MY LOVELY STRANGER

CHAPTER 51: Erased

Saturday.

Zeus set up a date para magmeet kami ni Tristan. Nagkita kami sa isang Coffee shop sa mall.

"So, Tristan, this is Chelsea. Chelsea, this is Tristan. My cousin" pakilala ni Zeus sa amin.

Naglahad sya ng kamay, tinanggap ko naman for a shake hand.

"Nice to meet you Miss Chelsea." he said.

"Same here.. Tristan" I put up a sad smile.

"I'll go ahead." sabi ni Zeus. "Kayo na ang bahalang mag usap. See you, Chelsea."

Umalis din agad si Zeus. Nag order muna kami ni Tristan.

"So, bakit mo naman naisip na gusto kong bumili ng libro?" tanong nya maya maya.

"Sabi kasi ni Zeus mahilig ka raw magbasa. I have 400 books sa bahay. Ayaw ko sanang ibenta pero kailangan ko lang ng pera.

He chuckled. "What would I do with 400 books? Do I have time to read all of those??"

Tiningnan ko ng Mabuti si Tristan. He looks so formal. Like a business heir should. Nalaman kong nung gabi na dinala si Mama sa ospital, naaksidente rin siya while driving a rented car para sunduin ako. More than a month syang naconfine sa ospital but his father kept it a secret. Now he's training in the company. He's really becoming a CEO someday.

I shook my head.. "Ganun ba? Then... sa iba ko nalang siguro ibebenta."

I looked down. It's just a chance para makita ko sya ulit. Not even a small hint made him recognize me. It hurts. And it's gonna hurt even more kung ipagpapatuloy ko pa.

"I'm not saying I won't buy it thou. So, kelan ko pwedeng makita yung mga libro?" nasabi nya.

Tiningnan ko sya. "Talaga? Hmm" Nag isip ako. Nasa bahay ngayon si Papa. Baka magulat yun pag nagdala ako ng lalaki ng walang abiso. Kakausapin ko nalang rin muna sila mama at Chandria. "Next week. Or kahit bukas, kung free ka" nasabi ko.

"Tomorrow then. But I'm curious, have we met before?" biglang tanong nya.

"Ha? Ah, hindi pa yata. Or siguro" nag iwas ako ng tingin.

"Anong siguro? I'm pretty sure nakita na kita"

I met his gaze. Could it be naaalala na nya ako..

He snapped his finger. "Yeah I remembered. Ikaw yung babae dun sa office few days ago. Yung muntik natumba sa entrance... "

I got disappointed. Yun pala ang naaalala nito.

Natapos na kaming kumain. We exchanged numbers. Lumabas na kami ng coffee shop. I sighed before saying goodbye.

Goodbye...

He's looking at me intensely. As if tutunawin ako ng titig nya.

"Actually, ayaw ko pang umuwi. Nagmamadali ka ba?" tanong nya.

"Ha?" napaisip ako.

"Kaso baka magalit ang boyfriend mo. Sige, let's get going na. See you tomorrow." sabi nya.

"Wala akong boyfriend. " nasabi ko.

"Wala?" nagtatakang tanong nya. "May singsing ka kasi, kaya akala ko taken ka na.. "

I looked at the ring on my finger. "Oo, wala akong boyfriend. Pero may fiancé ako"

There was a confusion in his face. "Parehas lang naman yun" natawa sya.

Hindi ako umimik.

"I don't know if I should say this but I think you're not happy with him" puna nya.

Tiningnan ko sya. "Bakit mo naman nasabi?"

"The way you looked at your ring and when you said you have a fiancé. You sounded so sad." napatigil sya. "Sorry. It's impolite to say such thing. I'm sorry.. "

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. I bit my lower lip para hindi ako maiyak.

Napansin nya siguro yon. "Oh, I'm really sorry, Miss Chelsea.. "

"Uuwi na ako. Magkita nalang tayo bukas.. " tinalikuran ko na sya.

~~❤

TRISTAN'S POV

I got home.

Nasa sala si Zeus, may ginagawa sa laptop nya.

"You know, about that girl.. Who is she, really?" tanong ko. Tinutukoy ko si Chelsea.

"She's my friend. Kaisa isang babaeng bumasted sa akin" sagot nya.

"Really?" sumalampak ako sa sofa. "How come?"

"Because she loved an idiot. She chose him.." pinagpatuloy nya ang ginagawa. "Bakit ang bilis mong bumalik? Hindi man lang kayo naglibot?"

Sumandal ako. "Parang nabadtrip eh. Muntik na ngang umiyak nung nabanggit yung fiancé nya.. "

Napatingin sa kin si Zeus. "Ano bang nasabi nya?"

Kinuwento ko sa kanya ang nangyari.

"He's really an idiot." Zeus said. "He left her hanging on. He never even said goodbye. Until now she's waiting for him.. "

"Saan ba pumunta?" tanong ko. "Mukang mahal na mahal pa naman nya.. "

"Naglalakbay. He's gone without a word. Pero siguro once na matauhan sya, babalikan naman nya si Chelsea.."

"That jerk. Paano nya nagawang iwan yung girlfriend nya? Ang ganda pa naman .." I said.

"Don't tell me gusto na sya?" tanong ni Zeus.

"I'm engaged with our business partner's daughter. I can't like somebody else" sagot ko.

"You can talk to Chelsea if you're too interested in her. Pwede ba, go away. I need to finish this thing" taboy nya sa akin.

"Whatever." iniwan ko na sya sa sala.

I took my phone and texted Chelsea.

Hi, I'm sorry about earlier.. See you tomorrow.. Nakauwi ka na ba?

She didn't reply. I guess she's upset. Well, that can't be helped.