101 Days of Heartbreak Series Book 1: Letters of Heartbreak

Chapter 17

Dear Kamita, 

Denial was the first step in the stages of breaking up.  

I didn't realize it was also the first step of... you know... of.... well...  

Okay. Deep breath. Here it goes. 

Denial was also the first step of... falling in love.... At least for an idiot. 

I was an idiot and I was so dead. 

---- 

"You're spacing out," Ruyu whispered in Ateera's left ear as he tried to smile at the Zobel sisters who were obviously catching his attention. Gene was unusually quiet on her right.  

The three of them were attending Cleo Higgins' birthday party--- an important event since Mr. Higgins was anyone's important investor.  

They hated it. Cleo was not even their friend, but they had to stay for at least half of the party. 

Ruyu was the first one who snatched a champagne glass and retreated to a corner. Gene followed almost automatically. It was always like that with the two of them. 

Ateera was about to join them, but was stopped by Demi so she could be introduced to a few prospective fiancés.  

She knew it was just a front because this was Demi and she wouldn't force her, but she was still irritated when she finally reached her friends.  

Silence. They do not need words or even actions to tell how each of them felt at the moment. They have a strange kind of language that only the three of them could understand. 

They enjoyed the next few minutes of just being with each other's company except when girls passed by once in a while to either throw her a death glare for being with Ruyu and Gene or got friendly with her so she can introduce them to her best friends.  

"Hmm," Ateera muttered absentmindedly.  

"Seriously, Carlos, just admit it so you can start moving on." 

"Hmm." 

She heard Ruyu sigh.  

"Gene, can you please help me in here?" Ruyu pleaded quietly. Gene, who's not been himself, spared him a glance and just nodded, before spacing out too. 

Ruyu hit his forehead with his palm. 

"That's it," he said before putting down his wine glass and pulling Ateera and Gene by their wrists towards the balcony of the Country Club. They had passed by several people who greeted them, but not one of the three spared them a glance.  

Demi, who was talking to a group of really old businessmen, noticed them, but she merely raised one perfect brow when the three passed by her. However, a sharp glance from Ruyu stopped her from asking so she just nodded and turned her attention back to the group, which she wasn't really fond of talking to. 

Upon reaching the balcony, Ruyu released their wrists and leaned his ass against the marble balustrade. 

"All right. We're alone now. Will you two please start talking?" 

Gene and Ateera glanced at each other. It was the former who relented first since it was Ruyu who asked. 

"I have no problems." 

"Bullshit, Eugenio," Ruyu replied almost immediately. "I can read you like an open book. Your jolly mood dissipated when we retreated to that corner." 

Gene didn't reply and just looked at the floor tiles, which was answer enough for Ruyu. "We're not through yet, Gene." He then turned to Ateera, who's leaning on the balustrade, facing the garden.