Pain Of Her Thorns

Prologue

I miss her, so much that all that I could think is all about her.

I look down at my table full of magazines with her photos as the front cover page of every luxurious brand all around the world.

Wala paring kupas ang kagandahang taglay nya, She's still beautiful with those long black hair and eyes, small nose and heart shape lips, everything about her is perfect.

If only... If only I made the right choice, edi sana hanggang ngayon magkasama pa kami.

I let go a heavy sighed, trying to hold back the tears forming in my eyes. Damn it naiiyak na naman ako.

Bakit ba ang hina ko? Ang tagal na noong naghiwalay kami, noong iniwan ko sya ng walang paalam. It's been 9 years but the fresh wound left in my heart all this years still ache.

I should move on and face the reality na hindi kami pwede.

Dahil kahit mahal namin ang isa't-isa. Sa lalaki pa rin kami ikakasal.

I heard a knock from my office door kaya agad kong inayos ang sarili ko bago ito sinabihan na pumasok.

I heard the door open at paglingon ko ay nakita ko na naman sya, holding a bouquet of red roses, my favorite.

But not if he's the one holding it.

A warm smile was plastered on his face and tried to lean closer and kiss me on the cheek but I looked away. Na-gets nya siguro na ayaw ko kaya lumayo sya and just gave me the flowers.

I cleared my throat bago kunin iyon "Anong kailangan mo?" Malamig kong tanong. I looked up and saw his expression change from a warm smile to a blank face.

"Hanggang ngayon ba ay umaasa kang babalikan ka nya?" Hindi ako sumagot, bagkus ay nilagay ko lamang sa katabi kong trash bin ang bulaklak na bigay nya at inayos ang mga magazines. "I don't need your opinion about my personal life-"

"I'm your fiancé Dahlia-"

"You're not my fiancé. Ilang beses na kitang tinanggihan ngunit ayaw mong tumigil." His jaw clench and raised his hand to hit me ngunit napatigil sya ng biglang bumukas ulit ang pinto.

"Anong nangyayari dito?" Matigas na tanong ni Ate. He quickly shoved his hand on his pocket and faced her with a smile "Nothing Sister-in-law, nag-uusap lang kami about our upcoming marriage. Hindi ba mahal?"

Lumingon sya sa akin ngunit ang titig ko ah nakatingin lang kay Ate, giving her the 'Help me to get out of him' eyes.

I caught her roll her eyes bago nya tinulak papalayo ang lalaking eto sa harapan ko at hinila ako papatayo "May I borrow my sister for a moment? May pag-uusapan lang kami."

Hindi na nag-hintay si ate sa magiging sagot nya at mabilis akong hinatak paalis. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her arm "Hindi mo talaga ako matitiis noh?" I teased ngunit pinitik nya lamang ang noo ko "Oh shut up, You owe me a gelato for this one,"

"Sige ilan ba ang gusto mo?" I asked " tatlong milyon, ano kaya mo?" I Pouted my lips ngunit hindi nya ako pinansin at nagpatuloy lang kami sa paglalakad.

"By the way, How's the Café doing?"

The Café de la rama floreciente has been a hit all around the world after 'she' promoted the Café in her social media accounts years ago. Naging number one sya kaya nakapag-patayo na rin ako nang iba't ibang branch ng Café sa lahat ng sulok sa mundo.

"It's fine Ate, The Café is doing great. And the-" Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko when I heard my phone ring. Napatigil kami sa paglalakad kasabay ng pagkuha ko sa aking telepono and answered the call.

" Ma'am! Ma'am may gulo dito sa Branch natin sa may Antipolo Ma'am! Sinisigawan po ng isang customer ang lahat at walang magawa itong Manager namin para mapatahimik sya. Ma'am please kailangan namin ang tulong mo ma'am!"

" It's okay Betty, sige papunta na ako," I reassured my hopeless employee bago i hang-up ang tawag.

Kinuwento ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Betty kay Ate and she just stared at me with a disgusted face " Seriously? Anong silbi ng Manager na iyan kung simpleng Amazonang Customer hindi nya mapatino, They're useless, all of them. Sana tumawag na lang sila ng pulis kaysa istorbuhin ka nila,"

" It's fine it's still my job to help my employee-"

" No it's their job not yours. Ang tanging trabaho mo lang ay siguraduhin na lalago ang kompanya mo by talking to investors and more. Hindi mo trabaho ang makipag-usap sa isang war freak na Customer. Argh seriously people these days,"

Nagpatuloy sya sa pagsasalita hanggang sa makasakay kami sa kotse ko. I didn't bother to shut her up dahil sisigawan nya lamang ako kung gagawin ko iyon.

Hanggang ngayon kasi, maiksi pasensya nya.

Pagdating namin sa Café ay napansin kong marami na ang nagsisi-alisan na costumer "See? See the negative impact of not assigning proper people for the job? Edi sana ngayon punong puno ang Café de la rama floreciente kung magaling 'yang manager na iyan. That person should be fired dahil wala naman syang kwenta."

Hindi ko pinansin si Ate at naglakad lamang papasok sa Café. My employees were there, attempting to persuade the others to stay. The manager was attempting to calm down a screaming girl with ginger hair as some people had their phones up recording everything.

"Imposibleng wala kayo ngayong minion shake! Nabasa ko sa website nyo na hanggang May 28 pa available iyon sa lahat ng branch nyo!"

"Ma'am please calm down, I'm sad to say this to you pero limited nga lang po sa isang araw ang Minion shake namin. At nakuhs na po ng isang customer ang huling-"

"Edi kunin mo sa kanya 'yung shake! Wala akong pakeelam kung paano mo magagawan ito ng paraan but I'm demanding you to give me a Minion shake! Dahil iyon ang gusto ng pamangkin ng best friend ko!"

I fixed my gaze to the girl dahil mukhang na-mumukhahan ko sya. She seemed familiar but I don't know where ko sya huling nakita.

I walked towards them and held the woman's arm when she tried to hit him. She seemed shocked and angry at the same time kaya nilipat nya ang tingin nya sa akin.

She was staring at my serious expression, and I could see her eyes widening. "That's against my Café's policy, young Lady, and you are not permitted to hit a staff member just because you want it. "

She didn't say anything at first and just continue to study my appearance. "Ikaw.. ikaw si-" before she could go on. Someone yelled her name that makes me stunned.

That voice..

I turned to look at her and noticed that she was looking in our direction with a lovely face. Even if she wears a mask, I can still tell who she is because of those stunning eyes she owns.

Adira...