In the high-stakes world of politics, love and betrayal often walk hand in hand. Six years ago, Alicia Go, a psychology student, fell in love with a mysterious woman she met while living away from home for college. That woman was Theresia Aguerro, t...
The reception was in full swing, the hum of cheerful voices and clinking glasses filling the air. Alicia stood next to Marco, her new husband, as guests congratulated them. His hand rested lightly on her back, but the touch felt distant, almost foreign. She wore a smile for the crowd, but her heart was elsewhere.
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As the band began playing their first dance, Marco took her hand, leading her to the center of the floor. The room blurred, voices dimming. All Alicia could feel was the pounding of her heart, heavy with regret.
The music started, a soft, romantic tune. Marco spun her gently, but in her mind, it wasn't him. It was Risa. The soft gaze of love and warmth she had always imagined in Risa's eyes replaced Marco's indifferent expression. As they swayed, she could almost feel Risa's hands guiding her, pulling her close, safe in her arms.
For a few fleeting moments, Alicia let herself get lost in that fantasy- the dream of Risa being the one at her side tonight, the person she truly wanted to share her life with. It felt so real, so vivid, that it was almost painful when the music ended, and Marco's voice pulled her back to reality.
"Are you okay?" Marco asked, his smile still in place for their guests.
Alicia blinked, the illusion fading. "I'm fine," she replied softly, though inside, she felt hollow.
The applause grew louder, but to Alicia, it all felt distant, like she was watching someone else's life caught glimpses of the life she could have had, the happiness she might have shared with Risa-if only things had been different.
------------ The night after the wedding, they celebrated their honeymoon in Cebu. They booked a flight right away and flew at 10 PM. They arrived at Nustar Hotel, where they were staying for three days.
"Hon?" Marco called her as she was in the bathroom taking a half bath when Marco entered the bathroom.
"Marco, wag!" she shouted when Marco entered the shower together with her. She was fully naked, and Marco was naked too.
"Why?" he chuckled. "You're my wife now, Alicia," he said while laughing and gazing at Alicia's naked body.
"Marco, please wag ngayon, pagod ako," she begged. Marco kissed her instead, but Alicia pulled away after the kiss. "I'm so sorry, Hon. I wasn't ready yet." She hurriedly finished taking a shower and left the bathroom, leaving Marco there.
She put on clothes and blew her hair dry since it got a little wet. After putting on some skincare, she lay down on the bed, expecting something to happen between her and Marco since it was their honeymoon, but as much as she could, she wouldn't let that happen.
"Hello, Baby," Alicia said when Maris called her. The kids were already lying down.
"Mommy, are you in Cebu na po?" Gavin asked.
"Yes, Anak, wait," she opened the window and turned on the camera in front. "Look, it's so nice here, Anak. Loo, the CCLEX, it was so nice, diba?"
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