✓ | The Altered Version (Fate's Transgression Series, #2) [UNDER REVISION]

TAV 50: Not Anymore

CHAPTER FIFTY : Not Anymore

Liana Hellery Domingo

"Liana!"

I looked for the man who owns the voice. Kumaway sa akin ang binata bago niya nilandas ang pagitan namin. Nakaupo ako sa isang single couch habang nakatingin sa isang fashion magazine.

"Social media is on a whirlwind!" he exclaimed as he reached my spot. He immediately took his phone and showed it to me. "You are trending in all social media charts, and look...your brand name even ranked in the top 10 in the whole fashion world in just two days!"

He tapped his fingers on the screen and went to another tab. "Is the famous Filipina Designer Liana Domingo back after five years of hiatus? Nice headline! I am pretty sure reporters are now in your house. Mabuti na lang talaga nandito ka."

Nanatili akong nakatingin sa magazine na hawak ko. I felt Liam's disappointed aura when I ignored him. Napaupo na lamang siya sa kabilang couch, sulking like a child.

"Bakit hindi ka masaya? You didn't hold a launching event and just chose to establish that brand silently. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano mo nakumbinsi 'yong investor ng project kung alam niya na walang engrandeng fashion show na magaganap."

Liam's eyes rolled on my peripheral vision.

"Come on, Liana Hellery Domingo! You are the owner of that brand, bakit wala kang ginagawa? You should be celebrating, kasi finally after all these years the people recognize the designs in just two months after the secret launching! You were idle for five years and kahit nawala ka bigla sa fashion world, hindi pa rin nakalimutan ng mga tao ang signature designs mo!"

"Thanks, Liam," I said.

Hindi pa ako nakatingin sa kanya niyan kaya ramdam na ramdam ko ang inis niya.

"You are worse," he hissed.

"You want to know why I didn't announce the launching under my name? Why did I choose to build a store for it instead of putting the clothes under my former brand name?"

Liam crossed his arms. "At bakit nga?"

I closed the magazine, put it on the table, clasped my hands together and finally looked at him. "Hermosa Soleil is a brand that is independent. I don't want people to buy it because they know I am behind the project, I want them to invest in it because it is uniquely different yet still matches any style."

Napatingin ako sa isang TV screen kung saan pinapalabas ang balita tungkol sa spekulasyon na nabuo ng mga tao tungkol sa brand name at signature designs ng mga damit. Nadawit ang pangalan ko kaya mabilis na umingay ang media.

"Gusto ko lumaki siya na hindi nakasunod sa akin. I planned this project for three years, from materials to brand owning, up to the manufacturing. Hermosa Soleil will not be part of what I have, because it is meant to have more than I can give."

"But people are speculating you are behind the brand! The designs of the clothes are similar to your style. Noong nakita ko nga ang ilan sa mga damit, I know it was Liana's. If you choose it to be independent, why didn't you make another style?"

I let out a sigh. "They speculate because no one can mimic what I can do. Maybe I wanted Hermosa Soleil to be independent, but I also wanted to show the world its parents."

Liam was confused about what I said. "Hindi kita gets, girl."

Napatawa ako. "The clothing brand: Hermosa Soleil, is my last project. It is not just a brand or a store, it is a company with talented artists. I told you before I started this project, I want to gather designers who have a similar taste of what I perceive as true fashion."