Alam mong may nagbago.
Hindi siya umamin.
Wala siyang sinabi.
Pero ramdam na ramdam ko.
The next morning, wala si Xan sa usual breakfast spot.
Pag tinanong ko si Luis, ang sabi: “Out early for meetings.”
Si Monique? Nagkibit-balikat lang. “Ayaw ata makipag-eye contact, girl.”
And for three days straight…
Cold.
Professional.
Controlled.
Para kaming bumalik sa Day 1—parang hindi nangyari ‘yung yakap, ‘yung halik, ‘yung gabing akala ko ibibigay ko na lahat.
Pero hindi siya umiiwas physically lang.
Umiiwas siya emotionally.
And it hurt.
A lot.
One afternoon, I walked into the design studio and found a note on the table:
Cassie—focus on structure this week. Less silk, more silhouette. —X
Short. Blunt. Business.
Exactly how he wanted it to feel.
Pero sa bawat tiklop ng tela,
