Her and Her Unofficial Love Affairs

CHAPTER 36

"Now that's settled. Thank you, Yvonne. I'll just call you back once I talked with Mrs. Gonzaga's daughter," my best friend put down her smartphone after a long distance call and she turned to face me.

"Hey, have you heard that?" my best friend asked me.

"Heard what?" I questioned her back.

"What Yvonne told me," she said.

"About her contribution for Mrs. Gonzaga's wake? Well, yes," I said.

"Here we go again, Anj. You're playing not interested again," she implied.

"Shh... Girls, your voices...." James silenced us.

We were at the wake of Mrs. Gonzaga and we were seated with James who picked us up at our shop on our closing time. It had been weird seeing James after seven years. It's even weirder seeing him without Tom tagging along. I've heard these two musketeers are now beginning a career in the big city. James just got back to our little town for vacation, just in time for our high school teacher's passing away. My best friend still has quiet that fascination of him and they still communicate with each other all through these years.

"Anj, I know you were listening," my best friend whispered.

"Whatever," I said rolling my eyes.

"Angie! You've heard it! Lance and Criselda got separated!" she announced.

"Oh, that must be sad," I complied to reply.

"What could be wrong with him? Criselda was already the most perfect catch!" she exclaimed.

"I also wonder," I agreed with her and remembered the beauty queenish Criselda with her sad eyes the last time I talked with her seven years ago. What was Lance doing? He ditched the-also-perfect Yvonne ten years ago and now, his wife! With Yvonne it was considerable because they were not married yet. But his wife? That is already beyond considerable! Whatever that is bound on earth shall be bound in heaven! Why is it so easy for married couples to break their marriages when me and my best friend were dying to be married? Some world it is, huh?!

"Didn't your moms tell you that it's rude to talk about people?" James reprimanded us.

"Yes, I agree," another voice came from our back. It was a male and he must've overheard our conversation. I jolted on my seat and my heart started to thump because maybe it was Lance! But as I turned my head slowly, it was our high school campus figure, the singer heartthrob, Mark Carlo Gualberto! Boy, he had my heart leaped with his more manly built and suave demeanor!

"Oh, hi Mark! It's been a long long time," my best friend greeted him first.

"Hello, you two! Long time indeed," Mark gave each of us a peck on the cheek.

"Hi, I'm James!" James interjected offering a handshake to Mark.

"James, what?" Mark took his hand for a brief handshake.

"James Watt! You know, power?" James sarcastically said.

"Cut it off, James," my best friend interjected.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, the great James Watt!" Mark Carlo said winking at James. "It's also great to meet you, Anj," he added turning to me.

I only gave him a wry smile. From a distance, I saw a familiar-looking woman watching us. She nodded a smile at Mark and he nodded in return. She whispered to the man beside her and that was only when I realized that she was my best friend's ex-boyfriend's wife, the bride whom I believed we had somewhat wronged before. She got up from her seat and motioned to approach us.

"Hey, Mark. It's been years!" she greeted Mark with a kiss.

"Hi, sis!" James greeted her in turn.

"Hi! It's nice to see you all here," she greeted my best friend and me.

"Hey, hey, hey! Small world it is," my best friend's ex followed behind his wife.

"Hi!" my best friend greeted her ex and her ex's wife in return.

"Small world indeed!" Mark Carlo concluded.