I am sketching my other designs in my sketchpad. Matagal-tagal kong hindi nahahawakan to, dahil focused ako sa painting. I do also have a view of skyscrapers here. I like to face it, because I tend to be more creative when I have this view. 

The high rise skyscrapers never fail to amuse me. There are like tall diamonds because they reflects lightings of the sun. They still shines even in the darkness, parang sa buhay lang din , out in our darkest times, there still lights coming to us, depende sayo kung paano mo makikita ang mga liwanag na iyon. 

It seems all of those things happened to me, without my mom, friends I can't cope with this. I never thought I still able to rise despite of everything. 

I suddenly remember the tulips yesterday, it still puzzles me. Itinabi ko siya sa mga bulaklak na binigay ko. Who might it come from? Wala namang taong nakakakalam tungkol sa anak ko maliban kay Taylor at Anikka. Gusto kong isipin na baka naligaw lang ang bulaklak na iyon. I feel there is something behind that tulips. 

I take a sip of wine in the table.

Kung ano anong bagay na ang iniisip ko. Naligaw lang ang tulips na iyon, pero malakas ang kutob ko na likod ng mga tulips na iyon. 

Napabuga ako ng hangin.

Eris, focus now in your work.

I took my pencil down to take a glimpse of my work. It is a knee length dress, featuring v neckline to make it edgy and and open back panelings. This will dress will be embellished with crystals to detail it. Though it might be a night dress, and yet I still shines throughout the time. 

I faced down my office table and  I read again the files compiled on my table, some of them are proposals to be signed. Gladly I am done with the exhibit so I can focus Amaya. We've been doing great here in New York, we already have some clients and featured to some runway shows, that is why my schedule is kind of hectic. 

I suddely look at my ringing phone, it Taylor's face registered on the screen. 

"Erisss!" Inilayo ako ang phone ko dahil medyo malakas ang sigaw niya. She seems to be agitated, anong meron?

"You just called yesterday." 

She rolled her eyes to her disappointment dahil sa sagot ko. "Is it bad to call you everyday."

I grin "Not much." I put my phone to the holder so I can still read some papers here I am having a face time with her. 

"Ok E, We have our launching here." 

"Oh bakit? Does it need my presence?"

"Badly." Napatingin ako sa kany sa sinabi niya.

"Taylor, I know that you can manage."

"Erisha, you are the legitimate owner of Amaya, you must be there."

"How how many events ng Amaya ang wala ako, besides you are in charge." Taylor rolled her  eyes for the second time. 

"You need to go back here Eris.  It is our runway show hindi pwedeng wala ka na naman doon and besides we need a model here." Napakunot ang noo ko sa pagtataka, why do they need a model. Amaya can afford one, kahit pa mga artista pa yan. 

"Models,  why don't you just get Anne Curtis,  Liza Soberano or Nadine Lustre for the final walk. Are we scarced?"

"Eris,  you are our model." I look at Taylor face, to see any grins or just signs of joking,  baka mamaya pinaglololoko lang ako nito. Taylor always into pranks. Her face did not change a bit, tinaasan nga lang ako ng kilay. Aba. 

I bet she might be serious.

"Me? Why me?"

"Of course you are Eris, don't ask why?" She speak again. 

"Because we need to reminisce our collection, remember what you did before it's hit. Also, you are the legitimate CEO of Amaya so be there."

"No Taylor."  I firmly answered. I am not coming back, lalo at magmomodel pa ako. Yes it was a sucess for me but I am not into modelling anymore. That was the last time noong kasama ko si Nikko. 

"That's the board says and majority of our creative team chose you. I do personally choose you too. They also want Nikko back. " She leaned on the table "Don't worry Eris, I'll be a model too." Ano yun, sama-samahan lang din. Why the hell she enters modelling, well she have the body and the personality.

"Why don't you, magmomodel ka pala."

Taylor face become more serious. She is already annoyed in the conversation. I was about to end our conversation but she speaked. 

"Erisha please, we need you here in the Philippines." Her lips formed a thin line, nagpipigil na siya ng galit kapag ganyan. Still that won't pursuade me, hindi naman nagagalit ng matagal si Taylor. 

"No." 

"Erisha, why are seems to be afraid to go back here. You just heard his name. He does not do anything to you, bakit hanggang ngayon umiiwas ka pa. 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. I hope she does not notice it. "No, hindi ko siya iniiwasan" Hindi pa ko handa na makita siya sa ngayon, worst is I am having work with him.

"Then I dare you." She fiercely stare at me to pursuade me, like I don't have an option, only to say yes to her.

I took a deep breath to answer. 

"Fine." Now she pursuade me because of this situation. Well I have no choice, besides tama rin naman siya. I must come back. 

"Celestine book me a flight in the Philippines first thing in the morning." My secretary seems to be shocked when I said that. 

"Why all of the sudden Miss Eris, are you in a rush."

"Just have it done." I said and I walked out to the office to fix my stuffs way back there.  Mabuti na lang at natapos ko na ang mga dapat kong pirmahan. I'll just have assign someone to be in charge for a while. Kaunting management lang, since I have some trust issues already gaya nang nagyari sa amin nila Michael and Rina. Taylor is always an exception, even in my worst she is always still beside me, kahit kay inay. Minsan mas anak pa siya kaysa sa akin. 

...................................................

After 18 hours of flight I reached the Philippines, I am pulling my trolley towards the terminal area. Agad kong nakita ko sila Taylor at Inay, they even raised a placard having my name on it. Napailing ako, bakit pa nila kailangang gawin iyon. Taylor smiled exitedly as she saw me, ganun din si inay. Para silang mga batang tumakbo papunta sa akin.

"Anak! Kamusta ka na, buti naman umuwi ka." Sabi ni inay na una pang yumakap sa akin. Hinalikan niya pa ko ng maraming beses. I miss her too. Tama na rin siguro na umuwi ako dito sa Pilipinas. 

"Of course inay, Taylor has the best convincing powers." Taylor grin, saka lumapit saka akin at simpleng beso beso na lang. We started to walk towards outside, Hindi rin naman mapigilan ni Inay na kausapin ako habang naglalakad. 

"Actually Eris, your mom suggested na magmodel ka. She saw your picture before, of course inay want to see it again."

"Oo nga naman anak, gusto ko rin naman kasi maranasan na pinapanood kita. Saka ang ganda ganda mo dun." Inay said while smiling. I saw exitement in her eyes, paano ba ako makakatangi. 

"Sure Inay, you won't be disappointed." Mas lalo pang lumawak ng ngiti niya, lalo na si Taylor. It seems ginamit niya pa si Inay para mapapayag ako. All I can say, that is a good tactic. 

"Diba Taylor sabi niya noon, ayaw niya."

"Yes, ang mahalaga already agreed inay."

"Siguro kaya tumanggi ka dahil sa lalaki sa tabi ng picture mo, yung love of your life mo?" Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat. How does she able to know that?

"Still it is Inay."

"He doesn't" SInamaan ko ng tingin si Taylor. It's too late, alam kong sinabi na niya lahat-lahat tungkol kay Nikko.

"Sorry, Inay asked me, I just can't help it. I know you missed a lot of things." 

"Seems to , you don't engage yourself into relationships." Kahit kailan talaga Taylor. I'll get even to you soon. Ngayon, parang hindi man lang siya naapektuhan sa sama ng tingin ko sa kanya, nakikipagtawanan pa siya kay Inay.

"That does not make any sense T."

"Teka mga anak, lumalalim na ang ingles niyong dalawa hindi ko na maintindihan."

"Inay everything is fine with Eris, don't worry." Sabi niya at inalalayan na si inay sa sumakay sa back seat. I took the handle towards the driver seat. 

I took a deep breath as we I went out to the airport.

"Welcome to the Philippines again Eris."