Chasing My Love [Completed]

Chapter 11

Saritha was staring at her wonderful architectural design. It was her dream house. And she wants to set it up at home... back in the Philippines. Perhaps on a cliff or any land that's high enough to provide a fantastic view during day and night.

She smiled to herself and opened the curtains of her apartment in Singapore City. The area was quiet because it was a weekend. Just then, a doorbell came at napatingin siya sa relo. Clock says 8AM. 

Pinagbuksan niya ang nagdoorbell and saw a delivery boy. May inabot itong kahon sa kanya at pinag-sign siya saka umalis. She went back inside to open the package.

"A Cartier love bracelet?" she asked herself in annoyance. Kilala na niya kung sino ang nagbigay noon. She checked the date today and true enough, it was February 10. Their anniversary. 

Napailing na lamang siya. She couldn't believe the fact that she was married to a stranger. It seemed so long ago. Five years... and yet they were only together for about a month. Hindi niya alam kung paano siya napapayag ng mga magulang niya na magpakasal sa isang estranghero. Was she really that young and naive then? Or was she just too much of a goody-goody? Like how her husband viewed her to be.

Itinago niya ang box kasama ng ibang mga anniversary gifts nito the past few years na nasa jewelry drawer niya at hindi nagagamit. And now, she thinks it's the right time. Uuwi na siya sa Pilipinas para ipatayo ang dream house niya. She will also takeover her family's architectural firm. And finally, she has the courage to file for annulment anumang sabihin ng mga magulang niya.

*****

It was just her second day in Manila pero talagang bored na bored na siya. It was a weekend at binigyan siya ng mga magulang niya ng sarili niyang condo para tigilan muna habang naghahanap siya ng bibilhing lote para sa dreamhouse niya. 

"Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sobrang ganda mo, sis," tili ni Josh nang papasukin niya ito sa condo niya. It has been five years since they last saw each other in Manila pero hindi nawala ang pagkakaibigan nila dahil bumibisita ito sa Singapore paminsan-minsan.

"Grabe ka naman! At ikaw naman, sobrang fab mo pa rin!" ganting bati niya at isinarado ang pinto matapos papasukin si Josh.

"Posh condo! Ano pa kayang magiging itsura ng bahay mo pag napatayo mo na 'yon?" he exclaimed as he looked around.

"Naghahanap pa nga ako ng magandang location! Tulungan mo naman ako please!"

"Oo naman, sis." At umupo ito sa white couch sa grand sala. "I love the theme. All white looks so chic and clean. Very classy."

"Hindi ba boring?" nag-aalangang tanong niya.

Umiling ito. "Ano ka ba, Sari? You're classy. Whoever said this is boring is blind!"

She just smiled at herself. She doesn't know why but she hated that word. Iniiwasan niyang matawag na boring ever in her life again. Could this be a trauma or something?

"May pinapabigay ang guard sa baba. A special invitation came for you!" At iniabot ni Josh ang invitation sa kanya.

She opened the envelope at binasa ang nasa loob niyon. "An outreach invite.  Oh my God! This is one of the ideas I shared with Atticus sa Singapore. The invite is from Atticus!"

"Atticus? 'Yung gwapong school mate natin dati?"

"Na kaibigan ko from Singapore! It turned out he was also in Singapore for some training or additional business studies while I was there as well. Nauna lang siyang umuwi dito ng ilang weeks, I think. But he's back as well!" kwento ni Saritha.

"So siya ba ang Singapore sweetheart mo?" tiling tanong ni Josh.

Binato niya iyon ng throwpillow. "Syunga!"

"Sus! Makadefend. Alam naman nating may asawa-"

"Hoy!!! Sssshhh!" she said at dali-daling tinakpan ang bibig ng kaibigan. At nang masigurong tahimik ito ay binitiwan na niya ito.

"Anong drama iyon? May ibang makakarinig ba satin? May kasama ka ba dito?"

"Baka marinig ka ng universe!" she said. "Ayokong may ibang makakaalam noon, okay? Sa mata ng lahat, he was just an ex or a previous lover or a big mistake or whatever! Just not that word!"

Josh just looked at her funnily. "Ewan ko sayo. Bahala ka diyan sa outreach mo!"

****

The next day, Sari was all dressed up for an outreach camping. Nalaman niyang tumutulong ang kumpanya nina Atticus to build schools in Sta. Monica, Batangas for less fortunate children na walang perang pampaaral at para sa maliit na barangays doon na walang facilities para makapagturo sa mga bata.

Armed with her overnight backpack, naghintay siya sa lobby para sunduin ng kaibigang si Atticus. She just waited for about five minutes and saw the car he described pull up on the driveway of her condo's basement. Dali-dali siyang lumabas at sumakay sa sasakyan to greet her friend.

"Oh my gosh! I cannot believe this!!! You're actually here in the Philippines, Atticus," she said. Sari remembered how Atticus swore never to go back home.

Just then, she noticed a woman beside him in the passenger seat of the car.

"How have you been? Long time no see," sagot ni Atticus.

She just laughed. "Kailangan kasi ako pa ang pumunta ng Singapore para makita ka. Gosh! You're so hard to catch, Atticus," pambobola niya sa kaibigan. They both didn't know na papunta silang Singapore five years ago. Nagtagpo lang ang mga landas nila ng makita siya ng binatang naglalasing mag-isa sa bar sa Orchard.

"Anyway, this is my stepsister Celine. She'll come with us," pakilala ni Atticus sa katabing babae.

"Hi, Sari!" the woman greeted as she faced her.

And recognition hit her. "Oh my God! You're Celine? His one true love?" tawang-tawang tinitigan niya ang babae.

"What?" Celine asked, cluelessly.

"Alam mo bang nang nalasing si Atticus sa Singapore in a bar, wala siyang ginawa kundi isigaw ang pangalan mo. I needed to pacify him dahil muntik na siyang magsimula ng away doon!" 

She saw how Celine's face was shocked and then, she smiled.

"I'm Saritha, by the way. People call me Sari or Rita," pakilala niya ulit with her full name.

"You're Yego's ex?" manghang-manghang tanong ni Celine.

Nalukot bigla ang mukha ni Saritha sa narinig. And she saw how Atticus burst into laughter. Walanghiya talaga ang lalaking iyon! Ipinagkalat pa ang nakaraan nila ni Yego! "Excuse me! Binasted ko ang lalaking iyon. Hindi naging kami ever. Hindi niya ako tinanong kung puwede niya ba akong maging girlfriend. Kapal talaga ng mukha," kumento niya. Totoo naman. Hindi naging sila ever. Ikinasal na lang sila basta ng mga magulang nila.

"So why are you here then if not for Yego?"

"I only came here because the idea was mine." Napaisip siya. Will Yego be in the outreach as well? And she brushed the thought away. "Gusto kong makita kung ano ng nangyari doon. I'm part of a foundation for children working on various causes for poor kids."

"Yego initiated the project," singit ni Atticus. "Three years ago, he asked me and Aries for funding dahil gusto niyang matulungan ang mga bata sa Sta. Monica. I think your love for kids drove him to do this as well, Sari."

"So he's your ex from three years ago?" Celine asked.

Five years ago! "Hindi ko nga siya ex ever," Sari denied na ikinapatawa naman ni Celine.

Napamura na lamang sa isipan niya si Saritha. She went to this outreach para maging mabuti sa mga bata. Pero kung nandito pala ang nag-iisang taong iniiwasan niya, sana ay hindi na lamang siya nagpunta. She prayed to all the gods na sana ay wala doon si Yego. Sana ay hindi ito inimbita ni Atticus.