Jade's POV
"Please, please open already." Jade was waiting for the elevator door to open. She didn't have anyhing with her and she felt helpless. She don't know how she will go home. She wiped her tears and cursed silently.
"Fuck! I hate getting drunk!" She pressed the down button several times and got conscious when someone passed by looking at her. She must looked like a mess. Good thing she was able to atleast tidy up a bit earlier.
Finally, the elevator door opened and she went in, pressed the ground button and waited. Three more people went in and each gave her a polite smile.
At the ground floor, she went straight to the reception area. She asked the lady if she could make a call and the girl gladly handed her the phone.
"Anne. It's me"
"Jade! Where are you?! We've been looking for you. Mon and Dad are already here and i don't know what to tell them. I can't just tell them you're with Althea.."
"Shh! Stop and listen to me. I'll tell you everything later. I need you to pick me up now because i don't have anything wih me."
"Where?"
Jade gave her the name and address where Althea resides.
"Please make it quick. I hate waiting here. Ok? Bye."
Jade thanked the lady and waited for her sister.
Althea's POV
She slammed the door and went straight to her room. She combed her hands through her hair and inhaled.
"Damn! Damn! Damn!" She cussed loudly.
Frustrated, she reached for the pillow that Jade used and throw it at the desk on the opposite side of the bed. Pens, papers and books scattered on the floor. She sat down on the bed and slammed her fists on the mattress. She was so angry at Jade and at herself.
"Why?? Damn it!" She screamed.
She then heard a knock..
"Jade.." She whispered and immediately went out and opened the door.
"Hi hon." Riza kissed Althea on the lips and went inside. Recovering from shock, Althea closed the door and looked at Riza who has her back on her. Riza noticed the cup of coffee and asked about the lady from last night. Althea who seemed to not hear anyhing, went back to her room and sat at the edge of the bed with her face on her hands.
"Hon.. Did the girl --" Riza stopped when she saw Althea and the scattered things on the floor. "Whoa! What happened here?" She went down on her knees and touched Althea's knees. "Hon. Are you okay? What happened? Come on, tell me."
"Nothing." Althea said looking down at Riza.
"But why is the pillow over there, and you're stuff's on the floor... Did the lady from last night do anything?"
"No. She uhm, she already left." She sighed and continued, "Riza, we need to talk. I need to talk to you about something..." She got up and went to the living room. Riza followed and sat down beside Althea on the sofa.
"I need to talk to you but it will help if you will sit there and let me sit over here." Althea said pertaining to the foot rest opposite the sofa.
Alhea was silent for a while. She was thinking how she's going to tell Riza everything. Riza on the other hand, patiently waited for her to start.
"Okay. The girl from last night.."
"Wait.. Did something happen between you two, last night?" Riza asked nervously.
Shocked, Althea said, "Wha-- No! No. Nothing happened." She took a deep breath. "She was Jade." She looked up and saw Riza's eyes getting big and her mouth opened in shock.
No one spoke for a long time. Althea was waiting for Riza to speak first. But Riza couldn't believe what she just heard. She have known Jade from Althea's stories. She knows how Althea loved her and how their relationship ended. And what a funny way for them to see each other again. Now, that explains why since last night, Althea wants to talk to her about something.
"Was she the same person you told me about when i asked you, 'Have you ever loved someone so much?'
Flashback
"There was this one person that i have loved and fought for.. But her fears pushed me away." Althea drank her wine, "But even though I was pushed away, she will always be my one great love. She was my second and I was her first. And i will never forget all the happy times i had shared with her."
Althea was at loss for words. She was unable to answer but her silence already answered for her.
Riza then asked, "Now that you have seen her again... Uhmm.... Do you still love her? Are you going to pursue her again?" She searched Althea's eyes and was pained when Althea looked down and did not answer immediately.
"No. Hon, no." Althea said shaking her head. "I no longer love her and it's been a long time already. I hardly know her anymore." She took Riza's hands and kissed them.
"O-kay.. but are you ok? You seemed..."
"Yeah -- well not really. It's uh, i just didn't expect that i will see her again. Well, i know that at some point we will meet again but i didn't know that it will happen this soon... I was shocked and i don't know.." She put Riza's hands on her heart, "Hon, i'm sorry about this. I just want to be honest wih you because i respect you." She moved forward and hold Riza's face with her hands. She looked at her and said, "I love you..."
Jade's POV
Jade was picked up by Anne who noticed that her sister just came from crying. At the parking lot, she looked at Jade and silently asked if she's ok. Jade broke down while telling Anne what happened. "She was still hurt, Anne. I can feel it. And it hurts so much to hear her say that she no longer knows me and i no longer matter to her." She sobbed. "She was my biggest regret and i will forever blame myself for pushing her away. I wish i could undo everything." Feeling sad for her sister, she hugged her and cried with her.
After a while, Jade composed herself and asked her sister to drive home.
At home, she was greeted by her Dad. Her mom went out to buy some groceries for her birthday.
Her dad seemed to notice that there was something wrong. "Baby, what's wrong? You seem upset. Are you okay?"
"I'm ok, Dad.. Just feeling sentimental 'cause it's my birthday." She joked.
"Hija, don't lie to your old man.. look, i can see your nose getting longer.." he joked back.
"Dad..." She looked at her dad and laughed a little then suddenly, her eyes swelled up with tears.
Her dad hugged her and just let her cry. When she calmed down, she told him that she saw Althea and that after all these years, she still felt guilty for pushing her away.
Her dad held her chin and made her look at him, "Do you still love her? Is she the reason why up to now you're still not married?" Her dad asked gently.
Jade nodded her head.
Her mom suddenly came in and saw Jade crying. She asked why she was crying and all Jade can do was to look at her father for help.
Her dad steered her mom in to the kitchen and tried to explain everything to her.
At the sala, Anne hugged her when they both heard her mom screamed angrily. Her mom who was so mad, rushed to her and slapped her. Her dad tried to control her mom while Anne hugged her and moved her out of her mom's reach.
"You! Why?! Why are you doing this to me? I thought you changed?"
Crying, Jade answered. "Mom, i'm sorry. I thought so, too. But i can't! I tried but i'm still like this. I gave myself the chance to love men, but my heart says otherwise."
"No! You didn't try harder--"
"Mom! I followed what you want. I tried to change. All these years i have been battling with my feelings, my emotions, wih myself. Because you told me that what i had with Althea was wrong. And i believed you. But as i grew older, i realized that i am just a person who unfortunately loved another girl. And you know what? I've been with men, but no one will ever compare to my Al--"
Her mom slapped her again.
While holding her cheeks, Jade said coldly "I have given her up because of you. I gave up my happiness because you're my mother. I have thrown away eleven years of my life in exchange of your beliefs. But now, i'm ready to fight for who i am and what i believed in. I can't force you, mom but all i'm asking from you is respect."
Jade picked up her bag and keys and went out...