At The Beginning

#2

For around three months now, Damian and Emma were officially going out together. Emma would spare her time at least twice a week to watch him sing in La Bertissimo and Damian would gladly pick Emma up at her university and take her to watch a movie, or even to grab a hotdog in a busy street corner. They were envied by people around them of what they became: a sweet, romantic couple that seemed to never have any problems. It was exactly like that, until she came along.

"Damian, baby, I'm so sorry. The lecturer was interested in my piece of work and started talking about zillions of things that I could barely find a pause in his explanation," Emma rushed in, still trying to catch her breath. She just ran from the third floor down to the parking lot of her university where Damian always waited.

"Emma, Emma. Hey, it's okay, dear. There is no need to rush," Damian calmed her down.

Emma still pouted. "But you know I hate being late, especially when I know you are waiting for me," she said. She opened her mouth to speak again but suddenly felt Damian's big, strong hand running through her hair as he kissed her lips passionately.

Damian broke his kiss, held her face in his hands and said, "I've always loved the way you pout. You looked very cute, like my little niece when she didn't get her lollipops."

Emma hit him playfully on his strong arm. "Damian! You always know how to get me soften up, don't you?" she said as she twirled her finger in his hair and gave him a soft peck on his cheek.

"That's all I get for calming you down?" Damian demanded, putting up a fake, cute pout.

"Yes. For now. Now come on!" Emma pulled his arm towards his car.

"I'm not going anywhere until you give me one more," he replied with his boyish voice.

"What part of no public display of passionate affection don't you understand?" Emma asked. When she saw Damian wasn't going to give up, she said, "Okay, okay! Fine!" Then, she moved in closer to give another quick peck on Damian's other cheek. As usual, Damian, who was always faster than her, moved in first, giving her a kiss on her lips. He broke it off and ran into the driver's seat of his convertible.

"Damian Enriquez Allesar!" Emma shouted and shoved her bag, books, folders and herself into his car. As she shut the door, they went off to a restaurant in the city.

One Corner. A nice, little restaurant Damian brought Emma to that afternoon. It was a very cozy place in a narrow street. Candles can be found in corners of the restaurant, creating a relaxing, romantic atmosphere.

"Even after all these times, I still can't understand how you can keep on taking me into places as beautiful as this," Emma gushed.

Damian smiled his charming smile. "Emma Devangeline Olivia. I will always find a way to surprise you, just because you love surprises," he said as he guided his girlfriend towards a spot in One Corner. As they sat down, a waitress with a short purple skirt and a black shirt came to give them the menu. When they were ready to order, Damian put his hands up and recited his and Emma's.

Just when Damian was putting his hand on Emma's, a woman approached them.

"Damian!" she half screamed, half hissed.

Emma, who was taken aback, let go of Damian's hold and looked up. She saw a beautiful slender woman, probably in her early twenties. Her platinum blonde hair was dangerously straight and hung just below her shoulders. She was wearing an indigo tank top and a white high-waist skirt that went down to her knees. As if she wasn't naturally tall, her feet were wrapped in a pair of bright yellow 9 cm stilettos.

"Excuse me, may I help you, Miss?" Emma asked nicely.

"I wasn't talking to you, little relationship wrecker!" she snapped while reaching for Damian's right shoulder and turned him around roughly.

"Hey, what is your..." Damian was about to snap back but quickly bit his own tongue as he realized who he was speaking to.

"Yeah, that's right. Shut your mouth! God, I left you for half a year to finish a movie and this is what I get? You never returned my IM, my messages, calls, e-mails. I tried to reach you, Damian, but nothing was replied. It was as if we never existed. And who the hell is she?" the blonde woman retorted, pointing at Emma.

"Whoa... Hang on! What are you talking about?" Emma was looking very confused, trying to digest everything that the blonde lady just said. She turned to currently dumbfounded Damian and asked trying her hardest to eliminate the tone of disbelief in her voice, "Do you know her?"

"I..." Damian was speechless.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Katharine Emerald, a movie animation director. I left this country around six months ago, to finish a foreign series in Budapest. The last time I checked, I was Damian's girlfriend and we planned on getting engaged as soon as I returned from my job. I got back early to give him a surprise but apparently I was the one who got surprised," she explained angrily.

Fighting back her tears, she turned again to Damian, "Is this true?"

"I... Well, she was supposed to be back... I was going to tell you, Emma. She was..." Damian was unable to finish any of his sentences.

"And how dare you take her to the very place we had our first date?" Katharine demanded.

Emma could hardly contain her sadness, anger or maybe even rage. Although she wasn't fully aware of the situation she was in, she knew she had to take her leave.

"Well, in that case, I am sorry for ever intruding both of you. I'll leave you guys to catch up," she said shakily, getting up from her chair and went for the exit.

"Emma, wait!" she heard Damian called out but she ignored it. She got herself a cab and headed for her house, looking out the window with thoughts rushing through her mind.

***

Meanwhile, still in One Corner...

"So, Mr. Allesar, you got some explanations to do," Katharine inquired.

"I don't have to do anything and I don't owe you anything. Why don't you just leave?" Damian replied icily while his mind is comparing ways to explain everything to Emma.

"Just like that? Damian, you promised me you would propose to me as soon as I got back!" Katharine demanded as her voice became higher.

"Well, I changed, okay?" he said sternly.

"How could you?" her strong, sure voice finally broke off.

"I wasn't the one leaving with no warnings. You left me, Kate. Besides, for starters, I wasn't even a tiny bit interested at you. You're pushing it and you know it," he replied again, this time more softly, as to not hurt Katharine's feelings.

Katharine took Damian's hand and said, "Can't we please start over, Damian? You owed me that much. Please... I beg you."

Damian pushed Katharine's hands gently away from his. "I can't, Kate. We're over," Damian said as he got up from his seat.

Katharine called out for Damian and when she knew he wouldn't turn around, she shouted, "If I can't have you, then no one, including that bitch you hung out with, can have you!" She left some money on the table to cover for the bill, not wanting any trouble with it, and left One Corner.