Amor Unico (Only Love)

Chapter 3

Canaria

It has been exactly a week since I last saw him. Today is Monday again at base sa huli naming paguusap namin ni Reid, Monday siya babalik kina Dahlia di ba? Sometimes, gusto ko na lang gumawa ng alibi para pumunta kina Dahlia, para makita ko siya.

Bakit Canaria? Akala ko ba hindi mo miss?
I actually don't know. With Reid,all of my emotions are tangled up.

"Sigurado ka bang na me-mental block ka talaga? Puring puri ka na nga sa mga prof natin eh. Favorite ka pa ng mga seniors. Sana all." umirap si Fiona. Childhood friend and Blockmate ko din.

Napangiti lang ako. Minsan naiisip ko may sama na ng loob sakin tong si Fiona eh, hindi ko naman kasalanan na napasa sa akin ang talino ng mga magulang ko.

Hindi rin ako sanay na nagca-cram.
Since nagstart ako mag aral, I always wanted to be the best. I have set the highest expectations I can for myself. Kailangan ko rin kasi. I am the eldest. May kambal akong kapatid na alam kong iniidolo ako masayado.

Thanks to the hardwork of my parents and the older generation of my family, The Escuderos, we are truly blessed. Hindi namin naranasan magutom or maghirap unlike the older generations my dad mentioned before.

Sabi pa ni Dad, we owe it all to them kaya dapat we always have to aim for the best. Ganun din ang mga pangaral nila sa mga pinsan ko kaya alam ko masisipag sila kasi we don't wanna go our ancestors' hardwork go to waste.

"Sama ka sa birthday ni Austin? Mamaya na yun ah. " Paalala ni Kierra, kaklase din namin.

"Di pa ako nagpapaalam kina Dad, baka hindi ako payagan."

Si Austin yung inaakala ni Reid na boyfriend ko. Kung paano niya nalaman ay hindi ko alam. Baka kay Dahlia? Imposible. Masyadong mahina ang katawan ni Dahlia para maitsismis pa ito sa pinsan niya.

"Nag-away kayo? or you dumped him already?" Si Kierra ulit.

"Yes and No. Ayaw ko ng pagusapan. Please let's change the topic, girls."

After that incident with Reid, parang nailang ako harapin si Austin. He is a friend from my school organisation, turned suitor. Di ko rin ineexpect na magtatapat siya right after his recent breakup from his girlfriend. I felt like he was using me as an excuse. But then mas naging showy siya sa feelings niya lately, and I know it's my fault too, for leading him on.

Whe Austin and I met, I am a just a sophomore and he was a transfer student. The school organisation brought us together along with other few people pa. I treated him like any other friend. Little did I know he had been adding other meanings to it.

I went to his parents house the next day, told him about my engagement to Reid, cleared some things and we kinda fought. Hindi siya naniniwala. He said I am just making excuses, and it is the first time na narinig ko siyang magtaas ng boses. Just showed how little I know about him at all. So I walked out on him. I may be a little too insensitive on that part but I don't deserve that. Not even my own parents raised their voices on me.

"Someone is looking at you, Cans. Nine'o clock. Hottie."

Medyo naguluhan pa ako kay Kierra. Nakakunot ang noo ko habang tumingin sa direksyong sinabi niya. Palinga linga pa ako hanggang sa tuluyan kong masilayan ang tinutukoy niya.

"What is he doing here?"

Napatayo ako. I looked at my surroundings and saw that literally everyone in the cafeteria is staring at him intensely.

Well, Who wouldn't? It is not everyday that the Villafuerte heir would come to this old school cafeteria.
Wearing a casual white polo shirt tucked in dark grey tight fitted jeans, Reid started walking his way to me.

"Is that Reid? Your so called fiancé? "
Kierra asked. Clearly amazed by the man who's now nearing us.

"The one and only, Ke. Told you so many times, Canaria's fiancée is so godlike."
Si Fiona na ang sumagot.
She even waved her hand to him.
Parang kinikilig pa itong kaibigan ko.
"You have plans pala, girl?" Tanong pa niya sabay tingin sa akin.

I shook my head as an answer. Kierra is still stunned on her seat while Fiona grinned as if I am lying. Hindi na ako nakasagot pa dahil namalayan ko na lang na nasa harap ko na si Reid.

"What are you doing here?"
I asked him straight on. This is the first time na pumasok siya sa school. I mean I know he went here sometimes to do business for his family but it is always in the administration building. And this is definitely not it. We're on the other side of the campus.

He has been looking straight to my eyes all this time. He barely acknowledged the presence of my friends. Alam ko namang seryoso siyang tao, but he is way too serious for today. His eyes are too dark and if I am not mistaken, tired. Work must be hard for him these days.
I heard him sighed before finally opening his lips.

"We need to talk. Now."

"I still have class. And can't you just text me? Why bother going here pa?"
I quickly replied.

He slowly sat down on the seat I was occupying earlier. He covered his eyes with his one hand and the other reached for mine.
Fiona's eyes enlarged as hell. Yes, Fiona, and I had grown together with Reid but this is the first time she saw this part of Reid. The vulnerable one.

I got worried. This side of Reid had always been a rare sight to see. And we're in a public place. I turned my head quickly and see that everyone is now minding their own business. I looked around once more and saw there are lot of guys in black suits. Fortunately, I saw Hector, one of Reid's security. He nodded to me.

I sighed before reaching a seat beside Reid. He's still holding my hand. Looking so gloomy. I reached for the other covering his eyes. I noticed a bit of shade of red in his eyes. Maybe he didn't even get a wink of sleep too.

I straightened my seat as I asked him, "What happened, Reid?".

He finally opened his eyes. Now both of his hands are holding mine. I started to get worried.

"Is it Dahlia? What happened to her? Is she okay?" I managed to ask. My voice almost cracked.

He raised his eyes. Looked around and saw my friends still there, he looked again to  me as if assessing if it's okay to talk about it with them. I nodded to him.
Fiona and Kierra knew that Dahlia's had been absent for weeks due to poor health. They are also worried for her.

Reid arranged himself. He took another deep breath before saying words I wished he would just take back.

"It's cancer, baby. The doctor confirmed it this morning."

Just then,  I felt like my whole world had stopped.