It's Always Been You | ✅

1: Memories

"DID YOU SEE the news?" Nagmamadaling tanong sa kanya ni Celest when they met.

"If yung tungkol kay Marcus, yes. I saw it. He's getting married." She sipped her cup of coffee and adjusted her body while sitting.

"This is his 7th girlfriend since he left. Wala pa silang isang taon ang yet they are engaged?" Batid sa mukha ni Celest ang pagtataka. Deep inside ay nagtataka din naman siya pero hindi niya masabi kasi sasabihin nanaman nito na affected pa siya.

"He left 4 years ago, mahabang panahon na yun for those relationships." She said.

"Wow, talaga eh bakit ikaw ni isa wala ka pang naging boyfriend?" Sabi ni Celest sa kanya. "Siya pa din ba?"

"Kasi hindi ako type ng mga lalaki. I do not look that picturesque than you guys." Ngumiti siya. "And no, di na ako in love sa kanya."

Lorie has always been on the heavier side at kahit na matangkad siya ay medyo malaman pa din siya. Her weight has never really been friendly, malaki ang braso niya at mga hita niya. Her friends say na volumptuous daw siya yet she felt fat. Pumayat na siya ng kaunti pero hindi na talaga kaya na bumaba pa ang kanyang timbang. No amount of exercise or diet helped, her fats won't actually budge.

"Hay nako, sino may sabi sayo? You are so pretty. What if mas mabigat ka sa amin ng konti. You are taller naman so that evens it out. Stop pulling yourself down." Palagi din siyang napapagalitan kapag nagseself pity siya na ganito.

"Guys want a 20-something waistline. I have a 31 waistline. I'm practically considered plus size." She explained further.

"Nope, hindi pa din ako papayag na laitin mo at maliitin ang sarili mo. You are beautiful as is. At kung ayaw mong pumayag na mganda din naman ang built mo just remember that sexiness is a state of mind, just like confidence. Okay?" Celest smiled at her. Hindi niya talaga masusurvive siguro ang body issues niya without her friends. They always make her feel good about herself.

"Yes ma'am!" She smiled. Confidence booster talaga ang mga kaibigan niya.

4 months later...

"They broke up! She cheated." Ihinarap ni Lorie ang cellphone niya sa mga kaibigan. "How dare her cheat? Kay Marcus pa! He's a good guy."

"Ang apparently someone is still in love with him." Sabi naman ni Addy na kumakain ng cake sa isang sulok.

"Oy! Hindi ah. Hindi ko na siya gusto." Itinago na niya ang cellphone niya. Bakit ba naman nga kasi siya sobrang excited na ibalita yun. Hindi na siya affected diba? It has been years. Ang OA naman ng puso niya if ever.

"In denial queen." Pabiro namang sabi ni Kara. "Alam mo it's okay lang naman na gusto mo pa din siya. Ideal man, ganun."

"Eh hindi na nga, kaibigan ko lang yung tao kaya ganun. I give him the same care I give you girls." Sabi niya sa mga ito, trying to defend herself.

They all know how madly, deeply, truly in love she was with Marcus back in college. She stood by him through everything and she was with him the same amount of time she would have spent with a boyfriend pero wala talaga. She does not appeal to men as much as her friends. Minahal niya ito ng sobra pero hanggang pagkakaibigan lang sila kaya naman hindi na siya umasa. She listened to him everytime he rants about his feelings for Celest and life in general. He was a good friend to her, he took care of her, at kilala siya ng mga magulang niya.

"Lorie, baka naman ikaw talaga ang destined diyan kay Marcus." Singit naman ni Dion.

"Baka mas posible pang umulan ng thumbtacks kaysa yun ang mangyari." She laughed bitterly, it was a impossible thing to happen.