PAGKAPASOK sa loob ng kanyang condo unit sa isang tower building sa Quezon City ay pabagsak na naupo si CJ sa isang couch na naroon. Pagkuwa'y hinubad naman niya ang suot na bullcap at dark shades.
Itinaas niya ang mga paa sa center table.
Kauuwi lamang niya mula sa isang linggong bakasyon sa Benguet. Iniisip niya na kung uuwi siya ng maaga ay tahimk ang buhay niya. But she's wrong. Reporters swarmed on her car the moment it stopped by the lobby. Alam niyang ang kanyang agent ang responsible roon. Malinaw ang kanyang sinabi na hindi niya gustong magpa-interview.
She's been in hiding for a week. Kahapon lamang niya binuksan ang kanyang cellphone upang tawagan ang agent niya na si Tito Rem na babalik na nga siya.
Hindi siya nagtago sa Kanaway tulad ng nakagawian niya. The stupid nerdy guy was there the whole week. Hindi niya gusto na magkita na naman sila. So she spend time in Dashiell's ranch. And then she sleeps over at Maybelyn's house, girlfriend ni Dashiell.
She went horseback riding, getting more acquainted with her horse: Winter. Courtesy of her cousin because she'd been the cupid in his blossoming relationship.
Nang malaman ng kanyang mommy ang kinauwian ng relasyon nila ni Clint ay halos himatayin ito. Nalaman nito mula sa mga pahayagan. Kaya napilitan siyang puntahan ito at sabihin ang mga detalye. Not really. Sinabi lamang niya na nahuli si Clint na may kasamang ibang babae.
And can you guess what her mother had told her?
Cythia de Gala said that she should talk to Clint. She should forgive him and fix everything. Hindi raw nila maaring ipa-cancel ang kanilang kasal. Because it will be the biggest event of the year. She can't believe it.
But on second thought, her mother can really say those things.
Alam na rin ng kanyang mga pinsan ang nangyari. And unlike her mother, they think she really have to cancel the damn wedding.
Wala siyang sinabihan ng mga detalye kundi si Maybelyn. Well, she didn't say everything she saw. She just told her that she saw Clint with a woman in his bed. May was horrified. She even said she was fearful that one day she'd be in the same situation because Dash was a womanizer.
Yeah. Was. She assured May that her cousin has changed. He was crazy about her.
Iyon din ang akala niya noon kay Clint. But it turns out he was nothing but a piece of shit.
Matagal siyang nakaupo hanggang sa maisipan niyang i-check ang mga voice messages.
Kay Clint kaagad ang unang mensahe. He said he's terribly sorry. She skipped it. Dito pa rin ang mga kasunod so she skipped it over and over even her mother's messages. Ang iba pang mensahe ay galing sa agent niya. Pati iyon ay in-skip din niya. Maging ang mensahe ng kanyang mga kaibigan na kapwa modelo. They're all sorry. Kung hindi pa naman niya alam na maligayang-maligaya ang mga ito na hindi matutuloy ang kanyang kasal. Because all of them envy her to death.
And now they pity and spite her.
Ang huling mensahe ay galing pa rin kay Clint. Akmang tatapusin na niya iyon ng marinig niya ang paunang salita nito.
"I'd like to tell you why I did that..." mariing ipinikit ni CJ ang mga mata. Isinandal niya ang ulo sa headrest ng sofa at ipinasyang makinig.
"Walang kapatawaran ang ginawa ko, alam ko iyon, honey. I've been the luckiest man alive because you loved me. Pero sinira ko lang ang lahat. And I am so sorry. But you should have to know na nagawa ko lang iyon because of desperation. I have needs CJ. I value and respect your principles. I think kahanga-hanga ang kagustuhan mo na mag-sex lang tayo kapag naikasal na tayo. I think that's kinda sweet of you to give yourself only to me. But I'm a man. I have needs. Kahit isang buwan na lang bago tayo ikasal ay hindi mo pa rin ako gustong pagbigyan. I've respected you for a year. Natukso ako because of frustration."
"I am really sorry, honey. I don't want to lose you. Let's fix this. We can fix this. Forgive me, honey, CJ. Please... let's not put everything to waste. Let's start over. Patutunayan ko sa'yo kung gaano kita kamahal once na naikasal na tayo. If you want we could be married next week."
His voice was full of desperation. Parang nakikita na niya ang anyo ni Clint habang sinasabi ang lahat ng iyon. His voice seems shaky and broke as if he was crying. She thought his reasonings were ridiculous. But he does have a point.
Tulad rin ng sinabi ng kanyang mama ay hindi makatwiran na sayangin niya ang pinagsamahan nila ni Clint. He said they could get married next week. And that week is now.
Patakbo siyang tumungo sa pinto kung saan naroon pa ang mga maleta niya. Naupo siya sa sahig at binuksan ang maleta. Hinubad niya ang engagement ring nila ni Clint. Ang natatandaan niya'y inilagay niya iyon sa bulsa ng suot niyang jeans. She searched through her bag hanggang sa makita niya ang hinahanap. Mabilis na sumuot ang kanyang kamay sa bulsa ng jeans.
Nakahinga siya ng maluwag ng madama ang malamig na metal. Inilabas niya iyon.
Ngunit sa halip ay ibang singsing ang sumalubong sa kanyang paningin. A gold band. Umawang ang kanyang mga labi. "No..."
"Where do you live, Sev?" CJ asked to the man she was walking with hand and hand. His hand was a bit callused but warm.
They used each other's hands for balance. Kapwa sila sumusuray at lumalakad sa gitna ng kalsada na tila mga lasing. Which makes pefect sense. Lasing naman talaga sila. But CJ feels fine. Actually, she feels great. So great.
"I don't live here. I'm only staying at my friend's house."
Humahighik si CJ "Oh! Okay lang ba sa friend mo na pumunta ako r'on?" she can't help being flirty with. Bukod pa sa marami na siyang nainom ay gusto talaga niya ito. There's something about him that made her feel seductive and wanton.
"I think so."
Humagikhik na naman siya. "You don't have a girlfriend, do you?" naisip niyang itanong. Napatigil pa siya sa paglakad kaya naman tumigil rin si Sev.
He stared into her eyes until he smiled. He was gorgeous when he smiles. He looks playful and carefree. It was infectious. Kaibang-kaiba kapag seryoso ito. She can't wait to remove his eye-glasses.
"I don't have a girlfriend," tumatawang wika niya.
That made him laugh as well. "No. I mean, do you have I boyfriend?"
She made a face. "Not anymore." Mula sa bulsa ng suot na jeans ay hinugot niya ang engagement ring. Ibinato niya iyon sa kung saan na lamang. "You want me to be your girlfriend?"
His face moved a fraction towards hers. "Would you like to be?"
"Absolutely," she whispered back. Pagkuwa'y tinawid niya ang pagitan ng kanilang mga labi. Kanina pa niya ito gustong halikan. It's about time she does it. She moved her mouth up and down, sucking and biting at his lips. Subalit marahan siyang inawat ni Sev.
"Not so fast," he softly said. "You've thrown a ring, I'm gonna give you another one." He spread the fingers of his left hand in front of her face. "See this thing?" turo nito sa singsing na nasa dulong daliri. "It's from my mother. She said I should give it to a girl I'd like to marry."
Suminghap siya kasunod ng hagikhik. "You want to marry me?"
"I'd get married some time soon so why not now?"
"Right!" kinuha niya ang singsing sa kamay nito at isinilid iyon sa kanyang bulsa.
"Wear it," utos nito.
Sa halip na sumunod ay hinubad niya ang salamin sa mata nito. "Later," wika niya kasabay ng pagkabig sa batok nito. "Much later."
And then flashes of her and Sev in bed followed. Nasabunutan niya ang sarili.
She has thrown her ring!
Don't panic, CJ. That's just a ring. Hindi pa iyon ang wedding ring mo.
Yes, that's right. She could buy another ring. Kapag sinabi niya kay Clint na itinapon niya ang singsing ay hindi ito magdadamdam. Lalo na kapag sinabi niya na nais pa rin niyang makasal sila.
Ang dapat niyanggawin ngayon ay magbihis at puntahan si Clint. He'd be in his office right now, sigurado iyon.
BINABASA MO ANG
Starry, Starry Night (Kanaway Book 4)
Romance"I can endure anything just to be by your side. I can't take any distance away from you. Every breath, every smile, my every move, every part of me shouts your name." Chairmaine Jo "CJ" de Gala's life was perfect. Tila ba hinugot sa isang fairy tale...
