Whisper of the Heart (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER XX

The elevator.

The scene replayed in her mind. Her being a lunatic. Isang taon na iyon ah? Naalala niya pa ang mukha ko? Maymay thought. But then she realized, sabagay, kung ako siya malamang maalala ko rin ang mukhang ito. Isinusumpa ko ang elevator na un. Small world, really.

"Baka nagkasalubong siguro tayo minsan." she smiled prettily, raising her brows.

"I really think i saw you somewhere."

Wag mo nang isipin kung saan man yang somewhere na yan teh.

Gwen just shrugged shoulders.

"By the way, nice meeting you Maymay. And Edward, see you around. "

Gwen gave her a last look that felt belittling. Or maybe not. Maybe it's all in Maymay's head.

Gwen went back to her own group, which thankfully, is at the other end of the restaurant. Maymay saw some turn their heads as she elegantly passed by. She observed Edward, and he didn't not throw Gwen a second glance. He just looks at her, like there is no one  around but the two of them.

On their way home she couldn't help but talk about Gwen.

"Ganda niya, no?"

"Who? Gwen? Yes, no doubt." Edward answered, alternating his eyes between Maymay and on the road. He noticed a change in Maymay's mood.

No doubt.

"you know what, A lot of guys went crazy over her. When we're in higschool, i remember some guys even used me as a bridge. You know, we're good friends since we were kids. There was one time three of our classmates... "

Maymay felt a tiny pinch in her heart.

"Kasama ka dun, dun sa crazy over her?"

"Me? Wait.. " Edward laughed and shook his head. "I think someone is jelly-jelly."

Maymay is the kind of person who prefers to keep things to herself than to make other people worry. But sometimes, just sometimes, our emotion is too strong to hide. She just felt too uncomfortable to fake a smile. And what is going on in her mind? She isn't jealous. She just felt inferior.

But Edward,  seeing it differently,  teased her.

"You look super cute when you are jealous, Maymay. " said Edward, obviously enjoying her jealousy.  She made a face to Edward, then she looked away and crossed her arms, with a sad look on her face.

She realized, that the more she sees Edward's world, the more she feels alienated.  One time,  when she spent the night at Amy's place.

"Parang ayoko na Amy. "

Maymay buried her face on her pillow.

"Saan?"

"Sa amin ni Edward."

"Di pa nga kayo nagsisimula, ayaw mo na."

"Hindi kami bagay. Sobrang layo namin. Nahihirapan ako. At tingin ko, pinapahirapan ko lang siya."

Amy is putting on a facial peeling mask. "Halika nga dito, maglagay ka rin nito. "

Maymay stands up. And soon they were both facing the mirror with black mask on their faces.

"San ka banda nahihirapan?"

"Sa difference namin. Nung una, ni ayokong mkipagkaibigan sa kanya. Mayroong wall eh. Biruin mo, anak ng CEO ng isa multi-million na company. Pero kase, nakita ko kasi ung lungkot niya. Feeling ko nag-iisa siya. Alam mo ba, nung nakita ko yung kababata niya. Nafeel ko agad na, mas bagay sila."

As she said that, she felt as if a thorn pierced through her heart.

"May class. Mayaman. Makinis. Elegante. Ako, anong maipagmamalaki ko? Nung nakita ka siya, yung Gwen, para akong sinampal. Para akong lumubog sa lupa."

"Kababata ba ika mo ni Edward?"

Maymay nodded.

"O tingnan mo, kababata niya pala. Ibig sabihin matagal niya nang kakilala pero ikaw pa rin ang pinili ni Edward. Ibig sabihin, gaano man karami ang maipagmamalaki niya, meron ka pa rin na wala siya."

"Pero ang ganda niya. Sobra."

"Bakit ikaw, di ka maganda?"

Maymay just looked at her reflection. She still has the black mask on. But she well knew, behind that mask, is her plain face.

"Maganda ka, Maymay. Sinasabi ko yan sayo, hindi dahil bestfriend mo ako. Kundi dahil iyan ang totoo. You just have to have a little boost on your self-esteem. And besides Maymay,  it's not all about the face. "

"Pero parang mas madali pa sana kung pumili nalang ako ng katulad ko. Di mayaman. Di kagwapuhan." she thought of Dan.

"Pwede naman. Edi piliin mo ung nanligaw syo na katrabaho mo. Ang tanong eh, magiging masaya ka ba tulad ng nafefeel mo kay Edward?"

Maymay took a deep breath. True, she couldn't imagine herself being with a different guy. And she knew she makes Edward happy.

"Alam mo girl, just focus on what you feel. You think about many other things too much you don't enjoy the present na. Bahala ka, baka bandang huli magsisi ka."

And she finds herself always sighing. Why couldn't she just let those thought go? Why is it that she worry too much? Is it still normal or she's just over reacting? She would just think of that magical night, when she felt Edward's lips pressed on her forehead. The night when she wished time would stood still so that moment would never end.

If everyday could only be just like that.

As the anniversary is nearing, Edward took Maymay to shopping, he himself handpicked the dresses he wants her to wear on the day he plans to introduce Maymay to the family. It was a saturday, for he couldn't afford to take a day off.

Maymay, having the perfect bone structure, and height, fitted the dresses perfectly that she left the salesladies attending her in awe.

"Ma'am, pwede kayo maging supermodel ma'am."

And everytime she gets out of the fitting room, Edward's face would beam with pride and admiration. Even the casual shoppers couldn't help but look at her twice.

He bought her dresses, shoes, bags. They are too expensive that Maymay thought  she could have renovated their house for the same price. So at the moment, when she's back in her room, and had everything laid on her bed, she, sitting at the floor, stared blankly at them. Would she even dare to wear those classy wardrobes?

Of course there would be a lot of socialites present in the occasion. Business tycoons. Celebrities. Elites. And she would be joining them. Just imagining herself standing in the midst of those kinds of people makes her want to back off. Then Gwen would be there, in all glamour and elegance and eloquence. So she has to be elegant herself. She can slay the night.
She wants to make Edward proud.

But.

It's so not like her.

She stands in front of the mirror, smiled and squared her shoulders. She is Maymay. Nothing more. Nothing less. She doesn't have to pretend to be someone else.