Why can't it be?

Chapter Fifteen

Napatulala si Maple sa lalaking nasa harap. Hindi siya makapaniwala na magkikita pa silang muli. At lalong hindi ngayon sa lugar na iyon.

Noong umalis siya sa SIU ay umasa siya na balang araw ay magkikita silang muli upang malaya na nilang mahalin ang isa't isa na walang pag-aalinlangan at walang mga matang mapanghusga.

Pero nang lumipas na ang maraming taon ay unti-unti siyang nawalan ng pag-asa na muli silang magtatagpo at nagising na lamang siya isang araw na tanggap na niya ang lahat. Na kahit kailan ay di na mangyayari ang pinapangarap niya.

Ibinuhos na lamang niya ang oras niya sa pagtatrabaho. Dahil nang mga panahon na iyon ay ang trabaho niya lang ang nagpapasaya sa kanya.

Kaya't hindi siya makapaniwala na magkikita pa sila at hindi sa ganitong sitwasyon. Sadyang mapaglaro ang pagkakataon dahil muli nga silang pinagtagpo ngunit pagmamay-ari na naman ng iba ang puso nito.

Ano ka ba Maple, dapat hindi ka na nasasaktan diba? Bukod sa sanay ka na sa sakit na dulot ng lalaking iyan, ay sinabi mo na sa sarili mo na kakalimutan mo na siya at matagal mo nang tinanggap na hindi na talaga mangyayari ang inaasam mong 'happily ever after' with him. Nakikita mo naman na engaged na siya at mukhang masaya silang dalawa. Tama na, tumigil ka na!! Sabi niya sa sarili na kinakastigo ito. Dapat nga talaga siyang tumigil kung ayaw niyang magmukha na naman siyang kawawa sa harap nito tulad nung huli silang nagkita.

She looked away from the couple in front of them and turn to the wine on their table and pour a huge amount in her glass. Then she gulp it and pour again after she finishes it.

Then Linc grabbed the bottle of wine away from her. "Hey! What are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself drunk? You haven't eaten anything yet and the party haven't even started." He said glaring at her. "Get yourself together Lewis, remember you are the Marketing Manager of our company. And we are here for the project, for this account. So please.. Stop this okay?" Paki-usap nito sakanya.

Nahiya naman siya rito sa inasal niya. Kaibigan niya ito at parang nakatatandang kapatid na rin pero boss din niya ito kaya dapat ay umayos siya ng kilos dahil kompanya nila ang nakasalalay kapag may nagawa siyang hindi maganda.

"I'm sorry kuya." Sabi niya sabay yuko.

"I understand why you are acting like that. It's because of him right?.. Nagulat din ako na siya pala ang sinsabing fiance ni Mallory. If I have known it earlier, hindi na sana muna kita isinama rito. I can handle this alone or I'll ask Yara to come with me. I'm sorry too sweetheart.. But please just endure this just for this night. Tomorrow we'll go back to Manila early morning okay?" Tanong nito sakanya habang hinahagod nito ang likod niya. Nauunawaan naman niya ang ipinapakiusap nito sakanya. Ngayon lang ito humiling ng ganoon at malaki ang naitulong nito sa kanya kaya't kahit hindi siya komportable ay gagawin niya.

"Okay." She said and smiled at him.

He sighed and held her hand on the table and gently squeezed it. Somehow she felt good. Just bear it like you used to before. She said at the back of her mind.

The couple continued to entertain their guests and as for Maple, she just sat their, making herself busy by chatting with her friends in their group chat.
A few moments later, she felt someone sat beside her. She turn towards to that someone, knowing it was Linc. But she was literally stunned when she saw him, his Physics teacher in High school before.

He was more gorgeous and hot now than he was before. Still oozing with sex appeal and his body became well toned. Nine years had passed but his effect on her was still the same, spinning her upside down.