That Kind of Love: One-Sided

#2: Invitation

“That day I met two of the most important people in my life besides my family...

I met my BEST FRIEND, whom I shared my joys and sorrows with, the one who stayed when everyone else left and the only one I can never go against with.. The only ONE who holds HIS HEART...

I met HIM, the only man who managed to make my heart skip a beat, the man who stole my heart; the TEACHER who taught me the true meaning of LOVE... The only one I needed and the only one that I can NEVER HAVE..”

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Present (2013)

“The time my teacher came,

it never felt the same...

Although he didn't catch me when I fall,

I can never really blame him at all..

I was thankful for the lesson he taught me,

It's about time I set him free..

And as I go on I'll carry with me,

Everything that we had as a part

of my precious memory...”

“Krystal!” Victoria greeted me as I entered the auditorium. She looks gorgeous as always.

“Hey there Vic!” I greeted her back with a bright smile. “Looking gorgeous my dear.” I added.

“And you look like a goddess my dear friend.” she complimented me as we settled on our respective seats. I was about to speak when our boss came in and started to talk.

We are having our annual gathering for the News & Public Affairs Department. It's the time of the year where all of the staffs, news anchors and big bosses gather to celebrate and enjoy each others' company, it's like our recreational activity day. In the morning there will be a talk that is held in the auditorium, in the afternoon there will be games and other fun stuffs and in the evening a ball will be held in the social hall inside the network compound.

It has been 5 years since Victoria and I became the best of friends. We both got accepted as Junior News Associates and worked our way to achieve our current positions. Victoria is now the news anchor of SBS' nightly news program, “State of the Nation” alongside Philip Choi; he got accepted in the company 6 years ago and started as a Junior News Associate just like Victoria and I so technically he's our senior but he's around our age so we got along just fine. I actually think that he likes Victoria and is just afraid to admit it. =P

On the other hand, I landed myself the position of one of the news anchors of SBS' morning news program, “Daybreak”. I work with Samantha Lee and Christopher Sy. They are 5 years ahead of us in the news casting industry and I respect them a lot. They are teaching me the things that I needed to know and they treat me as their little sister or more like 'their' daughter. I feel like they're my family at work and sometimes I call them 'Mom' & 'Dad just because they act like one besides the fact that they are “together”.

Yes, they're dating for quite sometime now and I guess we'll be hearing wedding bells soon. I'm a big fan of their “love story”, it's a love story that I bet every girl would love to have. But I'm not gonna dwell further on that.

The day went on smoothly and now it's time for the much awaited ball. After the afternoon activities we were given ample time to freshen' up and prepare ourselves for the ball. Victoria and I decided to stay at the hotel near the network compound instead of rushing to our respective condo units since it would be a waste of time considering the traffic.

We had our friend stylist come over and do her magic. By the time she finished, we had 45 minutes left until the ball officially starts so Victoria and I decided to stay a little longer at our hotel room while waiting for her 'date' for that evening.

We were allowed to bring our own 'dates' for the ball even if they are not part of the department or the network itself. Victoria didn't really look for a date since she told me that Philip asked her to be his date and so she agreed.

When I asked her why she did not refuse him she just smiled sheepishly at me. I'm having a strong feeling that those two are starting to 'like' each other but I'll wait till Victoria has already sort out her feelings and is ready to spill the beans.

You may be wondering if I have a date right? Well, I planned to ask Patrick out but I chickened out on the last minute so technically I don't have a date. I told Victoria that I had one and that I'll just see him at the social hall but that was a total lie. Since I know she'll be busy hanging around with Philip tonight I figured I'll just sneak my way out until it's almost over and come back and tell her that my date left already if she ever bother asking me.

Yeah, it's a very lame plan I know... And such a waste of my time & beauty but it's better than nothing. I don't want to have Victoria call Patrick asking him to be my date. She knows that he's my crush but that “crush” thing was so 5 years ago. It wasn't even that easy to tell her that I have a crush on her best friend, good thing she never mentioned anything to him but she never fails to tease me about it.

Patrick's not my crush anymore... I-I.. I like.. well... I don't just “like” him... I think I “love” him already.

I never told Vic on how that simple crush had already evolved into something deeper. It was something that I'd rather keep to myself not because I don't trust her but because I know that some things are better left unsaid. I don't know when, why, where or how the hell it happened..

Ok, maybe I do know and I'm just too stubborn to admit the truth probably just like Philip towards Vic but my situation's entirely different. I know I don't stand a chance, I know he'll never love me back no matter what I do, I know because he told me.. He told me once before and he kept on reminding me that.. that he loves someone else...