Althea's
It was the time of the year when I feel most heavy-hearted, because it's the time of the year I get to be reminded that I lost two of the most significant people in my life. I was on my way to Manila Memorial Park in Cavite slightly earlier than the common high time of people visiting their deceased. I arrived at around five in the morning, there are already a few people starting to build tents, I made my way to the far back of the cemetery where my mom and dad were buried.
They're buried in a mausoleum because we want them to be safe from the public's eye. The place was air-conditioned and it does have a rest room, a small kitchen and a small bed room at the upper part, it was designed to look like a home because I tend to spend so much time there when I was younger. I was now in front of them, they have their portraits pinned against the wall, and I smiled at the view of them together.
People told me before that I look exactly like my mom, and took most of my character from my dad of which I am proudest. At least I get to have both of them with me always.
"Hi mom, dad... how are you? I hope you both are having a good time their with God... If you'd ask me the same question, don't worry I am good like always. Although there are things that bothers me... Anyway Uncle lucky and I are doing our best for the company and all our properties. Dad, don't worry you never lost the title of being Philippines and Asia's number 1... You left them a good legacy... I am now the COO I never imagined I would be, but then Uncle Lucky told me that it's going to be a good training for me to gear me for being the CEO in the near future... I just hope it's not that near cause I don't actually think I'm ready enough... You see, I found her, Jade, and I'm going to try and fix everything about us... Don't worry I'll introduce her to you guys when every thing's settled. Promise. I still miss you both, and I'll always will. I'll visit more often after I fix things. I love you so much. I'll be going now, don't miss me."
After a few more minutes, I gathered my things and locked the gates and left, there were more people now and I got to get going cause the traffic can get really really bad even to this kind of place. When I got home I found uncle Lucky at the dinning room having breakfast so I decided to join him.
"You already visited your parents?" he asked with newspaper on hand
"Yeah." I said smiling while waiting for our maid to give me food.
"You going too?"
"Yes after breakfast."
"Uncle Lucky..."
"Yes Althea?" he said now eyeing me
"Do you need money?" he joked
"What? no!" I laughed we both did
"What is it then?"
"I think I'm ready? Imma get her back."
He put down his paper and put her hand on mine and smiled his signature cheeky smile
"Now we're talking!"
"Why are you so excited?" I teased
"Nothing! I am just happy to know that you're not a quitter." he back fired
"I am never a quitter!" I said defensively
"Alright Kid. Just make sure the next time I see you, you'd be holding her hand with a ring on it!" he said standing up I laughed
"Ring!?" I called out
"You know what I mean. I'll visit my brother and your mother for now." he finished with a hearty laugh
I spent the next few hours thinking and planning on how I get Jade back, I called Batchi the other day and she told me that she'll support me every step of the way. Since she's hearing Jade making no plans of entertaining love ever again.
Just wait and see m'lady. Wait and see.
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Jade's
I spent the two day holiday at home, my October has been busier, more and more people came and enrolled at the studio and David, Sally and me started the construction of the second branch of our restaurant in The Fort. David is tasked with the structure, construction people and materials. Sally on the crew, menu, and food tasting. And I was tasked to plan the interior of the whole place, it's a lot bigger than our first one so designing it was a bit more challenging but I love it.
I was munching on some double coated chocolate snack (guilty pleasure ugh!) and was watching Orange is the New Black, which I planned on finishing tonight when I heard my phone rang, I looked at the caller ID; Sally. So answered it.
"Hello Jade?"
"Hey Sal, why?"
"Where are you? Are you busy tomorrow?"
"At home now, not really why?"
"My cousin just came back from Paris, remember Olli back in high school?"
"Yeah I remembered him. Why?" I asked already doubting
"Uhhh, He wanted to ask you out? Cause he has a huge crush on you since high school and I thought maybe you two can try?"
"Sally, You know well that I'm gay and I'm proud of that. Stop trying to convert me." I said laughing
"That's exactly what I told Olli, but he was just so persistent. Sorry."
"It's fine. And besides I've had enough of those fling or even love. I'm in hiatus." I chuckled
"You're crazy!" she said giggling, "So I'll just tell him that you're still straightly bent. buh-bye"
"Yup! Hammered bent. Bye Sal."
After Alex, all of my friends, well except for Batchi has been trying to hook me up with a friend or a cousin or whoever, may it be a man or a woman. And I just shrug 'em off. I am ready for a life time of being a cat or dog lady I knew it!
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Althea's
I left work early today because I am going to meet up with a friend, she's an events organizer and we're going to talk about a part of my plan for Mission: Get her back. (Coined that term; genius right?!) I was at some Coffee Bean she told me to meet up, it's dangerously close to Jade's studio so I needed to park my car inside the building instead of just by the side of the road. I sat at the table near the glass wall because I have no choice the place was busy so I just decided to wear my aviators and read a magazine covering half my face. I know I look like an idiot. I feel like one. So I stayed like that while I wait for Sam.
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Jade's
I decided to run around the perimeter of my studio around 4 pm I don't know why but I suddenly missed running so I put on my running shoes, brought my iPod and plugged my earphones in my ears. I was planning to reach a 5-10k so I pushed to run till the next street. I was on the left side of the road because the pavement was clearer there. I was roaming my eyes around enjoying the little businesses of the people around me when I caught a glimpse of a woman sitting alone at Coffee Bean, I slowed down, and stopped just before a parked SUV for cover, it's opposite to where the woman was seated, I inspected her first cause she's covering half of her face with a magazine but then she's wearing sunglasses inside a cafe which I didn't see any logic at all.
I waited a few more minutes when she slowly put down her magazine, I was nailed to where I was standing when she finally removed her aviators. Alex. She was looking at her phone and the cafe's entrance, maybe she was waiting for someone; My two whole months of moving on came crumbling down upon seeing her face again. All my guards are at my feet, my heart was racing again and all I see was her. I was about to cross the street to where she was when she suddenly stood up, looking at the entrance, I saw another woman, Alex was anticipating her and when she reached Alex they hugged. I was taken a back when Alex helped the woman sit down all smiling. I didn't want to see her smiling or laughing with another woman but I was afraid that if I leave I won't be seeing her again.
But what happened next made me kick myself, Alex was leaning forward to the person in front of her smiling wide and then the other woman put her hand on top of Alex which Alex immediately held on to. It was just too much. Too much affection. To someone not me. I retraced my steps back to the studio not attempting to come near where they are so instead of rounding the corner of the cafe for a short cut I walked back to the opposite direction.
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Althea's
The meeting with Sam was great, she has so many ideas that made my plan more awesome. Our supposed one hour meeting ended 5 hours after I didn't realized it was already that long when I looked outside it was already dark, 9 pm to be exact. I walked her to her car and bade farewell
"Thanks for being able to squeeze me into your schedule Sam, I know you're busy." I said opening her door for her
"It's all okay Althea, Friends over schedule. Good to see you again. And whoever this Jade is, she's so lucky." she said before closing it
"She's so darn worth it." I added and waved bye as she drove off.
I was on my way to my car when my phone rang I was busy looking for my keys so I just answered it without looking on the caller ID...
"Hello?"
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Batchi's
I dropped by Jade's studio around 4 pm for my daily routine of having dinner with her, But then Pearl told me that she had gone for a run. So instead of waiting for her at the studio I decided to just wait for her at their restaurant since Sally was there too. So I just texted her about it.
Sally and I waited for Jade for dinner but then it was already 9 pm and she hasn't come and she's not answering any of our texts and calls. I told Sally to wait a bit longer at the restaurant then I'll check for her at her condo, but then I've been pounding her door for 30 mins now but there's no response. I panicked so instead of trying to call her again, I called Alex.
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Jade's
I felt destructive after what I saw, so I decided to go somewhere I could be alone, somewhere I could be distracted, so I went to the bar where Patty works, but she's not on duty that night so I just sat alone by the bar. I ordered a blue margarita, I was on my 4th glass, alcohol was everywhere in my system and Alex was everywhere in my mind when a guy approached me.
"Hey a night alone?" he said taking the stool next to me I just looked at him
"One scotch please" he told the bartender
"Why are you alone m'lady?"
"It's none of your business." I said bitterly upon hearing m'lady.
"Oh you didn't recognize me at all Jade?" I looked at him and he's all blurry. God my low alcohol tolerance.
"No." I said sternly acting cool
"It's me Olli, Sally's cousin."
"Oh right. The one I rejected." I said dismissively
But before I could get back on my drink, he was already dragging my out of the bar and into the parking lot. I was struggling against his grip. I was scratching his hand to let go of me but my attempts are too limp and everything was so blurry. He was now pushing me inside the back of his car but I straddled my leg against the door not giving in. He then sandwiched my face with his buff hands and started kissing me, my eyes widened with terror I was pushing him off but then I can't, I was getting nauseous not because of alcohol but because this filthy guy is pushing his tongue down my throat and I'm gay!
I was losing hope when I felt the hands left my face and the assaulter dropped to the cold hard ground heaving. I searched for the person who caused that and I saw Alex. Olli stood up and was about to attack Alex when she pulled a high kick that collided to Olli's left jaw which resulted to a cracking sound and then he was back to the ground.
I felt her grab my hand, but I pulled it form her she was confused
"Jade?" she asked
"Go to hell." and then I blacked out.
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Althea's
"Jade?" I was confused because I saved her but she yanked her hand away from me
"Go to hell." I was shocked at what she said, why is she mad at me? But then after saying that she collapse thank you muay thai for my reflexes I caught her before she hit the ground.
I carried her to my car, thank God I resumed my work outs, I opened the front passenger door, helped her in and buckled her down. I pulled a handkerchief from my purse and erased the smudged lipstick off her lips. My jaw clenched because of anger I should have been with her tonight. I should have prevented this from happening. After making sure she's clean, I closed her door gently and walked over to the driver side, got in and started the engine. I was about to drive off when my phone rang.
"Hello Batchi? Yeah I found her. Can you come here and get her car then I'll meet you at her condo? She passed out. Okay. See you."
I looked at her unconscious figure beside me and sighed.
"What's wrong Jade? I thought you're doing fine?"
I caressed her cheek feeling her smooth skin against the palm of my hands and felt the sudden riot in my stomach I sadly smiled I remember that feeling.
"I'm taking you home, okay? No one will ever hurt you again." I whispered to her she let out a soft moan and shifted to her other side.
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Batchi's
"Thanks for finding her Alex." I said while leaning on the door of Jade's room
"No problem."
"How did you find her?"
"She was...by accident? I saw a girl being assaulted by some steroids guy and I decided to stop and help since the by standers are just watching..."
"Oh my god."
"And when I came closer I saw Jade, the guy was already kissing her so out of instinct I saved her. I thought she was doing good?" she said with pain in her eyes
"I swear Althea she was, it's the first time she went to a bar alone. I don't know why but whatever her reason is, it's something serious."
"Maybe it was me."
"No. I mean she's not even mentioned you for the past month. Not that it's good either. She was trying to move on. So hard. I know."
"Maybe, cause she told me to go to hell." She smiled bitterly
"Really? She said that?"
She just nodded nodded and started to leave
"Althea, what now?"
"We'll continue this some other time." she said almost a whisper
"Wait the last time you said that you disappeared." I protested scared for Jade waking up and looking for her again
"Not this time. I'll just think. Goodnight Batch. Please stay with her for now." she said with a sad smile I know she's hurting I can see it in her eyes they're so much for a give a way.
"I will. Be safe."
And then she closed the door behind her. When I turned around to Jade I was surprised to see her awake. I stared at her and she met my eyes, I was waiting for her to ask me why I called Alex, Althea and all that shits...
"She gone?" I sighed internally
"Yeah."
She then broke down and cried. I walked over her and hugged her tightly. She was shaking, I shook my head sadly smiling at myself, I see two months of moving on down the drain with just one night.