Nakatayo lamang sa harap ng mansion si Katrina while waiting for Miguel's driver. Tinatawagan lamang daw ni Miguel. She stared at the iron gates at gusto na lamang sana niyang lakarin at talunin iyon pero alam niyang wala rin siyang taxi na makikita sa lugar na iyon.
So she patiently waited for Miguel's driver. Nasa likod lamang daw iyon kaya umalis si Miguel para hanapin iyon.
"Saan ka pupunta?" a baritone voice suddenly asked behind her.
She quickly turned around to see an angry Aspen.
"Miguel told me you wanted to leave." Madilim ang itsura nito sa galit at hinanakit.
Fuck! Miguel called him, and not his driver, she realized. She clutched on her purse even more, trying to control herself and her emotions.
"Gusto ko ng umuwi. Gusto ko ng bumalik ng probinsya namin," diretsong sagot niya.
"What?" gulat na tanong nito.
"I know I don't fit in here, Aspen. I don't fit in your life. We can just strike a deal. Sustentuhan mo na lang ang bata and you can see him every weekend. That's it. Hindi na natin kailangan pang magkita araw-araw," dire-diretsong sagot niya.
"Is this about the engagement announcement just now?" galit na tanong nito.
"Partly," she lied. "Sinabi ko naman sa'yo di ba? I don't want any part of this. I just need money from you! Iyon lang! You don't need to drag me through this and make a mess of my life. Tahimik lang ang buhay ko and this happened!" She pointed to her tummy. "I didn't want this and I don't want you either! So please. Just let me leave you and your life for good. If you want, you can just send me money monthly and that's it. Iyon lang naman talaga ang kailangan ko sayo!"
Aspen looked so hurt after what she just said.
Katrina wanted to take it all back, to tell him the truth... that she's starting to fall in love with him pero ayaw niya. Ayaw niya ng gulo. She doesn't even fit in his life anyway. She's nothing compared to Dahlia.
"I arrived here not knowing about the announcement myself, Katrina. I brought you here because I wanted to tell my parents about us...," pag-amin nito. "I was willing to give up anything and everything just to be with you."
Katrina's jaw dropped.
"But it looks like my money is all you want and need," he coldly stated. She clearly saw walls being built through the coldness in his eyes as he stared back at her. "Wala kang pinagkaiba sa ibang mga babaeng bayaran. Thanks for giving me the best birthday I'll never forget." Iyon lamang at tinalikuran na siya ng binata pabalik sa party nito.
While she was left in the dead of night, alone and unwanted.
*****
It has been a week. No words were spoken between the two of them since that night. Katrina went back to her old apartment that night. Wala na siyang balak pang bumalik sa condo ni Aspen.
She knew what she did was right - pushing him away. Tama naman ang mga sinabi niya. She didn't fit in his life, not like how Dahlia would naturally fit. Isa pa, nagsama lamang sila all because of a mistake.
She loves the baby in her tummy. Pero alam niyang hindi siya pagbabalingan ng atensyon ni Aspen if not for the child she's carrying now. Kaya imbes na gumawa pa ng gulo, she will just remove herself from his everyday life. Ayos na siya na susutentuhan na lamang ng binata ang anak nito.
Nothing more. That's all she wanted before anyway, that day na puntahan niya ito sa opisina ito. Less involvement, less complications.
"Ano? Tapos ka ng magmukmok?" untag sa kanya ni Selena na ngayon ay nandoon sa maliit na apartment niya. May dala itong laptop dahil nag-aaral ito para sa finals nito. Sinasamahan lang siya nito matapos nitong malaman ang mga kaganapan sa party na iyon ni Aspen a week ago.
"Magpadeliver na lang tayo ng hapunan. Wala akong balak magluto. I don't feel fine."
"You haven't been feeling fine for a week now. Mukhang Biyernes Santo yang mukha mo," puna ni Selena. "Bakit kasi hindi pa kayo mag-usap? Bawiin mo na lang lahat ng sinabi mo sa kanya. Ipapakilala ka naman pala sa mga magulang niya. Inunahan mo lang siyang sigawan."
"Have you seen Dahlia? She's so beautiful. Mga ganoong babae ang bagay sa kanya. Not someone like me," mabilis na sagot niya.
"Ewan ko sayo, Katrina. You're also really pretty pero hindi mo lang alam. Sa tingin mo ba makakabingwit ka ng ganoon kayaman kung hindi ka maganda! Gumising ka nga! Wala ka pa ngang kaayos-ayos, maganda ka na! Kaya tigilan mo na yang self-pity mo. Hindi bagay sa ganda mo!" sigaw nito sa kanya. Even Selena was fed up seeing her friend depressed for a week now.
Katrina just kept her mouth shut.
"I think he's sincere with his feelings, Katrina. Just give him time."
"No, I'm good with this setup. Hindi namin kailangang magkita araw-araw just because we have a kid together. May iba nga na hindi talaga nag-uusap pero may anak."
"Gusto mo ba talaga ng ganoon para sa anak ninyo? A nonhealthy family?"
Hindi nakasagot si Katrina.
"Huwag pride ang pairalin, siz," paalala ni Selena.
****
They were in a full bar. Isa ito sa mga pag-aari ni Miguel na bar. Aspen, Gio and Miguel were in the VIP room on the second floor with a view of the dance floor below.
Taimtim na nakatitig doon si Aspen, who has been quiet since they came here. Habang si Gio naman ay napapalibutan ng tatlong babae ngayon na nakilala nito sa baba.
"Bro, come here! We're playing a game," anyaya ni Gio.
Aspen shook his head no and kept on drinking his whiskey habang nakatitig lamang sa dance floor.
Miguel, on the other hand, stood up and went beside Aspen.
"Still moping around, huh?" he teased.
Aspen turned to look at him, his eyes flickering with anger.
"Bro, what do you expect? Katrina was hurt. I was hurt. We were both caught off guard by the announcement."
"Have you heard from her?" tanong ni Aspen.
"Who? Katrina?"
Tumango si Aspen.
Miguel just laughed. "Bro, she's your girl. Kung may dapat mang kumausap sa kanya, ikaw yun. Not me or Gio. Dahlia and I have talked about the announcement. Kahit siya ay nagulat ng in-announce iyon sa lahat ng mga bisita ng mga magulang mo. I think it's high time you break the real news to your parents. I've talked to Dahlia's parents so you have to begin manning up for Katrina, too."
Aspen just kept quiet.
"Your father won't hate you for it. I assure you," bulong ni Miguel.
"You don't know him."
"All I know is you should talk. Hindi pwedeng hindi na lang kayo magpansinan. Bro, she's pregnant with your child. Do you honestly think you can stay away from her forever? One way or another, kailangan nyong mag-usap at magkaayos. Kahit para lang sa anak ninyo."
Just then, out of the blue, biglang sumali sa usapan nila si Gio.
"Ano bang pinagmumukmok niyong dalawa dyan?" tanong nito.
"Shouldn't you be telling him something?" tanong ni Aspen kay Miguel, changing the topic and throwing it to Miguel.
"Tell Gio what?" Miguel asked, unsure.
Aspen just smiled. "About you and Dahlia."
Gio was calm at the beginning. And then, his eyes suddenly grew big from the realization. "You fucking dog!" sigaw nito. And all of a sudden, nakwelyuhan na kagad ni Gio si Miguel at nasuntok ito.
Miguel was caught off guard kaya bumagsak ito sa sahig. "Shit!"
Aspen tried to get in between them, shocked at Gio's reaction. Hindi naman ito nagalit ng malaman na siya ang fiance ni Dahlia pero bakit parang galit na galit ito kay Miguel ngayon? "Gio, ano ba! Stop it, bro!" he screamed at both of them habang pinipilit pumagitna sa dalawang kaibigan.
"I caught my sister sexting with someone, an unknown man. And apparently it's you! You fucking manwhore!" sigaw muli ni Gio. "Ang kapal ng mukha mo!"
Pilit lamang na umiwas si Miguel sa mga suntok na pinaulan ni Gio.
"How dare you call me your friend kung gaganunin mo lang ang kapatid ko!" patuloy na sigaw ni Gio sa pagmumukha ni Miguel.
"Gio, I love her!" Miguel declared habang umiiwas sa mga suntok ng kaibigan.
Natigilan si Gio sa sinabi nito. "You love Dahlia?"
He nodded. "I was as hurt as Katrina noong biglang inanunsyo ang engagement nila ni Aspen. I wanted to die, bro. I love her! I can't just simply give it up. Ipaglalaban ko siya. I'll talk to your parents. I will, I promise."
Aspen helped Miguel stand up pero nakapagitan pa rin siya sa dalawa. "I knew about them prior. But it was just a hunch, Gio. I never knew he was that serious with Dahlia."
"Bro, I am fucking willing to marry her. Just help me deal with your parents. Aspen is willing to help me. Tell me you'll do the same," pagmamakaawa ni Miguel sa kaibigan.
Gio was still silent. Then, he immediately rushed to Miguel for a hug. "You manwhore! Akala ko ay ibang lalaki ang makakakuha sa kapatid ko. But it's you! Of course, i'll help you."
Halos matawa si Aspen sa biglaang pagbabago ng reaksyon ni Gio sa mga pangyayari. So he has decided. He will help Miguel get Dahlia for good. He has to tell his parents the truth about him, Katrina, Dahlia and Miguel.
He has to get back Katrina. For good!
******
A/N: Sino diyan ang nagmahal at nasaktan ngayong 2020? Comment down below if relate kayo at umasa din kayo this 2020?
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