Mafia King's Innocent Bride [PUBLISHED UNDER IMMAC PPH]

MONICA

Sophie's POV

"You know what, Sophie? Dati pa man, hard-headed na talaga si Vincent. He only listens to me and I was the one who always tells him what to do. He was so dependent on me back then but look at him now, he's all grown-up. I can't even recognize him anymore."

Panay na ang kwento ni Monica nang makarating kami sa mansiyon ni Vincent. Nag-volunteer siya na tulungan along gumawa ng bruschetta, pero sa huli siya pa rin ang gumawa ng lahat at naging apprentice niya lamang ako. 

"Walang ibang babaeng minahal si Vincent kundi ako lang. Before I left, nag-confess pa siya sa akin at sinabi niya kung gaano niya ako kamahal. But Lance was the one I love. That is why I dumped Vincent and told him the truth."

Bakit niya ba sinasabi sa akin ang mga bagay na ito?

"What do you think are the reasons why V loved me back then?" bigla na lamang niyang taong sa akin. 

"H...Huh?"

Napataas siya ng kilay sa akin. "What do you think?"

"Uh... D...Dahil maganda ka?"

"Uh-huh, and what else? Do you think Vincecnt would fall in love with me just  because I'm beautiful?"

"D..Dahil lagi kang nasa tabi niya at kilalang-kilala mo siya. Alam mo ang lahat ng tungkol sa kanya..."

Tumangu-tango naman siya habang nakangiti. "That's all correct, and aside from that, I'm also good at cooking. V even said before na my bruschetta was the best bruschetta he ever tasted in his whole life."

"M..Monica."

"Hmm?"

"M..Mahal mo pa ba si Lance?"

Bakas ang gulat sa mukha niya nang itanong ko sa kanya iyon, pero isang ngiti ang gumuhit mula sa mga labi niya. "Of course. I still have Lance. But V is still my best friend. No one can ever change that."

"A...Alam ko 'yon, oo naman.  Sobrang saya niya nang makita ka niya. Na-miss ka talaga niya."

"He even said that was the best birthday for him since I was there." tawa niya. "He won't even let me go. He insisted to drive me home during his birthday, but then Lance came in and told him to just go after you."

So noong gabing 'yon, pumunta lang si Vincent sa kwarto ko dahil sinabi ni Lance?

Balak niya pang ihatid pauwi si Monica kahit na obvious naman na nagseselos ako?

"Sophie, can you be honest with me?"

"Huh?"

"I know you feel somehow intimidated by me because I was V's first love and as the saying goes, first love never dies. I know it won't be easy for you since for sure he keeps on comparing you to me. But that's alright, just do your best and make him fall in love with you if you can."

Nakakunot ang noo akong tumingin sa kanya. "Monica, bakit mo sinasabi ang mga bagay na ito sa akin?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, asawa ako ni Vincent. At oo, inaamin kong naiingit ako sa'yo dahil hindi ka kaagad nakalimutan ni Vincent. Pero don't worry, tingin ko naman nakamove on na siya mula sa'yo."

"W...What?"

"Pinakasalan niya ako, ibig sabihin mahal niya ako, hindi ba?" 

Bigla na lamang siya sarkastikong tumawa."Oh, come on, Sophie. Don't use your marriage to tell me that he already moved on. What if he just married you so he would forget about me? Maybe he just wanted to have someone by his side so that he wouldn't be able to think about me."

Magsasalita na sana akong muli, pero bigla na lamang namin narinig ang mga boses mula sa may living room. 

'Welcome back, Sir Vincent.'

"Where's Sophie?"

Napangiti ako nang marinig kong banggitin niya ang pangalan ko. Kaagad kong inayos ang sarili ko bago tumakbo papunta sa may living room para makita siya. 

"Vincent!"

Kaagad siyang lumingon sa akin nang may ngiti sa mga labi. "Why are you wearing an apron?"

"Gusto ko kasi sanang gumawa ng bruschetta para sa'yo, pero--

"V!"

Tumingin naman siya kay Monica. "Hey, Monica. What are you doing here?"

Niyakap pa nila ang isa't isa at nakita ko pa ang masamang tingin sa akin ni Monica.