Owned by a Billionaire (Monteverde Series 1)

60

"I'm happy now Cassidy." Nakangiting sabi Christian habang nakatingin sa nakatalikod na si Theia. She excused herself to go to the comfort room for a while. Third wheel nila ako ngayon. Psyche is with her boyfriend kaya hindi siya kasama ngayon. Yes, boyfriend. May boyfriend na nga ang bruha.

I gave Christian a fake smile. "I can see that. Good for you." Hindi ko mapigilang mabahiran ng bitterness ang tono ko. Am I the only one here who feels miserable?

Christian tapped my shoulder. "It's all thanks to you. Naalala mo nung umalis ka dati? Sabi mo dapat pagbalik mo kami na. I decided to make a move. If it weren't for your empty threats, then I wouldn't have had the courage to confess. If it weren't for those encouragements you gave me then I won't be happy now. Thanks Cassi."

Wow. Ang galing kong umayos ng pag-ibig ng iba. Samantalang yung sarili ko...

Napatingin nalang ako sa labas ng starbucks. I saw couples holding hands. Everywhere I look I see couples and it irritates me. It irritates me because it hurts. Kamusta na kaya siya? Ano kayang ginagawa niya ngayon? Is he still hurting just like me?

"Cassi, you have to make a move. In order for you to be happy you have to do something." May laman niyang saad. Bumuntong hininga ako at pinaglaruan ang straw ng macchiato ko. Bumalik na si Theia. She slid on the chair next to Christian.

"What's going on?" Nagtatakang tanong niya. Umiling nalang ako at pinilit kong ngumiti. Nagtaas siya ng kilay but she knows better than to press me for information so she just shrugged it off. We spent the day roaming the mall. I was in no mood to shop for myself so I just bought new clothes for the twins.

They wanted to watch a movie but I don't. I don't want to completely ruin their fine date so I just told them that I'd go home. Of course they both said no but I insisted. Sa huli hinayaan nalang nila ako. I boarded a cab and told the cabbie where I wanted him to drop me off.

Habang nasa taxi ako ay hindi ko mapigilang maalala ang gabing naospital si Drei. That was the night I cut ties with Aaron. That was the night I asked him to let me go and he did. That was the night I lost him forever.

Pagkatapos ng gabing yon ay hindi na uli siya nagpakita sakin. He regularly calls the twins at pinapasundo niya ito sa bahay. But he remained true to his words. When he bade his farewell, I actually felt that he meant it. I knew I had no right to cry and be broken about it but I was.

Ganon talaga siguro ang buhay. Hindi lahat ng gusto mo, makukuha mo. Hindi lahat ng gusto mo, nakatadhana para sayo. In two months, I'll be Drei's wife. I eyed the engagement ring on my finger. It felt painful to look at.

Pinadala to ni Aaron sa bahay the night Drei got discharged. After nung gabing pinili ko si Drei ay hindi ko na nakita pa ni ang anino ni Aaron. I cried every night, I regretted my decision every night and I think of him every day. Wasak na wasak na ang puso ko but I have to put it all together.

It's been ten days. Ten days of no Aaron. Ten long days of pure misery. But I have to endure. Ginusto ko ito diba? Huminto ang taxi sa tapat ng subdivision. I paid my fare then descended from the cab while holding the paperbags on my left hand.

Nakita ako ng guard at ngumiti ito. Tinanguan ko lang si Mang Caloy. "Maam, ang laki ng pinayat niyo! Okay lang po ba kayo?" Nag-aalalang sabi nito at ngumiti nalang ako. Wala na itong iba pang sinabi at dumeretso na ako papasok. Nagulat ako ng makitang naghihintay siya sa gate. Bumungad sakin ang nakangiti niyang mukha.

"Anong ginagawa mo diyan?" Tanong ko. He pouted at me. "Hinihintay ka. Masama bang hintayin ang pag-uwi ng fiancee ko? Masama ka bang mamiss?" Paglalambing niya. Nailang nalang ako. "Ewan ko sayo Drei. Baka makasinghot ka na naman ng alikabok. Pumasok ka na nga sa loob."