Unrivaled [Completed]

Chapter 21

Present day – Bali, Indonesia (14 years later)

Pagod na naupo sa isa sa mga sun loungers si Oreo, nakasuot pa siya ng gown at may makapal pang make – up sa mukha. Katatapos lang ng pool – side wedding ng kaibigan niyang sina Dessa at Arkhee. Halatang pinag – isipan ng mga kaibigan niya kung saan gaganapin ang kasal ng mga ito dahil ginanap ito sa isang hotel na may infinity pool, may view ng dagat at sunrise. They surely made everyone wake up so early because they wanted to view the sunrise while declaring their vows.

Oreo felt something in her heart, like an enchantment, seeing other people proclaiming their love for each other. At some point, she did not believe in love but after seeing her friends happily loving each other, it gave confusion in her mind. Napabuntong – hininga na lamang siya.

Am I even capable to love someone? Am I someone worthy to be loved wholeheartedly?

"Chocolate." Narinig niyang tawag sa pangalan niya ng isang pamilyar na boses. Iisang tao lamang ang tumatawag sa kaniya ng ganoon, si Kristoff. Nilingon niya ang tumawag. Nakasuot pa rin ito ng gray suit, walang ekspresyon ang gwapong mukha at nasa loob ng bulsa ng pantalon nito ang dalawang kamay. "We need to talk."

"Ahuh. What do we need to talk about?" she asked casually, meeting the gaze of the man she had been trying to avoid all this time. Mula nang magkita sila sa Brazil ay ngayon lang ulit nabigyan ng pagkakataon na mapag – isa silang dalawa.

"Our wedding." Oreo felt like she's about to have a heart attack or maybe a panic attack. Whatever it was, it felt like she was about to faint. "We need to plan it out now that you're back."

She stood up, frozen. This was not the plan she had in mind. She did not want Kristoff to open that matter first, she wanted herself to make the settlement with him. She wanted to break this stupid arrangement they got into. She needed to let Kristoff go. She sighed, taking up the courage to reply.

"Since you've opened this up, I guess this is the best time we talk about it." There was a distressing silence. "You don't have to marry me Kristoff. I'm letting you go. We don't have to keep the promise you had with my mother. Hindi mo na kailangan pang kaawaan ako. Matagal na akong nakatayo sa sarili kong mga paa. Marrying me would be a mistake. You should marry someone else, someone you really love."

Tahimik na lumapit si Kristoff sa kaniya. Mahirap mang aminin sa kaniyang sarili ngunit hindi niya maiwasang hangaan ang kagwapuhan nito. Isang metro lamang ang pagitan nilang dalawa, naaamoy tuloy niya ang pamilyar na gamit nitong pabango.

"I am marrying someone I love." He said matter-of-factly. Nagulat man sa sinabi ni Kristoff ay hindi niya iyon dinibdib. Sarkastiko siyang tumawa bago ito sinagot.

"You don't love me, Kris. What you feel is pity towards me, like what you've always felt when we were younger." Tinapik – tapik niya pa ang balikat nito. "Makipag – date ka rin kasi ng iba para naman may point of comparison ka."

Mabilis nitong hinawakan ang kamay niya, masama ang tingin na para bang kakainin siya ng buhay.

"When will you stop avoiding me? When will you stop running away?" His voice was hostile.

"Ikaw? Kailan ka hihinto na kaawaan ako?" She gritted her teeth.

Kristoff shook his head, looking dismayed. "How sure are you that I just pity you?"

"Oh well, the only thing certain is that nothing is certain Kris. I just know that it's pity rather than love."

"You're never going to learn. You're always so stubborn. Talagang hindi ka marunong magpatalo." Bigla siyang hinila ni Kristoff palapit sa katawan nito at hinawakan ng isang kamay nito ang mukha niya. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari ay hindi nagawa ng utak niya na iproseso ang nangyayari sa kanila.