Avery Montemayor - He's No Prince Charming

Chapter Thirty

We stayed in Calagua for a few more days. Well, some of us. Iyong mga nakapagfile ng leave sa mga trabaho namin at hindi naman kailangang lumipad agad pabalik ng Manila. The newly weds, however, flew to Bali the next day after the wedding.

"I'm really making the most out of this short vacation. Hindi ko akalaing kakailanganin ko nga talaga itong leave na ito." ani Accel habang nakatanaw sa malawak na dagat sa aming harapan.

Pareho kaming nagpapahinga sa sun lounger at nanunuod sa mga kasamang natutuwa sa iba't ibang activities.

"That's true, actually." Then I stretched my arms and put them behind me for support. "My parents have been pestering me to go on a vacation and I have been telling them that I didn't need one. But now that we're actually here and not doing any work... I realized they were right. Parang napakatagal kong hindi nakapagrelax ng ganito!"

"Well that's because you keep on bailing on us!" irap niya. "Ilang beses ka naming niyaya pero hindi ka sumasama."

"Worked really just piled up." I smiled apologetically.

Ngumiti si Accel at umiling. "I'm just kidding, Shan. I understand. At saka hindi naman kami totally nagwoworry because we know that Kace won't let you exhaust yourself to death with work. Iyon lang naman kasi yata talaga ang makakapagpatigil sa iyo sa trabaho para magpahinga."

Ngayon naman ay ako ang napairap sa kanyang tinuran. Nang-asar pa talaga!

"You know what, Shan? I'm genuinely happy for the both of you. Alam kong nasabi ko na ito sa iyo last time but I'm happy that you found your happiness with Kace. Sobrang...bagay kayo na dati pa lang actually I was secretly hoping that you guys would be together. And finally! After five years here you are!"

"Thank you, Accel..." I squeezed the hand she reached out to me.

"You know... Nag-usap na kami ni Avery..."

Nilingon niya ako, nanlalaki ang mga mata at kulang na lang ay yugyugin ako.

"What?! When?!" umikot na siya sa kanyang upuan para harapin ako ng buo. "Bakit hindi ka nagsasabi sa amin?!"

"Remember when I went out to call my secretary during the reception? I think...he followed me and that's when we talked... Well, more like that's when he explained his side."

"And?" her face was full of expectation that I couldn't help but chuckle. "Huwag mo akong tawanan Shantell Alvarado! I want details! Pangatlong araw na natin dito at ngayon mo lang talaga sinabi? Kung kelan wala na rito sina Ei at Justice!" nauna na kasing umuwi iyong dalawa. Si Eireann may family affair, while Justice has to resume her shoot.

"Dahil hindi ko alam paano ko ikukwento!" depensa ko. "I'm sorry, okay? It's just that... Accel, I still can't absorb what he told me that night."

Tinitigan niya ako na para bang mahahanap niya sa mukha ko ang sagot. Nang ngumiti siya ng malungkot, napangiti na rin ako dahil nabasa na naman niya ang mga mata ko kahit wala pa akong sinasabi.

"Him explaining his side now doesn't erase the fact that he broke you five years ago, Shan..." iling niya. "And more so if...if he actually loved you but still chose to break you like that before."

"I know, Accel." I said, sighing heavily. "I guess... I guess that talk was really just for closure. Nasabi na niya lahat. Wala na akong sasabihin. So, it's all done now."

"Is it really? Tapos na ba talaga?"

"What do you mean, Accel? Are you trying to imply that I still am not done with him?"

"No, Shan..." she shook her head and reached for my arm. "I know that you've moved on from him. Kilala kita. You're not the type of person who will pretend to be something you're not. At lalo tungkol sa ganito. What I'm trying to say is... Paano kung para sa iyo ay tapos na pero sa kanya... kay Avery, hindi pa?"