"SELF-CONFIDENCE is the belief in one's abilities. SELF-ESTEEM encompasses the broader perception of oneself - how a person sees, feels, thinks, and believes in themselves. High self-confidence and low self-esteem can coexist, creating a complex duality."

For Senthie Salvador, this duality was a constant companion in her life. She had confidence in her skills and abilities, yet her self-esteem often triggered thoughts like, Others are prettier, more talented, and better than me. Do I truly have what it takes? Am I good enough to be fortunate? Do I truly deserve all of this?

***

Two days ago . . .

"I'm extending an offer for you to design my mother's gown for an upcoming event," Jimhuesh proposed.

Senthie, however, didn't immediately accept. She needed clarity on why such a significant opportunity was being presented to her. The CEO of GMC held a prominent place in the business world, her reputation extending far beyond just wealth. Her gown was no ordinary project; it was a task that came with substantial responsibility.

Being a relatively unknown designer, Senthie couldn't simply say yes without reservation. She felt an immense responsibility not to tarnish the CEO's reputation. Her own experience was inadequate, and she acknowledged her worries. Dreaming so big seemed audacious, and she recognized her limitations. Accepting this offer was daunting, as the fear of making errors loomed large.

Her heart raced with the prospect of designing for a renowned figure. She was overwhelmed with joy, excitement, and gratitude, but also with a profound sense of apprehension.

"I can't accept that offer. I'm not sure if I have the skills, I'm just an average fashion designer," she admitted. It was a moment where she grappled with her low self-esteem, even though her abilities had been showcased when she secured third place in an international competition.

Jimhuesh, however, responded with a hint of disbelief. He crossed his arms and challenged her. "Do you really believe I would offer this opportunity to someone lacking the necessary skills? An average fashion designer? I wouldn't do that." He sighed and continued his conviction, "Ms. Salvador, you're an exceptional designer, and it's high time you recognize that. Remember the gown you made for Kassandra's birthday? My mother saw it in pictures and was astounded. She wants to meet you. I want to surprise her. Can you do me this favor? Name your price, and I'll gladly pay triple."

Senthie was momentarily taken aback by his straightforwardness, finding it refreshing, though his compliment left her slightly embarrassed. She responded, "Really? Thank you. Well . . . then I'll gladly do you the favor, but you don't need to pay me triple."

Jimhuesh raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. Just give me two weeks or three to complete the gown."

He chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. "All right, it's settled. But there's one more thing you should know about this offer. You'll need to stay in one of GMC's studios. That's where you'll create the gown, and it's also convenient for my mother. She likes to visit her designers frequently due to her busy schedule. Don't be surprised; it's a normal practice for every designer she works with."

"Oh, I see. . . . I'm afraid I'll have to refuse. I just can't abandon Fashion Sen's for that long, especially with the distance. GMC is located in Alabang, right? The traffic can be terrible, and constant back-and-forth trips would be challen--"

Her words were interrupted when Jimhuesh swiftly raised his hand, signaling her to pause. He retrieved his phone from the inner pocket of his suit, his expression furrowed as he checked a message or notification. After a moment, he sighed, placing the phone back in his pocket and encouraging her to continue with a nod.

Resuming her explanation, Senthie expressed her concerns, "What I'm trying to say is, I can't simply leave all the work to Cecile and Kassandra."

"You don't trust them?"

"No, it's nothing like that. I just . . . I just feel a bit guilty about leaving everything to them."

"Please. . . . I'm sure they'll be happy for you. Besides, you'll be doing this not just for yourself, but for Fashion Sen's as well. They can manage just fine." His warm smile accompanied his words. "You can charge me five times the amount, just say yes."

After a bout of overthinking and analyzing the forthcoming situation, she ultimately reached a decision. Perhaps, it was driven by a hint of greed, but the more she pondered, the clearer it became that it was for the sake of Fashion Sen's reputation.

~

Present day . . .

Senthie settled into Studio Z, located on the 29th floor, just below the unexpected penthouse, which happened to be the CEO's private lounge area.

Before Senthie began unpacking her belongings, she made one last call to Cecilia, reiterating the responsibilities she had handed over. She reminded her to ensure the designs were sent to the factory; to inquire with customers, particularly those seeking customized dresses, about their willingness to wait until her return, and, most importantly, to be patient with every customer.

Senthie was pleasantly surprised by the studio on the 29th floor. It contained ten studios (labeled Q to Z) for various creative purposes. GMC leased these studios to workshop enthusiasts. However, Senthie had a unique privilege - free use of the fashion studio, which also served as her living space. It was spacious, immaculate, and more splendid than her own residence.

"If this is a dream, I need to wake up now, or else, I'll wish it never ends," she mumbled, easing onto the soft, fluffy bed, marveling at her new surroundings.

~

The next day, Senthie's evening took an unexpected turn when a text message from Jimhuesh buzzed on her phone. It read, "My mother wants to meet you tonight. I'll pick you up at 7. Be ready, then."

The timing couldn't have been worse; Jimhuesh sent the message at 6 PM.

Panic set in as she realized she only had one hour of spare time to prepare. She sprang into action, moving with triple the speed. It was 6:59 when the doorbell rang. She was on the verge of slipping into her white stilettos, perfectly matched with her white, knee-length, long-sleeved pencil cut dress.

"Coming!" she shouted, though she suddenly remembered that the room was soundproofed. Grabbing her purse, she scurried to the door, determined to make it on time.

Jimhuesh's eyes briefly flicked to his watch as Senthie opened the door. In response, she instinctively glanced at her watch, confirming that she had managed to be right on time, just as he was.

A moment of silence hung between them before he inquired if she was ready. His gaze had lingered on her a bit longer than expected, prompting her to wonder if there was something amiss with her appearance.

"You look . . . nice, I guess," he commented, his expression blank.

Senthie chuckled nervously, not due to his remark but because of the uncertainty that loomed ahead. It was too soon, and she wasn't emotionally and mentally prepared enough. She disliked being called upon at the last minute. Ideally, she would prefer advance notice, at least three days in advance, if not, a day or two.

Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, and she realized that being in his company was exacerbating her anxiety. She hadn't yet grown accustomed to his presence, and the prospect of meeting GMC's CEO, Jennifer, his mother, felt like it could induce a heart attack at any moment.

~

Senthie sat on the chair that Jimhuesh had pulled out for her at the upscale restaurant in a five-star hotel.

"Are you nervous?" he inquired, taking his seat next to her.

"Is it that obvious?"

He nodded. "You were fidgeting in the car, and you still seem a bit restless now." Jimhuesh adjusted his tie thoughtfully. "Plus, you kept glancing at the sky. Were you checking the weather?"

She giggled. "No, I was actually admiring the moon."

He raised his eyebrows, displaying a keen interest. "You love the moon, too?"

Senthie's eyes widened with surprise. "Yes, do you?"

He smiled, but she felt a hint of disappointment when he shook his head. "No, but my best friend, Rychie, does."

"Oh," she uttered, and a brief silence settled between them.

Moments later, Jennifer arrived, accompanied by a waiter who escorted her to their table.

Jimhuesh promptly stood and exchanged a quick hug with his mother. Senthie, her nerves palpable, also rose to her feet and composed herself, ready to meet the CEO. Jimhuesh introduced them to each other, and Senthie greeted the sophisticated woman with a warm smile and a slight nod.

Jennifer wore an elegant black dress, somewhat similar to Senthie's, but with three-quarter sleeves and a skirt that ended just below the knee. She appeared remarkably youthful, almost like Jimhuesh's older sister, a likeness heightened by their strong resemblance. Her gray hooded eyes and straight nose mirrored her son's features.

Senthie was taken aback by the warm smile and the unexpected peck on her cheek, causing her to blush and momentarily lose her composure.

Jennifer gestured for her to take a seat, and Jimhuesh assisted his mother, guiding her toward the chair that the waiter had pulled out for her. He's such a sweetheart and a gentleman, Senthie thought.

"Ms. Salvador, I hope you don't mind if I choose our dishes," Jennifer remarked as she reached for the menu presented by the waiter.

Senthie smiled politely in response. "I don't mind at all, ma'am."

With a wide smile, she said, "Great! I'd love to introduce you to the best dishes they have, but please, just call me Ms. Jenny."

Senthie nodded in agreement. With a sigh of relief, she realized that she could now relax a bit. It appeared that the CEO was far less intimidating than she had initially expected.

"We'd like to start with iced tea with lemon for drinks; buffalo shrimp skewers, sweet potato fries, and smoked nacho grande for the appetizers. Caesar salad, and for the pasta, farfalle with shrimp and zucchini. For the main course, freshly grilled beef. Finally, for dessert, tiramisu ice cream and carrot cake with cream cheese, please," she ordered, articulating her choices to the waiter.

The waiter nodded, repeating the order accurately. Once Jennifer confirmed, he departed with the selections, offering his gratitude.

She turned her attention back to Senthie with a warm smile. "I'm really glad to finally meet you, Ms. Salvador. I couldn't meet you sooner since I was abroad for a three-day business conference. If it weren't for that, I would have attended Kassandra's birthday."

Senthie nodded politely, feeling a sense of ease settling in during their conversation. "It's a genuine honor and a pleasure to hear that from GMC's CEO. Thank you, Ms. Jenny, for taking notice of someone like me. I was greatly overjoyed when your son mentioned that you wanted to meet me," she expressed, inwardly relieved that she hadn't stuttered.

As time ticked by, fifteen minutes passed, and their drinks along with the appetizers were served. Another fifteen minutes elapsed before the salad, pasta, and one of the restaurant's specialties were brought to the table. During this time, Senthie engaged in a conversation with the CEO about her journey as a fashion designer. When she mentioned that her store, Fashion Sen's, was a tenant of Grand Mall Sta. Rosa, Jennifer appeared surprised. She hadn't been aware of this fact, which led her to conclude that Jennifer probably wouldn't remember all the tenants. However, she also wondered whether Jimhuesh had intentionally kept this information from his mother or if it had simply never come up in discussion.

The conversation flowed smoothly; the atmosphere was light, and they enjoyed each other's company amidst the restaurant's pleasant ambiance.

Jimhuesh, once the center of attention, had seemingly faded into the background, remaining silent throughout the evening. That was until Jennifer mentioned something that compelled him to speak up. "Mom, stop. You don't have to tell her that."

She pursed her lips, a hint of regret in her expression. "Oops, sorry, Jim. I just can't control my mouth sometimes. Forgive me."

"It's fine, but it would help if you avoided talking about me." He wiped his mouth with a napkin, signaling his intent to leave. "I suppose we won't be having dessert tonight. Goodnight, Mom." He kissed her on the cheek and then turned to Senthie, inviting her to accompany him.

Well, he's polite even when he's pissed off, Senthie thought. This is surprising. She glanced at Jennifer, searching for her reaction. When the CEO nodded and mouthed, "It's fine, you can go," Senthie offered a quick apology before hurrying to catch up with Jimhuesh, who had started walking without looking back.

"I wonder what's wrong," she mumbled to herself as she quickened her pace, attempting to keep up with him. "Such a waste! I really wanted to try those desserts!"