Glimpses of Yesterday (Isla Contejo #2)

Chapter 35

NAKAKALOKO akong nginisian ni Ciello nang dumating ako sa coffee shop na pagkikitaan namin. She eyed me from head to toe using her narrowed eyes. It was as if she was examining my body because she was seeing something unusual.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kaniya nang tuluyan akong makaupo sa harap niya.

"What?" tanong ko.

Mas lalong lumawak ang nakakaloko niyang ngisi.

"You look blooming. Tell me what happened in Isla Contejo," she teasingly demanded.

It's been a week since I got back here in Manila. Arsen also went back together with me. The renovation in the resort was still on going, but Engineer Gonzaga permitted me to come back to Manila because I needed to attend some important meetings here. Hindi ko lang sigurado kay Arsen kung bakit bumalik din siya rito at sumabay sa akin.

"I'll go wherever you are," that was what he said when I asked him.

Hindi ko na lang kinontra dahil sa loob-loob ko ay ang saya-saya ko nga na sumama siya sa akin pabalik ng Maynila. I wanted to always be with him.

I sighed and also narrowed my eyes to Ciello. "Can't we order ba muna?"

She jokingly rolled her eyes before raising her hand to call for a waiter. I just order a coffee latte and a slice of cake while she ordered each slice of three different cakes. Kung may boyfriend siguro siya ngayon, iisipin kong buntis siya at naglilihi sa cake. Kaso, wala naman. I wasn't also sure about her real score with Quillon.

They were getting closer than before, though. I always saw her on Quillon's Instagram stories.

Nang makaalis ang waiter matapos kunin ang order namin ay muli niyang ipinukol sa akin ang buong atensyon. Para siyang imbestigador na gustong malaman ang lahat ng nangyari sa akin.

"You don't look like that when you left for Isla Contejo," puna niya.

"What do you mean?"

"Duh, sis. You looked lifeless and sad. 'Tapos ngayong bumalik ka galing Isla Contejo, biglang parang ang fresh mo. Look at your cheeks! It's so rosy! And your eyes... it's..." She sighed and smiled. "I don't know, can't explain it. There's really something. Something good happened, 'no?"

I bit my lower lip to hide my smile. Napaiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya nang maramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko. Pakiramdam ko, may kumikiliti na naman sa tiyan ko.

"See? You're blushing!" halos nanggigigil na saad niya. "Tell me, nando'n si Arsen, 'no? Kaya ka ganiyan?"

Kumawala ang multo ng ngiti sa mga labi ko nang muli ko siyang tingnan. Her eyes were wide due to anticipation.

"We got back together--"

"OMG, I knew it!" she didn't even let me finish my sentence. She laughed and she even clapped her hands as amusement grew in her reaction. "I knew it! Mga marurupok kayo!"

Hindi ko na napigilang matawa sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko rin para salungatin iyon dahil totoo naman. I was really so marupok when it came to Arsen. I just really love him so much and he deserved the second chance. He deserved my forgiveness.

All he did to hurt me before was just his insecurities and selfishness. After all, he learned from it and he changed for the better. I should acknowledge that. My love for him was greater than the bitterness I had in the past. It would always be forgiving and unconditional.

"Pero wait, what about Aquilus, then?" Kumunot ang noo niya sa akin at medyo sinamaan pa ako ng tingin. "Don't tell me you cheated?"

Ako naman ang sinamaan siya ng tingin "Of course not! I didn't. I broke up with him before I fixed whatever issue Arsen and I had."