End of the Day (Mystique Trilogy 1) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

"Architect Katelyn Tolentino, nice to meet you all," Kate introduced herself in front of us. She stared at me then to Kael before smirking and sitting beside Iñigo.

We are having a small lunch together with Kate and the engineering team. 'Di naman na nabigla si Kate noong nakita niya si Kael sa table. She also said that they worked together in a couple of projects before, both international and here in the Philippines. She also told me that Kael is really good when it comes to business. Hindi raw magsisisi ang kukuha sa team nila.

"Architect Tolentino, I've heard a lot about you before! You were the one who designed my sister's house in Pampanga, right?" Janice, the secretary of Kael, said.

"Who is your cousin again? Sorry, I forgot," Kate said and smiled.

"Vanne Cortez, Architect," Janice answered. Napatango si Kate at inalala ang project na 'yon. Janice smiled at her sweetly. Napatingin pa siya kay Kael no'n at tanging maliit na ngiti na lamang ang isinukli sa kaniya ni Kael.

I looked at my cellphone, hoping for a text from Yana para makaalis na 'ko rito. I'm starting to feel awkward, pakiramdam ko ang sikip-sikip sa kinauupuan ko. Darren is beside me pero parang nakaka-suffocate at para akong kino-corner ng bawat salitang binibitawan ng mga kasama ko rito. Especially now that Kate's here, I know sooner or later, she will start talking to Kael and unintentionally bring up the past.

I was busy scrolling on Twitter when Janice called my surname. "Mrs. Juarez! Ikaw ba? What was your first choice of profession bago mo nalamang ikakasal ka kay Sir Darren?"

I smiled weakly. "I don't know, maybe an accountant? Or I can handle our family hacienda in Laguna."

"Wow, may hacienda kayo?" She asked, and I nodded. "Sana makapasyal tayo diyan!"

"Are you okay?" Darren asked me. I just nodded as a response. I wasn't fine! Goodness, Kael's been looking at me from time to time! Paano ako magiging okay? Kanina pa ata ako kinakabahan dahil minsan ay nagtatama rin tingin namin, minsan nakikita ko siyang nakangisi, tapos hay nako!

"Uh, excuse me. Magpapahangin lang ako," I said and stood up. Pumunta ako sa rooftop at naupo sa bench. Hinawi ko ang buhok ko at nilagay iyon sa isang messy bun. Huminga ako nang malalim at tumingin sa malayo.

Ano ba namang buhay 'to? Kung 'di ako nahihirapan, naguguluhan. Kung hindi naman, natatakot. Hanggang kailan ba 'ko ganito? Why can't I forget a specific part of me and my past? Everything was okay! Simula noong nawala si Kael, I was building myself. Tinulungan ako nina Yana at Darren para buoin uli ang sarili ko. Natuto akong mahalin si Darren, napasaya ako ni Darren, pero bakit parang may mali?

We are happy, we really are. I enjoyed the time we spent together. Masaya ako habang nagta-travel kami. I was happy and contented when we were exploring different museums in every country, I was dancing happily in the streets of every country, I was really happy when I got to see Eiffel Tower in real life during our anniversary. I am happy with Darren. He made me realize that simple things have an extraordinary beauty in it. And I really love him, all of him.

But then there's really a part of me that wants to go back and fix the past, but how could I fix that? Wala naman na 'kong magagawa kasi matagal nang nangyari 'yon. If I could do anything now, it would only be accepting, forgiving, and learning. It's now in the past, I should focus on what's ahead of me. But damn, life really wants a flashback.

"Ano ba 'to..." I whispered and wiped the tears that fell from my eyes.

"Umiiyak ka na naman. Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa 'yo na 'wag kang iiyak?" A feminine voice said and handed me a handkerchief. I saw Kate beside me, looking at the other building across town. "I knew you're going to cry. By the looks of you in that table, you can't hold yourself together and be in the same room with your ex."