The One That Got Away

Chapter 2: Shakespeare's Sonnet 120

"Lakas namang mangonsensya..."

"Whatever works, 'di ba?"

"Okay, requirements."

"Hindi seryoso."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"'Yung gusto n'ya lang ng companionship, ayaw sa kumplikasyon, at higit sa lahat matalino. Summa Cum Laude 'yung makakalaban n'ya, dapat matalino s'ya. And he should know that I'm not serious about the relationship and I just want a good time."

"Good time like sex?"

"Alam mo ang dumi ng isip mo."

George laughed. "So, walang sex na kasama?"

"Punyeta ka, ibinubugaw mo ako? Bakit, nag-aano na ba kayo ni Moira?"

"Grabe ka, ang inosente ng girlfriend ko 'tapos dudumihan mo?"

"Ako nga h'wag mong pinagloloko, oo inosente si Moira pero ikaw hindi."

"Ang sama mo sa akin. But, I just might have the man for you. His name is Devon Aboitiz."

"Sounds familiar..."

"Kilala mo rin s'ya but he's two years older than you. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He had a girlfriend for six years but one of their friends got her pregnant so he's understandably heartbroken that's why he's back in the country."

"Wait, s'ya 'yung nakita natin sa Insignia, 'di ba? 'Yung lumapit sa table natin?"

"Yes, he tried asking for your number but you turned him down."

"Because he was dead ass drunk."

George laughed. "Brokenhearted nga, eh. May hitsura naman, 'di ba?"

I nodded. "Oo."

"Do you want me to set you up on a date with him?"

"Sure."

That date was a catastrophe – Devon couldn't stop talking about his ex and we ended up weeping like those characters in Dumb and Dumber.

"Walang pag-asa itong love life ko talaga," I told my cousin two weeks later after another unsuccessful blind date.

"She's back..."

"Sino na naman 'yan, George? He and kailangan ko at hindi she—"

"Si Paige...Harold's ex, she's back...wala lang, gusto ko lang sabihin sa'yo. I want you prepared just in case they'd get back together—"

"Enough. Hindi ako interesado sa kanilang dalawa. It took me months to finally forgive myself. And now that I have, I don't want anything to do my life's biggest mistake also known as Harold Thelonious Canlas."

But, luck was never on my side; a few days later, I met Paige and her mother at a mall.

"Shey!" She hugged me happily and I knew that I shouldn't feel guilty because you weren't together when that night happened but I couldn't help it.

"Uy, kailan ka pa dumating?"

"Last week. Kumusta ka na? I heard you just came back from the States, too. Mukhang hiyang na hiyang ka d'un, ah, you're glowing."

I smiled. "You look fab as always, Paige."

"Did you delete your Facebook? Hindi kasi kita mahanap. Unless you blocked me pala..." She laughed.

"Ahh...I deactivated my social media accounts..."

"Kaya pala. I tried contacting you through e-mail, too, but I got an error message saying that the account does not exist. I want to send you an invitation. Ikakasal na kasi ako."