"IS he okay?" tanong ni Jessica kay Misty habang nakasilip sa medyo nakabukas na pintuan ng opisina ni Exequiel. Naaaninag niya ang pinsan niyang seryosong nakatingin lang sa kawalan.
"No," malungkot na sagot ni Misty habang nakatingin din sa kanyang boss na ilang araw nang bigla na lang seryosong mapapatingin sa kawalan tapos palagi pang mainit ang ulo nito to the point na mas napapadalas ang mga napapaluhod sa harapan nito. "Nasa Moscow pa rin ba si Miss Blaire?" tanong ni Misty.
"Yes," sagot ni Jessica. "Blaire leaving the country while the news hasn't died down is really for the better," dagdag ni Jessica.
Everyone knows that Blaire rejected Exequiel's marriage proposal. Everyone also took that as a sign that Exequiel and Blaire's relationship is done. Then, the news came flooding in.
Nalaman ni Blaire na ilang buwan na palang kinukulit ng mga taong nasa paligid ni Exequiel si Exequiel na magkaroon na ng konkretong planong magpakasal na. Who even the fuck are they to tell Exequiel to go and marry someone? He's only turning 30. He's young.
Then someone wrote some news that Exequiel's in a relationship with someone who's just using him for his name and money. Exequiel is popular, especially with the ladies and Blaire knows that...everyone knows that. Kaya hindi na nakakapagtaka ang mga kumalat na mean comments about "Exequiel's woman".
Alam ni Blaire na si Exequiel ang may pakana kung bakit hindi lumitaw ang pangalan niya, but the news regarding Exequiel being in a relationship with a user was unstoppable. Tanging ang pagkubli lang ng pangalan ni Blaire ang nagawan ng paraan ni Exequiel.
The people who knows that Blaire is Exequiel's woman bothered her for days. Narindi siya sa mga tanong nito kung bakit hindi na lang niya pakasalan si Exequiel so that people will stop talking about this woman who's just using Exequiel for his name.
Dumagdag pa ang mga investors ni Exequiel na sobrang invested din sa lovelife ni Exequiel. Pero hindi katulad ng iba ay gusto ng mga itong layuan ni Exequiel si Blaire because Blaire will not be good for their "boss'" image.
Kung makaprotekta naman sa imahe ni Exequiel, parang may balak ang binatang tumakbo sa pulitika.
Hindi lang 'yan ang mga issues na kumalat after Exequiel and Blaire's relationship ended. Marami pang iba. So, Blaire's cousin, Michael, suggested for Blaire to leave the country for a while and that is why she took the soonest available flight, which happens to be a flight to Moscow.
Michael even claimed that the trip may help stop the news because people will not be able to trace nor find Blaire in the flesh. Extra precaution iyon kung sakaling may masuwerteng makaligtas sa galit ni Exequiel Vonn Matteo.
Blaire even had to postpone the opening of her restaurant for the trip.
Pero sa totoo lang ay wala na talagang pakielam si Blaire sa mga sinasabi ng iba tungkol sa kanya. What she currently feels is hurt, disappointment, and confusion. Exequiel lost her trust.
Why would Exequiel do that to her? He promised her that he will wait. Was it really because he wants to silence those who keeps on pushing him to get married as soon as possible so that his legacy will surely live on?
Gano'n ba 'yun? Mas matimbang pa ang opinyon ng iba kaysa sa pangako niya kay Blaire?
"He's so stupid. He said that he'll wait, but he didn't," sabi ni Jessica kay Misty. Don't get her wrong, naaawa siya sa kanyang pinsan pero she understands where Blaire is coming from.
Blaire is only 25. She's still young. Hello? Kahit nga siya hindi pa kasal sa pinsan ni Blaire na si Martin. Isa pa, Exequiel's only turning 30. Bata pa iyon in male's age 'no.
Statistically speaking, according to Rebecca Lake's article (2019), for Americans, only 29% of Americans age 18-34 were married in 2018, compared to 59% in 1978. The number of people choosing to live together without being married is also increasing. In 2018, 15% of adults age 25-34 lived with an unmarried partner, up from 12% in 2008. In other words, men and women aren't necessarily in a rush to put a ring on it.
Pa'no naman sa Pilipinas?
According to the most recent report published by the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2017, the median age for grooms is 29 years old and for brides is 27 years old. Median lang 'yan.
PSA also added that the number of couples walking down the aisle has dwindled and there was a 3.6% decrease in marriages between 2014 and 2015. More "alarmingly", the number of registered marriages has gone down by 20.1% in the span of a decade.
There is a decrease in weddings and a rise in annulment cases sa Pilipinas!
Kaya hindi talaga maintindihan ni Jessica kung anong pumasok sa utak ng mga nagpupumilit kay Exequiel na magpakasal na. Ang sarap lang isigaw ng "Ok Boomers!"
"Also, why isn't he doing anything to get her back? Blaire loves him so much," dinig ni Jessica na sabi ni Misty sa kanya. Napalingon siya sa sekretarya ni Exequiel dahil mas nainis siya sa narinig.
"Bakit nga ba walang ginagawa 'yang ugok na 'yan?" asar na tanong ni Jessica.
"Hindi ko rin alam eh. Maski ako naiinis sa kanya. Ang tali-talino nga 'tas ang galing-galing sa negosyo, 'pag dating naman kay Blaire natitimang," asar na sagot ni Misty.
"Asar na asar sa boss?" natatawang tanong ni Jessica kay Misty.
"Eh kasi naman, it's obvious that he wants her back so badly. Obvious din naman na mahal na mahal ni Blaire si Boss. Ba't hindi sundan ni Boss sa Moscow 'di ba? Huge romantic gesture gano'n," sagot ni Misty.
"Hay naku, intindihin na lang siguro natin. Maybe he's scared of what might happen. Gano'n din naman kasi ang mga lalaki minsan kaya minsan dapat talaga babae ang gumagalaw," biglang dinig nila Jessica at Misty na sabi ni Reneth na bigla na lang sumulpot.
"What are you doing here?" gulat na tanong ni Jessica.
"Gusto ko lang i-check si Exequiel. I'm sure Blaire would want to know how he is," simpleng sagot ni Reneth.
"Tell her that Exequiel's fine and handling things well," bigla namang sabi ni Oliver, ang matalik na kaibigan ni Exequiel, na bigla ring sumulpot mula sa kung saan. Napakalamig ng aura nito.
"What do you mean?" nakakunot ang noong tanong ni Reneth kay Oliver. "Look, Mister, hindi kita kilala pero I just want you to know that hindi ako magsisinungaling sa kaibigan ko. Exequiel, obviously, is not fine."
"Oliver Lazaga, one of Exequiel's good friends," walang emosyong pakilala ni Oliver kay Reneth.
"One of Exequiel's cold and evil friends," dagdag ni Jessica.
"Jessica," wala pa ring emosyong bati ni Oliver kay Jessica.
"Pare-pareho kayong mga demonyong nasa lupa," sagot ni Jessica kay Oliver.
"Exequiel doesn't want Blaire to know that he's not doing fine while she's away. Trust me that Blaire would be more hurt and disappointed kay Exequiel when she finds out dahil parang pinababayaan nito ang trabaho nito—his life's work, his dreams," paliwanag ni Oliver.
"Pa'no mo naman nalaman ang opinyon ni Blaire? Close kayo?" tanong ni Reneth.
"The first time I saw Blaire with Exequiel is on that elevator," kuwento ni Oliver habang tinuturo ang elevator sa medyo malayo. "Naalala ko pa ang sinabi ni Exequiel sa'min no'n 'Do you mind moving the meeting at 3? I have to talk to my lady,'" patuloy ni Oliver.
"That was the first time Exequiel ever moved an important meeting for a woman. There were four of us who saw Blaire with him that day. At kahit, to quote Jessica's words, 'mga demonyong nasa lupa' kami, Blaire smiled at all of us, even though she seemed scared at first and seek for refuge in Exequiel's arms," dagdag ni Oliver.
"Anong kinalaman niyan sa pagiging close ninyo?" tanong ni Reneth.
"Exequiel's stories. The man can't shut up about his woman, and because of those stories, we knew who she really is. Then one day, she visited Exequiel and we were in his office. That day ended up with us getting to know Blaire Devan, Exequiel Matteo's queen. So, she became as close as Exequiel to us," pagtatapos ni Oliver.
"Is he ready for our meeting?" tanong ni Oliver kay Misty.
"I'll just inform her, Sir," sagot ni Misty bago tumayo mula sa kanyang kinauupuan para puntahan si Exequiel.
"You better go. He needs to do his job," sabi ni Oliver kanila Jessica at Reneth.
Tumango naman sila Jessica at Reneth at sinunod ang utos ni Oliver.
"Exequiel's world is sooo different," komento ni Reneth kay Jessica nang makasakay sila sa elevator.
"Tell me about it," natatawang sagot ni Jessica. "Marami ngang nagtataka kung kapamilya ko ba talaga 'yan."
"Exequiel's world is different, and yet, Blaire is still Blaire," nakangiting sabi ni Reneth.
"They complement each other, that's why. There is a balance. They were perfect for each other," sagot ni Jessica kay Reneth. "Blaire tames the beast, and Exequiel tames the iron lady," dagdag ni Jessica.
"'Iron lady'?" natatawang tanong ni Reneth.
"Why not? Blaire is a strong-willed woman. She doesn't need your help. She'll tell things how it is—no sugarcoating. She's passionate about the things that she really loves. She values her freedom and space. She's comfortable in her skin—" sagot ni Jessica.
"She also has a hot temper and is stubborn," biglang sabat ni Reneth na ikinatawa nang malakas ni Jessica. "But her silence will speak much louder than her words...and if ever she speaks, grabe din," dagdag ni Reneth.
"Honestly, I admire Blaire...so much," pag-amin ni Jessica kay Reneth.
"Same," nakangiting sagot ni Reneth. "God, I miss her," natatawang dagdag ni Reneth.
"Not as much as Exequiel misses her," sagot ni Jessica at napabuntong-hininga na lang silang dalawa.
NAPABUNTONG-HININGA si Blaire pagkalabas niya ng isang boutique. Nagliliwaliw siya ngayon sa GUM in Moscow. If New York City has Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman, if Paris has Le Bon Marché, and if London has Harrods, then Russia has GUM.
GUM is the most iconic department store in Moscow, a massive 126-year-old structure in the heart of Red Square.
Wala naman siyang balak gumastos nang gumastos dahil hindi naman siya gano'ng kayaman para gumastos nang todo.
Nagulat si Blaire nang bigla siyang kabigin ng isang lalaki. Her right cheek landed on the guy's chest at rinig na rinig niya ang tibok ng puso nito. Mahigpit naman ang pagkakahawak ng lalaki sa kanyang mga braso.
"Мы сожалеем," rinig ni Blaire na sabi ng lalaki sa isang papalayong tao. (My sozhaleyem—We're sorry)
Hindi alam ni Blaire kung anong ibig sabihin no'n but it is clearly Russian.
"Are you okay?" dinig ni Blaire na tanong ng lalaki sa kanya at tinulak siya nito nang kaunti papalayo sa katawan nito para matingnan sa mukha. "I'm sorry I had to grab you like that. You were about to get hit by that ice cream bicycle."
Tumingala si Blaire at sinabing, "Thank you."
Doon lang niya nakita ang mukha ng lalaki. Napakapamilyar ng hitsura ng lalaki at base sa gulat na ekspresyon ng lalaki, alam na rin ni Blaire na pamilyar din siya rito.
"Blaire/Xavier?" sabay nilang sabi sa isa't isa.
"W-What are you doing here in Moscow?" gulat pa ring tanong ni Xavier sa kanya.
Blaire chuckled and said, "Gulat na gulat? I'm a tourist. I arrived five days ago and I'm here for one more week. You?"
"Small world. The last time I saw you was...well, a long long time ago," nakangiting sabi ni Xavier na ikinatawa ulit ni Blaire. "Talagang sa Moscow pa tayo nagkita. It really really is a small world. So, kumusta?" masayang dagdag ni Xavier.
"I think it's better if you let me go first before we talk," nakangiting sagot ni Blaire.
"Oh, right," sagot naman ni Xavier nang mapagtantong hawak-hawak pa rin niya si Blaire at binitawan nga niya ang dalaga. Hindi niya mapigilang hindi makaramdam ng saya at pagkamangha na makita ulit si Blaire at sa Moscow pa talaga.
They've known each other since Blaire was still in college pero mabibilang sa isang kamay kung ilang beses lang sila nagkita sa personal.
"Why Moscow?" tanong ni Xavier habang naglalakad sila at kumakain ng ice cream. Kahit saan ka naman kasi magpunta puwedeng makabili ang mga tao rito ng ice cream.
"I don't know either," natatawang sagot ni Blaire. "It just so happened that it's available at a time that I want to take a break and tour around."
"A break from?" tanong ni Xavier.
"Secret," sagot ni Blaire na ikinatawa nang malakas ni Xavier. "You? Why are you here?"
"Ngayon lang ako nagkaro'n ng oras to visit again. Remember what I told you before? 'Yung nagpunta ako rito isang beses and I told myself that I'll visit Russia again if I have the time? Ito na 'yun," nakangiting kuwento ni Xavier.
"I remember," nakangiting sagot ni Blaire.
"Wow, naaalala mo pa rin pala ako," pang-aasar na sabi ni Xavier.
"Well, you're not very easy to forget," pabirong sagot ni Blaire na ikinatawa ulit ni Xavier.
"So, what's the real deal?" biglang tanong ni Xavier habang naglalakad sila sa Arbat Street. He offered to tour Blaire around and Blaire said yes kaya naman from GUM napunta na sila sa Arbat Street.
"What do you mean?" tanong ni Blaire kay Xavier at tumigil siya saglit sa paglalakad nang may madaanan silang caricaturist na may ginagawa.
"I have a feeling that you're not really here because you want to tour around Moscow," sagot ni Xavier kay Blaire.
Napangiti si Blaire at liningon si Xavier. "You still guess well," sagot ni Blaire.
"So? What is it?" tanong ni Xavier nang magsimula na ulit silang maglakad ulit.
"Long story," sagot ni Blaire. "But to keep it short, I rejected a marriage proposal, and a lot of rumors, issues, and stuff arose after, that some actually suggested for me to leave the country for a while."
"Rumors, issues, and stuff? Are they that bad? Were you dating someone famous?" tanong ni Xavier.
"Let's eat dinner and I'll answer all of your questions. I'm starving," nakangiting sagot ni Blaire.
Why is she so comfortable around Xavier? Because they know each other since before. They tell things to each other before. They tell things because they know they wouldn't have anyone to tell them to dahil wala namang nakakakilala kay Xavier sa circle of friends ni Blaire at wala rin namang nakakakilala kay Blaire sa circle of friends ni Xavier.
The trust they have in each other is because of convenience.
Isa pa, they're just comfortable with each other. Naging automatic iyon sa kanila kahit noong una silang magkita sa personal.
"So, you're single now?" tanong ni Xavier kay Blaire habang kumakain sila.
"Yes," sagot ni Blaire. "Even though I don't want to, yes, I'm single."
"You don't want to?" natatawang tanong ni Xavier.
"I love the guy, Xavier. So, if being single means not being with him, then I don't want to be single," sagot ni Blaire.
"Then, why are you here?" tanong ni Xavier.
"Because I was hurt, disappointed, and confused. He broke a promise. He promised that he'll wait, but he didn't. What would you feel if the person you love can't wait for you?" sagot ni Blaire.
"That does suck," sagot ni Xavier.
Nag-iwas ng tingin si Blaire. Fuck, mura niya. She's hurting. "I...I don't want to talk about this anymore," may maliit na ngiting sabi ni Blaire kay Xavier.
"Okay," sagot ni Xavier.
Ngumiti si Blaire bilang sagot.
"How about me? Aren't going to ask me if single?" nakangiting tanong ni Xavier pagkatapos ng ilang sandali nilang nginitian ni Blaire.
Blaire chuckled and asked, "And you? Still with her? I saw pictures of you and your girlfriend in Insta for a while."
"Yeah, that didn't work out," sagot ni Xavier.
"I'm sorry," sagot ni Blaire.
"Sorry for what?" natatawang tanong ni Xavier. "Nga pala, what are your plans for your one more week of stay here?"
"I don't know. Spontaneous nga lang pagpunta ko rito 'di ba?" natatawang sagot ni Blaire.
"Right," natatawang sagot ni Xavier. "I'll tour you around if you want. I can be your company for one week."
"Talaga?" nakangiting sagot ni Blaire.
"Yes, Blaire," nakangiting sagot ni Xavier.
Inilabas ni Blaire ang cellphone niya mula sa kanyang bag na dala-dala at iniabot iyon kay Xavier. "Save your number so that I can contact you whenever I want to go outside," sabi ni Blaire at kinuha naman ni Xavier ang cellphone niya.
"How about actually going outside? Enjoy Russia, Blaire. You don't get to be here everyday," sabi ni Xavier at iniabot niya rin ang cellphone niya kay Blaire.
"Fine," natatawang sagot ni Blaire and she heard Xavier chuckle as well.
"Sakto talagang one week bago ka umuwi?" tanong ni Xavier at ibinalik ang phone ni Blaire.
"Yup," sagot ni Blaire.
"We have the same flight back to the Philippines then," nakangiting sagot ni Xavier.
"What? Small world nga talaga," natatawang sagot ni Blaire.
"I agree," natatawang sagot ni Xavier.
PAGOD na sumalampak si Blaire sa couch sa loob ng kanyang hotel suite. Natuwa talaga siya sa kinainan nilang restaurant ni Xavier kanina. It's in a legendary tower and is located on the third level under the viewing platform of the tower at an altitude of 330 meters.
The food was just okay pero ang pinakana-appreciate ni Blaire ay 'yung view. The restaurant rotates around the tower's axis, which takes 40 minutes. As in 360 na ikot. You get to see a view of Moscow.
Inangat ni Blaire ang kamay niyang hawak-hawak ang phone niya nang mag-vibrate iyon at nakitang may natanggap siyang text mula kay Xavier.
"Get up early tomorrow. I know a good place for breakfast," sabi ni Xavier sa kanya.
"Okay. Thank you, Xavi," sagot ni Blaire.
"Xavi?" tanong ni Xavier sa kanya na ikinatawa ni Blaire.
"Yes. Short for 'Xavier'?" reply ni Blaire.
"I like it," reply ni Xavier.
"Not asking for you opinion," reply ni Blaire.
"Ah. Sige. Walang breakfast bukas," reply ni Xavier sa kanya at natawa si Blaire.
"I'll see you tomorrow for BREAKFAST, Xavi. Good night," reply ni Blaire.
"Good night, Blaire. Sweet dreams," reply naman ni Xavier sa kanya.
Blaire let out a chuckle. Ibaba na niya sana ang kanyang cellphone nang mag-vibrate na naman ito kaya tiningnan niya ang bagong mensaheng natanggap at nakitang galing iyon kay Xavier.
"You're going to be okay," basa ni Blaire sa text ni Xavier.
Is she though? Is she going to be okay?
She lost Exequiel.
Exequiel.
Blaire opened her laptop sitting on the table in front of her. Binuksan niya ang kanyang e-mail at nakitang may natanggap siyang e-mail from Reneth. Sinabi nitong buksan nito ang cellphone niya.
Nagtataka namang binuksan ni Blaire ang cellphone niya at binuksan ang Message App ng kanyang phone. Hinanap niya ang pangalan ni Reneth at nakitang nag-message pala ito sa kanya.
"Exequiel's doing fine. You don't have to worry about him too much," basa ni Blaire sa mensahe ni Reneth.
"Marami pa ring reporters na umaaligid sa kanya. Nakausap ko din siya sa e-mail and he told me that he'll do whatever it takes to keep your name off everything," basa ni Blaire sa isa pang mensahe ni Reneth.
"I hope you're doing okay," basa pa ni Blaire.
Napangiti nang mapait si Blaire. Is she doing okay? Nakakangiti siya at nakakatawa habang kasama niya si Xavier kanina, but that doesn't change the fact that she's hurting...so much.
Wala na sila ni Exequiel.
"STILL can't believe you and Blaire are done, Bro," sabi ni Alexander, isa sa mga kasama ni Oliver no'ng araw na makita nila si Blaire kasama si Exequiel sa elevator at isa rin sa mga matalik na kaibigan ni Exequiel.
Alexander can still remember Blaire's smile no'ng una niya itong nakita. They're four men waiting for the elevator that day at alam niyang nagulat si Blaire at natakot din na sila ang una nitong nakita pagkabukas ng pintuan ng elevator.
But the woman smiled at them despite their brooding aura. At talagang umabot sa point na naging ka-close nila ito.
"Someone that amazing shouldn't be left in a foreign country alone," rinig ni Alexander na walang emosyong sabi ni Oliver kay Exequiel. Sanay naman na sila na parang robot si Oliver. "Let alone be single and far away from you," dagdag ni Oliver.
Wala silang narinig na sagot mula kay Exequiel.
"Ang nakakagulat lang kasi talaga is that your people succeeded into pressuring you," natatawang sabi naman ni Red, isa rin sa mga matalik na kaibigan ni Exequiel at isa sa mga lalaking nakita ni Blaire no'ng araw na iyon sa labas ng elevator.
"You don't even need them. They can pull out their investments whenever they want, and you'll still survive. Sa rami ba naman ng gustong mag-invest sa company mo," dagdag ni Red. "Masyado kang narindi. You should really have just kept your ears shut from them."
"Sinermonan?" tanong ni Alexander kay Red. "Brokenhearted na nga, sinermonan mo pa."
"I'm not the stupid one who let go of an amazing woman," kibit-balikat na sagot ni Red.
"If you're too scared to do something to get her back, move on," walang emosyong sabi ni Oliver kay Exequiel. "I told her friend to tell her that you're doing fine."
"The hell did you do that, Oliver? Shouldn't it be better if Blaire knows that Exequiel's not himself ever since they ended their relationship?" sabi ni Red kay Oliver.
"And do you think that Blaire will be less disappointed and hurt if she finds out that Exequiel's throwing away his life's work? His career? Just because he's brokenhearted?" sabi naman ni Alexander kay Red.
Walang nagsalita sa kanila at napatingin na lang sila bigla sa gawi ni Exequiel nang tumayo ito at may nakamamatay na aurang nagsimulang maglakad papalabas ng opisina into.
Naaninag naman nilang naggugumahol na sumunod si Misty kay Exequiel habang may dala-dalang mga folders.
"He's going to do it," sabi ni Oliver.
"'It'?" tanong ni Red.
"Wala ka ba talagang alam? Puro ka lang pala talagang tanong at sermon eh," asar na sagot ni Alexander kay Red. "He's going to tell those investors to fuck off and leave his company alone. Serves them right."
"So, wala na siyang investors?" tanong ni Red.
"He worked on it for days. He has new ones lined up," kibit-balikat na sagot ni Alexander.
"He didn't even warn them before finding new ones? Legal ba 'yun? Alexander, ikaw 'tong abogado rito," sabi ni Red pero hindi siya pinansin ni Alexander dahil biglang may tinitipa ito sa phone nito. "Damn, they really made him angry, huh? The devil has been unleashed," sabi ni Red.
"It's the devil's fault anyway. He let them get into his nerves and now his queen is gone," sabat ni Oliver. "Don't make promises that you can't keep," dagdag ni Oliver.
"Only make promises that you can keep under any circumstances," dagdag ni Alexander.
"Wala na akong maiaambag diyan," sagot naman ni Red.