Falling for Her [REVISED]

Marinette Ryzon Xavier

"Cheers! Owner ka ng ng La Grandé Bar!"

My friends congratulated me. Ngayon ang opening ng bar ko which is called La Grandé. It was always my dream to have my bar, and now, natupad ko na iyon. I don't want to work under my parent's law firm. We are a family of lawyers, but I don't want to be like them.

I'd rather be a bar owner than a lawyer who does dirty works for the money. Mabilis mabulag ng pera ang isang tao and that's what happened to them. They were blinded by money, and I won't let myself be like that.

I already suffered years while I was living with my family. Now that I'm free, I won't let myself suffer again.

"Uy! Mukhang may dumadalaw ah! Artistahin!" tumingin ako kay Kath nang sabihin niya iyon. Hindi ko alam kung nagbibiro lang ba siya o ano kaya tumingin din ako sa entrance kahit na medyo natatakpan na iyon sa sobrang daming tao nagpunta ngayong gabi para sa opening nitong bar.

"Oh my gosh, is that Gio?! The Gio Salvador?!"

Nagsimula nang magbulungan ang mga tao kaya nakumpirma ko na si Gio nga iyon. Sobrang sikat na niya at hindi ko inaakalang pupunta siya ngayong gabi. Siguro ay nalaman niya lang rin sa mga kaibigan niya na mutuals namin na magbubukas ang La Grandé ngayon.

"Uy Marinette! Congrats sa opening ng bar mo! Lagi na kami pupunta rito!" proud na proud na sambit ni Ridge. He's a friend of mine whom I met in Vegas last christmas. May taping sila that time na napadaan ako and sakto naman na kakilala ko kasi iyong director nila sa movie nila that time. And he's also Gio's bestfriend. A big coincidence right?

"Thanks, Ridge. Ikaw rin, congrats sa upcoming movie mo. Bigatin ka na." ngiti ko rin sa kanya kaya naman natawa siya. I told the bartender to serve them free drinks. All the drinks are on me tonight. "Gio nga pala, iyong sinasabi ko sayo na kaibigan ko." pagpapakilala niya. Gio looked at me with his dead, cold eyes so I did the same but I still extended my arms. "Marinette, nice to meet you." I faked a smile. Tinignan niya lang ang kamay ko at hindi tinanggap iyon! How rude! Ako na nga itong nagmamagandang loob to do the first move! He's being obvious that we didn't end well!

Nilibot niya lang ang tingin niya sa buong bar at ngumisi. He knows how much I love bars that's why I built my own. Ito rin kasi ang nagiging takasan ko sa tuwing kinakailangan kong huminga mula sa mundong nakakasakal. "Puro bigatin mga tao rito, opening palang ah!" muling pagpupuna ni Ridge. Ngumiti naman ako. "Well, what do you expect from a Xaviers?" ngisi ko kay Ridge at uminom ng wine.

"What do you expect from Xaviers? A bunch of selfish businessmen and women, takam na takam sa pera, sarili lang ang iniisip. Does that answer it?" inismiran ako ni Gio.

Kath bit her lower lip and sipped from her wine, looking away from Gio as if she were embarrassed and shocked. She probably didn't see that coming, kahit si Ridge ay nagulat din sa sinabi ni Gio. Even I was shocked! I didn't expect that!

I clenched my fist. Is he going to say all of that right in front of my face? I am well aware of my family's stupidity, and he doesn't need to say it out loud! Ang daming tao na pwedeng makarinig!

"But that Xaviers that I talked about is your family and not you. You may be a Xavier, but you are not your family. See? I saw the pain in your eyes when I said all of those but did you remember what I told you before letting you go? Do not let other people's words affect you again. What they say doesn't define you. You are not their words, and only you know the real you."

Natahimik ako sa sinabi ni Gio. He sighed before drinking his wine. Kahit si Ridge ay nagulat sa sinabi ni Gio. "W-wait. You know- you know each other?" naguguluhan at gulat na tanong ni Ridge. I didn't answer but Gio nodded at him.