CHAPTER 4: Safe Place

The soft scratching of a pencil echoed inside Erixia's private studio.

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating rolls of imported fabrics, dress forms, and neatly arranged sketchbooks.

Fashion had always been her escape.

Whenever her thoughts became too loud...

She designed.

Whenever guilt crept into her heart...

She drew.

Seated in front of her drafting table, Erixia Vianca Salvatore-Fullerton carefully shaded the bodice of an evening gown.

A champagne-colored couture dress.

Off-shoulder.

Hand-beaded.

Elegant.

Just the way she imagined it.

She tilted her head.

"No..." bulong niya sabay ang pagbura niya sa neckline. "Masyadong simple."

Muli siyang nagsimula.

A few strands of hair fell over her face, but she ignored them, completely absorbed in her work.

11:00 AM.

Hindi niya namalayang lumipas na ang oras.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pag-sketch ng sleeves nang may maramdaman siyang presensya sa likod niya.

Hindi man lang siya nagulat dahil alam na alam niya kung sino iyon.

A familiar scent.

The expensive cologne she had memorized over the years.

Warm.

Comforting.

"Grant."

Hindi pa siya lumilingon. A pair of strong arms slowly wrapped around her waist. Grant rested his chin on her shoulder.

"How did you know it was me?"

Napangiti si Erixia. "I'd know your hug anywhere."

Grant chuckled softly. "I was trying to surprise you."

"You failed."

"Lagi na lang."

Tumawa siya.

His embrace tightened just a little.

"I missed you."

Napahinto si Erixia sa pag-sketch.

"You've only been gone since this morning."

"I know."

Grant buried his face lightly against her hair.

"But I still missed you."

She closed her eyes.

Of course he did.

He always did.

"Bakit ka umuwi?" tanong niya.

"I canceled my lunch meeting."

"Lunch meeting?"

"Hmm."

"With international investors?"

"Mm-hmm."

Agad na napalingon si Erixia "You canceled that?"

Grant simply nodded."I wanted to have lunch with my wife."

"Grant..."

"They can wait."

"They flew in from Singapore." She looked at him in disbelief.

"They'll survive another hour."

Napailing siya. "You're impossible."

"And yet..." Grant smiled. "You still married me."

Napatawa siya.

"You really like saying that."

"Because it's true. You married me, my Rixy. "

Napatingin si Grant sa sketchbook. His eyes widened.

"Wow."

"What?"

"Did you make this?"

"Obviously."

"Rixy..." Kinuha niya ang sketchbook at pinagmasdan ang drawing.

"This is beautiful."

"It's just a draft."

"It's art."

She smiled faintly. "You always exaggerate."

"I'm serious."

Grant pointed at the gown. "If this ever gets displayed..."

Humarap siya sa asawa.

"I'll be the first one to buy it."

She laughed. "You can't buy your own wife's design."

"Watch me."

"Grant."

"I'll even pay double."

Napailing na lang si Erixia.

"You spoil me too much."

Grant looked at her as if the answer were obvious.

"That's my job."

The words hit her harder than they should have.

Because while Grant saw it as his responsibility to make her happy...

She had spent months giving him reasons not to be.

Grant carefully placed the sketchbook back on the table. He looked at every design pinned on the wall.

Cocktail dresses.

Evening gowns.

Bridal sketches.

Casual collections.

Each one carried Erixia's signature style.

Elegant.

Timeless.

Feminine.

He turned to her.

"Love? ."

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Why are these still on paper?"

"I-I don't know..." napatingin siya sa mga sketches.

"You've been designing for years."

"I know."

"You even studied fashion."

"I know."

Grant folded his arms. "Then why are you keeping all of this inside your studio?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Erixia.

"Because it's just a hobby."

Grant frowned. "No."

"It is."

"No, it's not." Lumapit siya sa asawa at hinawakan ang isang sketch. "This..." aniya sabay turo niya sa isang velvet gown. "...isn't a hobby."

"It's talent."

Napayuko si Erixia. "I don't think people would buy my designs."

Grant almost laughed. "You really think that?"

She shrugged. "What if they don't like it? Ehat if I fail?"

Grant gently held both her hands. "Then fail."

Napakunot-noo siya. "What?"

"Fail." He smiled. "Then stand up and do it again."

She stared at him.

"I have an idea."

"A dangerous one?"

"The best kind."

Napailing siya.

"Grant..."

"What if..." He looked around the studio, "...you stop designing for yourself... and start designing for the world?"

Kunot noong napakurap-kurap si Erixia, "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Grant's eyes lit up. "Let's open your own fashion house."

Natawa si Erixia. "Grant."

"I'm serious."

"My own fashion line?"

"Yes."

"A luxury brand."

"You'll be the Creative Director."

"You'll make every design."

"I'll handle the business."

She shook her head. "No."

"Why not?"

"It's too expensive."

Grant smiled.

"Rixy." He raises an eyebrow. "Your husband happens to own a few companies."

Napailing siya habang natatawa.

"I don't want people saying my success came from you."

Grant's expression softened. "Then don't let them."

"Huh?"

"I'll only give you the opportunity. " He gently squeezed her hands. "You'll build the name, you'll earn the reputation. You'll prove your talent."

She remained silent.

Grant brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I don't want people to know you only as... Mrs. Grant Fullerton. I want them to know... Erixia Vianca Salvatore. The woman whose designs make people stop and stare, then buy."

Unti-unting namuo ang luha sa mga mata ni Erixia.

No one...

Not even her own family...

Had ever believed in her dreams this much.

Grant smiled warmly.

"So..."

"What do you say?"

She looked around her studio once more.

Then at the hundreds of sketches she had hidden for years.

Finally...

She looked back at the man who never stopped believing in her.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"...Let's do it."

Grant's face immediately brightened.

"I knew you'd say yes."

Bago pa siya makareact, bigla siyang niyakap ni Grant at iniikot sa ere.

"Grant!"

Natatawa niyang hinampas ang balikat nito.

"Put me down!"

"I can't."

"Bakit?"

"Dahil sobrang proud ako sa'yo."

Dahan-dahan siyang ibinaba ni Grant.

Tinapik nito ang dulo ng ilong niya.

"Welcome to your new beginning, Mrs. Fullerton."

At sa sandaling iyon...

Hindi alam ni Erixia kung ano ang mas mabigat sa puso niya.

Ang saya dahil may taong naniniwala sa pangarap niya...

O ang guilt na ang taong iyon ang siya ring unti-unti niyang sinisira.

CHAPTER 4: Safe Place

(Continuation)

Nakangiti pa rin si Grant habang inaayos ang mga sketch na nagkalat sa mesa.

"So..."

"Mrs. Future Fashion Mogul."

Napatawa si Erixia.

"Ang OA mo."

"I'm your number one investor."

"At number one fan."

Bigla—

𝘉𝘻𝘻𝘻𝘻... 𝘉𝘻𝘻...

Nag-vibrate ang cellphone ni Erixia sa ibabaw ng drafting table.

Pareho silang napalingon sa cellphone ni Erixia na nakapatong sa lamesa. .Lumabas ang caller ID.

Kevin Merced

Napansin ni Grant ang bahagyang pagkunot ng noo ni Erixia.

Hindi niya agad sinagot.

Instead, she stared at the screen.

Grant pointed at the phone.

"You're not answering?"

Erixia glanced at him.

"It's Kevin."

Grant nodded.

"I know."

"You know him?"

A small smile appeared on Grant's lips.

"Kevin Merced."

"Tropa ni Kuya Neil."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Erixia.

"Paano mo nalaman?"

Grant chuckled.

"I did my homework before marrying you."

Lumapit siya at dinampot ang cellphone, iniabot iyon sa asawa.

"I know almost everyone close to your family."

He smiled teasingly.

"Your brother made sure to interrogate me before I became his brother-in-law."

Napatawa si Erixia.

"That sounds like Kuya."

"He asked me fifty questions."

"Fifty?"

"Maybe sixty."

She laughed even harder.

Grant gently nudged the phone toward her.

"Go ahead."

"He might need something."

Tumango si Erixia.

"Hello, Kevin?"

Grant quietly stepped away, giving her privacy, though a faint smile remained on his face.

There was never suspicion in his eyes.

Only trust.

The kind of trust that Erixia wished she had never broken.

Tahimik na bumalik si Grant sa pagtingin sa mga sketches.

Pero ang isip niya...

Hindi mapakali. the name keeps on flashing in his mind.

Kevin Merced.

The name echoed in his head.

Bago na naman ba 'to?

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Stanley...

The name alone was enough to stir the anger he had buried.

I just got rid of one problem...

May susunod na agad?

His eyes instinctively drifted toward Erixia, who was quietly talking on the phone.

She was smiling politely.

Nothing more.

Still...

The doubt had already planted itself.

No.

He shook the thought away.

No.

Hindi puwedeng pangunahan ng selos ang isip niya.

Kevin wasn't Stanley.

At higit sa lahat...

Kilala niya ang pangalan.

Kevin Merced.

Kaibigan iyon ni Neil.

Matagal na.

Bago pa man siya dumating sa buhay ni Erixia.

Grant exhaled slowly.

"Control yourself."

Mahina niyang bulong sa sarili.

Hindi siya puwedeng gumawa ng konklusyon dahil lang sa isang pangalan sa screen.

Hindi na.

Hindi kung gusto pa niyang iligtas ang natitira sa kanilang pagsasama.

Sa kabilang dulo ng studio, natapos na ang tawag.

Lumapit si Erixia sa kanya.

"Si Kaila pala 'yon. Kevin's twin. "

Grant smiled gently.

"Everything okay?"

She nodded.

"Kuya Neil's planning a family lunch this weekend. Pinapasabi lang niya."

Grant's shoulders relaxed.

"I see."

He reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Then let's go."

Erixia smiled.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Grant returned the smile.

Pero sa kaibuturan ng isip niya...

Isa lang ang paulit-ulit na tumatakbo.

Please...

Huwag na sanang maulit.