero ito—ito yata ang araw na literal na ayaw ko nang gumising. Yung tipong pagkadilat mo pa lang, gusto mo nang ipikit ulit kasi alam mong wala namang magbabago. Alam mong sa oras na tumapak ka sa labas ng pinto, ibang mundo ang sasalubong—isan
The next day felt heavier than yesterday, which was funny. Hindi pa nga lumilipas ang buong linggo, pero pakiramdam ko buwan na ang pagod na iniipon ko. My body moved, but my soul was somewhere else, probably still under that acacia tree, clinging to the last pieces of yesterday’s heartbreak.I wal
I don't feel like myself the moment I woke up. Parang may ibang tao na nakaupo sa katawan ko habang nakatingin sa dilaw na liwanag ng umaga na sumisilip sa mga bubong ng campus.I don't know how to show myself in a familiar place where I usually go, o paano lalabas ng dorm room na parang may direksy







