Bifemme Short stories

Revealing The Final Plan Part 2

[continuation of THE FINAL PLAN]

"You what?!"

I tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to Reeze.

I told her that it started from the time that Valentina Levesque defeated me in the client presentation. The time when Mr. Pascual offered me my desired position by supporting his plan and accepted it. I told her that Mr. Pascual carefully managed to delay Val's application for citizenship and I was the one reported to immigration about the appointing day so that we can kick her out in the company. It was all the General Accounting Manager's idea. And now that he's holding me on my neck I wanted to reveal it not just to Reeze but to all other executives of the company. But I need help.

"You were his accomplice. You're impossible." Teeth gritted as Reeze looking sharp to me.

It's almost a whisper but I heard it like a big gong breaking my ear drums.

"I did it for you. I did it so we can be together again. Because I thought you belong to me and not to that woman. Because I want you to realize that your relationship with her is a mistake. And... and... I want you back." Rapidly talking while clenching my jaw saying the last phrase to the girl I did not see the importance then.

"No, Jeric! No! You did it all for yourself. You did it for your selfish dream." Her eyes narrowed.

"I know you're doing this to hurt me. To revenge. To prove to me that I was wrong leaving you." My eyes bored into her when she scoffed, disagreeing of what I said. My ego hurt when I saw her expression.

"I will understand you better if you replaced me with a m-ma..." I can't help it, I almost tell Reeze about the thing I always wanted to voice out, but she cut me.

"Stop! That's it Jeric. You really don't know me. You really don't." her hands waved of disappointment and stand up to leave.

"Don't leave, Reeze! Come back here!" I'm still holding back my tears because I don't want to show weakness.

She turned back and thought she realized I am right, but I was wrong.

"I really, really love her. You don't know how much I love Val. You don't know how much she means to me. And now, we're apart because of you. I want her back. Not you!" she said it in a slower phase and then her words broke into tears, her lower lip is trembling. She choked as if something stuck in her throat. I shut my eyes after she left.

Those words. It stabbed my heart like a hundred times, bleeding and dying. But compared to mine, hers is grief. Not because of my dying heart, but because of her loss. Loss of happiness, loss of reason to live. When I saw her eyes there's no rainbow unlike before. Before, when Val kissing her hand, when Val wrapping her arms around her, when Val was with her while I am rotting with jealousy. What I saw is grey and clouded eyes. I wanted to comfort her, but I know I'm not the one she needed right now. For the second time around, I hurt her. I thought I can bring her back, but no. I pushed her away. This time, much further.

For a couple of years searching. I cornered her coming out from a fast food chain in one of the malls in this little town of Cavite. I learned that she's working in a CPA Office as one of the staff.

I can't believe she's in a neighboring town, very near in Manila. Why I never thought of that. But she's living alone and Valentina is nowhere. I thought I can see them together.