Versailles Series Book 7: The Ballerina [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 11

=== A L E X A N D R I A ===

The charity event was a success. I heard a lot of praises for my five students. Hindi raw akalain ng ibang bisita na marunong mag-ballet ang mga ito. If they only knew how much effort the guys put in the performance.

I recommended that we just celebrate after the event sa halip na lumabas pa kami ng hiwa-hiwalay. We reserved one of the exclusive rooms in Drunk and Sober bar. May KTV, inumin, at finger foods kami roon.

Nakaupo lang kaming anim sa sahig habang nagku-kwentuhan.

"So, do you think it worked?" Tanong ni Enteng.

I shrugged. "I caught him looking at me. Is that a good sign?"

"What was his expression?"

"His usual expression. You know? The stoic facade and all that."

"Okay. So you were exes?" Tanong ni Jarvis.

I nodded habang umiinom. "We were in a 5-year relationship. We met in college. I was taking up a degree in Communication and he was taking up Business Administration. We had a common subject."

"You were doing ballet then?"

I nodded. "Yeah. He always watched my practice. He never missed a performance back then."

"And you guys broke up how?"

"I sent an expression of interest in a ballet program in Paris a year before we broke up."

"Did you tell him about it?"

Umiling ako. "I didn't tell him that I sent an expression of interest. I felt like he wouldn't be in favor of it."

"Did you tell him eventually?"

Tumungga muna ako ng tequila bago sumagot. "I did when I was accepted and had to leave. I thought he'll be supportive. But he wasn't. He told me I didn't give him time and that he needs me to be there for him."

"Why didn't you choose to stay?"

"It's my dream, Enteng. Sometimes opportunities don't present theirselves twice. Natakot ako na kapag hindi ko siya tinanggap, mabubuhay lang ako araw-araw habang tinatanong ang sarili ko ng mga what ifs. I thought I will just wither away because I can't fulfill my dream. But unfortunately, we can't avoid the challenges and opportunities we had then. We were young and we felt like we had no choice."

"Why didn't he want to let you go?"

"There was a pressure on him to carry their company at a very young age. He needed my support because his family didn't believe in him. Ako lang...ako lang ang may tiwala sa kanya noon." Now that I am saying it, its like realizing it for the first time. And even with that in mind, I still left him.

Tinignan ko ang mga lalaki na kasama ko. Its like they themselves fell into a deep thought.

"He found someone new after a year and he moved on."

"Because you can't tie him up in an unsure relationship."

I nodded. "He deserved someone who'll stay with him. That's where Georgina comes in. And he was able to push through. I was able to push through. Fast forward to now, I want to take him back."

"Man, now I get it why he's so cold." Sabi ni  Iñigo.

"I think it wasn't your fault entirely. It wasn't his too. You weren't selfish. He wasn't too. Both of you are just victims of circumstances. You shouldn't bear the guilt and pain alone."

Napatingin ako kay Thunder.

"Hindi lang ikaw ang nahirapan noong nag-break kayo." Pagpapatuloy nito.

"But you also have to understand that he may not want you again because he doesn't want to go through that again. Maybe after all these years, both of you were busy with work and never really had time to deal with the loss of your relationship back then. Kaya masungit siya sa iyo at kaya mo rin siya hinahabol ngayon." Sabi ni Calhoun.

"Could there be a possibility that I'm just in love with the relationship we had then?" Tanong ko.

"That could be a 'yes' if you haven't seen him yet again. But now that you've seen him again, do you think you are still in love with the same person from years ago?" Tanong ni Jarvis sa akin.

Napaisip ako. Mabilis pa rin ang tibok ng puso ko kapag nakikita ito. I am still very aware if he is around. His words sting me even if I know he's saying that to spite me.

"I am. I am still in love with him."

"Ang sa akin lang, nasimulan mo na eh. At least if you lose him again, you know you did your best this time. Kung mahal ka rin niya, then it's your gain." Sabi ni Iñigo.

"I say go and find someone new. Stop living in the past, girl." Sabi naman ni Enteng.

"I agree with Iñigo." Sabi ni Calhoun habang umiinom ng alak.

"I'm with Enteng." Tila parang bumoboto na sabi ni Thunder.

Sabay-sabay kaming tumingin kay Jarvis na nabulunan pa. "Sorry bro but I go with Iñigo. I'm listening kahit mukhang wala akong pakialam. She went through great lengths to be here. She has been regretting for the past years. Why regret for more years? But then, don't make it last so long that it will pull you back. Do yourself a favor and ask the question you've been wanting to get answered and get done with it. It's not easy but don't also make it hard for yourself. Habang pinapatagal mo, mas nahuhulog ka. At mas masakit iyan kapag mas malalim ang hulog mo."

"Didn't know you had it in you, man." Sabi ni Enteng dito.

"Hey, I'm not as dumb as Dallas claims me to be okay?" Tinignan ako ni Jarvis. "Ayaw mo ba talaga iyung unang shade ng yellow ng mga furniture sa bahay mo?"

"Uhmm...the first one looked okay."

Napapalo sa tuhod si Jarvis. "That woman! I'll strangle her."

"Good luck with that." Natatawang sabi ng mga kasama nito.

Habang abala pa sa pag-inom ang mga kasama ko, nalunod ako malalim na pag-iisip. They are right. Dapat isipin ko rin ang sarili ko. Na kung may higit na masasaktan sa ginagawa ko ay ang sarili ko iyon. Na kung may lumuluhod dito, ako iyon. Ayokong matapos ito na wala ng matitira sa akin. Ayoko ng mangyari ulit sa akin iyon.

For the longest time, I have been successful not to go down memory lane of my dark phase after the breakup and I intend to keep it that way.

CHAPTER 12 >>