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

BETTER THAN ME

Sophie's POV

"This is really delicious, did you make it by yourself, Sophie?" tanong sa akin ni Vincent nang matikman niya ang bruschetta na ginawa ni Monica. 

"Actually, I was the one who made it." biglang singit ni Monica. 

Tumingin naman sa kanya si Vincent. "Really? That's why it tasted so good! Your recipe never really changed."

"Oh, you king of compliment. If there's someone who never changed here, it's probably you. You're still good at complimenting me."

"Because it's true, right Sophie?" baling sa akin ni Vincent.

"H..Huh?"

"Have you tasted it? Try it. It tastes so good."

Pilit naman along ngumiti. "Oo, masarap nga."

"See? Even Sophie liked it."

Pinagmasdan ko lamang silang dalawa habang nagkakasiyahan at ako naman ay parang outcast lang. Sa tuwing nakikita ko si Vincent na sobrang saya kasama si Monica, hindi ko maiwasang isipin na siguro ay mahal niya pa rin ito. Hindi naman siya madalas na ngumiti sa akin, I mean, ngumingiti siya sa akin para tuksuhin ako, pero kapag kasama niya si Monica, iba ang ngiti niya. Mas totoo, totoong kasiyahan. 

"Aakyat lang ako sa kwarto ko." sabi ko saka tumayo. 

Aalis na sana ako, pero bigla na lamang akong pinigilan ni Vincent. "Don't leave, Sophie. Stay here with us."

"Pero--

"Please."

Tumingin ako saglit kay Monica saka bumuntong-hininga bago muling umupo. 

Wala akong ibang choice.

"Do you still remember those times when I used to make bruschetta for you? You always go to our house just so you could some of the ones that I make. During your thirteenth birthday, I even made a huge bruschetta for you and you were so happy. You were so happy that you didn't even give some to your brother." nagtatawanan lamang silang dalawa.

"Because that was my birthday and your gift to me, there's no way I would give him some when he already has you."

Relax, Sophie.

Magkunwari ka nalang na hindi ka nagseselos.

Uminom na lamang ako ng juice habang inililibot ang tingin sa living room para aliwin ang sarili ko. 

"Sophie is also good at cooking, maybe you can also teach her some of your recipes. I swear, she's worth teaching because she learns easily." nakatingin lamang sa akin si Vincent at nas-sense ko na kaagad na may double meaning ang huli niyang sinabi na iyon.

Kaagad na namula ang buong mukha ko. 

"Sure, I'll go here more often so that I could teach her my recipes."

"That's right." tugon na lamang ni Vincent. 

***

"Monica really cooks well, am I right?" tanong sa akin ni Vincent nang makaalis na si Monica.

Tumango naman ako nang hindi tumitingin sa kanya. "O..Oo. Siguradong isa iyon sa mga dahilan kung bakit minahal mo siya."

"Right, that's the reason why I loved her, and aside from that, she's a sophisticated one."

"I see."

"And you're jealous about that, am I right?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon. "A..Ano?"

"It's so obvious, you even planned on running away again when you saw us having so much fun."

"H..Hindi, ano..."

"You can always deny it Sophie, but your eyes never lie."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin mula sa kanya. "Hindi ako nagseselos, okay? Hindi ako nagseselos sa kanya. Wala namang dahilan para magselos ako sa mga tao na galing sa past mo."

"That's good then. I don't want you to get jealous of her. I know Monica since we were just kids and she is so important to me. You need to remember that, Sophie." sabi niya sa akin saka nagsimulang maglakad paakyat. 

Sinundan ko lamang siya ng tingin. 

Parang sinabi niya sa akin na alamin ko ang lugar ko sa buhay niya. 

Mahalaga si Monica sa kanya, e ako ba?

Wala ba akong karapatan na magselos bilang asawa niya?

Oh well, after all isa lang naman akong babaeng pinilit niyang magpakasal sa kanya. 

His first love will always be the best for him.

Monica will always be the one for him.