If Stella knew she was about to run in to Kathy Borromeo, she would've stayed longer in the bathroom than she intended to be.
When she and Helga came out, she saw her high school nemesis having a conversation with Raffy right at the end of the bathroom hallway. They seem to be enjoying each other's company that they were both laughing so hard like there's no tomorrow.
And for some damn weird reason, Stella felt her heart stabbed a little bit by jealousy. She was aware that Kathy and Raffy were the star couple although they've only dated for a couple of months. Many were disappointed that they didn't last but now, it looks like they've been reminiscing. Stella could see Kathy was giddy the way she smiled and laughed while talking to Raffy.
Just like in high school. Raffy was wearing a black polo with loose buttons tucked in to his faded jeans, handsome like always while Stella was wearing a purple sleeveless blouse, beige slacks and her definitely designer pumps.
That moment felt like a high school sequel.Raffy and Stella looked like Barbie and Ken nuts about each other while Stella felt like the ugly duckling aware of the chance that Raffy would see her the way she wants to be seen by him. The odds are like winning the lottery.
Then Stella's illusion bubble finally popped when Raffy called her name and it was back to reality. She's no longer the same vulnerable, hopeless romantic teenager pretending being Raffy's best friend is good enough. She's a forty-three year old successful woman who would be too foolish to believe in happily ever afters and she had accepted long ago that she and Raffy could only be just friends.
"Stella!" Raffy called. Kathy turned towards Stella and Helga's direction. The shockness in her face was too hard to describe.
Eyes widened and jaw dropped, Kathy smiled. Genuinely which Stella wasn't used to.
"Stella Pimentel?! Oh my goodness!"
Helga looked at her and raised her eyebrow. Stella knew what she meant. They were both surprised. Maybe it has really been twenty years and Kathy has changed.
"Kathy," was the only word that came out of Stella's mouth.
Kathy hugged her and from that moment, Stella knew the Kathy Borromeo she once knew is no longer the same person. No longer the bitch. No longer her nemesies.
"You look stunning!" Kathy said before she continued, "I was just catching up a little bit here with Raffy. How have you been?"
Stella smiled, the past long forgiven and now going to be forgotten. "I'm doing great. Ikaw?"
"Amazing. Medyo busy sa mga kids pero I'm doing well."
So Kathy's already happily married it seems. The jealousy Stella felt was suddenly gone. What the hell?
"And I was telling Raffy here na the slow dance is about to begin and asked him if he has somebody with him. He said he does but he never said it was you!"
Stella felt herself flush like a teenager once again.
Mahiya ka naman. Hindi ka na teenager. Hindi ka na dapat nagre-react ng ganyan.
Then she realized Raffy was smiling at her. The smile that could make a million girls fall of their feet and cry.
Then Kathy turned to Helga and started another conversation, leaving Raffy and Stella holding each other's gaze.
That's when it struck her.
She hasn't completely moved on from Rafael.
...
