The Third Side of a Love Story

Chapter 6

Kung pwede ko lang ipagpaliban ang rehearsal ay ginawa ko na ngunit hindi pwede. Konti nalang ang mga natitirang araw para ipagpaliban pa ito. Besides, I want to see Justin to see how innocent he look while he's having someone else behind my back.

Iyon ay kung tama nga ang hinala ko.

Hindi ko na hinantay si mom at dumeretso na ako palabas ng sasakyan. I went straight to my room and lay on my bed. I hugged a pillow thinking I can use it to ease the pain I'm feeling.

Habang nakahiga, I saw a picture frame on my bedside table. It was a picture of me and Justin when we graduated highschool. Last year lang ito nakuhanan.

We were smiling at the picture while holding our diplomas. His one arm is wrapped around my shoulder while I held him in his waist. Kahit sino siguro ang makakita sa larawang ito ay mapagkakamalan na magkarelasyon kami.

'We look good together, Ven.'

I remember him saying that out of nowhere that time. God knows how many butterflies I felt in my stomach when he said that. Buong araw ko hindi matagal ang ngiti ko. Mas masaya pa ako noon sa sinabi niya kaysa dahil naka graduate na kami.

And still now, I am holding on to that hope. That maybe one day, he'll realize that he's slowly falling in love with me.

But those hope are slowly fading away again because as we mature, his world is getting bigger. He began to meet people without me knowing. May mga kaibigan at kakilala na siyang hindi ko alam.

At kasama na roon ang kung sino mang babae na iyon.

***

I use the remaining time freshen up when Mom told me that my friends and cousins are already here. Nagpalit lamang ako ng damit at nag-ayos ng kaunti. I tied my hair in a messy bun leaving a few strands to style. I check myself in the mirror and thinking if the short and simple shirt is already okay.

Even though I'm not in the mood. I still want to look good because that's the only thing that will remain constant. Kahit masaktan pa ako ng paulit ulit, never in my life Justin will have the chance to see me literally looking devastated.

When I make sure that I look good, bumaba na ako at hinanap sila. Doon ako itinuro ni manang sa basketball court sa likod ng mansion.

It's a half court dad built for my older brother Vincent. Noong bata pa siya, tuwang tuwa siya na mayroon siyang ganito sa bahay. He even played with dad back then but when he grew up, things have changed.

Dad became busy on his business while Vincent began to focus on his study fulfilling his dream to become a doctor. Kaya mula noon, nagagamit na lamang ito whenever my younger cousins came by to visit. The court is spacious enough to use for the rehearsal.

"Ven is here!" One of my cousin shout.

Napalingon sila ng dumating ako. Tama nga si mom, nandito na sila. I smile at them nang makalapit ako.

My girl friends, Joan and Brianna are busy talking with Yexel and Gio. While Gia, is just sitting on the corner next to the girls quietly scrolling on her phone.

Three of my cousins also came. Isa sa kanila ay babae at dalawang lalaki. They're my cousins on my dad's side. Pinili ko sila dahil sila lang ang mga kaedad ko at dahil kailangan ko rin ng dalawa pang magka partner para sa cotillion. At isa pang lalaki to pair with one my girl friends. Dahil paniguradong kulang kami.