Princess Series Two: The Bitter Bitch

Epilogue

JASMINE

"Akala ko ba dito tayo sa apartment ni Belle?"

Ari groaned and continued to pull me. "Hindi nga, e. Kasi I talked to Erella a while ago and she told me about her engagement. Naisip ko, why don't we celebrate the way we used to? Sa Metro Bar!"

"Yeah, but there's a flaw to your plan," sabi ko at tumigil.

She paused and turned to me. "Ano naman 'yun?"

"Someone rented out the bar for the night. Kaya hindi sila nagse-serve," sagot ko at nag-kibit-balikat.

"'Yun lang? Sus. Jas, you're the owner. Besides, sa VIP section naman tayo. Hindi naman sa actual dance floor and all, e. It's fine," she convinced me before tugging on my arm once more.

Gusto kong sabihin na dahan-dahan lang dahil baka matapilok ako pero ayoko namang magtanong siya. I wanted Derick to know before anyone else na buntis ako. I have been for three months, according to the gynecologists. Which means, bago ako umalis for Palawan ay may dinadala na ako. Thank God I didn't do anything stupid, and I haven't been drinking too much. My baby is safe and healthy.

"I'm driving," sabi ni Ari at walang sabing pumasok sa driver's side ng sasakyan niya. I eyed my car, parked beside hers, before going inside. "Buckle up, Jas. Excited na ako! I'm so happy for Erella."

I smiled. "Me, too." Buti nalang at 'yung isa sa amin ay ready nang mag-settle down. I subtly glanced at my belly. Noong sinabi sa'kin ng doctor na three months na ako, hindi pa ako naniwala. I didn't have much morning sickness, but I've been craving buffalo wings for a while now. Hindi naman ako naghinala. And the tummy... Well, medyo matagal nang hindi ako nag-gym so I thought it was just excess fats. Hindi ko kailanman naisip na nagdadalang-tao na pala. Miracles really happen in the most unexpected times.

"Honestly, akala ko si Belle unang ikakasal sa atin," sabi ni Ari habang nagmamaneho. She glanced at me quickly. "Aminin mo, you thought of that din."

Tumango ako. "Pero masaya padin ako para kay Erella. She deserves it."

Ari smiled. "We all do, Jasmine."

=•=

Metro Bar was, for the first time in years, quiet.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Akala ko may party sa loob?"

"Baka naka-mild music sila," sabi ni Ari at hinila na ako papasok. I looked at my friend and noticed how excited she was. Something's really suspicious here..

"Sila Belle at Erella?"

"Inside," sagot niya at tumigil kami sa harap ng pinto. The two bodyguards opened the doors for us and everything was just pitch black and quiet.

"What the hell?" Ano naman ang ginawa nila sa bar ko? Goodness, they better not have destroyed anything!

"Calm down," sabi ni Ari at hinila ako. I was surprised na wala kaming nabanggang mesa or upuan, pero mukhang alam na ni Ari ang pinupuntahan niya. It made me question her motives even more. What the hell was happening?

"Ariel, I swear, you better tell me—"

"SURPRISE!"

I shrieked and cupped my heart as the light went on at nakita ko ang mga pamilyar na mukha ng mga taong close sa akin. Erella and Belle were cheering on one side with Richard beside his fiancé. Sandra was there, and I was surprised to see stoic Mr. Raymond Andres. Mas na-shock ako na makita ang mga kapatid ni Derick at pati nadin ang Mama nila. They waved and I awkwardly waved back. I looked in front of me and saw Bruce, Erella's cousin, standing there with tita Cassie.