He never cared

Prologue

Prologue

"Clio! You look stunning! As always! What's the secret?" one of the press asked.

"Healthy lifestyle." matipid kong sagot at naglakad pang muli. This party is made for our family, The Sedillo clan. Nandito kasi kami lahat sa bansa kaya my Aunt organized a 'Welcome Party'

"Clio! Clio! We heard that you're back for good?" another member of the press asked. I genuinely smiled at her. "Yes, I'm back for good." Simple kong sagot at nagpatuloy muli sa paglalakad. Taas noo akong naglalakad at natanaw si Allucio, my cousin. He looks really bored waiting for me and I can't help it not to smirk! I owe you cousin!

"We just want to know Clio, If is it true na kaya ka bumalik dahil kay Ryland Velo?" and then they are all focused on me. The cameras, the phones... Hindi ba pwedeng kaya ako bumalik ay dahil okay na ako? Dahil kaya ko na? I stopped walking and looked for Allucio's eyes, luckily, He got my message at dali daling bumaba para giyahin ang press.

And now, dahil sa tanong ng press...Hindi malabong wala ang mga Velo sa party! Alam kaya ni Auntie na ayokong nandito sila? O sinasadya? Pero bakit naman? I mentally laughed. Oo nga pala, wala namang pake 'yon. I looked for my cousin who's now bored and at the same time ready to answer the question that made me stopped walking.

"uh, If you could excuse us, She needs to be inside the garden's mansion. Interviews are now done. If you want to ask something, ask the organizers, not my cousin." Allucio said. Mababa ang boses ni Allucio kaya alam kong makikinig ang press sakanya, at the same time, He's powerful that the press knows that if they didn't follow him, goodbye career!

He offered his arm and I smirked. Buti na lang talaga siya ang sinabihan ko na maghihintay saakin! Kaysa naman kay Arches? O kaya'y si Liencius? Ano maasahan ko sa mga 'yon? Eh mukhang tatawanan pa muna ako noon bago tulungan hindi katulad nito ni Luc! Hmp!

"I'll brief you okay? The Velo's are here...Cuz, don't look at me asking through your eyes if Ryland's inside. Of course, he is. Kilala mo naman siguro ang magulang 'non?" and now I can't stop thinking kung papaano siya hindi mahahagip ng mata ko at kung papaano ko rin hindi maririnig ang pangalan niya because I know na the people Aunt Miah invited will squeal over him! Ugh! "Now get your nerves down. Don't panic. We got you."

"pero kasi Luc—"

"Clio, you're outside of the country for 3 years. You're now 21. You're big enough at alam naming naka-move on ka na. So don't act na para kang natatakot ngayon."

I agreed and sighed. Tama si Allucio. I am now 21. I left the country for 3 years because of a man who always keep me unwanted. What can I do? Love makes us a fool. Akala ko kasi sapat na yung binibigay ko, yung lahat lahat na wala na pala akong natira para sa sarili ko.

"Celes and Drian will accompany you" turo niya sa mesang nasa unahan at nasa bandang kaliwa. Now that I am inside, I am nervous! Alam kong nasa akin ang mga mata ng tao ngayon. Nang umalis ako, it was a secret. Nalaman na lang ng press noong I started posted of pictures of me when I was in New York to study. Tumingin ako sa designs ng event, t'was pretty good! I must say na pinaghandaan talaga ito ni Tita Miah and for sure, Ate Cyan helped her because this is what she's good at—events management.

"Clio!"

"Oh my! Clio! You're home!"

Is this home? Yeah. It is home.

"Welcome back?" I blurted out and smiled to my cousins, Celes and Drian. They're a year older than me but they won't let me call them 'Ate'.

"You looked thin!" Drian exclaimed. "anyways, I saw your post sa Instagram, is it true na you're now a model also a singer?"

I nodded. After 3 months of staying in New York, I was busy walking on the 7th street and looking at the boutique when a scout asked me to be part of their agency. I am determined to forget my past... to remember my worth and to remind myself that for once, I have to choose myself to save myself. I started attending 'go-see' and eventually, they discovered that I could sing so I was launched after a year. That's the reason why I was busy for 3 years. I think it helped me to move on...or not.

"You could roam around muna, cuz! Hahanapin namin sila kuya para makapag-usap tayo 'no! We want to catch up with you!" Celes said and ngumiti lang ako. Wow, Allucio ha? They will accompany me, huh?

I walked through the Garden's mansion, this mansion is very important to me. Ang daming nangyari dito. Dito ko siya unang nakilala, dito ko rin ako unang humanga at naglahad ng pagmamahal. Funny that he was looking at me, nagawa kong titigan ang mukha niya. He changed, huh?

I always liked him for his seriousness. I always liked his jaw because the moment I touched it, I knew that my feelings are now deep, the way his almond eyes speak, it screams coldness and distance. His lips... oh, they're red and the first time I kissed him... It made me assume things. Tumangkad rin siya, huh? And he looks more masculine now. Kahit noon naman, he has a body to die for, kaya maraming may gusto sakanya pero ngayon parang mas na-enhance niya pa iyon.

"You're back for good, huh" Ryland's low voice echoed in my mind. When was the last time I heard his voice? 3 years ago? Right. 3 years ago.

I looked at him pero walang nagbago sa paraan ng pagtingin niya. Ganoon pa rin kalamig.

"Masaya ka na sa buhay mo doon, kaya ba't ka pa bumalik?" He asked.

"Oo nga't masaya ang buhay ko doon, I learned how to love myself and know my worth." I spat. "bumalik ako para sa family ko. Not for you."

"I didn't say you're back for me. Clio, you're doing it again" He said and smirked. At unti-unting lumapit.

"I wasn't!"

"You are!" he exclaimed. "You think all of the success that you keep on bragging in Social Media will make me damn yours? Well, think again, baby. It won't happen."

I felt that tears are starting to pool in my eyes. Putangina, ganito pa rin pala kasakit? I know for myself that I have moved on, eh! Or maybe no, because I want to ask him—bakit bawal? Bakit hindi pwede? Bakit lagi nalang siyang walang pake? He turned back but before he stepped a foot, I whispered.

"It's been 3 years, Ryland Etchel Velo. But...You still never cared."