To Fall Inlove

Chance Meeting

Present...

Walking inside the ladies' room, I washed my hands while looking at my reflection in the mirror, taking in my outfit. I was wearing a sleeveless black party dress that only came to my knees and a three-inch stiletto. Bumuntung hininga ako.

I didn't fit in. I needed to get out of here.

Paglabas ko ng banyo, tiningnan ko ang kinaroroonan ni Mrs. Zandejas at ng makita siyang mag-isa, nilapitan ko siya para batiin ng sagayon ay makaalis na rin ako sa lugar na to. Ilang hakbang pa lang ang layo ko sa kanya nang may bumangga sa akin. Wala akong ibang nakita maliban ang malapad na balikat nito. Part of instinct, I snatched the coat of the man in front of me while he caught my waist to prevent me from falling on the ground.

Napaangat ako ng tingin at natigilan ng makita ko kung sino ang nakabangga sa akin.

Caden Salvatierra.

Time stood still. I remained speechless.

Sa dinami dami ng lugar bakit dito pa?

Caden was my first love. I met him at the review center way back when I was preparing for the board exam. Naging magkaibigan kami. The first time I saw him, I knew deep within me I was going to like him. Mabait siya, gwapo at gentleman. Hindi nagtagal narealize ko na nahuhulog na pala ako sa kanya. Kahit may girlfriend siya ng mga panahon na yun, hindi iyon naging hadlang na mahalin siya at nagpatuloy iyon sa loob ng apat na taon.

Then one day, I just woke up and realized I have to move on. Marahil ay napagod ako sa paghihintay sa isang bagay na alam kong imposibleng mangyari. Just like that, I gave up. I hated being in a one-sided love affair. Nagpalit ako ng bagong number ng telepono, hindi tumugon sa kanyang mga emails, at tuluyan ng pinutol ang lahat ng aming komunikasyon. The last time I saw him was two years ago. I thought I had moved on, but seeing the wide smile on his face made me feel confused.

"Sav? Long-time no see! It's been two years since I last saw you." Kitang-kita ko ang galak sa mukha niya. And knowing him, I believed he was. As I stared at him, I noticed he hadn't changed at all.

Wala akong ideya kung ano ang sasabihin o gagawin, kaya nakatayo lang ako sa harap niya na parang tanga. Bakit naman kasi sa lahat ng makakabangga siya pa?

"Are you okay? Nasaktan ka ba?" Lagi siyang ganyan. Lagi siyang nagaalala kapag nakikita niya akong pagod o may dinaramdam. Sino ba naman ang hindi mafa-fall pag ganun ang trato sayo ng lalaki, aber?

"C-Cade ..." Feeling moved, I reached out to touch his face, but stopped when I heard a soft voice.

"Babe, who is she?" I shifted my head and saw a hand draped around Caden's arm. I darted my gaze towards the voice and caught sight of a pretty woman watching me.

Dahil sa pagkabigla, naitulak ko si Caden. Humakbang ako palayo at ipinako ang aking mga tingin sa sahig. Hindi ko siya kayang tingnan. I was confused. Akala ko nakamove on na ko pero bakit ang sakit pa rin lalo na makita siyang may iba.

"Y-Yeah," utal kong saad. "I'm okay."

"You sure you're okay?" pilit na tanong ni Caden.

Tumunghay ako sa kanya at tumango.

"Hi, I'm Renee, Caden's girlfriend." The pretty woman introduced herself, waving at me.

"H-Hi, I'm S-Savanna." I wanted to pinch myself from stammering.

Remember, naka move on ka na diba? Then why are you standing and talking like a stupid fool, Savanna?

"Mauna na ako. I have some important things to do," sambit ko kay Caden bago bumaling sa girlfriend niya. "By the way, nice meeting you."