Her Unveiled Love

The Most Attractive

[Via's POV]

"Why does your bruise heal so fast?" I asked after staring at him for too long. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatitig sa pawis niya sa noo habang abala siya sa tinatahing damit na kakailanganin sa project namin.

The bazaar is two weeks from now and the pre-finals is next week. Kaya naman ay hindi na nag-aksaya pa ng oras ang kasama ko at agad na ginawa ang mga designs right after we were finished buying all the materials.

"You mean this?" Tanong niya at binitawan ang tela para lang maturo ang mata niyang nangitim noong nakaraan matapos kong suntukin.

"Yeah," I confirmed.

"In the blood, I guess." Sagot niya bago binalik ang atensyon sa pagtatahi. We are in a vacant warehouse just a few meters away from our village. Dad offered the place after presenting him my proposal last week.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago tumayo at nagtungo sa kabilang mesa na may sewing machine para gawin din ang trabaho ko.

Isang design lang ang natapos ko nung mapagtanto kong dumidilim na. We spent three hours there, not talking nor even taking a break. Tanging bagay lang na lumilikha ng ingay ay galing sa makinarya.

Tumayo ako at nilapitan siya sa kanyang mesa na seryoso pa rin sa ginagawa. His dark blue eyes were piercing as he go through the machine. The few strands of his hair on his forehead is quite wet from the sweat. Yumuko ito at mabilis na ginupit ang thread na nakakabit sa makinarya.

"Are you done?" I asked when he raise the design to check it out.

"Still halfway through," he said without giving me a glance.

"So, wala ka pang natatapos ni isa?"

"Meron, pangalawa na 'to."

Umawang ang labi ko sa kanyang sagot. Hindi makapaniwala sa bilis niyang magtrabaho. Isa at kalahati na ang natatapos niya.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago mabilis na lumapit sa upuang katabi niya. I grab the design that was finish to check it out, to find any tiniest mistake.

I gritted my teeth when I found none. Kahit ang dulo ng dress ay tiningnan ko rin na baka may sinulid na hindi eksakto pero wala! As if it was done by a professional.

I should be glad because of how efficient he is but the envy overwhelmed me. I never felt defeated before, to be surpassed by someone else especially by a guy!

"What about the size? Who did you used as a reference?" Hindi ko maitago ang pagkainis sa boses ko.

"You," he said quickly as he wiped off his sweat, making sure that he's dry and all.

"I don't think so," bulong ko at tumalikod na dala-dala ang dress para sukatin sa dressing room.

May pag-asa na namumuo sa dibdib ko habang sinusubukan kong suotin ang dress. Matutuwa na sana ako pero agad na napawi nung matingnan ko ang sarili sa salamin.

It perfectly fits! As if it was personally made for me!

Nahirapan akong makahinga sa pinaghalong emosyon. I'm purely in shock as I stared at my reflection for another minute and there was confusion mixed up with irritation.

"How..." my voice trailed off, almost breathless. Huminga ako nang malalim bago pinagpatuloy ang pagsasalita. "Hindi ako nagka-amnesia, Krae. Sigurado akong hindi mo pa ako kailanman sinukatan. How did you know my size?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows. I'm still wearing the damn dress. I'm so fired up that I don't have any time to change again.

"I have keen eyes," iyun lang ang kanyang sinagot sabay kibit-balikat na parang wala lang. Mas nadagdagan pa lalo ang inis ko dahil sa paraan ng pagsagot niya.

It irritates me to know that he effortlessly made a dress way faster than me! Not just any other dress but a perfect one... too perfect that it has no room for mistakes!

"What does that mean?" I squinted my eyes at him, both hands were on top of his desk. I slowly leaned forward, challenging him.

"I just noticed everything about you, even with the tiniest detail." His stares began to slowly crawl from my face down to my body. "I guess that's what I get for staring at you for too long."

.

My brows furrowed as I continue to put an ointment on my fist. I never thought punching someone could hurt so bad.

Napabuga ako ng hangin bago inabot ang phone ko sa side table nung tumunog ito. Agad akong nairita nung makita na si Krae ang tumatawag.

I answered the call and put it on a loud speaker before laying it down on my bed. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagmamasahe sa kamao ko habang hinihintay ang kanyang sasabihin.

"Hello?" Hindi ako sumagot.

"Are you there?" Hindi pa rin ako sumasagot hanggang sa nagpakawala na ito ng hinihinga, indikasyong sumusuko na siya.

"I'm sorry if I offended you earlier but you totally got it all wrong–"

"So, I'm dumb now?" I cut him off and he started cursing under his breath na parang natataranta.

"No, no! Of course not! What I mean is... you're attractive." Natigilan ako sa ginagawa. Mabilis kong kinuha ang phone at pinaontihan ang volume bago itinutok iyun sa aking tenga.

"Maybe you thought of it badly because of my stares, I'm sorry! I just can't help staring on how perfect you look especially with that dress." Unti-unting humina ang boses niya. He's pretty straightforward that it caught me literally off-guard.

Ramdam ko ang panunuyo ng lalamunan ko at ang malakas na pagtibok ng pulso sa katawan ko habang inaabangan ang mga susunod niyang sasabihin.

"You're attractive, the most attractive person I ever met actually," his voice was soft and the content of his words were spot-on as if he knows how to take my breath away, to leave me speechless. "A-and I... being with you... I-i just... I feel like I could trade anything just to be with you."

Bahagya kong nilayo ang phone dahil sa biglaang pagsinghap ko. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa kabog na naririnig. Unti-unti kong binalik ang phone sa tenga at sa mga karagdagang sinabi niya ay mas ikinabaliw pa ng sistema ko.

"You're the only beautiful thing this world has to offer."