Prologue:
When is love the greatest?
Manila, Philippines.
Year 2014. (4 years before Book 1 Timeline)
"JESUS Christ."
Napakunot-noo si Terrence. Napalingon siya. "Huh?"
Naglakad palapit si Minnah, nakangiti ng matamis. "Kanina pa kita tinitignan. Tulala ka. Kung ano man ang mga tanong mo, si Jesus ang sagot."
He chuckled and moved a little, so she can sit beside him. Pagkaupo nito sa tabi niya ay tumingin din ito sa tinititigan niya kanina,
"You're right," aniya. "I was asking why I'm ready to love, again, but no one's still coming along. And the answer is, well, you said it—Jesus."
Mahigit dalawang taon na magmula nang hiwalayan siya ng unang nobya at basta na lang ito umalis. Terrence was extremely devastated. He can't focus well on his last year in college. Muntik na siyang mawalan ng latin honor at hindi maka-graduate.
But then, Terrence also knew he had to go back to God. He grew up in a Christian and loving family, after all. Nang nag-kolehiyo ay nawala siya sa paniniwala dahil na rin siguro sa kawalan niya ng oras sa Diyos.
The moment he stepped in college, all his time was spent in the campus with his friends, with his cousins... with Frances.
Terrence suddenly stopped doing his devotions. Prayers were insincere until they weren't said anymore. His Bible was never opened, again. He stopped attending youth services and Sunday services...
Hindi niya rin puwedeng itangging nalunod siya sa relasyon nila ng dating girlfriend. They were both young and foolishly in love. Lunod na lunod si Terrence. His ungodly relationship with Frances took him further away from God.
"I chose the world over God," sambit niya at saka tumingala muli sa krus kung saan siya nakatitig kanina. "I chose the pleasures that I thought would last long..."
Hanggang sa basta na lang humiwalay si Frances at umalis ng Pilipinas. No matter how hard he cried and begged, she never came back.
Terrence suffered the consequences of choosing his emotions first, of loving too much it became impure...
"And when I repented..." Napangiti siya. "He still welcomed me with open arms."
"Ang galing ng Panginoon, ano?" Minnah happily said. "He turned your brokenness into an opportunity to find Him. Although He's just beside you all the time, He used your pain to make you see Him, again."
He chuckled.
"Why? May nasabi ba 'kong nakakatawa?" she asked, chuckling a bit.
Umiling si Terrence. Now, it's been two years since he got back with his personal relationship with the Lord. "Jesus is telling me that I should spend more time with Him. Dahil sa oras na magkaroon ulit ako ng nobya, baka kung saan na naman ako maligaw."
Minnah laughed. "Kung naging girlfriend mo lang si Crystal Jane, parang hindi ka naman maliligaw."
Mas lumuwag ang mga ngiti ni Terrence ng maalala ang dalaga. Pagkatapos niyang makapasa sa board exam nitong taon ay nakilala niya si Crystal Jane. She's two or three years older and very kind and mature. She's the total opposite of Frances. And he adored that so much. His feelings were truly pure and sincere for Crystal Jane. Ilang buwan din siyang sumubok at niligawan ito.
She entertained him, but Terrence knew her heart belonged to someone else.
"Hanga ako sa'yo, alam mo ba?" sabi ni Minnah.
"Oh?" Napabaling siya rito. Minnah is a year younger than him. She's a youth leader while Terrence volunteers. Dalawang taon na din silang magkakilala kaya't komportable na sila sa isa't isa.
Isa si Minnah sa mga nag-welcome kay Terrence nang bumalik na siya sa paniniwala. Nasa church sila ngayon. May inaasikaso silang special event para sa youth service bukas.
"Ano namang nakakahanga sa'kin?"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up to him. She smiled. "You showed genuine happiness when you stopped pursuing Crystal Jane. Bihira ako makakita ng lalaking tunay ang saya na mag-let go."
Napasandal siya. Well, it stung a little. Ilang buwan din siyang nag-invest ng emosyon. But Terrence finally understood the love Jesus has been giving him endlessly—selfless love. Kung saan masaya si Crystal Jane, doon din pala siya pinakamasaya.
Mas nanaig pa ang ligaya sa puso ni Terrence nang malaman niyang noong nakaraang buwan ay ikinasal na si Crystal Jane sa lalaking pinakamamahal nito. He's just full of joy because he knew how happy she is, too.
Nakita niya pa si Crystal Jane at ang asawa nito last week sa Sunday service. They are all good.
"At saka isa pa..." dugtong ni Minnah. "Sa narinig kong testimony mo about your ex-girlfriend and the pain you went through? May ibang lalaki na na-trauma na magmahal ulit. Pero, hindi ikaw. I mean, of course you found Jesus, again. But we have brothers here na katulad ng pinagdaanan mo. At hanggang ngayon, hindi pa sila ready magmahal ulit. Pero ikaw? You are so brave to try again, Terrence!"
Napakamot siya sa kilay. Napangisi. "I don't know, too. May kanya-kanyang healing time ang mga tao. May matagal, may mabilis. Siguro ang sa akin lang..."
He straightened his back, lifted his chin, and closed his eyes. "Ang sa akin lang... masarap magmahal, Minnah. Kahit hindi naging maganda ang ending ng una kong relasyon, hindi ko puwedeng itangging naging masayang masaya ako dahil minahal at nagmahal ako."
"You're not afraid to get... hurt after loving, again?"
Nag-isip siya sandali. Slowly, he opened his eyes and he saw the cross that he's been gazing upon earlier.
Tinuro niya iyon. "Jesus got hurt. Because He loved and still loves us. I want that kind of love, Minnah. A love that can make you feel and very passionate. A love that can make you stronger..." He looked at her. "It's impossible to love without getting hurt. But it does not stop there, because love can heal you, again. You grow. And who does not want to grow in love?"
Napakurap-kurap si Minnah. Then, she looked at a different direction. "I pray that the Lord will give me a man who's not afraid to love like Jesus, Terrence....
"'Yung alam kung ano ang true meaning ng love. 'Yung hinding-hindi titiklop sa unang sakit ng pag-ibig. Na kung nasaktan siya ulit, paulit-ulit, ginagamit niya iyon para mas maging matatag siya..."
"I pray the same," Terrence agreed. "Baka kaya wala pa sila sa buhay natin ngayon, because God is still molding our characters. He probably wanted us to trust and wait more."
Bahagyang natawa si Terrence ng tila nasagot niya na rin ang pinagmumuni-muni niya kanina.
"Bago dumating ang right one, kailangang maging right one din tayo para sa kanila," Minnah wisely added.
He can only nod in total agreement.
"Terrence." She finally looked at him, again. "Diba, sabi nila iba pa ang greatest love sa true love? Since wala pa ang true love mo, can you say that Frances was your greatest love?"
"Honestly? I don't think so..." Bahagya siyang napailing. "She's my first love and our love were passionate, but too young and immature. Puro emosyon lang..."
Napatango-tango ito. "Eh, si Crystal Jane?"
Napailing din siya. The attraction they shared was beautiful. But never deep.
"Ah, kaya siguro hindi binigay sa'yo ni Lord," nakatawang biro nito.
Natawa din siya. "Kaya nga." Tumikhim siya. "I should wait on the Lord more, this time. I wanted my true love to be my greatest," sinserong sabi ni Terrence.
"I like that, too!" she hopefully said. "But... when is love the greatest?"
Napahinto si Terrence. Oo nga, ano? Is it based from the intensity of emotion? But then, it will be based from feelings.
Love is a commitment. So... will it be based from how committed you are into loving the person? That you can commit everything and anything in your life for your partner's sake?
Hmm... Maybe he should ask his parents about that.
"Siguro malalaman natin ang sagot sa tamang panahon. We got a lot to learn. Lalo na 'ko," Terrence admitted. "Ikaw din."
Tumango ito. "Anyhow, being loved and loving is great, alone. Ang galing talaga ni Lord. Binigyan Niya tayo ng kakayahang magmahal. At ang kailangan lang natin ay maging matapang para doon... So, I guess, love is not for the weak?"
Maingat niyang kinurot pisngi nito. "Love can change the weak. Love can make them strong through pains and trials. Love should make us brave, not afraid. Since that love comes from the mighty One."
Nilayo nito ang pisngi at hinawakan ang parteng kinurot niya. "Bakit hindi ka kaya mag-pastor?"
"Engineer na 'ko, eh."
"Hmp! Puwede naman iyon. May mga lawyer, doctors, at businessmen tayong pastor."
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Kapag nakarinig ako ng calling, sige. Sa ngayon, volunteer na lang muna ako."
Napasinghap ito. "May gagawin pa pala tayo!" Napatayo si Minnah. "Kaya pala ako nandito kasi pinapahanap ka ni Pastor Leo, may ipapagawa sana sa'yo!"
Namula ang mga pisngi ni Minnah at tila nakipagsayaw sa hangin ang mahaba nitong buhok nang biglang napatayo. Her alarmed face made her round eyes even rounder, and her pinkish lips wincing. She made face three times that Terrence wanted to pinch her cheeks, again. She looks cuter...
More adorable.
"Nako, matutukso na naman ako nito," bulong nito na narinig niya.
Tumayo na din siya. "Matutukso saan?"
"H-Ha? Ano... matutukso na naman akong m-mabagal sa gawain. Isa lang inutos sa'kin, inabot ako ng..." Napatingin ito sa sariling wristwatch. "Ten minutes!"
"Calm down." Terrence chuckled, and his hand reach her shoulder. He gently tapped it. "Sasabihin ko na lang na nagpa-advise ako sa'yo kaya natagalan tayo sa pag-uusap."
Lalo itong napangiwi habang naglalakad na sila pabalik ng function hall.
Natawa na siya nang tuluyan sa itsura nito. "Akong bahala sa'yo."
Napatingala ito sa kanya. Tumingin ng matagal pero hindi nagsalita.
"Minnah?"
He noticed she swallowed before turning away her gaze. Mas binilisan nito ang paglalakad—halos patakbo.
"Hey, wait for me! Minnah!"
"In Jesus' name, hindi ako marupok! In Jesus' name!" sigaw nito at mas bumilis ang pagtakbo. "Heavenly Father, keep me away from a guwapong temptation, specifically 'yung may brown eyes."
What? He caught up with her speed. Inabot niya ang braso nito. "Minnah."
He grabbed her arm to stop her, but he might have pulled her harder than he intended.
Tumama ang mukha nito sa dibdib niya. He felt her frozen.
"Oh, sorry." He made a space between them. "Minnah?"
Nakapikit ito nang mariin. She's mouthing silent words.
"Minnah?"
"Sshh! Nagpe-pray ako!"
Nanatiling nakapikit ang mga mata nito kaya't nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na mas suriin ito nang malapitan.
Napakurap si Terrence.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her round, innocent eyes met his.
He smiled gently. Maybe his next love was with him all along...
♡♡♡
Paris, France.
Year 2018.
"AMOR VINCIT OMNIA."
Eunice finished her seventh cocktail drink, then turned to her friend and classmate, Soleil. "What?"
"Love conquers all."
She laughed, her tipsy laugh. "Why are you saying that during my farewell party?"
Addie—her other friend and classmate laughed, too. Lasing na din yata.
"Ikaw ang may kasalanan, Eunice." She's a French-Filipino kaya't marunong mag-Tagalog. "Inaya-aya mo pa kasi. Dapat hinayaan mo na lang siyang gawin ang project at assignments natin sa school. Ay, wait. Nag-drop ka na pala ng subjects! Iniwan mo kami sa ere, you bitch!
She laughed again. Lasing na nga talaga siya. In her hooded eyes, Eunice turned to Soleil, again. "Please, don't lecture me about love, Catholic girl."
Soleil sighed and sipped her grape juice. Soleil is a French-American. Kaklase niya sa Fashion school katulad ni Addie. Mabait, mahinhin, relihiyosa—which is why in the middle of a nightclub, her conservative friend is wearing church clothes. Balot na balot! May cross necklace pang suot.
"Desole. I just want you to know, Eunice, that you don't have to be sad because in the end, you'll find love, again."
"I'm not sad!" Eunice giggled. She raised her hand to call the attention of the bartender. "I'm just coming home to the Philippines for a long vacay!"
Hinampas siya ni Addie. "Ce n'est pas juste! Ang daya mo! You're going to take a rest while Soleil and I are working our ass off to graduate! Dapat sabay tayong ga-graduate!"
Eunice pouted. "I want to go home. Ilang taon na 'kong hindi nakakabalik sa Pilipinas."
She missed her Uncle Johnny, madami na siyang gustong hilingin at ipabili rito.
She's also going home because she heard her brother's finally in the Philippines. She didn't want to admit... pero kahit nagtatampo pa rin siya sa kapatid, umaasa si Eunice na pag-uukulan na siya ng pansin nito. Baka nagsisisi na ngayon ang Kuya Eugene niya sa ginawang pag-iwan sa kanya noon.
"Aren't you heartbroken, Eunice?" Soleil asked. "I thought you were, that's why you dropped out and wanted to go back to the Philippines. You and Geoffrey broke up, so I thought—"
Addie laughed out loud. "You're so late, Catholic girl! That was a month ago, already! And didn't you see Eunice dirty dancing with Lucien earlier?"
Napatungo si Soleil. "Ah bon? It's not about Geoffrey, then?"
"Absolument pas," iling ni Eunice.
Geoff was her ex-boyfriend. Well, he's the only ex she had because he was her very first boyfriend. Tumagal din ng maraming buwan ang relasyon nila. But, Eunice can't feel something anymore. They are better off as friends. Thankfully, Geoff is older and mature. Naiintindihan nito at pumayag na maging best friends na lang sila.
Dito pa siya unang nagpaalam na uuwi muna siya ng Pilipinas. He's not just here in Paris now. Kung nandito ito ay kasama sana nilang umiinom ngayon. Geoff likes dancing at nightclubs and bars, too. Kaya nga sila magkasundong-magkasundo.
"We're totally good. That's why I'm not sad." She turned to her. "Ne t'inquiete pas, Soleil."
"You can't tell me not to worry," sabi naman nito. "You're my friend and I am bothered why you have to leave."
Addie laughed, again. "Just pray for her. You're close with God, right?" she said in a mocking tone. "Kneel down in prayer. Well, that's good practice. Sooner, you're going to kneel down in front of a big cock."
Soleil pouted. "Salope! Va te faire voir!"
Nagkatinginan sina Eunice at Addie, magkasabay na nagtawanan. Soleil just said the word "bitch" and "go to hell" for the first time!
Tumayo si Addie. Hindi na tuwid ang lakad nito pero hindi naman natumba nang makarating sa likod ni Soleil. "We are a bad influence on you, good child." Yumakap ito sa kaibigan nila. "Let's celebrate! A good girl just said a curse!"
Natawa si Soleil at yumakap pabalik rito. "We can't fight. We have a group project to finish first."
French people are really affectionate. Kahit si Geoff ay napakalambing kaya nagustuhan ni Eunice. But she's not really in love. She just wanted someone to take care of her...
She's been taking care of herself since her Kuya Eugene left her to study abroad. At kahit kasama naman niya ang Auntie niya dito sa Paris, parang mag-isa pa rin siya...
Mag-isa pa rin siyang inaalagaan ang sarili niya. Nakakapagod na din...
"Eunice!" Hinampas siya ng malakas sa braso ni Addie.
Muntik nang matapon ang tubig na iinumin niya. "Adelie Eloise!" saway niya rito.
May tinuro ito sa likod niya.
"Ma douce..." A hot breath fanned her ear.
She turned. "Lucien!"
His lips curved in a playful smirk, crooking his head on one side with eyes under hooded lids. He's obviously showing off his classic Parisian charm that can make every girl in Paris swooning for him.
But not for her. He's just a past time for Eunice.
Lucien encaged her inside his arms by putting his hands in each of her sides, touching the counter table behind her.
She crooked her head sideways, too. "We're done dancing, monsieur De Sauveur."
"You owe me a kiss, ma douce."
She put a finger in his lips, gently tracing it. "I don't remember promising you any kiss. Now, ba-bye." She patted his face and turned her back from him.
Hindi pa rin tinatanggal ni Lucien ang magkabilang braso nito kaya't nanatili siyang nakakulong doon.
"Oh, Eunice, ma douce, ma belle. C'est toi la plus belle," he whispered. "Je te veux."
Uminom lang siya ng tubig para humulas ang tama ng alak sa kanya.
Lumapat ang malalaki at maiinit nitong kamay sa magkabila niyang baywang.
Tinanggal niya iyon at napailing. "Va t'en, Lucien," pagpaalis niya rito.
He manly chuckled and kept his hands away. "I'll make you mine someday," huling bulong nito bago umalis.
"You should have just given him one kiss," Addie said. "Tutal sa dancefloor kanina, nagpahawak ka na sa kung saan-saan. Nahiya ka pa ngayon!"
Eunice rolled her eyes. "I'm not in the mood to make out."
"That's Lucien Yves De Sauveur, bitch! He's the hottest male in town! His cock can spit sperms in raging fire! Ganoon ka-hot! Every woman wet dreams about him. If I were you, I'll go for a fucking kahit wala ako sa mood!"
Natawa si Eunice at pabirong pinitik ang bibig nito. "Ikaw, ang bastos mo talaga." Tinuro niya si Soleil na tahimik na inuubos ang juice nito. "May virgin Mary tayong kasama."
Umirap lang si Adelie. "Hmp! Virgin ka rin naman! You should have slept with Geoff, and then screw Lucien for the experience!"
Umiling siya. Hindi pa siya nakakakilala ng lalaking gusto niyang maka-make love.
No matter how a nice guy her ex-boyfriend was, she didn't feel like giving herself just because they were in a relationship before. Sure, they made out and playfully touched here and there. But that's her limit. They never made it intimate in a naked-kind of level. Hindi rin naman mapilit si Geoff, buti na lang. He respects her.
And Lucien? He's a walking French sex god, sure. Yet, Eunice can't take him seriously. For her, he's just a fancy fling on the dance floor. Ni hindi nga ito tumatatak sa isip niya.
"I guess I'm still a romantic, Addie..." Eunice concluded. Inubos niya na ang isang baso ng tubig. "I want to give myself to someone I love."
Umismid ito. "Love, my ass! You'll die a virgin like Soleil here. Hey, Sol!"
"C'est quoi?" Nag-angat ng tingin si Soleil sa kanila.
"Are you praying in the middle of the bar? You fell silent suddenly."
"Oh." Umiling ito. Ngumiti. "I should go home. It's already two in the morning."
Tumayo na din si Eunice. Nawala na kahit papaano ang kaunting tama niya. "I'll go with you, Sol. Let's leave Addie here." For sure, her friend would hook up with a random handsome Parisian and spend a one-night stand.
Eunice doesn't want to judge her friend. But she can't really understand why Addie can make love without... love.
"Nah! I'll leave, too." Tumayo na rin ito. Tuwid na ang pagtayo. Nahulasan na rin siguro.
"What time is your flight tomorrow, Eunice?" Soleil asked while fixing up her blonde hair. Naglalakad na sila pabalik sa apartment.
Napaayos na rin tuloy si Eunice sa sarili niyang buhok. Itinali niya iyon pataas. "Quatre hueres de l'apres-midi."
"What!" Addie exlaimed. "Four o'clock! Nasa fashion school pa kami ni Soleil niyon. May klase pa. Hindi ka namin mahahatid!"
"There's no need to bring me to the airport."
"Gaano ka ba katagal ulit sa Pilipinas?" tanong pa nito.
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I don't know."
Natahimik silang tatlo habang naglalakad. Sumakay sila ng metro bus papunta sa first arrondissement. Pagkababa ay tahimik pa rin silang tatlo.
Nauna nilang nadaanan ang apartment kung saan siya nakatira kasama ang Auntie niya. "I guess, we can't see each other tomorrow, girls. You have class the whole day."
Umirap si Addie. Nakakaintinding ngumiti si Soleil.
"À Bientôt," paalam niya sa mga ito.
"You know you're a brat, Eunice," bulalas bigla ni Addie at dinuro siya. "Ang ganda-ganda na ng buhay mo dito sa Paris. Sa klase, ikaw ang paborito ng mga professor. Pinupuri palagi ang designs mo. You're the most beautiful girl in our class, even in Lucien's eyes! Then, you had a handsome and good boyfriend. You never worry about money because everything you want is being given to you. Pero, iiwan mong lahat iyon! Tinatapon mong lahat! Kasi gusto mo lang umuwi ng Pilipinas? Kasi gusto mo lang? Gusto mo lang! Wala kang pakialam sa mga taong iiwan mo kasi importante lang sa'yo ay kung anong gusto mo!"
"Addie, you're drunk."
"Kaibigan ang tingin namin sa'yo, Eunice. Pero for sure, 'pag balik mo sa Pilipinas, hindi mo na kami aalalahanin ni Soleil!"
Nakatingin lang sa kanila si Soleil na walang naiintindihan sa nangyayari.
"Hindi ka marunong makuntento." Bumuway ang tayo nito na agad naalalayan ni Soleil. "Siguro tama nga kanina si Sol. Malungkot ka!"
Tumalikod na si Eunice at tuluyang pumasok ng apartment. She shut the door closed.
"Eunice..." katok ni Soleil. "We're going to miss you... à Bientôt. Bonne route!"
"Je suis désolé, Sol, Addie... I'm sorry..." bulong niya. Narinig niya ang pag-alis ng dalawa.
Hindi nga siguro siya makuntento. Dahil sabi nga ni Addie, nasa kanya na ang lahat...
Oo, siguro nga.
But if so, why is she feeling this emptiness inside her? Bakit kulang pa rin? Bakit... bakit walang satisfaction?
Umakyat siya sa apartment. She tiptoed her way to her room. Matagumpay naman siyang nakarating sa kuwarto nang hindi nagigising ang Auntie niya.
Pagod na humiga siya ng kama. Pumikit.
She just wanted to find love—the kind of love that would be the greatest one. Because for sure, she'll never feel this emptiness inside if she'll have it finally.
Pero saan? Mag-a-apat na taon na siya dito sa Paris pero wala.
Kaya sa Pilipinas...
"Baka sa Pilipinas..." bulong niya sa sarili.
Maybe the love of her life is waiting for her back there...
♡♡♡
Paris, France.
Year 2019.
"BIENVENUE à Paris!"
Napahinto si Eunice sa kalagitnaan ng airport. Nakita niya sina Soleil at Addie na kumakaway sa kanya. Ang laki ng ngiti ng mga ito habang papalapit.
"Eunice! Eunice!"
Napangiti siya ng mapait. She swallowed an imaginary lump on her throat.
"Comment vas tu, Eunice?" Soleil hugged her.
Eunice broke down in tears. "I g-got married..."
Napasinghap ang mga ito.
"But my husband does not love me..." Pumiyok na siya at tuluyang napahagulgol. "I love him so much... but I have to let him go..."
Kailangang niyang pakawalan para makabalik ito sa talagang mahal nito.
Remembering Terrence made her heart ache so, so bad. Akala niya ubos na ang luha niya sa eroplano. That's an eighteen-hour flight full of tears.
Sa pagbaba niya kanina, inayos niya na ang sarili dahil alam niyang susunduin siya ng mga kaibigan.
Hindi pala nauubos ang mga luha... Siguro hindi kahit kailan mauubos ni Eunice para kay Terrence...
Inalalayan siya ni Soleil, habang si Addie na ang nagtulak ng baggage cart. Umupo sila sa isang tabi ng airport.
"Eunice, what happened?" Addie asked, very worried.
Inabutan siya ni Soleil ng tissue. "Eunice, qu'est-ce qui se passe?"
Nasapo na lang ni Eunice ng mga palad ang mukha. She cried so hard.
"I finally f-found s-someone who I can love truly... But, he does not love me the same! I hurt him! He hurt me! But I still love Terrence. I still want him. I still need him..."
That one night, because of the alcohol's influence, he made love with her before she left for Paris. She gave herself to the man she'll be loving for the rest of her life. Kahit pa ma-annul ang kasal nila, mamahalin niya pa rin ito.
Kahit sinong lalaki pa ang dumating sa buhay niya, lagi niyang ikukumpara ang mga ito kay Terrence. And no one can come close. No one can out-stand him in her heart, in her life...
Every single day, she'll always recall how Terrence smiles, talks, touches, kisses... Araw-araw...
Minu-minuto... Segu-segundo pa!
She will always choose him. And if one day Terrence's life will be put to danger, she's willing to die for him instead!
Pero hindi siya nito mahal. Hindi... mahal...
Hindi...
Eunice broke down, again. Addie hastily booked a Uber. Soleil kept consoling her.
Hindi na alam ni Eunice ang nangyayari hanggang sa nakita niya na lang ang sarili niyang tulala habang nakatingin sa Eiffel Tower.
She already stopped crying. Addie and Soleil went to buy some food and drinks.
"Bad day, ma douce?"
Napakurap si Eunice. Pagkalingon niya ay nakita niya si Lucien!
He smirked and sat beside her.
"S'il-vous-plait, Lucien... Please. I'm not in the mood to flirt."
He manly chuckled. "Your eyes are puffed. Who made you cry, mademoiselle?"
Nanatili siyang tahimik. Wala na siyang lakas para makipag-usap. Ni wala siyang lakas para itulak ito kahit ayaw niyang may katabi.
Tinuro ni Lucien ang Eiffel Tower. "They said that if lovers kiss under that tower, they already found their greatest love."
"So, ilan na ang nahalikan mo diyan?"
"What?" He looked puzzled. "Please speak in French or English."
Umiling lang siya at tumingala na lang sa mga ulap. Ayaw niyang tumingin sa paligid dahil maraming naghahalikan.
Magbe-break din kayo! she bitterly thought.
Napaigtad siya ng haplusin ni Lucien ang pisngi niya.
Inilayo niya ang mukha rito. "Fous le camp, De Sauveur!" pagpapaalis niya rito.
Ngumiti ito nang malapad. "Ah...Tu me manques, ma douce..."
He said he missed her. Eunice sighed. Can she imagine that Terrence misses her, too? Puwede kaya siyang umasa na pagkagising ni Terrence ay sinundan siya nito sa Paris? Can she hope that after they made love, he finally fell in love with her?
"Eunice?"
Binalingan niya na si Lucien. "I know why you keep on fooling around me, Lucien. Because I was a virgin. So, please stop flirting with me because I'm never going to sleep with you. I have a husband in the Philippines."
He chuckled. "And so? They say, married women taste better."
"Va te faire foutre!" mariing anas niya at saka tumayo na para umalis.
Habang papalayo ay narinig niya pa ang maligayang pagtawa nito. Sira-ulo.
Eksaktong nakasalubong niya sina Addie at Soleil. Hinila niya paalis ang mga ito. "Let's just go back to the apartment."
"Oh, Lucien is here!" Addie noticed while looking back. "He keeps on looking for you while you're away, Eunice."
"Geoffrey's looking for you, too," dagdag ni Soleil.
"Ang haba-haba ng hair mo, girl!" biglang pagta-tagalog ni Addie. "Tapos sinaktan ka lang ng future ex-husband mo? Balikan mo si Geoff! Or just have a fling with Lucien, again! Pakita mo kay Terrence kung anong sinayang niya!"
"It's my fault anyway." Inagaw lang naman niya si Terrence. Her friends back in Manila were right. Siya lang din ang nasaktan sa pag-ibig na pinaglaban niya.
"I will pray for you, Eunice," Soleil gently said. Addie rolled her eyes.
"Merci, Soleil." Ngumiti siya rito. "Can you also tell God to make the pain go away? I wanted to still love Terrence... but without feeling the pain."
"Gaga ka," naiinis na sambit ni Addie.
Napalabi lang siya.
"I can ask God to make you learn more about love, Eunice," sabi pa ni Soleil. "I'll ask him every night. You can pray, too..."
Napalunok siya. "I think God only listens to good girls like you."
Tumango-tango si Addie.
"Eunice?"
Napahinto sila nang makita kung sino ang makakasalubong nila.
Nangilid na naman ang luha sa mga mata ni Eunice. "Geoff!" Kusang kumilos ang mga paa niya—tumakbo palapit sa matalik na kaibigan.
Geoff welcomed her with a tight hug and a kiss. "Tu me manques, ma chérie!"
She burst into tears. It's only been a day, but she misses Terrence so much already!
Yet... She needs to let him go, so he can go back to Rachelle and their child...
She can't keep Terrence all for herself. Though, it kills her just like now, his happiness is more important to her.
Mas humigpit ang yakap sa kanya ni Geoff. She cried her heart out, again.
Maybe this is the irony of love... was it?
The greater the sacrifice, the greater the love.
♡♡♡
***
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