Tears Of Cinderella

Chapter 12 - The Flying Cinderella

Steffanie was preparing her studio for today's painting session with her model, Prince Gareth. Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pagtitimpla ng mga pintura nang mag-ring ang kanyang cellphone. Tiningnan niya muna ang LCD bago sagutin ito. It was Sofia. 

Bakit kaya ito napatawag? Without any hesitations, she answered the call.

"Hello," she said as she continued her task.

"Hoy Esteffania!!!" the shrieking voice of her best friend rummaged her eardrum.

"Bakit ka ba sumisigaw?"

"Ano iyong nababalitaan ko na naman sa grapevine?" pagtatalak nito sa kanya.

"Ano naman bang tsismis iyan?"

"It is not gossip. It is a fact. Maraming nakakita."

"Ng alin nga?" nalilito na siya sa sinasabi ng kaibigan.

"How dare you?! Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi sa akin," pakunwaring pagtatampo nito.

"Ang alin ba ang hindi ko sinasabi sa yo?" itinigil na muna niya ang kanyang ginagawa. This issue, whatever it may be, needed her undivided attention. May kutob siyang may kinalaman siya rito kaya ganoon na lang ang pagtatalak ng kaibagan.

"Gosh, Steff! Kailan ka pa naging denial queen?"

"Ano bang idedeny ko? Please do not talk in circles, we are going nowhere."

She heard a sigh from the other side of the phone.

"Sige, I'll be frank with you. Is there something going on between you and Prince Gareth?"

Mistulang umurong ang dila niya sa narinig. Was that rumor from Sofia's grapevine about that?

"Define something going on..." she said

"Hey there Missy. You very well know what the hell I am talking about... So, ano nga ang meron kayo?"

Siya naman ngayon ang nagbigay ng buntong hininga. Napatanong din siya sa kanyang sarili. Ano nga ba talaga ang mayroon sa kanilang dalawa?

She wanted to squeeze her brains for some answers, but it gave none. All she knew was that they were both comfortable with each other. That there was this undeniable chemistry between them. That somehow, they have what they call, spark. Muli niyang kinapa ang sarili. Was she falling for this man? That she didn't know. She had never been in love her whole life.

"Honestly, hindi ko rin alam," she said.

"Anong hindi mo alam? Eh, dun sa engagement party raw todo sayaw kayo sa dance floor. Tapos may kissing scene pa. Tell me Steff. I am dying to know."

Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata. Ngayon lang rumihistro sa kanyang isipan ang mga naganap noong gabing iyon. Just how many people saw that dance? Just how many people saw that kiss?

"So... Did it really happen?"

Nagdalawang isip muna siya bago tuluyang sumagot. "Yup, Sofia. It indeed happened. "

She heard Sofia gasp. "Oh-em-gee! Steff! Why did you do that?"

"Hindi ko rin alam. It just happened."

"Steff... Steff... Concerned lang ako sa yo bilang kaibigan mo. But of all the man out there, bakit si Prince Gareth pa. Pwede namang iba diyan sa tabi-tabi. Royalties are really all a pain in the ass, you know."

Muling siyang napapapikit. Isa lang ang daloy ng kanyang isipan. Marahil ang mas tamang salita ay, isa lang ang laman ng kanyang isipan. It was the same man who haunted him day and night.