Keith's POV
I've been ignoring Tanya for two weeks now. Hanggang ngayon kasi, I still can't believe that she can do such thing. Hindi naman kasi ganon ang pagkakakilala ko sa kanya. Pero wala, I witnessed what she did. I witnessed how she hurt my girlfriend.
"Babe, lagpas na tayo sa bahay." Napatingin ako sa daan dahil sa sinabi ni Juliana. I was spacing out again. "Babe, are you okay?" She asked worriedly.
"Uh, yes. Just thinking about something." I said as I held her hand. I forced myself to give her a smile para hindi na siya mag-alala. Nag-U Turn ako para maihatid ko na si Juliana sa kanila. I went out of my car when we got to their house para mapagbuksan siya ng pinto.
"Thanks sa pag-hatid, babe. Take care, okay? Call me when you got home." Lumapit siya sa akin and planted a kiss on my cheek.
Pumasok na siya sa loob so I went in to my car and started to drive.
Papunta kila Tanya.
I'm not sure if I can face her now but I really need to talk to her. I know she loves me and she's hurting, too pero talaga bang hindi niya kayang maging masaya para sa amin ni Juliana? Maybe it's my fault. Maybe nabigyan ko siya ng false hopes. Pero wala namang ginawang kahit ano si Juliana sa kanya kaya I don't see any reasons kung bakit niya kailangan saktan ang girlfriend ko.
I was in the middle of driving when I heard my phone rang.
Mom calling...
"Hello, mom." I answered the call and talked to her through my Bluetooth headphone.
"Keith, anak, where are you? Can you go home now?"
"Why? I have to run an errand sana." I told her
"Anak, I'm sure that can wait. Go home first. Urgent matter 'yung pag-uusapan natin."
I sighed. "Okay, mom. I'm on my way."
Sumunod na lang ako kay Mom at nag-drive pauwi. She doesn't usually aske me to go home immediately so I figured nab aka talagang importante ang pag-uusapan namin. And besides, mabuti na rin siguro 'to so I'll have more time to think kung paano ko ba kakausapin si Tanya.
-x-
Tanya's POV
"Tita, ano pong sabi ni Keith?" I asked Tita Kristina, Mom ni Keith, when she hung up the call. Our parents were delighted when they heard my idea. They immediately agreed when we told them na gusto na naming magpakasal ni Keith.
"He's on his way here, sweetie." She answered. "You know what, Tanya? I'm really happy for the both of you. Finally! Ikakasal na kayo!"
"I agree. I always knew that you'll end up with each other." Tito Kier, Dad ni Keith, agreed.
"I'm also very happy for them. Tanya chose the right guy. At least I don't have to worry if my daughter's in good hands or not." My Mom added.
"And don't forget about our companies, Taira." Tito Kier reminded her. "At least we'd be able to keep it within our families. I can already picture our success 'pag merged na ang chains of hotels namin sa restaurant mo."
They all looked happy when they realized that.
I smiled at their reactions. I know they all want me for Keith. I know I lied once again. But I did this for Keith and I. Siguro hindi niya pa nare-realize ngayon that he has feelings for me, too but I'm sure this wedding will help. I know he doesn't love me the way Iove him but I know that in time, he will learn to reciprocate the love that I have for him.
We continued talking about our wedding and after a few minutes, we already heard Keith's car na dumating.
"Hey, Mom, Dad." He greeted his parents nang makapasok siya sa dining room where we are staying but he was stunned when he saw me.
"Hey." I greeted him. Nilapitan ko siya then I hugged him and gave him a peck on his cheek. His forehead creased dahil sa ginawa ko.
"Mom, anong meron? Bakit sila nandito?" Naguguluhan tanong ni Keith sa mom nya.
"Take a seat, son. We'll talk about it over dinner." Si Tito Kier ang sumagot sa kanya kaya wala siyang nagawa but to take a seat beside me.
Their maids started to serve the food and we started eating. Kwentuhan pa rin ang ginawa ng parents naming while we're having a dinner. Pero kami ni Keith, tahimik lang.
"Tell me, Tanya," I heard him whisper. Rinig ko rin sa tono niya that he's really irritated. "Bakit talaga kayo nandito?"
"Our families have dinners often, Keith. Bakit para namang hindi ka pa sanay?" I asked. I don't want to be the one na magsasabi sa kanya ng totoong reason kung bakit kami nandito. It's better kung si Tito Kier.
"I'm not liking this, Tanya." He confessed. "Especially now that I can't tolerate your presence because of what you did to my girlfriend."
My heart ached when I hear how possessive he is to Juliana.
"I'm sorry." That was all I could say. "But can't you see, Keith? I love you so much and I swear that I'll be a better girlfriend than she is."
He bit his lips dahil sa inis when he heard what I said. He cleared his throat before he spoke. "Mom, really, what is this dinner all about?"
He caught the attention of our parents nang magsalita siya.
"Keith, I'm in a great mood, anak. 'Wag mo namang sirain dahil sa kabastusan mo." Tito Kier said, His voice is hard full of authority. Kahit ako natakot nung sinaway niya si Keith.
Keith avoided his gaze. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to sound rude."
"Hindi ka na nahiya kay Tanya at sa Ninang mo."
"No one's mood will be ruined tonight, Kier." Tita Kristina said. I don't know what's with her voice but both men in this room remained quiet when she spoke. She then turned to Keith. "Anak, we're here to talk about you and Tanya. We already know what's going on between you two. We're here to talk about your upcoming wedding."
Tita Kristina is full of enthusiasm when she broke the news to Keith but he doesn't seem to like what he just heard. His eyes widened at hindi niya na rin napigilang magtaas ng boses sa Mom niya. "What?! What wedding are you talking about, Mom?!"
"Come on, anak, you don't have to be ashamed of it. We already know everything about you two. Tanya told us the whole story." Sagot ni Tita sa kanya.
"There isn't anything going on between us, Mom!" Katwiran niya.
"That's not what we heard." Tito Kier said with the same intensity of his voice a while ago. "Look, it seems like you and Tanya are having a problem right now. But don't let that be the reason para mabawasan ang pagmamahal mo sa kanya, Keith. Settle your differences. The wedding will push through."
Natulala na lang si Keith sa mga sinabi ni Tito. He remained silent for a few minutes befor he found his voice.
"Pero, Dad..."
"No need to explain, son." Tito Kier cut him off. "This dinner's over. We'll give you two time to talk about your plans for your wedding. Magmi-meeting lang kami sa office ko."
Keith fears Tito Kier so much kaya hindi na lang siya naka-sagot when Tito Kier announced na magmi-meeting silang tatlo sa office niya but I saw Keith clenched his fists and jaws.
"You planned this, didn't you?" He asked through gritted teeth when our parents left. He grabbed my arm and he held it so tight it already hurts.
"What if I say yes?" Mapang-asar na sabi ko sa kanya. Natatakot ako sa mga kilos ni Keith but I don't want him to see that it's affecting me. Padabog niyang binitawan ang braso ko kaya napa-upo ako sa dining table.
"Fuck it, Tanya! Ano na naman ba 'tong ginagawa mo?! What do you really want to happen? Why do you keep on trying to ruin me and Juliana?!" He's shouting now. He even got the attentions of the maids na nagliligpit ng mga pinagkainan naming but Kieth doesn't seem to care.
I felt my eyes pooling with tears pero pinipigilan kong tumulo 'yon.
"No. I won't stop 'till you finally realize that it's me who deserves you." I'm surprised that my voice didn't break kahit sobra na akong naiiyak. I saw Keith's expression softened. Damn it! Ayan na naman 'yung tingin niya na puro awa. I don't need his pity! I need his heart!
He held my face. My tears finally fell when I felt the warmth of his hands.
"Shh... Tanya, I'm sorry, okay?" He tried calming me down. "But listen to me. You deserve someone who can love you as much as you love them. You'll find the right person for you someday. You don't need to do all of these."
I can feel the sadness from every word coming out from his mouth. I can't do this anymore. I can't see him like this. I can't see him miserable because of me. I freed myself from him and went straight out of their house. I hailed a cab para makauwi na.
-x-
I immediately went to my room when I got home. Binati pa ako nila yaya pero I just ignored them.I'm not really in a mood to talk to anyone. Dumiretso naman ako ng higa sa kama ko when I got into my room. What will I do now? Other than my Mom, I don't have anyone else who loves me.
My Dad died when I was two. Mom also decided not to put his name on my birth certificate so I don't even have a single clue kung anong pangalan niya. Si Jorgina naman, inaway ko.
And Keith, he has someone else now.
I wonder how Juliana feels. I wonder how it feels to be loved and treasured by someone like Keith? Does it feel nice to be with him through ups and downs? Gusto ko ring maramdaman lahat ng 'yon.
But then I realized, would I like it if there's someone who wikk try to ruin my relationship with the guy I love? I don't think I would. But why am I doing this to Keith and Juliana? Why am I forcing him to forget every moment he shared with the one he truly loves just to be with me? I keep on telling myself that I want to see Keith miserable but now, ako pa 'yong nagpapahirap sa kanya.
I hate myself! I'm evil! Why did I let myself be like this?
I took my phone from my bag at tiningnan do'n ang album where our pictures where saved. Keith looks so happy in these pictures. I just want to see him smile like this again.
Hinanap ko ang number ni Juliana sa cellphone ko. I got her number from one of her classmates before. I knew that I'll be able to use this someday. I dialed her number right away. She answered after a few rings.
"Uhm, hi? May I know who's this?"
"Hey." Bati ko sa kanya. "It's Tanya."
"Tanya?" I heard her stutter from the other line.
"Yup." Para namang gulat na gulat sya sa ginawa kong pag-tawag.
"Why did you call? Did something happen to Keith?"
I sighed before I spoke. "No. Nothing happened. I know it's late and this is weird but I just want to talk to you. Can you meet me? Now?"
"I'm sorry, Tanya. I can't—"
I cut her off bago before he could even decline my invitation. I really need to do this.
"Please? What happened last time won't happen again. I promise." I said it with pure sincerity. "I just want to talk to you. About Keith."
"Okay." She said hesitantly. "Just tell me where we'll meet."
"Okay. Thank you, Juliana." I told her then I hung up to send her a text message kung saan kami pwedeng mag-meet.
I want Keith to be happy.
And he will only be happy with her. With Juliana.