Celestial Strings Tied To You

Chapter 08

"Your dress is in your room. Call me when you're done changing, so that I can send your glam team to your room." Tumango lang ako bilang tugon sa sinabi ni Mom.

Naligo ako ulit kahit konting oras nalang ang natira dahil siyempre gusto ko pa rin maging fresh. Besides, pupunta si Vince mamaya kaya dapat lang na maganda ako ngayon. Palagi pa naman akong mukhang bruha sa univ.

I wore a deep crimson one-shoulder gown, the sequins catching every bit of light like I was meant to be seen. It hugged my waist just right, the soft ruching drawing attention without trying too hard. The slit ran high up my leg.

My make up did not disappoint either. My make up artist kept it simple, just how I liked it. Light base, soft blush, a little shimmer on the eyes, and mascara to open them up. My lips had this deep red shade that matched the dress—matte, nothing too shiny. I barely recognized myself when she was done, but somehow, it still felt like me.

As for my hair, my hair stylist left it down, parted softly to the side, with loose waves that framed my face just right. Nothing too styled. Just enough to look effortless, like I didn’t try too hard. It moved with me, soft and natural, balancing the boldness of the dress.

Everything is just perfect.

"Oh my gosh! You are such a goddess! You got my looks!" Mom exclaimed when I went downstairs.

Ako ang pinakamatagal na natapos kaya marami nang dumating na guest. And now, nasa akin ang atensyon nila.

"She gets prettier year by year." I smiled and thanked Mom's friend.

Yeah, right. Masiyado akong prepared para sa event na 'to every year, pero palagi lang naman ako mag-isa. Not when I was dating Rence though. And now that I have Vince.

"Julie, wow. You're just..." His mouth formed "o" tapos tinakpan niya ito gamit ang kanang kamay niya. "You're gorgeous and it's distracting." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at tumawa lang siya.

"Hello to you too, Vince," sarcastic kong sabi. "Ito siguro ang unang beses na nakita kita sa event na 'to."

Naglalakad lang kami hanggang nakarating kami sa garden kung saan kaming dalawa lang.

"Not for me. Palaging invited ang family ko kaya palagi rin akong present. Every year, nakikita kita, Julie. Palagi ka lang mag-isa pero hindi ko magawang lapitan ka. Hanggang sa nakita kitang may kasama na... your ex."

Mukhang nagdalawang-isip pa talaga siyang sabihin 'yun.

"Iyon ang unang beses na nakita kitang tumatawa. Tapos nagulat nalang ako isang araw na nasa subdivision ka namin. Nakita kitang lumabas sa bahay ni Rence kaya sinundan kita. You probably don't know this, pero muntik ka nang masagasaan."

My jaw almost drop. Nanglaki ang mga mata ko sabay sabing, "Ano?!"

"It may sound insane pero pumunta ako sa harap ng kotse dahil mukhang hindi mo ito—"

"Baliw ka ba?!"

"Kita mo namang buhay pa ako ngayon." Inirapan ko siya. "Hindi mo talaga 'yun napansin. Pero anyway, sinundan lang kita hanggang sa bigla ka nalang nakarating sa bahay namin. Parang wala ka talaga sa sarili mo noon." Bumuntong-hininga ako.

It was so hard to remember.

"I was really struggling that time. Hirap na hirap na ako sa pag-aaral ko. Dumating ako sa punto na parang ayoko na dahil araw-araw ko nalang tinatanong ang sarili ko kung nasa tamang landas pa ba ako. Pakiramdam ko hindi para sa'kin ang kinuha ko. Pakiramdam ko hindi ako magiging successful. Gulong-gulo ako sa sarili ko nun. It was like I was having an identity crisis and Rence was the one who was there with me... pero iniwan niya ako. He betrayed me. Sinabi niya na wala akong oras sa kanya. Pero sa panahong 'yun, binigay ko naman lahat ng pwede kong ibigay. He wasn't just contented."