MISMATCH

Chapter 12 - Frances: Big Mistake

It's now or never.

I will tell him how I feel.

And then maybe, I can learn to let him go.

***

When I arrived back from Tagaytay with Tony, Tony insisted that we have dinner together. I had to come up with a good excuse to tell Matteo because he had hoped that after our trip, we would still be spending the day together. I told him I was tired and I figured he was, too, because he did drive us to Tagaytay and back all in one day. When I got to the restaurant, I gave Tony a hug. "What's up with you all of a sudden?"

His answer caught me off guard. "I just missed my best friend."

"Well, sorry I went AWOL on you for the past week."

"Nagpa-miss ka na naman." [You made me miss you]

I couldn't help but smile. "Did it work?"

He laughed. "Yeah it did. Sorry if I've been such a jerk to you."

"Huh?" Tony was really acting weird - and in a way it was quite surprisingly pleasant. "What's up with you, Tony? I'm getting the feeling that being out of touch with you is not a good idea." Could it be that he had another fight with Nicole? "So what's wrong now?"

He shook his head. "Actually, it was something Martin told me..." Then he told me that Martin told him that he believed Tony was taking me for granted. I have to admit that I wanted to kill Martin for telling Tony, but at the same time it was different hearing Tony admit it to me. "So if I did anything to make you feel that I only turned to you when I needed something..."

"Stupid. I'm your best friend. It's just that I had a lot on my mind recently. Some things that needed to be fixed..." I was glad Martin apparently didn't tell him the whole story, but it suddenly brought back the memories of what Martin and I talked about. I couldn't help but look away. If you only knew, Tony, there's more to the story than that...

"Care to share? Maybe I can help for a change?"

I sighed. "You can't help, Tony." Unless you break up with Nicole and decide to be with me instead, I wanted to add.

"Try me." He grabbed both my hands and urged me to face him. "Let me be there for you this time."

How could I tell him that I was in love with him? "You can't help me."

"Is it that bad? Is it Matteo?"

How I wish it were! But telling Tony why I was with Matteo was out of the question. Matteo was amazing. I was the mess. "One day I'll let you know."

"Well...if you don't want to talk about it, I'll wait till you're ready." Then suddenly he squeezed my hands. "Hey, you like beaches right?

I was surprised that he remembered that I did. "Yeah, what about them?"

"Let's change our routine. Let's go out of town this weekend and spend the day at the beach. Clubbing can wait."

"You just want to see women clad in bikinis..." I teased.

He squeezed my hands again. "This time, I'll be a friend. No bikini-clad woman will keep me from cheering up my best friend."

"Stupid." I couldn't help it, I stood up and hugged him. This was definitely a first that he would choose me over Nicole. "You'd actually do that for me, Tony?"

"Yeah I would." He hugged me tightly. "Just don't tell Nic."

I laughed. "Then don't tell Matteo either."