I Am a Woman

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

"It's nice to meet you again, Miss Verra. I am Celestiea Elora, but you can call me Cee." I confidently said, flashing her my sweetest smile that I knew she wouldn't forget.

Celestiea Elora, that's my real name.

I saw how stunned she was at her place. Marahang nakabuka ang kanyang mga labi at nakatingin nang diretso sa akin ang kanyang mga mata.

Did she recognize me? Of course, she did. I just said earlier that I am Cee. Isa pa, kahit na nagbago ang damit na kasuotan ko, alam ko na makikilala pa rin niya ako. I haven't forgotten her telling me before that she would never get tired of memorizing and admiring this face.

We just stared at each other for a couple of seconds. There is something in her eyes other than surprise which I can't describe. Sa mga oras na iyon ay ramdam ko ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko na siya lang ang dahilan.

Pero naputol ang titigan namin na iyon nang may biglang lumapit dito na isang lalaki at bigla siyang niyakap. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti ko dahil sa nasaksihan.

I didn't bother to listen to what that man was telling her. I just keep focused on staring deep into her brown eyes, which are also staring back at me. Tila hindi rin niya pinapansin ang lalaking kayakap niya ngayon.

Ilang sandali lang ay hinila siya ng lalaki palayo, habang siya naman ay tulala na nagpatianod dito. Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi sundan sila ng tingin.

"I'm sorry for the rudeness. I can't believe that my sister is putting up with that boy's rude behavior. I don't even know what's going on with him and Verra." I heard Victor Normans say. Umiiling pa ito at tulad ko ay nakasunod din ang tingin sa dalawang kakaalis lang. Disappointment is evident on his serious face.

Ngumiti ako nang pilit dito at ibinaba ang tingin.

That guy and Verra—are they together?

Sa ideyang iyon ay parang sumikip ang dibdib ko. Does that mean that she has already moved on?

I smiled bitterly. It has been two years. Posible nga siguro na nakamove-on na ito sa nangyari.

I just let Ate Solana roam around and talk to other people. Samantalang ako ay nagpaalam na na babalik sa table namin at idinahilang masakit ang paa ko kahit hindi naman. My mood suddenly dropped because of what happened.

Sayang ang ngiti ko. I even practiced that in front of the mirror.

"You should fix the way you sit. Baka masilipan ka." I heard a familiar voice said. Kaya ako naman ay napaayos ng upo.

Doon ko lang narealize na nakaupo pala ako in an unladylike manner. Marahil ay nasanay ako na umupo ng ganito noon. I guess it's one of those habits that's hard to break.

I look up to see where that voice is coming from. Tulad ng dati ay napako ang tingin ko sa mga labi nito.

I remember her.

"Monica..." That came out of my mouth unintentionally.

Nakita ko na nagpakawala ito ng munting ngiti bago umupo sa bakanteng upuan na nasa tabi ko.

"Still wondering about the shade of my lipstick and want to buy your girlfriend one?" She said in a joking manner. Ako naman ay napa-awang ang mga labi.

How did she recognize me?

"You remember..."

"Of course. You caught my interest back then." Walang pag-aalinlangan na saad nito.