Ken and Sage locked eyes for a second before Sage averted his gaze. "May client ka pala, Tita."

The fact that he pretended not to know her made Kendra's heart drop. Pero sino ba siya para magreklamo? Siya naman ang nagsabing dapat na siyang kalimutan ni Sage.

"Sage! I didn't know you were coming," the designer, a petite woman in her early forties said. Margaret's eyes twinkled in delight as she greeted Sage who handed her a box of cake.

"Thank you, hijo. You're so thoughtful and yes, I'm with a client. This is Miss Yumi. Miss Yumi, this is my nephew, Sage," she cheerfully introduced the two, completely unaware of how intimate they have been in the past.

Ngumiti si Sage, 'yong labas ang dimples pero hindi abot sa mata. In-offer nito ang kanyang kanang kamay kay Ken. "Nice to meet you, Miss Yumi."

"Likewise," she replied, accepting the handshake and returning his smile. The feeling of his palm touching hers sent a sensation through her body. Lumingon si Ken sa designer. "Ms. Margaret, I didn't know you had other plans. Sorry talaga na na-late ako."

"No worries! 'Di naman kita masisising delayed ang flight mo," she replied. "Pero okay lang bang dito muna si Sage so we can chat? I'll also need his assistance later. Kukunin ko lang 'yong veil so you can try it on with the dress."

Tumango lang si Ken. The designer went out of the room, leaving the two in an awkward silence. She rubbed her arms and tried hard to keep eyes on the floor to avoid his stare that made every cell in her body conscious.

* * *

Sage couldn't help but rake his eyes upon the stunning girl in front of him. The a-line cut of her white organza wedding dress complimented her slim frame. He had difficulty avoiding looking at the sweetheart neckline. May nag-uudyok sa kanyang asarin si Ken na push-up bra ang nagdadala sa dibdib nito pero nagawa niyang magpigil.

"Bagay na bagay sa kanya, 'no?"

"Yeah, she's very beau—I mean, of course!" Sage snapped out of his trance. He almost jumped when he heard his aunt's cheery voice. "She's the client of the best dressmaker in the world. Syempre, bagay sa kanya 'yong damit."

Margaret giggled. "Ikaw talaga, ang hilig mo pa rin mambola! Siya, help me put this veil on Miss Yumi. Ang hirap maging underheight." She pouted as she handed the veil to him.

"Uh, okay." Sage accepted the mid-length wedding veil hesitantly and walked behind the bride-to-be. It was made of soft tulle and had a metal comb attached to it which he carefully tucked just above Ken's bun.

"Gamitin mo 'to para maayos." The designer handed him a couple of bobby pins which he used to secure the veil. "And this should go in front of the veil." She then gave him a diamond-encrusted tiara.

* * *

Lumipat si Sage sa harap ni Ken para isuot sa kanya ang tiara. She kept her eyes away from his but she could feel her face heating up and her heart racing. The fluttery feeling in her stomach intensified as she caught a whiff of the familiar musky scent of his aftershave.

At mukhang hindi rin naman siya ang nag-iisang may kakaibang nararamdaman. Dahil sa height difference nila, kitang-kita niya ang pagtaas-baba ng Adam's apple ni Sage nang lumunok ito nang ilang beses. She also felt his slow, heavy breaths on her forehead.

Sumabit ang hinliliit ni Sage sa buhok niya matapos nitong maisuot sa kanya ang tiara kaya nahulog sa mukha ni Ken ang ilang hibla ng buhok. Sabay nilang sinubukang ayusin ang nagulong buhok kaya nagtama ang kanilang mga daliri.

"Sorry." Sage cleared his throat before quickly withdrawing his hand. Ken hastily tucked the loose hair strands behind her ear and bit her lip, keeping her head down.

"Gusto ko munang makita 'yong veil kapag nakatakip pa ang mukha ng bride. Help me with this, Sage," Margaret instructed. Her nephew obliged and together, they lifted the veil over Kendra's head and watched it drop in front of her face.

The designer stepped back a few steps to see how her client looked from a distance. "Fantastic!" she exclaimed with a clap. "Now, can you give me a slow turn so I can see the dress from different angles?"

"Sure," Ken replied before gracefully rotating in place.

* * *

Sage watched her silently. Hindi niya na nagawang magsinungaling sa sarili. Kumikirot ang kanyang puso. Ngayon lang siya nakaramdam ng ganito kalalang inggit. Inggit sa mapapangasawa ni Kendra.

"Wonderful!" Margaret beamed at her work of art. "Last favor na, Sage. Can you lift the veil? I want to see how that would look."

"Of course, Tita." Muling lumapit si Sage kay Ken at dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang puting belo. Kendra lifted her chin a bit and looked up. For the second time that day, she locked eyes with him. 

Ken blinked and Sage watched her eyelashes flutter. Ito ang magiging view ng mapapangasawa ng babaeng mahal niya pagkatapos nilang magpalitan ng mga pangako, bago sila maghalikan.

Jealousy flared within him as he felt a tightness in his chest. He was about to just walk out and go back to his depressed state when he noticed that tears were beginning to form at the corner of Ken's eyes. His eyes softened. And just like that, he was ready to console her.

Ken didn't give him a chance though, as she was able to wipe away the tears before they even started rolling down her cheeks. Returning to his senses, Sage stepped away from the girl.

* * *

"So how was that, Tita?" Sage said turning to face his aunt. "Satisfied ka na ba sa dress and veil ni Miss Yumi?" Lumingon din si Ken sa pinagkatiwalaan niyang designer para abangan ang reaksyon nito.

"It looks perfect on her! What did you think, Sage?" his aunt replied, very satisfied with how her dress turned out.

"I agree. I wouldn't expect anything less from the world's best designer," sagot ni Sage.

Margaret laughed. "Promise me na 'pag ikakasal ka na, sa'kin magpapagawa ng wedding dress ang bride mo."

"I promise, Tita. Sigurado naman akong may taste ang pakakasalan ko kaya magugustuhan niya ang gowns mo." She saw his eyes drift over to her but Ken quickly averted her gaze and pretended to concentrate on her reflection. Her heart sank at hearing him talk about his future bride but she managed to maintain a straight face.

"Ikaw ba, Miss Yumi, are you happy?" Margaret asked.

"Ha-happy?" Nagulat si Ken sa tanong na iyon.

"Yes, are you happy with the dress and the veil?"

"Ah, yes, of course! It's way better than I expected. Thank you so much, Ms. Margaret," sagot ni Ken na may kasamang matipid na ngiti.

"By the way, I received your invitation but husband is not available on the date of your wedding. Okay lang bang si Sage na lang ang plus one ko?" Napatingin si Sage sa designer. Looks like this was news to him too.

"O-oo naman po," nag-aalangang sagot ni Ken. "It would be an honor to have you both in my wedding."

"It's settled then." Margaret beamed at Kendra then turned towards her shocked nephew. "You, young man, are going with me. I heard that you haven't dated in four years! I should introduce you to some of my clients na pupunta sa kasal ni Miss Yumi. Sigurado ako, mayro'n kang type sa mga 'yon."

"Really, Tita? Your clients? You think I'm the type to date someone who's about to get married to someone else?" Sage said. Hindi alam ni Ken kung sadyang nagpaparinig ito pero tinatamaan siya.

"Ano ka ba, 'di lang naman wedding dress ang dine-design ko," his aunt replied, shaking her head. "In fact, I also designed the gowns for Miss Yumi's whole entourage. I got to meet her maid of honor and her bridesmaids. They're all pretty and really courteous. Parang bagay kayo no'ng maid of honor ni Miss Yumi, si Miss Lily!"

"Actually, Lily just got married," Ken interjected politely.

"Talaga ba? Well, there's this other pretty bridesmaid, si Miss Mia! Maybe you'd like her, Sage, she used to be a model," Margaret said.

"Ay, actually, kasal na rin po si Mia. She even has an adorable three-year-old son," mabilis na sagot ni Ken.

"I didn't know, I'm sorry. How about the really charming one, Miss Heidi? Mukhang magki-click 'yong personalities n'yo no'n, Sage." Margaret yet again tried to set up her nephew with Ken's bridesmaid.

"Too bad, she's also in a relationship," muling sagot ni Ken na may kasamang ngiting hindi umabot sa kanyang mga mata.

"You have this other nice bridesmaid—"

"I'm sorry, but as far as I know, no one in my entourage is single." Inunahan na ni Ken si Margaret, bago pa ito makapagreto kay Sage ng isa pa sa mga kaibigan niya.

The designer's brows were furrowed as she looked at Ken. That was when the shame kicked in. Why was she trying so hard to prevent him from dating?

Sage let out a small chuckle. "Tita, it's fine. I'm not really ready to date yet anyway."

His aunt sighed. "Is it still the same girl from four years ago?"

Tumango lang si Sage. Ken felt uneasy about where their conversation was going but she kept her mouth shut.

"Tell me about her while you help me remove Miss Yumi's veil. 'Di ba bumalik ka sa Manila last month? Nakausap mo ba siya?" Margaret asked.

Sage started removing the bobby pins from Ken's hair. "Yeah, nag-usap kami. But it didn't end well. I feel really stupid. Do you know how many times I've let this girl break my heart?"

"That sounds rough, Sage," Margaret replied. "How are you now?"

"To be honest, my every waking moment is spent yearning for her. I can't imagine loving someone as much as I have loved her. I was ready to give the world to her, to love her unconditionally every day, for the rest of my life. Ang sakit lang na tinanggihan niya 'yon."

Nararamdaman na naman ni Ken na naiipon ang mga luha niya sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata. She took deep breaths and luckily, was able to control her tear ducts. Even the designer was rendered silent by Sage's statement.

They all stood there in silence for about a minute before Sage spoke again. "Pero alam kong mahal niya rin ako."

'Di na napigilan ni Ken ang sarili niya. Lumingon siya at hinarap si Sage. "Sinabi niya ba 'yon? Paano ka naging sure? Kung mahal ka niya bakit ka niya tatanggihan? Hindi naman kaya inflated lang ang ego mo?"

Margaret's eyes widened in shock at her sudden outburst but Sage just grinned. Was he purposely triggering her? "I dared her to tell me straight up that she doesn't love me and she couldn't," he said.

"Just because she wasn't able to say that she didn't doesn't mean that she did," sagot ni Ken.

"Is it hard to say 'I don't love you'? Kung 'di niya mahal, bakit 'di niya na lang sabihin 'yon para mas madaling maka-move on 'yong nagmamahal sa kanya? Is she just plain cruel then?"

"I don't know! Maybe she was scared!"

"Scared of what? Falling deeper?"

"Sage! Miss Yumi!" Napatingin ang dalawa sa designer nang tawagin nito ang mga pangalan nila. "You both got really carried away. Kalma lang."

Napatakip ng bibig si Ken. "Pasensya na po. I'm just very tired. I'll go and change," she said before hurriedly entering one of the fitting rooms and locking the door. Sumandal siya sa pinto at tuluyang umiyak nang tahimik habang dumudulas ang kanyang likod pababa.

* * *

"It seems like you really upset my client. May problema ka ba kay Miss Yumi?" Margaret said with a disapproving look.

"Sorry, Tita. I'm just stressed so I'm gonna go. I'll visit you next time." Nilabas ni Sage ang wallet niya. Binunot niya mula dito ang isang itim na card na may logo ng The Orchid at inabot iyon sa tita niya. "Pakibigay na lang po 'to kay Miss Yumi at pakisabing gusto kong humingi ng tawad. She can present this at the front desk of the hotel to avail a free night in one of our executive suites."