Twisted and Turned. { NashLene }

PROLOGUE.

Wishes

It's been days since the management informed him and I of their sudden change of plans. But it still hasn't sinked in.

I should be happy, shouldn't I? I wanted this. I used to wish for this. But now that it became reality, why does it feel wrong? Why can't I find any trace of delight in my being?

Dahil ba may masasaktan? Dahil ba nasanay na akong iba ang aking kasama? O dahil natatakot akong bumalik ang mga damdaming pilit kong ibinaon sa limot?

Bumalik sa aking alaala ang nangyaring pagpupulong...

Prente kaming nakaupo habang hinihintay ang aming mga boss. Walang kamalay-malay sa iaanunsiyo nilang makakapagpabago ng aming buhay.

"Kumusta ka na?" tanong ng kanyang katabi sa kanya.

Maaliwalas ang kanyang mukha pati na rin ang kanyang awra. Iba talaga siguro ang epekto kapag ika'y may sinisinta, nagiging blooming ka. That idea doesn't sit well on me.

Pilit kong ngumiti, "Buhay pa naman. Ikaw? Rinig ko, going strong kayo ni Alexa..." may himig nang panunudyo ang huli kong sinabi.

I didn't receive those awards for nothing. Mukhang naisabuhay ko na nga talaga ang pagiging isang batikang artista.

Kuminang ang kanyang mga mata nang marinig ang kanyang pangalan. Napangiti naman ako nang mapait ngunit mabilis ko itong iwinaksi.

"We're doing great." was all he said but I know great is an understatement of how well their relationship is going.

Biyaheng forever na siguro silang dalawa...

As for me?

I don't know...

8 years ago, I got everything figured out. I had a definite loveteam and our feelings were mutual though we haven't voiced them, I was sure that what we had was something special.

The way he would look at me, the way his eyes sparkle with the mention of my name, the way he held my hand... It's all different. It's far from being friends.

But at this same place 7 years ago, my plans were burned to ashes. Napunta sa iba ang kaloveteam ko at ganoon din ako. They said they wanted to experiment and help the other two rise to stardom.

Nahirapan akong mag-adjust nang mga panahon na iyon. Lahat ng nakasanayan kong gawin kasama siya ay madalang o hindi na namin nagagawa. Bawal na rin kaming magpost ng kung ano-ano tungkol sa isa't-isa.

Those years sucked. We got contented with texting and facetiming. Our budding romance was hidden in the closet to cater to their new marketing strategy.

Hanggang sa unti-unting nawala ang koneksiyon naman sa isa't-isa. No chats. No calls. No texts anymore. We bacame estranged ; two different persons in two different worlds.

Nakakapanghinayang. Kung sana ay hindi ako pumayag. If I just became a bit egoistic. Siguro, kaming dalawa pa rin...

Pero ngayon, maligaya na siya sa piling ng bago niyang kaloveteam at kapartner sa buhay. Oh how time flew.

"Ikaw, I heard you've been going into dates." siniko pa niya ako.

"Oo but nothing serious." sagot ko.

Yes, I've went to dates with different men but I just can't find someone who'll enchant me the way this man did.

"Okay lang yan, Shar. Dadating din siya." pang-aalo niya.

Hindi siya dadating Nash. Babalik siya. Pero parang malabong mangyari iyon ngayong kuntento na siya sa piling ng iba.

"Sana nga bumalik siya Nash." I managed to fake a smile but not as believable as the one I did earlier.