Lumingon ako nang maramdaman na may tao sa likod ko pero alam ko na agad kung sino iyon. I smiled at Klaus, but he didn't smile back at me. He just stared at me and I know that kind of look that he's giving me.
"Klaus, come on. Hindi ako magpapakamatay." I tried to sincerely laugh at him but he remained serious. I rolled my eyes. "Just because the man that I've loved for a decade is getting married doesn't mean that I should end my life. I should be happy for him... and I am."
I turned my back at him and looked at the sea of lights below. Nandito kami ngayon sa rooftop ng hotel kung saan ginanap ang anniversary party ng kumpanya ni Demitri. Masayang masaya ako para sa kanya dahil after years of proving to everyone that he can handle the company, finally may napatunayan na siya. I was really happy... until he decided to propose to Gretchen.
Life is so unfair. I've been waiting for him my whole life to notice and love me back, pero pagbalik niya dito may ibang babae na siyang mahal.
Dapat galit ako. Dapat naiinis ako dahil parang hindi manlang ako nabigyan ng chance para mahalin si Demitri... but when I looked at his face, the way his eyes lit up whenever he sees Gretchen—or by just mentioning her name— I can't help but to be happy for him. Ganon talaga siguro kapag mahal mo, kahit hindi ikaw basta makita mo lang siyang masaya tatanggapin mo nalang.
"I really am happy for him." I said in a softer voice as he stood beside me. We were both silent for a moment before I looked at him and he looked back at me. "Ikaw? Okay ka lang ba? I heard Calla broke up with you."
"Yeah, we both know that our relationship was on the ropes." Tumango ako at humarap ulit sa tanawin sa harap ko.
Hindi ko talaga maintindihan si Calla, para saan pa at inaway niya ako noon kung maghihiwalay lang din naman sila ni Klaus? I knew that their relationship was difficult since Calla moved back to Germany at hindi sumama si Klaus, but love conquers all right? Even distance. Nung nag aral si Demitri sa ibang bansa at kahit nung umuwi siya at ipinakilala sa amin si Gretchen hindi nawala ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.
"Bakit ba hindi ka nalang sumunod kay Calla para tumira sa Germany?" Hindi siya sumagot.
Klaus went there. Hindi siya doon tumira pero he sees to it that he always go there, but one day he just stopped going. Gusto ko sanang magtanong sa kanya pero hindi ko magawa dahil hindi naman siya nag ku-kwento. Kung ayaw niyang pag usapan hindi naman ako chismosa.
"Let's go back to the party?" Maya-maya ay tanong niya. Umiling ako.
Kahit naman siguro tanggap ko na na masaya na si Demitri kay Gretchen hindi naman ako martyr. Nasasaktan parin ako. Kahit ilang beses ko nang inisip na balang araw ikakasal sila, iba parin kapag isinasampal na mismo sayo ang katotohanan. Yung katotohanan na hindi ikaw ang itinadhana para sa taong mahal mo.
I don't think I've ever been prepared for this kind of heartache.
"Gusto ko nang magpahinga." Tumango siya. We both walked to the elevator. Pagdating sa lobby sinabihan ko siya na pupunta muna ako ng cr at pumayag naman siya since kukunin pa ng valet ang sasakyan.
I was walking towards the comfort room when I saw two familiar people walking towards the other exit of the building. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naisipan ko para sundan sila.
"Are you really going to let me marry him?" I heard Gretchen. Hindi sumagot si Travis. She started to harshly wipe the tears in her eyes that were about to fall. "Why?"
"Dahil yun ang tama Gretch. You love him—"
"I loved him. Pero ikaw na ngayon!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napatakip sa bibig ko dahil sa narinig ko. What the hell? "I told you a hundred times, Travis. I love you. Not him. You." Travis remained silent. I don't even know why I'm still here listening to them. Nakakasuka. "What about that kiss Travis?"
"Gretchen that kiss was a mistake—" Yun na ang huling narinig ko. I just found out that the woman—whom the love of my life is marrying—is cheating. Gosh. Bakit ba ako pa ang nakarinig nito?
Tulala lang ako habang naglalakad pabalik kung nasaan si Klaus. The whole ride wala akong sinabi kahit isa at ramdam ko ang paminsan-minsang pagsulyap niya sa akin. Hindi ko lang kasi talaga alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. Kung dapat ko ba iyong sabihin kay Demitri.
"Akala ko ba okay ka?" I looked at Klaus. "The look on your face tells me that you're not okay Kaylareen."
"Gretchen is cheating on Demitri." I suddenly blurted out. Klaus immediately hit the brakes, mabuti nalang parehas kaming naka seatbelt. He looked at me.
"What?!"
"She's cheating on Demitri with Travis."
"W-what? H-how did you—?"
"Narinig ko silang dalawa na nag uusap kanina." Tinanggal ko ang seatbelt ko at humarap kay Klaus. "Kailangan itong malaman ni Demitri. Kailangan niyang malaman na niloloko lang siya ni Gretchen, Klaus."
"Wait Kayla. Are you sure of what you've heard? I mean it's Travis and Gretchen, they are two of the most important people in Demitri's life—"
"Sigurado ako!" Hindi ko mapigilan na mapagtaasan siya ng boses. "I'm sure Klaus. She's cheating! I heard it with my own two ears and I saw them with my own two eyes! Anong tingin mo? Mag iimbento ako ng kwento para lang sirain silang dalawa?"
"What are you planning to do then?"
"Sasabihin ko kay Demitri." Sasabihin ko hindi dahil gusto kong sirain silang dalawa... pero kasama na yun. Chance ko na to.
"Don't make rush decisions Kaylareen." Hindi ako nagsalita. "You know it would break his heart. It's going to hurt him twice the pain you're feeling right now."
I smiled as I look at the couple walking towards me. They look good together. Turns out, may maganda rin palang pinatunguhan ang pagsira ko ng kasal ni Demitri at ni Gretchen. Hindi ko naman talaga nasabi kay Demitri ang narinig ko dahil ayaw kong makita siya na nasasaktan. Pero nung nabasa ko ang sulat ni Travis, that's when I realized, sinisira lang nilang tatlo ang buhay nila sa pagsisinungaling sa totoo nilang nararamdaman.
"Kayla! I haven't seen you in a long time!" Tumayo ako upang salubungin si Gretchen at Travis. She looks so blooming. Napatingin ako sa tiyan niya na medyo umbok. "Our third child."
"Wow. Congrats!" Tumingin ako kay Travis. "Pangatlo agad." I gave him a knowing look.
"Thanks!" Nakangising sabi niya. Napailing ako. Mayabang talaga. "I already have two boys. Hopefully this one will be a princess."
"Ikaw? Wala parin ba?" Itinaas ko ang kanang kamay ko at ipinakita sa kanila.
"May nakikita ka bang singsing?"
"We're not getting any younger Kayla! You should get married. Kailangan mo na ng anak. Humabol ka na sa amin." I rolled my eyes at Gretchen. If only they know about Riona. She's just the same age as their first son.
"Naunahan ka pa ni Mira." Natawa ako. Mira is younger than me and I'm glad she found her true home. Naunahan niya nga lang akong ikasal.
"Bakit ka ba nandito Travis? Wala ka bang trabaho? Ang alam ko si Gretchen lang ang tinawagan ko." Travis laughed.
"Kailangan bantayan si misis at si future baby. Don't mind me." Napailing nalang ako. Kahit kailan talaga ang clingy ng taong to.
"Anyway, you wanted to meet me about an event decorations?" Tumango ako.
Isa kasi siya sa mga nakasulat na contacts ni Alex pagdating sa event planning and decorations. I'm glad she pursued her passion in art and I know that she loves parties. Bagay na bagay lang talaga sa kanya ang kinuha niyang business. Ang alam ko meron din siyang bakeshop. That will be good for her business too lalo na sa mga kasal at birthdays.
"I now work at Moonlight Hotel as an event planner. I need your help." Gretchen nodded her head.
"I'm glad you work at one of the biggest hotel. Yan ang dream mo di ba? Ang mag manage ng hotel? Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ka nag stay as receptionist sa Crivelli." Napangiti nalang ako. Hindi niya alam na si Demitri ang dahilan ko noon kaya ako nagtrabaho doon kahit bilang receptionist lang.
We talked about the event. Nagulat pa siya dahil sa pamilya ni Calla ang event na gagawin ko. Knowing her, palagi niya kaming pinu-push ni Klaus noon. Pakiramdam daw kasi niya kami lang din namang dalawa ni Klaus ang magkakatuluyan. I always told her that it was impossible because I only see him as a friend. Nothing more.
We talked about the designs and I'm really glad that she's the one I contacted. Sometimes, facing the people who you once hurt is a good thing. Judging by the happiness that I see in their faces, I can say that I'm glad I made those decisions that I once thought were a mistake.