"Miss Riley, these papers need your sign."
I took a deep sigh when my secretary put the papers on my table. Hindi pa ako tapos sa mga pinipirmahan ko pagkatapos mayroon na naman!
"Thank you, Mary." I smiled at her before she left my office.
I succeeded to build my own company with my own blood, sweat, and tears. I did everything I could to reach where I am now.
After reaching my dreams, I spent my time and life with work. I don't know how far will I go. I also don't know if I will stay like this for the rest of my life.
Work and friends. That's all I got right now. Love? I don't think if I can still have that after those years of having it. Having only pain.
I'm starting to believe that love isn't for me. Siguro, hindi nga talaga ako swerte sa ganoon. I was just torturing myself while finding the right love that I thought I deserved.
I snap out of everything I am thinking when someone knock on my door. My secretary came in.
"Miss Riley, the clients are here."
Right. May meeting pa ako sa isang client today. I already reviewed the request. It is a wedding gown. Hindi ko pa alam kung sino ang client. Ngayon ko palang malalaman kung sino sila.
"Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes." I answered my secretary while fixing the papers on my table.
Pagkatapos kong itabi ang lahat ng papers sa table ko, inayos ko naman ang sarili ko para maging presentable naman ako kapag humarap sa kanila.
Lumabas na ako pagkatapos kong ayusin ang sarili ko. I went straight to the conference room to meet them.
Napakunot ang noo ko nang makitang si Mary lang ang naroon. Inaayos niya ang mga papers sa table. That was the information of client's request.
"Where are they?" Medyo kinabahan ako dahil baka nainip sila.
My secretary noticed that I started panicking, so she laugh a bit.
"Lumabas lang po sila. Pumunta po sa restroom 'yong babae, may kausap naman po sa phone 'yong lalaki. Don't worry po, ma'am." She smiled.
Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag noong sabihin niya iyon. Naglakad na lang ako papunta sa upuan na naroon sa gitna at umupo roon. Nag-check na lang ako ng emails habang hinihintay silang dumating.
I was already waiting for ten minutes, when someone knock on the door. I told that person to come in. It was my secretary. Lumabas siya kanina para ipasa ang papers sa department.
"Ma'am, nandito na po ang clients." She informed.
"Okay, let them come in." Sabi ko at inayos ang papers na nasa harapan ko.
I stood up and wear my smile while waiting for them to appear from the door.
But then... my smile slowly fade as I clearly saw the person who entered. He is with a girl, clinging on his arm.
I got stunned when I saw them. My mouth weren't moving to speak and welcome them.
I was like... got defeated.
"They are the clients, Miss Riley." Sabi ng secretary ko bago tuluyang lumitaw mula sa likod niya ang mga kilyente.
"Couz!" Tumakbo kaagad sa akin si Clarisse para yakapin ako.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya at ginatihan din ng yakap. Napatingin ako sa lalaking kasama niya at naabutang nakatingin din pala siya sa akin.
We went on our chairs to start the meeting. I tried so hard to focus on what we are talking. I barely do that because of this man!
He was staring at me. Tutok na tutok siya sa akin habang nagsasalita ako. I was getting uncomfortable by his stares.
"Your name came out when I was thinking about my wedding gown!" She was so happy.
I genuinely smiled when she said those. "Thank you, couz!"
"I know that you can make a great wedding gown for me." She giggled.
I am happy that she could recognized my work. Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang makaramdam ng kirot sa puso. I was thinking about her, getting married with the man she is with today.
Napatingin tuloy ako kay Trent na siyang kasama niya. Napalunok ako nang makitang nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin na para bang pinapanood nito ang bawat galaw ko.
Naiilang ako sa paraan ng pagtitig niya sa akin. Nahihirapan akong kumilos. Did he still remember everything about us? Or did he already forgot those? Ang tagal na rin. Halos sampung taon na ang nakalipas.
Ako kasi, I can still clearly remember everything between us. Sobrang linaw pa n'on sa akin. Kahit ang araw na biglang nagulo kami ay malinaw pa sa akin. Ang araw na biglang lumabo ang lahat ay malinaw pa sa akin. Kailan nga ba lumabo ang lahat?
It was when Clarisse entered between us.
Up until now, gusto kong kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na walang kinalaman si Clarisse, na inosente siya.
Pero tingin ko... ikakasal siya sa kanya.
Parang biglang nag-init ang mata ko kaya umiwas ako para subukang pigilan iyon. Nag-focus ako sa details ng gown na gagawin ko.
Pero hindi ako nagtagumpay. Pumapasok pa rin sa isip ko ang nangyayari ngayon. Tinatraydor ako ng puso ko. Pati nang utak ko, dahil kahit pa utusan ko itong huwah isipin iyon ay iniisip pa rin. Kahit utusan ko ang puso ko na huwag makaramdam ng kirot, nararamdaman niya pa rin.
Clarisse was the woman he was kissing that day. I was there when he was trying to avoid this woman. I helped him avoid this woman and every woman around him. He was avoiding them, kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit may halikan na naganap noon, at ngayon... ikakasal na siya.
He is getting married with the woman he told me he's avoiding.
I can't believe that he is really getting married. I can't believe that I am still attached with him after all those years.
Pakiramdam ko ay dismayado ako. Pakiramdam ko ay nagiging makasarili ako. Gusto kong sa akin lang siya. Gusto kong katulad noon, parang ako lang ang babae sa paningin niya.
Pero hindi na... Hindi na iyon mangyayari. Wala nang mangyayaring ganoon. Hindi na siya magiging akin. Kahit na kailan.
Especially... now.
BINABASA MO ANG
Sea of Lights (Rich Daughters Series #4)
RomanceRich Daughters Series #4 Alegre is a family of Architecture. But, Riley chose to take a different path and pursue her dream of becoming a Fashion Designer. She is pure and kind that everyone likes to be her friend, including Trent, a Film Student.
