Said I Loved You But I Lied... (Book 2)

Chapter 5

"Ako gumayuma d'un," Lee Ann laughingly said. "But, my friend, do not ask someone's girl kung sino ang mas guwapo sa inyong dalawa ng boyfriend n'ya kasi masasaktan ka lang. When a woman chooses a man, she'll choose him in everything."

"Sana all..." Nicko murmured. "Hanggang sana all na lang talaga ako nito, eh."

Lee Ann burst out laughing. "May nililigawan ka ba? Tutulungan kita para mapasagot mo s'ya. I have countless ideas kung paano s'ya pakikiligin, I'll let you in on some para naman magkaroon ka na ng girlfriend at hindi na sana all 'yang bukambibig mo."

"Wala pa. Mag-aaral na muna akong mabuti at kapag naging doktor na ako ay 'tsaka ako manliligaw."

"Okay 'yang plano mo, bata. Unahin mo 'yang pag-aaral mo para may pambuhay ka sa taong mamahalin mo."

"Ang lakas makapagsabi na unahin ko 'yung pag-aaral ko pero s'ya ang aga-agang nag-boyfriend."

"Kaya na akong buhayin ni Nick," Lee said smiling before she pushed her hair off her fair, an action that brought Nicko's attention to the ring that she was wearing.

"Is that...an engagement ring on your finger?" he hesitantly asked.

His friend nodded smiling brightly. "Yes, it is. He proposed and I said yes," Lee Ann replied showing him the ring Nick gave her.

"Wow...he's really loaded. Ang laki ng bato."

"Well, even if he isn't, and even if the diamond is not even a carat, I would still proudly wear it."

"Congratulations..." He forced himself to smile. "It must be a along engagement kasi hindi ka pa pwedeng mag-asawa."

At marami pa ang pwedeng mangyari...he thought to himself.

"We are already planning the wedding which will be next year," Lee Ann said. "At h'wag kang mag-alala dahil this time imbitadong-imbitado ka," she added grinning.

Nicko sighed.

"O, bakit may pagbuntong-hininga? Akala ko ba okay ka na?"

"Hindi naman ikaw ang dahilan ng buntong-hiningang 'yun, ano. H'wag ka kayang feeling d'yan."

"de Jesus, I am already engaged to the man of my dreams and I don't care for anything else right now but being married to him. Kaya patatawarin ko 'yang pang-aalaska mo sa akin."

He laughed weakly. "Bilib din naman ako kasi you stayed firm in your belief that he's the one for you...paano kung hindi pala...?

"Grabe ka naman, don't jinx it, ano. Nick and I are meant to be."

"But, how are you so sure? Parang hindi lang kayo match sa tingin ko – you're a college student while he's a lawyer, you're a teenager while he's an adult male—"

"Hold it right there. I know where this conversation is going at sasabihin ko na sa'yo ngayon na ayaw kitang awayin dahil kaibigan kita. I also understand how you don't really approve of Nick because of our age gap at sasabihin ko rin sa'yo ngayon that your approval isn't needed."

He lowered his head in defeat and shame.

"Nicko..."

"I think you're too good for him, Lee."

"Because I'm you friend..." Lee Ann's voice was gentle. "Kaya iniisip mo na hindi kami bagay and he doesn't deserve me. But, you're wrong, Nicko..."

H lifted his face to look at her.

"I prayed for him..." She smiled. "Every birthday, I wished for him..."

He shoved his jealousy down.

"I waited for him for years, my heart breaking every time I'd hear that there he was in a relationship with another. I knew that he was meant for me even when he didn't. I knew that I'd end up as his wife even when our age gap made him think that the idea was preposterous and nothing but I joke. But, I knew in my heart, Nicko, that he would be mine because I don't want anyone else but him."